[Javalita]

I normally don't venture away from the Russian Forum, but figured I'd check things out. Then I found this and figured I'd reply.

(1) Are you in the process of adopting, have you already adopted or both?
In the process

(2)Domestic or International?If domestic, foster care or newborn?. If international which country and age/gender?
International - Russia - either gender - under 12mos

(3)What state do you live in?
CA

(4)Did you use Catholic agency for any part of the adoption?
No

[jeannem]

My husband and I are just beginning - filling out homestudy paperwork and trying to determine an agency. Most likely going to use an agency/referral service in Michigan.

We're looking for a domestic AA newborn

We're in MD but likely to adopt from another state due to high fees and long revocation period.

We looked at Catholic Charities but dh is over their age limit in MD/DC.

[DrewandNic]

My DH and I are still in the early stages--waiting on our fingerprint appt and I171H. Homestudy was approved by our agency this week!

We are adopting from Korea and are open to an infant (or twins) of either gender. We've been told almost 100% we'll receive a boy.

We live in Northern Florida. Looked into Catholic Charities, but Korea just felt right.

[tybeemarie]

We are in the process of adopting. We are going the foster care route and had a sibling group of 3 placed with us in November. They are a girl, age 6; a boy, age 7; and a girl, age 9. We live in Illinois. We are very devout Catholics, but we did not use a Catholic agency.

Someone earlier in this thread asked about older child adoption. Different people define older differently, but there are DEFINITELY boys between the ages of 3 and 5. Check with your state. You can also look nationwide--check out the website http://www.adoptuskids.com. It is free to adopt children through the state, and in almost all cases you get a monthly adoption subsidy and a medical card. A great organization is the North American Council on Adoptable Children, which specializes in the adoption of older children. Also, if you are looking at different states, we found Oregon, Texas, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania to be the most responsive. Massachusetts seemed to have the greatest number of kids in your age range. Good luck!

[Overwhelmed!]

Originally Posted by Overwhelmed!

My husband and I have been thrust into the adoption process earlier than we had planned! We had intended to move from NM back to AZ, where all his family and several of our close friends live, so that we'd have a solid support system before we got started...

I just wanted to follow up with my earlier posting on this thread to let you know that we now are the proud parents of a beautiful baby boy, Jacob, born 12/22/04!

Jacob will be baptized in March, just 2 days before the adoption finalization court appointment.

I'm attaching a picture of him, he just turned 1 month last Saturday.

Best of luck to all of you!

[tybeemarie]

He's a beauty! Congratulations!

[Overwhelmed!]

Thanks Tybeemarie! We love him dearly!

[kg4fxg]

We are adopting through Catholic Charities. I was adopted from them 42 years ago. I wish all the different Catholic Charities would work together - but they don't. It is a local thing - and no matter what they tell you - you are buying a baby. Sounds crude but true.

[tybeemarie]

If your Catholic Charities office is operating in an ethical manner, you are not buying a baby. There are money issues in adoption, which I think the book Adoption Nation, by Adam Pertman, addresses in a fair and intelligent way. Adam Pertman is an adoptive father, so he's very in favor of adoption and the positive social benefits of adoption. But with a traditional domestic adoption money issues arise in the high cost of adoption and also, ironically, in the preference many birth mothers have for wealthier adoptive parents. There are money issues with international adoption, again the high cost, but also the ethics of a world economy that makes international adoption a necessity.

I would encourage those of you who are uncomfortable with domestic infant adoption or international adoption because of the financial issues to consider adopting from our country's foster care system. Catholic Charities certainly handles that type of adoption, too, or at least they do here in Chicago. It is a hard road to travel, but it is very rewarding and the children are such a blessing.

[jmboch]

Hi! My son is almost 9 months old. We adopted domestic newborn.
We live in California and did not use a Catholic agency. We baptised him as soon as we returned to California with him (my mother set up the interview with the pastor while we were still out of state!)

[Overwhelmed!]

Hi there!

I wanted to share a picture of Jacob's 1st Ash Wednesday. He slept through most of mass last night, as he usually does, and didn't make a peep when I took him up to have ashes put on his forehead by the priest.

I'm adding this picture to his baby book.

I'd love to see kid pictures of other Catholic adoptive parents that have posted here about their adoptions. Anyone else willing to share?

[tybeemarie]

Fantastic! What a great picture for his baby book. The fact that you value Lent enough to record his first Ash Wednesday is a beautiful testament to your faith. What a great lesson for your son! He's beautiful!

[Overwhelmed!]

Thanks so much, tybeemarie!

[ChgoFAMom]

Here is Reena's first Ash Wednesday (in her baby book too)

Reena's baptism (finally - she is almost 3) is right after Lent! I'll be getting lots of pictures then.

Do you participate in a family Faith Group during Lent?

[Overwhelmed!]

ChgoFAMom- I love the picture of Reena's 1st Ash Wednesday! Thanks for sharing.

Jacob is being baptized this Saturday (he'll be 11 weeks old by then) and his adoption will be finalized the following Monday, 3/14. We're so excited!