[gforte]

New the to board and need a little encouragement! Just moved to Wausau and my husband I were thrilled to finally start the adoption process. We started with Lutheran Social Services (LSS) right away because there are not a lot of options and they were a very convenient choice. Our contact was very nice and as we hadn't decided on a program she was helpful with information. We worked on our home study paperwork while we considered placement programs across the US. We finally decided on a program, informed LSS and turned in home study paperwork. Feeling like we were moving forward!
Our contact at LSS called and informed us that she had made an error and had just learned (!) that they could not do a homestudy for us since we were not also doing placment with them! (New thing with their Russian contract) so ... back to the drawing board. Looking for agencies, checking services and fees, and all! UGH! So now we have signed on with Pauquette and have started all paperwork over. Frustrated again with all the individual factors that are different and more work. Ugh!
I know we will get through it but it seems wrong to be so frustrated with a process that just started when I know it will likely only be the first of many.

[rebeccasusan]

We just adopted a little boy thru Pauquette, they have been great throughout...cant say enough good things about them!
Good luck!

[gforte]

Well that is good news. Maybe the switch over from LSS is the best thing that could have happened! Remaining hopeful!

[hope4happiness]

Best of luck! I know it's hard not to get frustrated but just remember the final outcome and that it will all be worth it. The frustration is small compared to the amount of love that you will get in return. Hang in there!

[murphymom]

My husband are gathering information and have recently come across Pauquette. We are very interested in adopting African American child or Bi-racial, but also nervous. Anyone that can help with any info on cost, wait time, any suggestions, all would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!:

[rebeccasusan]

we adopted through paquette's inter-state african american program. Our son was born in alabama in June, our adoption was just finalized this week.

Here was our timetable....

Started Homestudy in Oct. 2002, finished in Nov. or early Dec.
Turned in our family portfolios to Paquette January 1 2003
Picked by a birthmom in TX January 11...she decided to parent Feb. 14. March 20th, we were picked by another bmom....June 12 she fell out of contact...June 15 they called us with a match of a baby already born....our beautiful son!!!!

So, all in all, entire process of Homestudy to having our baby home took about 8.5 months...just about a pregnancy! However, they do seem to have a lot of referrals...if the first bmom had decided to go through with the adoption, it would have only been 11 days!!!

As far as cost goes, I think Paquette charges only basically for the homestudy and a small amount for the referral. The bulk of the fees go to the out of state agency that is working with the birthmother, and those seem to vary quite a bit.

We worked with Lynn at Paquette, and she was so wonderful, ethical, knowledgable, and SO SUPPORTIVE during the whole emotional rollercoaster. I would recommend them WHOLEHEARTEDLY to anyone.

I know that making the first steps in adoption is so hard, becasue there are so many choices to be made. We really dragged opur feet at the beginning, becasue it was so hard to decide on agency, country, age, openess, etc etc etc...and i was just so scared that i would make the wrong choice.
So anyway, if you would like more details, or to talk further, feel free to private message me! I would be happy to help anyone starting out! We got so much support from other adoptive parents during our early stages, i really want to return the favor.

Rebecca

[murphymom]

I was wondering if anyone from Central Wisconsin has recently gone through the process with Pauquette and their thoughts/concerns either negative or positive.

[rebeccasusan]

we are in appleton, i guess that is considered central.

[gforte]

Pauquette has been great. We are only doing an independent home study with them but Brian the Director was a pleasure to work with. We met with him in his office in Portage once and once in our home. He seems very down to earth. Answered our questions and gave us some great examples from his own experiences in adopting.

I'm looking for any a pediatrician in Wausau area now. Preferrably one with experience with foreign adopted children.
Any recommendations?

[DonnaMarie]

Hi!

I'm Donna in Tomahawk; two children from Guatemala. I take my kids, ages 2 and 3, to a ped in Rhinelander but have a friend w/a daughter from India who's in Wausau. I'll ask her who she takes her little one to.

Are you adopting from Russia, was it? I also know someone in Mosinee with three older children adopted from Russia; I'll check w/her, too!

Donna

[gforte]

Yes, Russia. We are just finishing up the never ending pile of paper work and I'm looking to the next list which includes finding a pediatrician. Thanks for the help!

[Passingthrough5]

sorry but we didn't have a good experience with Pauquette. and really wouldn't recommend them. But I would rather not post our experience here but will answer any ?? ina private post.

[murphymom]

HI! I haven't expressed my good news here except through a private message. We are home with our son! We got picked on Feb 5th and had to be on a plane by the 10th for his birth in Houston. The total wait time was about 6 weeks. It was wonderful. I was in the delivery room and everything. we really lucked out with such a wonderful birthmom. She was great. I really think we might be close friends under different circumstances.

Everything went very smoothly and today he is one month old. We have been home for about 3 weeks and are finally getting use to everything. It starts to fianlly sink in at 3am when Im so tired and I can't even remember what I am doing, but then again it feels like at anytime someone is going to come to my door and say"Thanks for watching my son. Im here to pick him up." Its taking a while but we are just so darn happy. Its hard to express what I am feeling. All I know is this is what I was meant to do. I was meant to be a mom. I am not returning to work. I am going to enjoy every single second. He already is changing everyday.
Thanks to everyone for all their input. It seemed daunting at times but now it is totally worth it. Pauquette was great.

[justreading]

Hi-
we adopted two beautiful boys in Wisconsin in the past 5 years.... AFTER we finally jumped ship from Pauquette. They were no help and did not seem to have any children from Wisconsin for us.

We went to Community Adoption Center and immediately adopted two boys. The first was a mixed-race child born in Green Bay. The second one a couple of years later was a mixed-race child born in the same area. I would suggest going to Community Adoption Center for anyone looking at adopting children in Wisconsin!

[rebeccasusan]

well, i think paquette is very upfront that they do most of their placement internationally or in collaboration with agencies in the southern usa- They told us that right away!

Also, you are not aloud to say positives or negatives specifically about any agency on the boards anymore, so If I were you, I would delete- Just my two cents, but this thread regarding this agency was started before that rule, so people may not know.