[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

[Ebadge90]

I'm Eddie, my wife and I live South of Boston with our 2 Labs. We are awaiting a test result from Russia in order to accept our referral of a baby boy born in September of 2005 in Novokuznetsk. Info is expected on 7-10, so hopefully next week we will have an accepted referral.

[daddynwaiting24]

I am kevin, DW and I live in southern Minnesota on a farm.
We got back June 28 from trip one to Pyatigorsk,Russia.
Got to spend lots of time with our two boys (2 & 3 1/2). Now waiting for court date hopefully any day.

Kevin and Renae

[Kasey]

Kris--we live northwest of Philadelphia, Alek now 2 was adopted from Kirov in August 2004. We started for #2 in March of this year, originally for girl and then in May changed to either gender under 18 months, so we re-did some paperwork and are now waiting for referral, hopefully this summer, but most likely will be in September and most likely for a boy.
We are very excited and nervous to be doing this again.

[Katie63011]

Hi

I am Katie and we live in the St. Louis area. We adopted twice from the Sartov region. Our son at 8 months in Oct 2003 and our daughter at 14 months in Dec 2005. Don't tell my husband yet, but would love to go back again for a little brother to my two!

Transitions were relatively easy for both of them and they both came home relatively heathy with no issues since then. Biggest transition was going from 1 to 2!

This board has been a lifesaver for me. Didn't know about it during adoption #1 but couldn't stay away from it during adoption #2!

Katie

[mcanvasback]

I'm Melanie from South Florida-


In the process for almost two years in total.

Had to change agencies, and start over 8/05 then husband bailed, 11/05.

Divorced, started over Feb 1 06 as single

Changed from Russia to Kyrgyzstan (same agency, brand new program) because wanted youngest child possible

Referral of beautiful baby girl 4/7/06
had to decline due to medicals

The first families in the program finally travelling to Kyrg this summer for pickups!!

Waiting for new referral!!

[MominPA]

We live in NE PA, Pike County. Just completed our second adoption and are adjusting in having a 3 year old again and our oldest son is adjust not being an only child anymore and having a little brother in all his things.

We are thinking maybe, just maybe when our 3 year old starts kindergarten going back for #3 for a little girl.

[GCS]

Christina from the Chicagoland area. We adopted 2 at once in November 2004. A boy and a girl who are now 4 year 10 months and 24 months old.

We hope to adopt again!

Christina

[Abdulina]

I'm Stephanie and our family lives in NC. My husband and I have 5 children-- 4 from Russia and one from Serbia. We are currently in process for #6 from Murmansk, Russia. We are homestudy approved for 2 and have a feeling we will be bringing home 6 & 7 at that time. Yikes! 2 of ours are from Orenburg region and 2 are from Stavropol. All my children were adopted as older children. All are special needs of varying degrees.

I would never change the way our lives have turned out. We never anticipated ever having 7 children, all w/ special needs. We LOVE it. So any questions, feel free to ask. This board has been a wonderful resource for many and so many families are such inspirations on here to me. I'm amazed daily at the accomplishments by so many people.

Just one bit of advice for everyone on here--NEVER SAY NEVER!!!! I have learned my lesson.--LOL. Hope to meet some of you on a plane in August.

Take care,

[carrie2adopt]

My name is Carrie and I'm from Northern CA. I'm 31 and currently waiting for a referral of a girl 12-18 months old, from I believe the Kemerovo region. I've got two cocker spaniel puppies keeping me busy in the mean time! My wait just started about two weeks ago so I know I've got a while to wait yet. I'm so anxious to see my daughter's picture and to meet her. I hope to be home in time for Christmas but I know that is pushing it.

[kretzklan]

Michelle here from a suburb of Denver, CO. My DH and I adopted our two children in November 2005 - C (boy) age 7 (now 8) and D (girl) age 6 (now 7). We have an older son, R, age 9.

Going from 1 to 3 was tough...but at 7.5 months home we are doing really well. Our children are amazing (all three of them), healthy (all three of them) and honestly, just the most normal issues that you could think of.

I am a STRONG advocate for older child adoption and I wish we could keep going back. But, I believe we are done (I'll take Stephanie's advice to never say never)!

Our children were from Kemerovo.

[cici32]

I'm Missy. DH and I adopted our first son, Andrei, from Chelyabinsk September 2005. He had just turned 3. He has been home nearly 10 months now and is doing great. We have had a few rough patches but nothing too overwhelming.

I'm ready to go back for #2 but DH wants to wait. I don't want to wait too long because we aren't getting any younger. LOL I'm 34 and he will soon be 41.

[KimOH]

I'm Kim from central Ohio. My DH and I have adopted twice from Russia.

Our DS is 5.5 years old and he was born in Kansk (Kransoyarsk Region), Russia. He came home at 13 months old in October, 2001. We had an easy transition and he's a joy.

Our DD is 25 months old and came home from Fryazino (Moscow Region), Russia in September, 2005. She/we had a tougher transition, fueled by a lot of things, but we have made it through I think and she's doing fantastically!

We are so fortunate that our two get along with each other so well. I would consider adopting again in the future, but DH is certain that we're done, so we probably are. But I enjoy reading about everyone else's journey!

[angelkisses0102]

Another Karen (just shy of 41 ) here....DH (39) & I live north and west of Fort Lauderdale with DD and DS.

Arianna Liliya came home from Tomsk in the summer of 2002 at 11 months old. Had a great transition with her other than a known issue with her kidney...surgery corrected it and she is pure joy and a very easy child.

Alexander Michael came home from Samara in late winter 2004 at just 8 months old. Our happy and healthy baby boy was neither. We are still transitioning almost 2.5 years later. He has had various health issues unknown to us at referral and he is attachment disordered...anxious insecure attachment. He is healing now but the first year home was hellish. But we love him and wouldn't change a thing.

We are not done (OK I am not done ...DH still needs a push but he's much closer to saying yes.) Probably not Russia though...looking like special needs from China...especially after the recent story in China. Maybe Guatemala? Although my heart is in Russia...my son would never handle the extended trips of mommy being gone.

[PollyG]

Ann from Greensboro, NC. I have an 11 yo bio son, Hayden, and my daughter Julia, age 10, adopted November 05 from Childrens Home #1 in Krasnoyarsk. First 3 months home with Julia were tough, very tough. Second 3 months we made huge strides and now at 7+ months home, Julia has settled in and has very few issues other than normal kid ones. I'm sure issues may/will arise as we enter the teenage years but overall I have a loving intelligent girl that with a good heart. I couldn't have asked for more.