[WiRN2be]

Hi all. A little bit of info on DH and I.

We live in the Madison area and have been TTC #1 for the last 4 years. We decided to start the adoption process now. We both knew we would adopt at some point in our marriage just not sure when. Now seemed right rather than later.

Well my question is: Do you know anything about Lutheran Social Services? We have been looking at other agencies and are leaning more towards them but wanted to get feedback from others or agencies you have used.

Thank you
Sarah

[rebeccasusan]

hi...are you looking for a domestic, or international adoption? Is race/gender a factor? We looked into LSS as well when we started, but decided against them for a couple of reasons...1. They need references from religious advisor, 2.) You had to take adoption classes on Fridays, which didnt work with our work schedules...we didnt want to take off, as we were saving $ to adopt.
Overall, they seemed very nice, but their homestudy process seemed alot more invasive and time consuming then the agency we ended up going thru, Pauquette Childrens Services in Portage. Good luck, we are almost finished with our process...hoping to adopt a little one this month!!! If you have any questions, i would answer any i could.

rebecca

[WiRN2be]

Rebecca,

Thank you for responding.

Dh and I are going to do a domestic adoption. Race/gender doesn't matter.

LSS has an informational session on June 19th that we are going to. I am excited to hear more about the ins and outs of their program. The info that they give is just a few main points. Not enough to make a decision at this point.

The one thing that I like about them is that they only accept 20 families at a time. I feel we would get more one on one attention.

I am so excited and nervous about getting started. We will finally have the opportunity to be parents.

Thanks again.
Sarah

[mgauger]

HI Rebecca and Sarah,

I just saw your posts. We recently adopted an African Am. baby boy through Pauquette Adoption Services. They were wonderful to work with and we got the referral on our son before our homestudy was even finished! We flew to Texas to pick him up at the end of March. He is just the most wonderful baby! I'm glad to hear someone else is working with them and just thought I'd add my two cents worth! Good luck to both of you!

Michelle

[rebeccasusan]

Congratulations on your new baby...I hope ours goes as smoothly this time...Paquette is awesome...I have been such a basket case , just with nerves, then with the failed adoption, and now waiting on our new match, and they have been so great. Did you work with Lynn?
What area of Wisconsin are you in?

[mgauger]

Thanks!

We worked with Kari, I guess I should say we work with Kari as we are still having post placement visits. She has been great to work with. We also have talked with Lynn during our stay in Texas as Kari was on vacation when we traveled. What happened with your other situations? Have you already adopted? I hope all goes well with your match! Are you looking at a match in Texas? We worked with Adoption Resource Consultants and they were also wonderful. We live in Green Bay. Are you going to the picnic in August for Pauquette?

Michelle

[MichelleD]

Hello!

My husband and I live in Green Bay. We worked with Community Adoption and found them to be AMAZING!! We absolutely love our social worker and are looking forward to working with her in the future!!

Hope that helps!

Another Michelle

[rebeccasusan]

We were matched by paquette with an agency in San Antonio, and traveled to adopt a baby in February...We had the baby back at the hotel with us, then bmom said she needed more time and wouldnt sign papers...after the 4th day, she changed her mind and took her back..Ill tell you, i was ready for the psych ward, we were SO in love with that little girl.
Now they matched us again, this time in Louisiana....Hearing that your situation went so smoothly gives me hope...after that, i'm finding it hard to believe that ANY Adoption ever actually will go through. But we are matched again, the bmom is great, we flew down to meet her last month. This little one is due 3 weeks from tomorrow! Wish me luck, Michelles!

I dont know if we will go to the paquette picnic, maybe, but our little one (HOPEFULLY) will be so small yet. We live in Appleton...are you involved with that OURS adoption group? I would love to get involved with some other families with similarly aged little ones, espescially others that are doing transracial adoptions.

Congratulations, Girls!

Rebecca

[jssamnksk]

Hello,
Does Paquette have a web page? Thanks Jena

[MichelleD]

Hi Rebecca!

We also adopted through an agency in San Antonio. We worked through Abrazo...Is that who you dealt with? I know there are numerous agencies in that area...it would just be coincidence. We had a VERY similar situation occur as well. We traveled to San Antonio to be with the birthmom while she delivered. My husband was the first to hold this little boy, feed him, bathe him, etc. We fell in LOVE with this little boy. Two hours before signing, she changed her mind.

This sad story turns into a happy one...Our daughter was born one year ago and we couldn't be happier! We love her so much and would love to start to finish our family!

We belong to OURS, but really aren't involved. I am not sure what race you are adopting (we have a Hispanic little girl), but I have a group of friends who adopted through San Antonio and we often do some "Mommy and Me" dates. If you are interested in a chat, send me a private message.

Good luck, GOD BLESS! I know this has been hard...but hang in there. Every darkness has a dawn.

Take care!

Michelle

[rebeccasusan]

HI all...

Michelle, i pm'd you....

Yes, pauquette does have a website, i think it is www.adoptpas.com.

[vickibunni]

I saw your post on adoptionforums.com. I have a few question for you if you dont mind. We live in Wausau, Wi and are just in the beggining phases of adoption. We are very confused about everything we have looked into and aren't sure what to do. We met once with the people from LSS here in Wausau. They are the only local agency, since we live in a smaller city, but we could go with another agency and have them travel to do the homestudy. I guess I am just hoping you can give us a few pointers since you have been through the whole process. Any help you can give us would be greatly appreciated. We desperately want a child. Thanks a bunch.

Vicki Jauch

[rebeccasusan]

hi....we are in appleton. We are going thru Pauquette, they are located in portage, but work with people from throughout the state. They were so awesome, and i found the homestudy to be pretty painless. If you want to work with a birthmom in-state, they dont do to much of that....mostly i think they do china, india, and guatamala, and a lot of interstate adoptions of african american and bi-racial babies. They match you thru other agencies with bmoms in TX, LA, and AL....
I liked them a lot. We arent all the way through yet...we are hoping to adopt a baby due in 2 weeks. But, so far, that is my 2 cents.
Good luck, please feel free to private message me anytime if you want tpo talk or have more questions...i think you tried before but my box was full...i emptied it, finally. lol, my inbox is apparently as cluttered as my mailbox and desk at work!
Best wishes, i hear ya about feeling that desperate nedd for a little one. I know getting started can be very overwhelming, we were all over the map for a year when we first put our app. in, international, open, interstate, just didnt know how to decide!

[jssamnksk]

Thanks for the web site..Take Care..Jena

[tweety03]

I went thru LSS when I gave up my daughter 14 years ago and they were great and still are. I have an open adoption and they are very good for giving the couple letters I send them and they send me back letters and pictures that the couple send me. I gave her up 14 years ago and never had a problem with LSS.
Tammy