[susanlowman]

Hello everyone!
I just had to come and share the news that our adoption has been FINALIZED!!!

We have 2 biological children and now 2 adopted children!! We have fostered our little boy for 16 months and our little girl for 14 months (they are biolocial siblings)!!

[newMafamily]

Best of Luck with YOUR NEW (sort of) addition of forever children! It's good advice and happy news that keeps me listening here.

[HopefulMommyNC]

Good Luck and congrads to you and your family!!!
I am so happy for you and yours!
meghan

[Frannie39]

I'm so happy for you. We are getting ready to go through TPR. Would you mind telling me about the TPR process in NC? Our TPR hearing is in October and I have never been to one. Your story sounds similar to ours. We have a sibling group (brother and sister). She is 3 and he is 23 months. What part of NC are you in? We are in Cabarrus County, right near Lowes Motor Speedway.

Again, congratulations.

[susanlowman]

Sorry I have not answered until now (I just didn't read my own post again).....You probably have your answer by now.....Our children were from Cabarrus County also!! Our process, was at the TPR hearing, the social worker testified, then I testified, then closing "points", then the judge took it "under advisement" for 10 days, judge's ruling came without us even being there!! It still took several months (that is with ALOT of pushing on my part) to get the adoption finalized.

Good luck

[Frannie39]

Susan,
The judge in Concord granted the TPR on our two babies but the birthparents have appealed. We were told the appeal could take up to 1 1/2 to 2 years. I can't wait until it's all over and the babies are legally ours. We have had them for 20 months and I can't remember when they weren't here. Their b-mom is pregnant again and we will probably take the baby if DSS decides to take the baby, which we have been told they will. If a parents rights have been TPR'd do they usually take new siblings that are born? Some people say yes and some say no.

Frannie39

[tlc4kidz]

Here they do take any future child born within 2 years of an INVOLUNTARY tpr, which is why some bp's attorneys will advise at the end to consent, because that does not count as grounds for removal of future children......talk about loopholes, huh?!

I know how you feel about having had them so long. Our sibs were 21 and 7 months old when we finalized a couple weeks ago and we got them both at birth. We were geared up for a LONG drawn out tpr with appeal, but bp's ended up consenting before we went to trial. I hope yours goes quicker and smoother than you anticipate, but it is good that you are looking at worse case scenario so you don't get too discouraged. Hang in there!!!

[susanlowman]

Frannie39,
I know this is NOT the news you wanted, but NOT they do not always take future children.....my 2 adopted children now have a 1/2 brother (same BirthMom)....Cabarrus County did NOT take this child -- he is living with his birthmom.....Cabarrus County told us they only take children if they are "called" from the hospital because of "circumstances" (drugs).....Good luck with the children -- we were very lucky that the birthparents did NOT appeal!!!

[tlc4kidz]

Our cw called every hospital in the area (and there are alot) and warned them of her impending delivery with the last one. Our oldest daughter was picked up because a family member notified that they had many previous tpr's. I was told that I could call the hospitals and inform them of my concern, and could remain anonymous, but I knew that the cw was taking care of it so I prefered not to get involved that way. I would do whatever I had to in order to protect a child, though!

[susanlowman]

Just wanted to wish you (and the child) good luck. I hope that their truly work FOR this baby! Keep me updated.