[sherryk]

We are a fost/adopt family from California! We went through a nonprofit adoption agency specifically to adopt. We were blessed with a nine-month little girl from Alameda county. Currently, she is going to be 6-years-old!

We also have three biological children ages 12, 10 and 8 (two boys and a girl sandwiched inbetween). I've always wanted to adopt since I was a young child, so it was a natural way to add to our family even after having three children.

Thought I would say "HI" and encourage others along the way...

Blessings,

[WannaBaMama]

Thanks for the encouragement. I appreciate any and all that I can get.LOL

[sherryk]

Hi WannaBeMama!

How far along are you in the adoption process? Do you have children aready in your home or will this be your first? How long have you been waiting? What age range are you looking for?

We would love to hear your story!

Blessings,

[amused medusa]

Hi,
So glad to hear you had three children already...we do too. Also two boys and a girl (in that order) but older, 16,14 & 13. How was the transition? We've not been matched yet as we're stuck in remodeling limbo. Do you have any pointers once the dust settles?

[sherryk]

Hi!

Well, our children were 3, 5 and 7 when our nine-month old entered our home...but the biggest thing is to make sure you spend one on one time with your children. I think this really helps. Also, depending on the age of the child entering your home, a special gift FROM your newly adopted child to his/her new siblings and a gift from your bio children to their newly adopted sibling makes everyone feel special. I know your children are a little old for this book, but a great one to share with them is my daughter Brittany and my book called "My Special Someone" found on adoptionshop.com. There are ten tips for a smooth transition into the home found at the back of the book as well as questions to ask them - I know it is a children's book, but we can learn so much from them. Let me know what you think.

Are you remodeling for your new child? How fun. I would love to hear from you again.

Blessings,

[amused medusa]

Thanks for the book/gift suggestions. We did the gift exhange when the kids were born, (though they don't remember) and it just makes sense to do it again. Yes we're working on an addition for our new "addtions". The permit/inspection process is a horrific proccess, not to mention ridiculously expensive. (What isn't in California?)

Ultimately, we're thinking of an older sibling group but are pretty flexible with respect to gender etc. (The kids want boys, and no babies, so I'm hoping that might shorten our wait a little bit.) We'll see...

[WannaBaMama]

Hi everyone,
I am disappointed to say the least. We were asked by social worker last week if we would be interested in a 4 month old boy that was in foster care and going to be TPRd at a hearing this week. Of course we were elated......Well to make a long story short this baby is in a non native foster home right now because there are very few NAtive American foster parents... and the tribe wants the county and Indian Child and Family Services to recruit a Native family which we are and that was brought out by our SW,,,,bummer is now the tribe wants the SWs to to do whatever they can to keep the baby in the birth family and has asked that they recruit extended family members from the same reservation....which sucks for us because that is not where my husband's blood is from.
I guess it wasn't meant to be,,,,My husband has been out of state and does not know yet that we were not chosen,,,,
How do you guys stay encouraged when this happens... I know I never even laid eyes on this little guy,, but it still hurts to say the least.....

Thanks
Shelli

[sherryk]

All I can say, is that I'm so sorry! Each loss hurts. I think it hurts worse because you haven't been able to tell your husband and when you do, the pain will come again. I know staying "positive" is so hard to do - but thinking about YOUR baby, the one who will enter your home and bring such joy, is the baby to think about. It is so much easier thinking about what "could have been," but try not to go there.

Thinking about you today,
Blessings,

[WannaBaMama]

Thanks Sherry,,
I really appreciate it.

[mrbeansmom]

Originally Posted by WannaBaMama

Hi everyone,
I know I never even laid eyes on this little guy,, but it still hurts to say the least.....

Thanks
Shelli

Better you should hurt now than after months of loving him and losing him. We are about to lose the full sibling to one of the children we're adopting after having this child all of his life (he's almost 2). You are stung now, but there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. Be thankful your heart was pierced, but not broken...................

[WannaBaMama]

I am so sorry for your loss,,,, this whole fost/adopt thing is really hard to understand,,, again I am sorry,,, my prayers are with you and your family including that child.
Shelli

[kimjan]

First off I wanted to say congradulations on your lil girl and may your family be blessed!!!!

I'm a 30 something =) yr old women who's married to a wonderful man for 6 yrs together for 10yrs. Living in Inglewood, CA- LA County.

Well to cut to the chase, I have Endometriosis really really bad to the point they think I can't have children unless we use invitro, which is too expensive for us. I've had 2 miscarriages and was devasted very badly esp by the last one in Nov 2004. We decided to adopt and signed up with a non profit agency as fost/adopt parents. We want to so badly have a child and we were told this was the best way to possibly get an infant.

Well this process has gone on for about 1y now and it's all done, paperwork complete we're just waiting on the foster parent certification letter. Has anyone in LA county gone through this process? How long did it take and were you ever called for an infant? I have so many more questions but I'd better start with these. I hope to hear from someone soon and make some chat room buddies =)

Sincerely,
Kimjan

[kimjan]

First off I wanted to say congradulations on your lil girl and may your family be blessed!!!!

I'm a 30 something =) yr old women who's married to a wonderful man for 6 yrs together for 10yrs. Living in Inglewood, CA- LA County.

Well to cut to the chase, I have Endometriosis really really bad to the point they think I can't have children unless we use invitro, which is too expensive for us. I've had 2 miscarriages and was devasted very badly esp by the last one in Nov 2004. We decided to adopt and signed up with a non profit agency as fost/adopt parents. We want to so badly have a child and we were told this was the best way to possibly get an infant.

Well this process has gone on for about 1y now and it's all done, paperwork complete we're just waiting on the foster parent certification letter. Has anyone in LA county gone through this process? How long did it take and were you ever called for an infant? I have so many more questions but I'd better start with these. I hope to hear from someone soon and make some chat room buddies =)

Sincerely,
Kimjan

[Sunshinemom]

Hello, I am a complete newbie....took my first session of PRIDE class last night. My husband and I are the parents of three little boys, but feel that we have room in our hearts and home for one more, so are investigating fost/adopt as a way to complete our family.

I think this experience will teach me a great deal about patience. I'm not a very patient person and am still waiting after a month to even be contacted by an applicant worker. I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the classes, meetings, etc that we'll be going through in the upcoming months, but very excited as well!

I'm sure I'll be asking you all sorts of questions over the next few months!