[Bassette]

Time to check in everyone! How the heck are ya?

Does everyone know about the get together on November 26th at General Butler? If not please let us know. We are looking forward to meeting everyone and hope to do this again in the spring or summer,....right?

We are find but not enjoying this cold weather. Yuk! It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the whipping winds. Jinkies.

Kiran is growing and thriving. As of today we are in full potty training mode. We still don't have a good strategy figured out and seem to be implement a hodge podge of skills. Call it "flying by the seat of our pants" which is pretty much our M.O. *snicker* Ki has been nakie part of the day, in dipes at other times and also in cloth training pants. We caught him trying to,...uhhh,...make a #2 in his trainers and ran him to the potty. He sat and say and we read Once Upon A Potty three times, but nothing happened. He wouldn't deposit *it* in the potty but soon as we put a dipe on him,......woo wee did that boy go! *LOL*

So that is our weekend so far.

Has anyone hear from Lissa? I haven't heard a word since Lydia came home from China. I imagine she is just deeply in love with her new daughter and like most of us, has her hands full. *hehe*

So let's hear from you! Looks like we have a couple of new familes that have joined the Ky forum YAY! It's so nice to see this place growing. Big >>>HUGS<<< to everyone! I will rummage up a pic of Britain, my homegrown princess and Kiran, my precious Guatemalan born Principe.

[Shay]

Hey Steph....your daughter is beautiful! And of course Kiran is a doll!! I am looking forward to meeting you all next weekend. What fun...I hope my turkey is well behaved...

Here is Daria at Puzzles....

[Shay]

and another........as you can see she LOVED the little house!

[srusse24]

Well, I don't have any pictures to post , but I do have an update. We received our invitation to Orientation and Training, but after much discussion, we have decided not to proceed at this point. The agency had originally quoted us a cost that was very reasonable, then during the consultation the cost almost doubled, and we just cannot afford it. We looked into grants, but we do not qualify for most, and we have been told not to "rely" on a grant, it's just an added bonus if you do get one.


I am a little upset, but we know this is the right decision for us right now. We are going to continue trying to conceive, and maybe down the road try the adoption route again.

Good luck to you all!

[Bassette]

srusse24, have you looked into fost/adopt through the state? I understand there are little or no fees, aside from the cost of raising a child. It is risky as reunification is the first goal but I have read about many families that grew this way.

Good luck and best wishes to you!

[Kymom2b]

I know how excited and hopeful you were. Just wanted you to know that I understand where you are coming from 100%. Dh and I would have done the same thing if we had found out about the fee increase earlier. We are in so deep emotionally and financially now, that we feel like we have to continue. Have you checked into international adoption? We started our journey thinking about Guatemala and decided the fees were too high, but I don't see ANY WAY that we can complete a domestic adoption for under 30,000 (including what we lost on our recent failed situation) So that might be something to think about. There are a few countries where babies come home quite young and the fees are between 20-28,000.

Please don't get too discouraged. You will find your child when the timing is right. I wish you luck and happiness. Please post every once in a while and let us know how things are going!!

Sending ((hugs)) and prayers your way

[Lissa]

You know I've been on this forum FOREVER...okay, a couple of years and I still have no idea how to add a picture to a post...so to see pics of Lydia you're unfortunately going to have to visit my blog. She came back sick from China. Nothing too horrible...all of it curable (and it is cured now) but it was stuff we had to deal with. She is gorgeous...she is smart...she is happy...she is everything and more I ever hoped for in a daughter. She owns me...and I've never beened owned in my life. Guess we're in for a ride!
I didn't get on until after y'all met...so please let me know how it went and let me know when you're gonna be doing it again! It's great to bond with other Ky adoptive families.

[Bassette]

Lissa, you little whipper snapper I have been thinking about you heaps! >>>hug<<<

Lydia is darling and you betcha that I have been to your blog. So glad you popped in.

[SadieAnn]

Srusse24,
I might suggest continuing to hang around the forums and ask lots of questions regarding various costs of adoptions. There is fost/adopt, some countries such as China are more reasonable on cost and international tends to be a bit more predictable on cost than domestic. Whatever your decision I wish you the very best.

Steph - I sent you a p.m. Your daughter is so cute!!! And of course Kiran is so adorable!

The pic I'm attached is John in a recent trip home to MN to visit my family. He is experiencing some serious northern temperatures, which didn't slow him down a bit!

[srusse24]

Thanks ladies for all of your encouraging words! I will certainly stop in every once in a while to check on you all!

I hope and pray that all of you waiting to be matched won't have to wait too long! I look forward to reading stories of you bringing your babies home someday!

I love the pics of your children! You are truly blessed to have such beautiful families!