[mckenna]

welcome

i will recap for the new comers.

i am 31 and i have one son adopted from foster care. he is now 4 1/2, has been with me since 4 months and was adopted at 2 1/2. i am in the process of adopting his sister. she is now 8 months, she has been with us since 7 weeks and her adoption, now, won't be till probalby april or may of next year. i am a little dissappointed as it looked like it would happen sooner than that, but the judge did not set the next hearing till early jan, so there is no way the adoption can happen till at least early april.

being a single mom to 2 is great and really fun now that the baby is (according to my son) more fun they play together and each idolizes the other!

i would love to hear more about international adoption. i am not familiar with it, but intrigued by it! good luck to all just starting thier journey!

[whiterhino42]

Hello All,
I havn't been on these boards in a couple years (that's how long it took me to finally get my butt in gear). I'm 33 now and have been approved to adopt from DSS in Massachusetts. Now I'm just "waiting" for a match. I'm trying for a boy or possibly 2 ages 2-8. I finished a couple months ago. I can't wait to bring a child or children home. His room is all set up and waiting for him complete with books and toys and all the trimmings.

I'm trying not to get anxious as I know the right child will come when the time is right and I need to be patient but it sure would be nice to have a child home for Christmas. I get nervous all the time about handling a full time job and raising kids but hearing all of you doing it makes me feel confident I can do it.
Thank you : )

[adoptionblessin]

Hi Everyone , I am a 40 year old adoptive mother to two kids one 12 year old boy with mulitiple issues including RAD and a 17 mth old little girl who is considered medicaly fragile alot of issues . I love being a mom and am currently looking for another child to add to our family. Indy how do you handle all them boys.

[Indy]

It is always good to see "new blood" coming to the "single adoption". Sometimes "us old timers" get "stuck in a rut" and need different perspectives. It is also good to see that we are not the only crazy ones!

adoptionblessin - Sometimes I handle them...and sometimes I don't! I just HOLD ON FOR THE RIDE!

[merriemama]

HI All!

I'm Robyn, single mom to my darling MaryGrace. She was placed with me at 13 days old! She's now 7(almost) and quite the little lady! She loves gymnastics, beauty pageants, and dancing! I LOVE being her mom! Today is my 46th birthday, and we just got home from going out for the evening-with someone special, of course! Adopting Gracie was the best thing that I have ever done!
Robyn

[Indy]

I hope it was a special one!

And welcome to the board!

[merriemama]

Thanks Indy!
Robyn

[linda512]

Hi:
I'm 41 and in the process of adopting a baby from Guatemala after struggling with infertility. I have completed the homestudy and will get my fingerprints for the I600A this week (I assume some people understand that, but if not, it's just the next step in this tedious international adoption process). I am very excited about this and nervous as well.
Anyone else out there try to get pregnant first? Indy, I assume you didn't!

[Indy]

Would've, if I could've!

Wait a minute....that means babies as in diapers, Barney, baby food, burping, more diapers, toddlers, terrible twos/threes, teething, potty training!

On second thought, I'll take older...thank you!

[oceanmom]

I have found my people.....I have been wondering where all the single parents who adopt have been!

I have 3 special needs kids...the first one I birthed, his father asked for an honorable discharge, so to speak, I gave it to him....how much easier life is!

I adopted my now 7 year old....she has auditory processing issues, but what improvement as she grows.

My newest adopted son did 8 months in hospital with everything that could go wrong, going wrong....he wasn't expected to live..but he did! I took him home with a central line, Gtube and kidney issues, germ cell cancer...transplant is forcasted for 5 years old...he is a hard baby to grow...almost 3 and still my tiny baby!

And I have just been offered a micro preemie to foster...she is a 23 weeker and has been raised by the RN's and cuddlers since July...her twin died at birth and mom walked before even naming her..."baby girl"...I can't wait to get to know her...I love the fighters...care conference on Monday to learn her needs...

Clearly, this is all I do and honestly just love it....this baby will be my 36 placement...most all exposed newborns, a few toddlers, and the rest medically fragile newborns....the typically able kids..kinda boring compared to kids with issues....

Just saying hello....I feel like I'm in the trenches sometimes...lots of work outside the view of others...sometimes I feel like the last single mom in my town...thus the internet to find my people!

Hello to All!

[cryswright]

I'm brand new to all of this... my first post to any of these forums. I am 32 and getting ready to start the process from the very very beginning. I have been thinking about adoption in the back of my mind since my mid-20s, but I decided a few months ago that now is the time. I am excited and anxious about it but feeling more and more sure that now is the time.

I hope to adopt a newborn (under 6 months) from Guatemala. I had initially thought to aim for Spring 2007, beginning the official process in Fall 2006 (shorter process typically in Guatemala), but I am wondering if I should try to do this sooner....

One question I have is how you all decided to time your adoptions. I am a college professor, so I have summers off and about 6 weeks off around Christmas holidays. For that reason, I would love for my baby to arrive in the spring so that I could be home all summer, have a lighter schedule for fall, have January off, thus not have to go to near full-time daycare schedule until the baby is potentially 9 months to a year old. I know these things can't be timed perfectly, but I wonder how other single folks have handled this, given various job circumtances.

Another question... how did you all even begin to choose adoption agencies? And does anyone have a recommendation for agencies for Guatemalan adoptions?

Any advice would be much appreciated!
Crys

[Scout67]

Hi, I'm single and 38 and mom to a beautiful 22 month old little girl. I went through a domestic agency. My entire adoption process was really fast. I went to an informational meeting at the end of October. The last part of my homestudy (the home visit) was on a Friday afternoon at the end of January and I met my daughters birthparents on Tuesday and I was in the delivery room on Friday. It was quite a whirlwind. She's been with me ever since. Her adoption was finalized when she was 7 months old and she is the light of my life. Hearing people's stories here has been quite inspirational. I've been going back and forth about whether or not I want a second one. I'm still undecided, but all of you let me know that it can be done!!

[glenn&beth]

Hi all. I am Beth of glenn&beth. My hubby and I have just started the process to become foster parents. We had our first interview yesterday and have been recommended to take the MAPP class that starts in mid January. By the way, we filled out the application form the week before Thanksgiving at an orientation class. The social worker that came yesterday said if everything goes well, it will probably be summer before we are able to have a child placed in our home. I am alright with the waiting part, but I just want to know what to expect along the way. I know that there is a fire inspection, physicals, and fingerprinting. But I just wanted to find out what else to expect and get as much info as possible before the big day. So hi to everyone, and hpefully we will be joining the ranks of foster parents very soon! Thanks all!

[Indy]

I see our list continues to grow. That is good for children who need homes!

[volkswitt]

i'm a single dad age 49 with 4 children 19 y/o adopted step son, 17 y/o adopted step son and 12 y/o bio daughter and 11 y/o bio son. i have beed divorced for 6 years but i was a de facto single parent before that. i have sent in my initial application for my states (MS) foster adopt program. i have been told to keep my expectations low but i feel compelled to parent another child . i love parenting and after the past 8 years I HAVE GAME ! anyway i am also researching international adoption. i feel overwhealmed by the amount of info out there. how do i know what is true or not. who are the good guys? i think i have found them here! any info or advise is welcome.pm me with agency/ facilitator experiences. i am hoping for a realitivly healthy boy age 0-8. wish me luck