[julie07]

Hi,
My DH and I are currently looking into adopting from China, but with soooo many choices in agencies I am completely confused and my mind is just spinning.

Here is a little background about us. We started out on the adoption journey about a year and a half ago. At that time we decided to try adopting domestically and network on our own. Well that did not pan out, so this past Feb. we hired a lawyer/facillitator in California. But that has not produced any potential birth moms as of yet. Since we would like at least 2 children and from the start knew we would adopt internationally as well, we've decided to get started on this process as well.

Has anyone tried doing both at the same time??? My social worker hasn't gotten back with me regarding this. Also, when we decide on what agency we would think will be the best match for us, can you apply prior to have a home study started???

Sorry this is a little lengthy. We are really excited about adopting from China and hope for the best with our US adoption. I almost wish we would of just went this route to begin with.

Also, any thoughts on who would be a good agency to go with? We live in Virginia.

Thanks,
Julie

julieann07@comcast.net

[ladybug11]

Julie,

I think that everyone comes to the decision differently. We never considered domestic adoption; it just didn't seem to be the right thing for us. When we started seriously talking about adoption, we both immediately said "China." And that was that!

I'm not sure about doing both at the same time...
I am completely happy with our agency thus far, and would be happy to give you information on them (I think it needs to be in a PM though)! So far, we've been thrilled with the process - except for how long it takes to paperchase!

If you haven't watched "China's Lost Girls" I'd strongly suggest that and I'd recommend reading "The Lost Daughters of China" by Karin Evans. Both were amazing - and provided a lot of insight into the process.

We sent in our agency application and our HS agency application basically simultaneously. Both were approved and we did an expedited HS. We are being fingerprinted in two weeks!

Wishing you the best of luck on this amazing journey!
Debbie

[chinagirl2006]

I would recommend going to a couple of agencies to see who you feel most comfortable with. They usually have information meetings so you can learn a little bit about the agency & the process. The 1st agency we went to, we didn't like at all...didn't give us a "good" feeling. The 2nd agency we went to, we fell in love with.

That National Geographic DVD "China's Lost Girls" is wonderful! I cry every time I see it

Good luck to you!

[DaniWestRN]

Some agencies have no problem with you pursuing both domestic and China adoptions at the same time, others require there be one year between placements... look into that when you pick your agency.

[imdmom]

I have termed my decision "enlightenment". After ttc for so long (10 years) after having ds, fertility treatments, going through fostering classes which didn't pan out, having a surprise pregnancy end in m/c at 7 1/2 wks, more fertility treatments, finally closing the ttc chapter, opening adoption chapter, trying to go through the state (who wouldn't even take our app due to "their population needs", we finally decided on int. adoption. China was a no-brainer for me. I have thought back about it and don't really know what the moment was; was it having several students whom were adopted through China (from the agency we're going through), the warm family feeling I felt at the agency informational meeting, our future daughter's strong cultural heritage and the reasons bringing her to our family, or the thought of finally having our little girl, our ds's little sister, our little dark-haired, brown-eyed pig-tailed little "Boo" (from Monster's Inc)...I don't know...most likely all of the above. I NEVER thought I would be the one adopting...I was supposed to have lots of kids. I remember telling a friend who had adopted from Ukraine that I don't think I could ever adopt...Ha! All I can say is that I finally figured it out....all of the pain and suffering our family went through is God's way of preparing us to accept our little Boo into our family as our own. It's been a long, bumpy road but now that I've been enlightened I am honored that He chose us to complete our family in the non-traditional way.

What I'm trying to say, long-winded, as usual ;o) is that when it is right...you will know it...you will have that same enlightenment we have! Family members have been concerned about finances w/ the adoption, what if there's something wrong w/ her, why we want to wait so long, etc.etc. My answers are...we're ALWAYS going to be in debt, who's to say if we had a biological child that there wouldn't be something wrong, and um...weve waited 10 years, what's 2 more????
I wish you the best in your decisions. It may be a bumpy road but it will be so much more worth it in the end!