[Lamaena]

I wanted to take a minute to introduce myself to this forum. My husband and I fostered for 3 years with the hope of adopting. During that time we had multiple children in our care, 3 of them being long term placements. The last long term placement was an adorable little girl we had in our care for 22 months. We love and cared for her as we do our bio boys and were heart broken when she was reunified. Our experience with the foster care system here in Central Florida was not positive, and the trauma of losing "Daisy" was really hard on all of us. We returned to fostering for a very short period of time but realized we are not prepared to put our hearts on the line that way again, and for that reason chose to give up our foster care license and pursue straight adoption (we don't have a foster-adopt program here). We are having an adoption home study completed and hope to be matched, any and all information pertinent to our hopes and wishes to adopt are welcomed. We are seeking to adopt a little girl under the age of 4 of any race. Pray for us please.

[mommieof2cuties]

I fully understand how you feel. We have had two long term placements were baby was returned to bio mom and left in bad conditions. It hearts so much. I just wanted to offer my support, I am in Florida and wonder if it is a florida thing....I see way to many chances being given that shouldn't be given and chances taken away that should be given. I have worked for DCF so I have seen so much and it hurts so much! I wish I could change the laws to really protect the children...because in the end it is what is best for the child, not the bio parents, foster parents, the state or even adopting couples and I think FLORIDA has really lost site. Way too many kids have died last year alone at the hands of child abuse. I wish you luck and offer my support! God Bless, Summer

[MassachusettsMom]

Lamaena,

Sorry to hear that things didn't work out with the new little one, but glad that you're still pursuing your dream. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. PM if you want to chat more.

[minibus]

Just wanted to welcome you and wish you good luck!

[Casey677]

Another FL mom here! I hope you have a much easier time this go round! (((hugs))))

[devildogwife]

Welcome!

[Mkap]

my gosh how I can relate. My dh and I are foster to adopt parents. We have had serveral children placed in our care, our current foster baby is breaking our hearts into a million pieces. We've had her since birth and she will be leaving us when she's about 12-14 months old. I can't even begin to describe my sorrow. HOwever, like you, my dh and I decided to pursue straight adoption because it would be easier on our hearts. We were in teh process of signing with an agency when a coworker told me about someone in another state that she knows of wishing to give her unborn daughter up for adoption. We were miraculously matched without even signing with an agency. Our daughter should be born sometime in the beginning of May. My heart goes out to you and I wish you nothing but peace and happiness on your adoption journey. There are happy endings -

[Lamaena]

Thank you for your response Summer. It's always nice to hear back from people that understand your situation and where it is you are coming from. Like you, have also wondered if the system here in FL is worse than in other states, but then I hear horror stories from foster parents across the country and realize the foster care system as a whole needs major major major reform. My family and I have been deeply affected by our decision to foster, and while I have no regrets, it has been by far the most emotionally draining experience of my entire life.

Thank you for your offered support!
Mimi

Originally Posted by mommieof2cuties

I fully understand how you feel. We have had two long term placements were baby was returned to bio mom and left in bad conditions. It hearts so much. I just wanted to offer my support, I am in Florida and wonder if it is a florida thing....I see way to many chances being given that shouldn't be given and chances taken away that should be given. I have worked for DCF so I have seen so much and it hurts so much! I wish I could change the laws to really protect the children...because in the end it is what is best for the child, not the bio parents, foster parents, the state or even adopting couples and I think FLORIDA has really lost site. Way too many kids have died last year alone at the hands of child abuse. I wish you luck and offer my support! God Bless, Summer

[Lamaena]

As always, thank you!!!! You've been incredibly kind to me.

Originally Posted by MassachusettsMom

Lamaena,

Sorry to hear that things didn't work out with the new little one, but glad that you're still pursuing your dream. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. PM if you want to chat more.

[Lamaena]

Thank you Minibus. I am so appreciative of the support I receive from the people on these forums. I don't know what I would do without it.

Originally Posted by minibus

Just wanted to welcome you and wish you good luck!

[Lamaena]

Congratulations on the pending adoption and thank you for replying to my thread. I hope to be blessed with a little girl to parent, love, and care for forever. I can fully identify with the situation you are about to go through, losing my foster daughter was more painful than I was willing to admit to myself. Just today I visited the daycare my boys and former foster daughter attended and broke down. I never expected to feel the way I did when I looked into the room and met with the teachers that took care of her; I guess it made me face again our huge loss, something I run from on a daily basis. I wish you the strength and faith necessary to cope with the pain of losing your fd, and hope that this new adoption plan works for you, you are blessed!

Thank you for replying to my thread!

Mimi

Originally Posted by Mkap

my gosh how I can relate. My dh and I are foster to adopt parents. We have had serveral children placed in our care, our current foster baby is breaking our hearts into a million pieces. We've had her since birth and she will be leaving us when she's about 12-14 months old. I can't even begin to describe my sorrow. HOwever, like you, my dh and I decided to pursue straight adoption because it would be easier on our hearts. We were in teh process of signing with an agency when a coworker told me about someone in another state that she knows of wishing to give her unborn daughter up for adoption. We were miraculously matched without even signing with an agency. Our daughter should be born sometime in the beginning of May. My heart goes out to you and I wish you nothing but peace and happiness on your adoption journey. There are happy endings -