[theruhls]

WE GOT THEM!!!! It didn't take a week after all! After over a year.... and well over 200 inquiries...we have been matched. I am still in shock. I will soon be a mother of 8 (yes 8!!!!) kids. I wonder how soon we'll start visitation? Our SW called this morning and told me the news. My husband is USAF and is TDY right now to another state. He gets home late tomorrow night, so I'm trying to rack my brain of neat ways to tell him. I don't want to just tell him over the phone that we just "adopted" 5 kids.

Soon-2B-Mom of 8!

[tctahoe]

SEEEEEEEE I told you so..... I told you not to get discouraged!! Yeah for you!! Isn't that the greatest news? I was in shock too and we are waiting for the re-dacted files. It's been 3 weeks now so they should have them ready in the next week or 2 for us. Are they in state? Were they on TARE? Just curious. I am so excited for you!!!!

[txwannabemom]

YAY!!!!!! Good luck to you!

[theruhls]

thanks so much for all of your kind words. I feel like I crossed a bridge now or something..I can't wait for each of you to get this call. I'm not sure if they were in TARE or not. I spent a lot of time on that site, and never saw them, so I don't know where they've been hiding for the last 3 years. We are in NC, and they are in TX. Any advice for visitations, and how they work....we'd appreciate it. Should we get them little gifts? Should we have CPS find us some childcare so that durring the first day we can spend some time with the kids, without our bio kids? And then meet up for dinner or something?
I just don't want them to feel overwhelmed, and I want to be able to focus completely on them for the first few hours.



I am dealing with mixed feelings...one of which, I want to tell people, but I don't. A LOT...and I mean, A LOT of people will think we are crazy for adopting so many. I hate to say it, but sometimes their words get to me...and I think, "are they right? are we really crazy? what the hell am I doing? why would I do this?" how do i keep those thoughts out of my head?

Mgirl-1*&
Ngirl-9*
Mboy-7*
Kgirl-7
Mgirl-4*
Mboy-3*
Aboy-3
Kgirl-10 months

[TxMom65]

I have mainly congratulations!!! Wow.
I don't know what I would do. I don't know if I would bring gifts, maybe a picture album. Before my daughter came home to us I asked her about her favorite foods, colors, ect.

[LollipopsAndGumdrops]

Congratulations!!!

[dachshunds4you]

Congratulations!! Don't let anyone EVER discourage you on your decision. So many people do not understand what we do, because they can never picture themselves doing it. We are selfless people, who do it for the love of the children and offering them a better home & a forever family who will love them.

When people say discouraging things, I try my best to ignore them. I then share it with my real friends (like on this community) or other adopted parents. We are truly the only people who understand one another.

We have people frown at us all the time...especially being foster to adopt. They wonder why do we keep getting kids and they leave...why don't we have kids the "normal" way. I just remind myself that they are ignorant of our journey.

Once again my heartfelt congrats to you and your hubby!! Definitely take them some sweet little gifts. Not sure about bringing your bio kids or not...you may want to...just so they can see that this is their whole family who loves them!

[theruhls]

thanks for that. I needed that! I need more of it!
I saw on another thread that you are looking for people in region 3. I think that's the region our kids are in. Can't give you too much info on it yet. SO far I'm pretty biased and I LOVE them. ha ha.

[Binny]

Congratulations!!!!! That is just wonderful news. I am looking forward to hearing more on what happens from here.

[DreamingAzure]

I think Region 3 is south east Texas...so it's not like you are going to have to drive WAY far down to the other side of Texas

I don't know where in NC you live, but from Shreveport Louisiana, which is just about an hour away from Region 3, to Ashville NC is 15 hours...with no kids in the car...lol makes for 2 pretty long days

Congrats!! I hope you are able to transition quickly!!

[LollipopsAndGumdrops]

Region 3 is centered around Arlington--northwest Texas.

[linda3995]

I just realized I never replied. We are also in Texas (Austin area). Sounds like your sibling group is probably from around the Houston area - it seems like that is where a large marjority come from - ours is too.

Have you read their record yet? We went in on Friday and still have some additional questions for our CW on Monday.

I too am filled with so many different emotions (scared, excited, nervous, can we really do this)..... but until I meet the kids, I refuse to worry about it and only look forward to the addition & challenges.

My biggest concern is that we are an anglo family adopting a hispanic (and bi-lingual) group. Are they going to feel comfortable in our family?

can't wait to hear as your family moves forward.

[tctahoe]

our sibling group is from region 6 (houston area) we are
reading their file this week. It will be exciting as we all move forward.

[DreamingAzure]

Ahhh...sorry Lollipop you're right...region 3 is just west of me, not South...so a good 18 hour drive from NC lol

[Binny]

I see one of you is adopting in TX from out of state, are the rest of you in state? I am curious as to how the process goes for each of you as we are looking at a group in TX atm. I am wondering what the steps are to get matched and once you are matched how many visits are there before you get to bring them home and how long in general has this taken you? I saw one mention they had sent out over 200 inquiries before getting matched. Wow. Is that common? I know we have sent some, and hit dead ends so far. Congratulations on all who are matched.