[JustMe]

Would you be willing to share with us what country you adopted from and how your experience was? What was the age of your child you adopted? Was there bonding issues? This will help others in their adoption choices, I believe.

I don't know much about this experience, and would love to hear from you!

Holly

[JAK]

Hi -

I recently registered and told my adoption experience under Adoption after Infertility. JAK is my user name.

The only downside is how expensive it was. We're praying that God would open another door for us to adopt again.

[Bcelli]

We adopted our Russian son in 1998 at the age of 5.5 months, referred at 11 weeks. Our experience was nearly perfect. Money was an issue - as it is for our next adoption of which we are in the process now - however, compared to some of the very unpleasant and heart rending experiences I have read on this and similar boards, quite well worth it. Perhaps it was our inexperience with the process, but we never once had doubts of the outcome and it only took 7 months from somewhat hesitant application 'til we had our son in our arms. We worked with williams international adoptions in Memphis (www.williamsinternational.com) and they were WONDERFUL!

[Mom24]

In 1998 we adopted a 5-1/2 year old from Guatemala. In 2001 we adopted 2 siblings ages 9 and 5 from Colombia. The only one with attachment issues is our youngest from Colombia and her issues are very mild. It is only because she really doesn't understand how a family works. I have seen TONS of improvement in the past year as she has gotten to know us and see what works in our family.

[gkasche]

We tried for three years to adopt in the United States and became very frustrated and bitter at the process. We decided to adopt internationally in 1996. Through a process much too long to discuss here...we were miraculously connected with an agency from South India who place only special needs babies. For the first time we were given hope of adoption. We have two biological sons who are now 16 and 13. We got referal of our first Indian daughter when she was 4 months old. At the time CARA was restructuring in India and we were caught in the middle of it all. Because of this...she came home at age 19 months. My "failure to thrive" baby was very chubby and healthy by the time she came home. Because it worked out so beautifully for us the first time...we decided to try adoption again. Using the same agency...we were refered our second daughter when she was 5 months old. She was born with her right hip dislocated. This was beautifully fixed in India. For our second time through...the local family court judge retired and we had to wait 5 months for a new judge to come in. Anjali was 18 months old when I flew to India to bring her home. Like many other families we thought with two boys and two girls we thought we might be done...but God had other plans. Maya came into our lives when she was 5 months old. She was not desired by the local Indian couples due to her special needs diagnosis and the agency was having some difficulty finding a family to take her internationally. She was diagnosed with Atrial Septal Defect...Primary Pulmonary Hypertension and Seizures. We offered to take her if they couldn't find a family. They immediately gave us that chance. Even though the agency we use is very inexpensive...coming off of one adoption right into another one was going to be a hard financially. We are a family of very modest income. This time I decided to research grants. In Pennsylvania I found a gook called Charitable Organizations of Pennsylvania. It was 4 inches thick. I went through it one page at a time and wrote down all agencies who were permitted to give grants to individuals. Our of thousands...I found 33. I wrote to each and every one and found three grants to pay for everything. We were not permitted to send the dossier to India until the baby was 13 months old due to great delays in the family court. We entered CARA in August and was granted guardianship on December 19th. We are in the process of passport and visa right now and hope to travel to bring her home in a few weeks. She is currently 19 months old. Her heart condition has resolved itself and she has been seizure free for a year. What a blessing she is to us. So...she will make baby number 5 in our growing family. I found India to be a wonderful country to adopt from. The care of my girls was excellent. They have absolutely no bonding issues etc. Indian children are so beautiful and I found the people of South India to be the kindest most respectful that I have ever met. I had no problems at all adopting toddlers because they received all the TLC needed to creat bonding with adults. Even though all three of our children were special needs upon referal....this is no longer the case. I am one proud Mom concerning my children. My best advice to anyone checking into international adoption is to do great research. It doesn't necessarily have to cost a huge amount to adopt internationally. The big name agencies are not ALWAYS the best way to go. In every country there are the little agencies who work with volunteers etc. to keep the cost low. Just my two cents...now I'm rambling. God Bless everyone who adopts...what a wonderful addition these children are to us. Karen

[denise marie]

hi
I adopted internationally from india.Our daughter is 7 years old and doing so wonderful.she has bonded well with us and her siblings.She loves to be hugged and kissed.She has been home 3 months now and is such a true joy to us.She knew 20 english words when she got here now we call her "BUCKET MOUTH" she talks all the time.We had a wonderful agency and wonderful people at the orphanage our daughter was at.We are now adopting a 3 year old special needs boy and he is absolutely adorable.We have tried domestic adoptions with 3 heart breaks.God was with us along the way.Our little angel is home and healthy and very happy.We are so pleased with how things went. And are very excited about bringing our baby home.

