[Waiting2Be]

I am Karen and my DH is Mike and we live just North of Boston and have been home almost 4 weeks now with our 22 month old DD Carina. She is doing great, we all are doing great, despite the long (26 months) wait we couldn't be happier, and for those of you waiting, don't give up, it's all worth it in the end.

[justmp]

I'm Jodi, 30 something living in Central Texas with my DH (40 something) of 11 years.

I'm mom to 4 year old Lydia, adopted from St. Petersburg in June 2003 when she was 14 1/2 months old, also mom to Cade, 22 months old, adopted from Kemerovo exactly one year ago (July 2005) when he was 10 months old.

We've been very blessed to have had 2 relatively smooth adoption processess and blessed with 2 healthy, well attached kids!

[cathvash]

I am Cathy, a single adoptive mother in Galveston, Texas. I have a wonderful and happy 4-year-old daughter, Alexandra, who has been with me almost 3 years! She was from a now-closed baby home in Vladivostok. My family immigrated from that area way back when, and I am now drawn back for child #2... Stuck in NGO la la land... I learned after the first time to be very, very patient and to place no expectations on timeframes. Really, really trying...
People ask me about the "fish." No, it is not a religious or philosophical emblem. I am simply an avid scuba enthusiast and it makes me think of life's beautiful gifts and calmness. -A thought much needed at times in this process.

[Fred_MSP]

We live in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area of Minnesota and adopted our son from Ryazan, Russia in June 2004; he was ten months old. We recently completed all of the paperwork for our second child; we are hoping for a little girl from the same region.

Our first experience was quite smooth (a few bumps along the way, but we've forgotten them for the most part) and we had a wonderful time while in Ryazan and Moscow .. we are very excited to return!

Amy

Journey to Our Son
Birth Date: 07.03
We Started Process: 10.03
Referral/Trip #1: 03.04
Court/Trip #2: 06.04

[waitingwi]

We are from Wisconsin and adopted our son in 2003 from Chuvashia. We started the paperchase for #2 in 2004, but got caught up in the reaccreditation quicksand. We changed agencies back in January and have recently been placed in the Rostov region. We are hoping to get travel dates soon.

Can't wait to go back!!!
Teri

[RainyInGA]

I'm Rainy and I live in GA. Ü

Although our adoption took 18 months of agony, she is the absolute poster child of the perfect ending! Smart & sweet and loving & funny. Home just 7 weeks, she is now 3.5 yrs and just the love of our lives. Our bio boys 13 & 10, are so glad shes finally home and spoil her something awful.

I will never be "DONE" but I do consider it a MIRACLE she has been added to our family. We started out as foster parents, and somehow ended up in Siberia!! who knew???? Ü
stunned by the number of siblings she has, I cant wait to see what the future holds!

[kellypmomof3]

Mostly a Lurker...
My name is Kelly(37) DH is Bob(42)we are from Coastal SC. we have 3 bio sons 14,5,3 .We started the adoption process just in May, we had planned on adopting from Vietnam.The day of our first HS our agancy called and had a referral for a little girl (2) from Russia,Perm the first family that did not except the referral decided to wait for a younger child.So the agency asked if we would be at all intrested ,we had not at all planned on Russia due to cost,but decided that it must be ment to be.So our HS social worker moved extra fast, we moved extra fast and now all our paperwork has been registered and we are waiting on a travel date for our first trip which should be any day.

[pequele]

I'm Stephanie, 33 single female just getting into this. Mom to 4 legged children (2 dogs, 1 cat, 1 tortoise) Trying to pick an agency, trying to figure out if I can afford this....while at the same time trying to do some much needed home repairs. The setbacks begin and I haven't even started paperwork! Would love to be able to bring home a 3-5 yo little girl from Russia some year! I love reading everyone's stories and seeing the pics of the beautiful kids...keep em coming!
Steph

[patti Daniels]

I am Patti and I am an adoptive mom. I am from western Oklahoma. My daughter came home with us when she was released from the hospital and she is now 18. She has graduated from high school and is on her way to college. I found this site to help me understand how everyone in the adoption process may feel. My daughter has found her biological family and it has been a great experience for her. She does have days that she does not want to talk about her biological family. She will say something like, well I heard from j today (her bgrandfather). I will ask questions and she becomes angry. I don't want to talk about it. This is frustrating for me, but I allow her to lead the way. Well that is my story.

Originally Posted by Ktates

We have not done this in a looooooooooooooooong time....

So time for you lurkers to come out...and for everyone else to pop in and say hello-

who are you? Where are you from? Where are you in the process?? and how is it going??? and anything else you want to share.....


I am Karen - DH and are are in our mid 30's, we live north of Boston with our 2 dogs and our lovely daughter Aisling - who is now 2 1/2 and has been with us for 18 months.... We had a bit of a bumpy transition and some health problems last year (something she developed here). Adopting her is one of the best things we've ever done!!! This site was a great help during and after the process.

Hoping to start the process again in the fall.

Looking forward to reading everyone else's posts!
Karen

[pequele]

oops I forgot, I am from New Hampshire

[sainttj]

We live in Colorado Springs. We have two bio daughters (20 and 6) and we adopted bio brothers from Vladivostok in May 2005. They were 3 1/2 and 2 when we came home (now 4 1/2 and 3). The whole process took us 9 months.

The first few months were tough as we all learned the new family dynamics. We've been home 13 months and it "feels like home!" The boys adjusted well and with the insites provided by this group we worked on a few attachment issues and now everyone is doing great.

Wishing the waiters good news that moves them ahead quickly and to everyone else, much joy and lots of hugs and kisses from those beautiful kids!!
Tracie

[Ktates]

Glad to see some of you de-lurking!!! Yeah ! and a few more New Englanders to boot!

Just bumping in case anyone else wants to add themselves...

[Amysue1112]

I am Amy (32) and my dh is Joe (30). We just completed our adoption on May 06 of our sweet Hannah...she turned 1 yr old on June 27, and was from the Udmurtia region (Izhvesk).

[KiraLin]

I'm Peg, single adoptive mom to Kira, a soon to be three year old, adopted just over two years ago from the Moscow Region. Add me to the list of NewEnglanders, I live just west of Boston. Welcome to all the new members!

[JLW99]

Another New Englander here... dh and I live north of Boston, and we adopted our son from St. Petersburg in May of 2005. He turned 2 years old in June.
Jen