[Waddly]

Hello everyone!

I'm new to this board as we have just recently begun our adoption journey. Our homestudy will be the first week in August and we will be going through Alliance for Children in MA. Has anyone heard anything about them? So far they have been a breeze to work with. We are hoping to adopt 2 infants or an infant and toddler from Colombia. We'd like them to be siblings if at all possible- it seems you always hear about older siblings?? Has anyone had any experience with younger siblings? Also, if we can not adopt siblings, does anyone have any experience adopting 2 children at one time that WERE NOT siblings?

~Waddly

Adopting 2 from Colombia

[cutiepief25]

Waddly,

I am just starting too but have found that Ukraine is a place that will allow you to adopt two children at the same time that are not related. Hope that helps!
Carolyn

[coupland_family]

Hello! My husband and I are also just getting started. We meet with our adoption agency on Monday. There we will get our checklist of things to do before our homestudy. We hope to be working with Shore Adoption in VA. I've heard great things and I have acquaintences who have used them in the past. Not quiet sure what to expect but we hope to adopt from Europe first and then decide later using our experience as a guide. Have been watching Discovery Health Channel's Adoption stories. Talk about tear jerking. Anyway, they just did two stories on Guatemala. Hmm.
Would like to start dialogue and see what advice I can get from other parents. I went on to a chat room and there wer some interesting stories from adoptees. Any thoughts out there???
Sandi

[hjdeth]

While Ukraine will allow adoption of 2 unrelated children at the same time, chances are they won't be infant and toddler, especially relatively healthy ones. 2 toddlers (under 3yo) maybe.

I have unrelated adopted children, but they were older at adoption...5.6yo and 6.9yo. They have done fine.

[cutiepief25]

The information that I have found about adoption in the Ukraine is that most children are 12-18months old. I am sure they do have older ones too. But in the Ukraine they allow you to choose your own child unlike other countries so if you see a child that you didn't have information on they will allow you to adopt that child or children if you like. I have read many stories of families that have adopted two children 18months or younger. They also do have children younger then 12months but aren't quick to let you know about them but if you see them in the orphanage they will let you adopt them. This is at least what I have heard on some of the agencies websites from some of the families. Ukraine has more boys then girls though so if you are wanting a girl it's a little harder.

[Jeanne21]

In the Ukraine, children under the age of 12 months that are available for adoption are children with a disability or illness of some sort. Often it is something simple that is relatively easy to correct (such as a cleft lip/palate). However, some of these children available under 12 months are quite sick (HIV, hepatitis, etc.). Healthy children under the age of 12 months are not allowed to be adopted. This is illegal in the Ukraine (from everything I have read).

[emptyheart]

We are just getting started too and have done alot of research. We are working with Frank Adoption Agency in Frederick MD. We are adopting two children from RUSSIA under 12 months at time of adoption Boy and girl and have been assured by the agency that the wait time should be the same for one child which is averaging 9 months start to finish at this time. They also gave us referrals of parents to talk with whom have recently adopted two children under 12 months at time of adoption to talk with. One of the couples just brought home an 11 month old and 7 month old boy and girl, and the other a 12 month old and 8 month old. Both had no trouble being matched with two unrelated children and adopting them. My advice to you is to ask the agency to refer you to a family whom have recently adopted two children under a year old from them and ask them about their experience. IT IS POSSIBLE THOUGH!! Maybe we can hang through this together. We are really excited and get our home study packet on Monday along with going to a class to get us on the right track! Keep in touch

[Waddly]

Thanks Everyone!

Emptyheart: Thank you for your post- I'd love to keep in touch! If you would like to e-mail me privately, my e-mail is pattyr@hkusa.com.

We found out that the only ways that we can adopt more than one child in Colombia is if 1) there are twins or 2) a sibling group 3+. We could be waiting some time for twins and 3+..... We have decided to adopt from Panama. There, you can adopt 2 younger children (they must be at least 9 mos apart- perfect for us). Referral is as young as 3 mos. Though the program is fairly new, we are excited to be potential "pioneers" for Panama adoptions Our homestudy will be the middle of August. There are only 3 agencies in the US accredited to conduct Panama adoptions, so that narrowed our search!! We're sending in our agency app. this weekend.

Best of Luck,
Waddly

[odi]

Hi,
We are pretty new to this adoption process too. We have completed our home study had picked Colombia but we are back to unsure of which country because we couldn't ask for a girl in Colombia. How is everyone else making the country desision? We are considering Russia and China. I don't like the longer refferal process in China and my husband is more worried about the childs health in Russia. Any ideas?

[JustStarting]

Hi,

I'm not positive about the current status BUT, I've heard Korea offers the smoothest process, with some of the healthiest babies, both physically and emotionally. Most are in foster care from an early age. Young children are available, and I think they can be escorted home as well, if lengthy travel times or multiple visits overseas are an issue.

Good luck choosing!