[Juniper156]

Wow this is so cool that I am the first one starting this! lol

Well let me introduce myself. My name is Michelle and my husband and I live in Houston. We do not have any children of our own and have been trying for almost two years. We want to go to a lawyer and have a private closed adoption. Does anyone know of any good lawyers out there in Houston? I am also wondering how to go about looking for a pediatrician.
Should I call a doctor and make a consultation apointment before adopting or wait until the adoption process is over and then look for a pediatrician?

Thanks for your help!

Michelle

[texasislander]

I am just down the road in Galveston. I just wanted to encourage you to check out DePelchin Children's Center in Houston as you pursue adoption. They helped us adopt our two daughters 2 years ago and are working with us now to add to our family. They have been wonderful and have a variety of adoption options....open, closed, infant, siblings, older child, etc. You should check them out too. http://www.depelchin.org

[lmikes]

How long did your adoption take going through Delpelchin?

[sdwjones]

We have just begun our PRIDE classes at Depelchin and are so excited and anxious!

I would be so interested to hear all about your 2 adoptions, as well! How long did each adoption take. What was the process? We are looking to adopt a 0-3 yr old. A-A or biracial child through Depelchin.

[joelynn]

HI...We are living in Virginia now but adopted our son through Adoption As An Option in Houston. We were living in Katy at the time. We liked them so much that we are working with them on another adoption. Look them up in the phone book. You will really like them.

[marypena]

If you are going to adopt, from my point of view, let it be an open adoption, due to the fact , I am looking for 6 siblings and after 20 years in looking, I still have a whole in my heart as big as texas. think about it before you do it. And if you do they are are going to ask who is my real mom and dad, why did they give me up for adoption?

[joelynn]

Hi...
Our's is a semi open adoption where we exchange pictures and info through the agency. I keep up with our son's bmom and when we travel to Houston for our next placement we are planning on a visit with her too...if she still wants to meet. I will be as open as the bmom feels comfortable with. Good luck on your search and God Bless.

[Becky45]

My daughter is now 16 we first got her when she was 6. We had
another daughter who was 18months at the time we got her at birth. We have still never bonded with the older child. Last year
we found out she is bipolor. We could sure use a support group.

[Yocheved]

I am both an adoptee and an adoptive parent. My real parents adopted me whe I was 7 months old. I have 4 children, 1 by birth and 3 adopted and I am all 4's real mom. Not all adoptive children seek to find their birth families. I did and had a great reunion, my sister, also adopted, has never wanted to find her birth family. Marypina, I'm sorry that you feel that your adoptive parents wern't real. But for the most part birth parents relinquish their child because they feel that they can't give them the life they deserve. They do it out of love. As an adoptive parent I believe that when a child comes of age (18 years) they can if they want look for their birth parents. However, I believe an open adoption can be confusing to a young child. Those are the children that will be asking "who is my mother"? "The one I live with, or the one I visit"? I hope you find your family. And when you do I hope you go back to your adoptive parents and apologize to them for saying they are not real!

[tbright]

We just adopted an infant baby girl through Alternative in Motion (AIM) in Houston (www.aimadoptions.org). I know at the present time that they are actively trying to obtain adoptive families and the wait time in 6 months or less.

We have a very open adoption, and I could not imagine it being any other way. I see my daughter as having the best of both worlds. She will be loved by all!!

Our agency was fantastic and the adoption process was efficient, smooth, and quick. In a couple of years, we may decide to adopt again....and without a doubt we are going to utilize the same agency.

[bromanchik]

Originally posted by Yocheved
However, I believe an open adoption can be confusing to a young child. Those are the children that will be asking "who is my mother"? "The one I live with, or the one I visit"? I hope you find your family. And when you do I hope you go back to your adoptive parents and apologize to them for saying they are not real!

Children are only as confused as the adults around them. The most extensive, comprehensive research on openness in adoption has actually found that kids in fully open adoptions have less confusion and questions than those in semi-open and closed adoptions. They know who their parents are. Additionally they found that adoptive parents in fully open adoptions feel more entitled to parent than those in semi-open and closed adoptions.

[blessed with 2]

Well, this thread is kind of all over the place, but I would like to jump in regarding the open vs closed adoptions. I know the research supports open adoption. I know it works wonderfully for some families. My husband and I felt similar to Yocheved about it being confusing for the child, and we opted for a semi-open adoption where we have information if our child wants to find his birthmother (and a little on the birthfather). We send pictures and letters to the agency and we are fine with that. Just as some adoptive parents are comfortable with different levels of openess, so are the birthmothers. Some want a relationship and some find it easier to move on without one. I think as long as everyone is up front and honest about their intentions any kind of adoption can be wonderful. Even if every adoptive parent wanted an open adoption, some birthmoms would not, and there would still be closed (or partially closed) adoptions.

[hopeful_mommy_2_B]

Originally Posted by texasislander

I am just down the road in Galveston. I just wanted to encourage you to check out DePelchin Children's Center in Houston as you pursue adoption. They helped us adopt our two daughters 2 years ago and are working with us now to add to our family. They have been wonderful and have a variety of adoption options....open, closed, infant, siblings, older child, etc. You should check them out too. http://www.depelchin.org

hi there...my husband and I are in Houston and have started the process with depelchin...we are scheduled for our home study in a few weeks..can you tell about your experience with them? thanks

[Rebecca G.]

I just wanted to say hello to all my adopted and perspective adopted families. My hubby and I live north of Houston and adopted last year. Best thing we ever did...