[BrandyHagz]

Hi everyone! Welcome to the newest addition to the Adoption.com Forums, Local Adoption Connections.

Please take a minute to tell us a little about yourself. Are you married? Do you have Children, if so, what are their ages? Share with us some of your favorite things about living in this area. What’s your favorite restaurant? Do you belong to any Adoption Support Groups in your area? Help us all get to know you better and start making local friends with like interests!

[Drag0nfly]

Hi everyone,

I'm a biological and adoptive mom to two boys. We moved recently to Fresno and are going to start the foster-adopt process soon.

My husband and I were natives of this area and moved away for about five years. It took moving back to really appreciate how great this town really is. We're very happy to be here, putting down roots and being near our family again.

If anyone in this area is about, post! Would be great to do a meetup at B&N or Borders.

~d

[JC10]

Hello! I'm Julie. I've lived in Fresno about 8 years with my husband, our 7 daughters and 3 sons!!! I'm bio mom to 4 girls and 1 boy. We've adopted 2 daughters and 2 sons. And will finalize the adoption of our soon to be daughter on June 6th!!! I'm so glad we have a Fresno link! During foster and adoption placements, I've enjoyed connecting with other parents in my area and meeting at parks/picnics, etc... Just having someone close who understands is awesome! The ONLY drawback with finalizing my adoptions is not having that connection through my foster agency. So, I look forward to getting to know you!

[Drag0nfly]

Hi Julie!

My youngest son's adoption was independent and is open.

With foster-adopt it's like a whole new world. We've gone through orientation at AASK in Oakland when we lived in Modesto. We did some of the preliminary stuff but then put it on hold. Our son's adoption finalized last Sept. after being in process for almost three years. I just needed the emotional break I think.

We were going to start the process up again in January but then unexpectedly had a good opportunity for work down here and moved at the beginning of the year.

We just bought our first house and are settling in. I know soon I'll (hubby might want a bit more down time) be ready to start the process again. It just seems like good timing with new beginnings.

We'd like to adopt a little girl five or under so the two youngest kids can share a room. It would be nice to give our littlest boy a few years before he shares a room with his older brother (who's a teen now). However, we're open to a little boy too. I figure we'll parent who we're meant to .

Some folks think I'm nuts -- our two boys are special needs kids (oldest high-functioning autism, youngest language & some developmental delays) -- I think we're just more prepared and have some experience so hopefully that'll make us better parents.

Parenting two kids already does fade the Pollyanna view and give me a more realistic one to work with (I hope).

How did you find foster-adopt and how has your experience been with it?


so glad to meet you

~d

[JC10]

Hi! I got your email. I'm so excited for you. My husband and I moved here about 8 yrs. ago from the Monterey area. My youngest daughter was also a private/open adoption however the birth family has elected to have no contact. Foster/adopt was much easier for placement but much more emotional. Dealing with so many hearings, visitations, court dates, trials, social workers, it can be very emotionally exhausting. BUT, completely worth it. I know, my friends/family all think I'm nuts too but they've accepted it all and been supportive for the most part. My oldest son is also high functioning autistic with a diagnosis of asbergers. It too can be challenging. I'm so happy for you, the beginning of the foster/adopt process can be so exciting! We're fnalizing the adoption of our 12 yr old daughter on Wednesday! A little history...we move here 8 years ago w/ our 5 bio children. A friend of the family said there was a girl pregnant who was interested in placing for adoption. And so, we adopted our beautiful Emily. While waiting for her birth, we were placed "temporarily with our 3 angels, ages 10 mo. 2, & 4. Emily was born about 6 months after in Nov. 2004 and at the same time we were notified that reunification was no longer an option for the 3 little ones. By then we were so very attached and decided to adopt. In Aug. 2005 we finalized Emily's adoption and were waiting to finalize on the 3. In Oct. 2005 we got a call that the 3 little ones had an older sister who'd been separated at an early age, no one realized she was also in the system. SO, we have all 4 siblings. We finalized the adoption of our two sons and young daughter Sept. 06 and will finalize wednesday with our 10th child!!! It's all so exciting. I hope to hear from you soon!

[elbinny1]

Hi Everyone!! I'm Erin and I live in the Clovis area. My husband and I hoping to adopt with the foster-adopt program. Hubby was born in Cuppertino and has been living in the area since he was 8. I grew up in the sticks of Madera and have been her my entire life.

We don't have any children but hope that will all change for us soon. We are currently waiting to have our homestudy and finally be placed on a list.

Looking forward to getting to know you better.

[Drag0nfly]

Hi Erin!

Welcome to the board . Congratulations on your journey - keep us updated!

Are you going through county?

~d

[elbinny1]

Yes we are going through the County program.

[Drag0nfly]

If so was wondering how you were and if you've adopted (first time or again) since?


~d

[babyworks]

Hi Everyone!
I have been searching the web for weeks and came across this forum.

I have lived in Madera for over 20 years and am married with two beautiful biological daughters. They are the light of each day for us. We had one child naturally and one by IVF. However, with both pregnancies being high risk, we have turned our attention to adoption and hopefully for a boy.

Its nice to see a local section for a forum on adoption.

I look forward to information and hopefully completing an adoption soon. We have been waiting almost three months and fear we will never get our phone call.

[MunchkinsMama]

Hello all!
My husband and I are in the process of choosing an agency to adopt through in Fresno, CA. We are planning on doing fos-adopt but choosing an agency is overwhelming. Does anyone have some recommendations?? Or agencies to stay away from?? Feel free to send me a private message... I could really use the direction.
THANKS!

[brlady31]

Hi, I just have couple of questions that hopefully someone here can answer for me! I have legal custody of my 2 great-nieces ages 6 and 7. I got a call this morning from their mother asking me to legally adopt them. Great idea, I/we would love it, but I need some help finding out the costs of adopting family members who have lived with me their entire lives! We do not have a lot of money and would love to legally adopt them! Can someone lead me in the rght direction of legally adopting these 2 little girls that is not going to leave us in debt until after they graduate high school! Thank you in advance!

[Talulah]

Hi everyone. I'm Julie and our family loves near Clovis. We have two bio teenagers, an adopted three year old and a nineteen month old in foster care with us. I was wondering about foster or adoptive family play groups in the area for my younger kids. Thanks.