[Devora]

While I remember very well how helpful it was to have support from other people who were in the adoption process or very recently out of it, I also know that sometimes it can end up being a case of "the blind leading the blind". During our process I always appreciated hearing from people who had a longer term view.

I'm curious as to how many people who are around the board now have been somehow involved with Guatemalan adoptions for a while? I know that Brink is an "old-timer" . I did see a post recently from KevinK. I've been watching or involved with Guatemalan adoptions for almost four years now (although I took a break from this particular forum for about a year). Are there any others who are more seasoned (for lack of a better term)?

Thanks.

[MicheleB]

I have been posting on this board since 2002. My first son was born and referred to me in July of 2002, and home Jan. 2003. Started second adoption in 2004 and second son was born 11/04. During that adoption, we got the call that our oldests bio sister was born in Feb. 2005. We accepted her referral and our son came home in April 2005 and our daughter came home in August 2005.

So, I guess, I am slightly seasoned! LOL

I "know" there are more old timers lurking, where are you?

[Waiting4Celeste]

I guess I can call myself an "old-timer" too!

We got Jacob's referral on February 2002 and he came home Nov 2002.

I didn't know about this forum then (SURE wish I did!!) but I found it the second timr around and joined a month after we got Celeste's referral. (January 2006)

I would DEFINITELY NOT call myself an "expert" in any capacity... but I am addicted to this forum even though I think we are done adopting!

[mommytoEli]

i guess i'm a middle-aged timer. we got eli's referral in december of 2005....it took 10 months to get him home, and he has been home now over 6 months.

[drport]

I started lurking on here in 2004, posting and watching regularly in 2005 and completed our adoption in 2006. Now I pop in every few days to see how others are doing and to lend an ear when I can :-) I remember you, we PM'd a few times.

D

[Scarletann]

We started the process of Guatemala Adoption by signing with our Agency 12/03 and we got our referral on June 4, 2004 of a 4 day old little baby girl. We picked her up on September 19, 2004. We started again with the same Agency 12/05 and we got our referral on June 13,2006 of a 2 day old little baby girl. We leave to pick her up on Friday (5/4). I feel like have been involved with Guatemalan adoption for a looooong time. It seems longer and more stressful than the 3 I gave birth too. I know because our first little daughter is home it is all soooo worth it because she is the love of all our lives.

[RuthC]

Early 2002 for me!

[annaguat]

Not sure if I am seasoned LOL but first adoption was about 13 yrs ago. It was definitely pre-home computer and very different. They (now 17 yr old DS and 15 yr old DD) came home just before Easter 1994. Anna

[keithandkristy]

I'm like Waiting4Celeste, I didn't know about this forum the first time around...I also wish I would have known about it!! Anyway, we started with our adoption journey in the fall of 2004 and brought home our oldest in August of 2005. I discovered the forum in 2006 with our twin daughters' adoptions. So, I've not been on the forum for a year yet, but we've been in the process for a few years. I enjoy helping others the best I can and I, too, am addicted to the forum!!

We are praying for a son...all in God's timing and our hearts are in Guatemala!!! So, we're not only praying for a son (God willing- in a couple of years), but we're praying that GUA doesn't CLOSE for adoptions!!!!

[Mommy2Paul]

We made the decision in the fall of 2004 to begin our journey of our 2nd adoption. I didn't discover this forum until the summer of 2006. We hope and pray our son comes home soon. Not sure if I'm considered a "long-timer," but it sure feels that way.

[wvamom]

I started into Guatemala adoption just about 3 years ago now--we applied with an agency and got our ds referred to us over Memorial day weekend 2003.

Now, of course, we've gone through the process again and are almost ready to pick up our second ds in Guatemala this week!
Carolyn

[hopin4ababy]

I think I joined the forum in Nov. of 2004. We didn't bring our baby girl home until February of 2006, though. Ali

[sing4Him4]

I started on this forum in August of 2003. We brought our son home in December of 2003. We don't plan to adopt again but I do like to get on the forum and keep up to date with other families' adoptions and I LOVE to look at everyone's pictures! Keep posting them!

Cindy

:

[myguatbabes]

Well, I haven't been on here nearly as long as some of you guys, but it has been a while. I guess I am more like mommytoeli and am a middle-aged timer. We began our first Guatemala adoption in January 2004 and I discovered this forum just before we accepted her referral. We completed her adoption in 2005, our middle dd in 2004 (adopted during the process of our oldest dd!). We adopted our ds last year and he came home in July 2006, and now we are waiting for our dd Lileigh to come home. I can't seem to stay off this forum even when we aren't in the middle of an adoption. I love seeing these babies come home and try to offer my support to anyone in process when I can.

[ddhuab]

I think I found this site and started researching adoption (in general) in 2002. Reading on this site is actually what turned me toward Guatemala adoption. (although I am grateful for information available from all sides of the triad).

We began the paperwork for our adoption in 2004, waited 7 months for a girl referral after we were finally paper-ready, and then brought her home in Dec. 2006 at 11 months old. I took a LONG break from the board while we were waiting and I was going a little crazy, and then the break grew longer as I got used to being a mommy. But now I am back and happy to help wiht any questions I can. I am sad about the probable ending of adoptions from Guatemala for Americans.

-D.