[dawnrenee58]

Ok, I know no one ever reads this forum, but I am so excited that I have to tell everyone. I just got back from Nicaragua, where I was visiting my baby. We are adopting from there. Well, the Nicaraguan government has OFFERED to let us foster until the adoption is complete. I and my husband are returning to Nica after Semana Santa, and I will be staying until all is final. I know that Nicaragua has been a mess for adoptions, but the man who is in charge now is all for American adoptions. Also, the major hold up has been declaring knds abandoned. This has to be done before anything else, and can take months, if not years. Well, our lawyer in Managua took charge of that part. She did all the legwork to have that done, and it only took a few months. The director of adoption told her it was a great way to do an adoption, because it made it easier for him and his staff. She is really loving adoption law (she was previously doing real estate law) and wants to do more! Nica is a wonderful country with beautiful orphanages. I was so impressed. Anyways, I would love to talk more with anyone who is interested in this awesome country!
Dawn

[saranbr]

I would sure be interested in hearing about your experience and which agency you are using. We will probably be starting our second adoption in the next 12-18 months and I'm especially interested in the Central/South American countries other than Guatemala.

[dawnrenee58]

There are actually no agencies who whork within Nicaragua, so you would have to do an independent adoption. I know most people caution against it, but we have had an attorney in Managua who has helped us through the process. There are no specific country charges or "orphanage donations", so our total money spent has been for dossier paperwork, charges our attorney has incurred, her charges, and travel. Oh yeah, INS too. I think that all in all it will be less than $12,000, but it could be a little more, depending on how many trips total we have to take. My trip last week was not mandatory, I just went to visit my baby and the orphanage.

As I said, the orphanage was very clean and well staffed. The kids are healthy and mine is a little roly poly, which we love!!

Please, feel free to PM me with specific questions, or if you would like my e-mail address.

[praying4rlittl1]

I would love to hear more about this as well. You can pm me here. Thanks!

dawn

[bekalynn]

WOW! That is exciting and great news!!!

Congratulations to you! I hope you can continue to share your story here with all of us!

[dawnrenee58]

here he is...my little prince. i leave in 2 weeks and am so excited to see him again!!

Dawn

[saranbr]

He's a doll!! You must be so excited! When will you be able to bring him home?

[bekalynn]

Dawn,

He is perfection! Congrats congrats!!!

I do hope you can come back and fill us in some more!! Your news is extremely exciting!!!

(What an absolutely handsome little dude!)

[jenniferw223]

I would like more info too. Please PM me. How long is your total process going to take?

[dawnrenee58]

Ok, I will try to get it all down here. i will be returning in 13 days!! I am so so so so so so so excited!! I am not sure how long I will have to stay. It could be a few weeks, could be more. My hubby will only be staying a week. Anyways, we get custody when we get down there, and he will get to stay with me until all is complete. Since we know someone who lives there, we will not have to rent a hotel room, and it will be much cheaper that way.

I think our total cost will be under $12,000 , but it all depends. If I am there for a looooong time, it will be much more. I work for Sylvan Learning, though, and am trying to see if I can do some online tutoring while I am there. It would make the whole thing a whole lot easier!!

We started the process in July, but didn't have much get started until the fall. Like I said, it is having the child declared abandoned that takes a long time. Also, we knew about Timo from the start, so we didn't have to wait for a referral.

I hope all of this helps! My e-mail is dawnrenee58@hotmail.com, so please e-mail me if you want more info about Nica. It is a wonderful place!!!

Dawn

[myforeverchild]

I would love to hear more too ...do you know if these adoptions are open to Canada...
Thanks
Jenn

jeldridge@eastlink.ca

[ajvacations]

Hi Dawn, we are in the process of adopting a 10 year old girl from Casa Bernabe in Nicaragua. Is your child at an orphanage? Are you fostering in Nicaragua or in the USA?

[dawnrenee58]

I am here! We arrived in Nicaragua on Monday, but it has taken until today to get custody. We get our son at 2pm today!!

We do have one problem, however. Our place to stay while I foster has fallen through. Please, if you pray, say a prayer for us so that I can find a clean, inexpensive place to stay for at least a month while I foster Timo.

I know God is working for us, but it is sometimes hard to see it!!! All I have to do, though, is look at Timo and all is giong to be ok. Here's to mommyhood, starting today!!!

[dawnrenee58]

Holy cow, GOD ROCKS!!! We were so scared because I thought i woudl have to stay in an awful hotel, dirty, because it was all we could afford for a month or more. Then, at the last minute, the people I was going to stay with but it fell through, came back through!! The family member who was coming is not anymore, so we are staying with friends in a very nice house. PRAISE GOD! And, thanks to anyone who prayed for us. It is so awesome how many miracles we have received!

We now have custody of Timo. My hubby had to go home though, this morning. I am now a single mommy! Hopefully we will be home within a month, but you NEVER know with Nica. I think that should be the motto of NIca adoptions. Just when you think that nothing is going to happen, you are spending a month in Central America!!

Keep us in your prayers, please! I will keep you all updated, too!!

[dawnrenee58]

oh yeah, and the adoptions ARE open to canadiens.....