[keitheidi]

My husband and I have decided to look into adopting a child. We want to get all our ducks in a row before we begin. We are looking to buy a house this year, first. Next year, we are praying that we will be blessed with a child to fill our home. This is my second, and last, marriage. During my first marriage I gave birth to two beautiful children who are now 17yrs. and 15yrs. old. My husband, never had been married or ever had children of his own. He is a very loving father to our children. We have decided to look into the adoption process so that we may be very prepared for every step of the way. We just don't know where to start first. We have been looking at all the adoptive children on this site, but, how do you choose? They're all so loving and beautiful. Any one of them would complete our family. Ever since I had a total hysterectomy at age 25, a piece of my heart has been missing. My husband and I are looking forward to this wonderful experience and are praying that God will bless us with a child to love and nurture, together.

[AMom2Two]

Congratulations on the beginning of your journey thru adoption. There are so many different avenue's open to you. Foster adoption, private domestic adoption, international adoption. The first thing for any adoption is to have a home study completed. If you choose to go thru your state and the Foster Care system, I believe there is no charge for this. If you choose private or international adoption then they are different home studies. You can't use an international home study for a domestic placement and vice versa.

If I was in your shoe's I would take it one step at a time. Get your house and in the meantime read as much as you can on adoption and what type you would like. There are also semi-open adoptions and completely open adoptions. I would go to the library and just start reading and researching. You can also contact agencies and ask them to send you information packets.

Good luck to you. If you have a specific question I will try to help you.

Bye

[HappyMomAnna]

keitheidi

We sound like sisters---I have two 20 and 19 bio children and had very difficult pregnancies----c sections and was told not to do it agian so tied my tubes....raised the kids awhile divorced and found a REAL man! The best man on earth (sorry girls) and the only man I ever knew who was born to be a father! (OK so I think I claim all to myslef what I am sure others have too---but thats what this kinda lovin is all about!)

...........................we pretended to try IVF--and well, my medical history and all that it was ruled out pretty fast--but still emotional for a while there after getting my hopes up science could do magic. Yeah it didn't!

WE GOT A BIG BOX--and started to collect anything and everything we could about adoption....while we took care of little things and didn't really stress or focus on adoption. Signed up for newsletters in our area--and other states--and mailing lists and all the junk we could find that used the word 'adoptio' and filed it into THE BIG BOX.

When we were ready--on a long weekend we looked at what we had in our box---and found our way--our first step and then took action.

good luck

[Support2Adopt]

If you are looking to adopt a waiting child, might I suggest you start by larning about conditions such as attachment disorder, attention deificate, Fetal Alchohol Syndrome, etc.
Most of the waiting children have been neglected and/or abused so some of them have issues to deal with. By learning all you can, it will help you decide what kind of situations would work for you and your family.
JJ