[denise marie]

Hi Karen
congrats on maya!!!We are doing the back to back adoption too for our son.Money has been an issue doing it this way but we worked very hard and did it.I have to agree the children ARE VERY WELL CARED FOR.They take pride in all their children.Our son is special needs and is on age of 2 instead of 3 he is the prettiest baby and we cant wait to bring him home.I cant say enough of the good things with India adoptions.We feel so blessed.

[gkasche]

Denise,
You and I post a lot on Indian adoption don't we...it is a great statement as to how happy we are with our Indian children. All three of my daughters are from Coimbatore. Where is your son? Special needs adoption our of India is such a wonderful thing to check into. The children are so well cared for. The Indian people love the children and treat them so kindly and lovingly. Bonding issues have never come up for me. I truly believe that is why. Congratulations on your wonderful daughter and I pray your son comes home as soon as possible. Most people do not consider India because there are so many Indian government agencies involved and the rules are more strict...but it is all there for the good of the children. I adopted three toddlers younger than I imagined I would have been able to in the United States. I am not putting down domestic adoption at all.. I beat my head against the wall for three years trying to get someone in PA to give us a chance as a family. India was our God Send. There is no doubt in my mind that we were directed there. If anyone would like more info on Indian adoption...go to www.ichild.org or check out the message board on this forum concerning Indian adoption. The children are most definately worth the wait. Denise...are you traveling to get your son? I can not wait to go back! I loved South India and was very welcomed there. I felt as if among great friends. Take care and prayers are with your little one. Karen

[AshleyIL]

My husband and I adopted our son from Russian last year in 2002. We had a wonderful experience. The whole process took us 9 months. We made two trips to Russia. Our son was 13 months when he came home and we have had no attachment issues wiht him. He is a kind, loving, very intelligenet child. We are truly blessed with this gift from God.
Ashley

[crathke]

We adopted our younger son from Guatemala and brought him home in January (2003) at the age of 32 months (his 3rd bithday is tomorrow, as a matter of fact!)

We have had no troubles with bonding (that we've recognized as such, anyway)--he is extremely affectionate and giving; shares well with his older brother and the neighborhood children; loves to play with everyone and has become attached to the neighbor girl who babysits for us on occasion as well. He goes to her without hesitation!

Our experience overall has been nothing but positive! As others have mentioned, the cost of adoption is an obstacle. However, once I sat down and figured out how much it would have cost in daycare, insurance, etc--to raise Aaron from birth--it pretty much evened out. So in many ways I think we will be ultimately "paying" less to have adopted a toddler.

The trip to Guatemala was wonderful--we were well cared for by the folks at Aaron's hogar (orphanage) and our hotel (the Clarion Suites in Guatemala City)--I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!!

[reneetaylor]

Hey Holly - good to see you back on the list. How are your kids doing? Is Arianna getting big?

I adopted my daughter from Russia in 1998 when she was 12 months old. It was a never-to-be-forgotten experience to adopt from Russia, but I can't see myself ever going back for another child. Mariah's adoption took 9 months from start to finish and required two trips of about 7 days each.

This time around we are adopting from Guatemala and have been very pleased with the monthly medical updates, pictures and great foster care. Aidan is heathy and happy and I have found the Guatemala process to be a lot less stressful. Next time...who knows? My husband says Korea or China, so we'll wait and see where the good Lord leads us!

Here is a picture of my little one that was taken about two weeks ago when he was in for a check-up.

Renee

[crathke]

Renee--

What a beautiful little boy! Someone told me once that the "Guatie boys" have the most expressive eyes and I have to agree. You are so blessed, and so is Aidan!

[reneetaylor]

Thank you Crathke - I am sort of partial to his beautiful eyes as well! And they are actually dark charcoal grey instead of black like they look in the pictures. He already knows how to charm the ladies too, so we'll be in trouble when he gets older!

Renee

[JustMe]

Thanks everyone for your replies! Keep em posting! I'm learning a lot. The grant idea is a very awesome idea!

Renee, how's your adoption coming along with Adian?

How'd you get his picture posted for us to see?

See ya,

Holly

[reneetaylor]

Hey Holly - thanks for picking back up on this thread! It reminded me of that adorable picture of Aidan I posted. (I PM's you with the latest info on that situation.)

To add a picture, just click on the browse button, next to "Attach File", and then search through your drives and files until you find the picture you want to include with your post. Doubleclick on the file and there it goes! You'll see the title of your picture (attachment) show up in the white box.

Do you have pictures of your sweeties? I'd love to see them.

Renee