Adoption Updates

[kdibattista]

Has anyone else created a journal? Barnes & Noble has some beautiful Asian themed journals. They also have some other Asian books and trinkets over by the journal section... so cute!!!! Just wanted to pass along. I have started one and plan to give it to her on her wedding day

P.S. DVCJen - we are all waiting on pins and needles to hear from you

 

[MeMom]

How very exciting! We are rejoicing with you, DVCJEN. It just gave me chills to know that you are going through this great time. Thanks for touching base, luvsmickeymouse. I well remember the Olympics were being held in Seoul that year, and everything was being slowed down. I had two biological children, but had always wanted to adopt ever since I was a teenager. Once my guy arrived, I knew that God made him just for me and made me just for him. You totally don't think of adoption in any different way than you do when you give birth. Someone will say something about his early background, and I have to stop and think what they're talking about. Then I think, oh yeah, he started out somewhere else. I forgot!

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

How very exciting! We are rejoicing with you, DVCJEN. It just gave me chills to know that you are going through this great time. Thanks for touching base, luvsmickeymouse. I well remember the Olympics were being held in Seoul that year, and everything was being slowed down. I had two biological children, but had always wanted to adopt ever since I was a teenager. Once my guy arrived, I knew that God made him just for me and made me just for him. You totally don't think of adoption in any different way than you do when you give birth. Someone will say something about his early background, and I have to stop and think what they're talking about. Then I think, oh yeah, he started out somewhere else. I forgot!

I know what you mean, I look at my kids and think, oh yeah! Its amazing. My oldest was born in Korea, and for some reason, he reminds me of my brother, not in looks, of course, but just the way he will do certain things. Both of my kids referral pictures look alot alike too. They are the perfect kids for me. I am very proud of them. The wait for them seemed unbearable, but when I look at who I have, it was worth it a million times.

 

[kdibattista]

Julie... are you all packed? I am so excited for you

Best wishes for a safe journey... can't wait to hear everything and see pics!!!!

 

[RUDisney]

Someone will say something about his early background, and I have to stop and think what they're talking about. Then I think, oh yeah, he started out somewhere else. I forgot!

My sister and BIL had a son on Friday. It was the 17th anniversary of my first date with my DH, so I think it's a great day! Anyway, Colin was born at 7:54 a.m. and I started trying to remember at what time my kids were born. Then I remembered, they were "born" to me around 6:35 p.m. on Sunday, July 22, 2001, when they were already 5 and 6 years old. That was the day we met them. Our adoption was final on October 22nd.

 

[ZPT1022]

Hi everyone! Kdibattista referred me over to here and I've read the entire thing. I love all the adoption stories. I have three biological kids through fertility treatments. I want more kids but I don't know that I want to go through both the emotional hell and the toll it takes on your body again. Plus I have my concerns about the long term effects of going through all that. I've had some OBGYN problems since then and I'm not entirely convinced that the fertility treatments I did didn't make the situation worse. Adoption is definitely in our future, the question is just when. There are a few things that will need to happen before we're ready but there's no question we'll be doing it at some point, preferably sooner rather than later. We'd like to buy a bigger house first, that's a definite. Some more money in the bank would be good too. We're trying to be smart about this even though I'd start the process tomorrow if I could. I'm sure you can relate to that. We also haven't decided on a country. I am really in love with China, DH feels the same about Russia. The thing I like about Russia is the possibility of adopting a sibling group. I'd love to adopt a group of 2 or even better, 3 siblings. We like big families, can you tell? Okay, so now that I've written a novel here.... I look forward to hearing more about your adoptions. Congratulations to everyone with recent progress!

 

[belle&beast]

The thing I like about Russia is the possibility of adopting a sibling group. I'd love to adopt a group of 2 or even better, 3 siblings. We like big families, can you tell? Okay, so now that I've written a novel here.... I look forward to hearing more about your adoptions. Congratulations to everyone with recent progress!

I follow this thread because I have so many friends and family members who are at different points in the adoption process. A very good friend of mine is in Russia right now meeting her babies. Her boys are 2.5 and identical twins! Hopefully all will go well. They will come back home and then travel again to bring them home for good. We are all anxiously awaiting their arrival!!!

Good luck to you as you begin to expand your family!

 

[kdibattista]

Hey guys...

Julie (skoi) is on her way to Kaz. She was in Germany for a layover as of 3:00 this morning Eastern time... can you keep her in your prayers for a safe journey

Thanks!!

ZPT1022

 

[kdibattista]

I just came across this online and thought some might find it interesting:

http://www.thinkingofadopting.com/html/adoption_telecourses.html#ReferralStage

These are webinars ...

What to Expect During the Referral Stage - FREE

Robin Bartko, adoptive parent and founder of ThinkingOfAdopting.com, discusses what you can expect during the referral stage on your international adoption journey. Robin provides many practical tips to help you prepare for this very exciting but stressful time in your adoption journey, including how to best partner with an International Adoption Doctor. Live adoption webinar.


Attachment & Adoption: What is It and Why is It so Important? - $20

Attachment & Adoption will cover:

What is “attachment”
Why attachment is important both emotionally & physically
What can cause breaks in attachment
Implications for Adoptive Parents
Recognizing attachment challenges
The four attachment styles
Resources to learn more


Adopting the Orphanage Child: Overcoming Orphanage Life - $20

Dr. Todd Ochs, an adoption pediatrician and father of five, including four special needs daughters adopted from China, discusses adopting the orphanage child including orphanage life, risk factors in orphans, referrals, and common post adoption issues.

Medical Aspects of International Adoption - $20

Dr. Alla Gordina, recently named one of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s 2006 “Angels of Adoption”, provides a great introduction to the medical aspects of international adoption, from pre-adoption medicals for parents through giardia, TB and post-adoption depression with a focus on Russian and the countries of the former Soviet Union including Kazakhstan and Ukraine.

Choices: Adopting from China, Guatemala, Kazakhstan & Russia - FREE

Are you not sure which country you want to adopt from? In “Choices”, Inna Pecar, licensed clinical social worker and founder & director of KidsFirst Adoption Services, discusses adoption from these countries including why children are available for adoption, the rules and restrictions of adoption programs from these countries, estimated wait times, travel requirements, and costs. Inna also shows sample referrals from some of these countries. “Choices” is a great way to learn about adoption from China, Guatemala, Kazakhstan & Russia from the comfort and privacy of your own home.

Healing Hannah: Attachment from an Adoptive Parent’s Point of View - FREE

Dawn Choate, a mother of four children including two adopted from China, discusses the attachment challenges she faced with one of her daughters including describing the symptoms, how she realized she was facing attachment challenges, and how she found the resources needed to overcome them. This webinar is a great opportunity for both pre and post adoptive parents regardless of the country of your child’s birth. Dawn’s story was featured in Adoption Today magazine’s June/July 2006 issue as well as on RainbowKids.com.

 

[ZPT1022]

Hey guys...

Julie (skoi) is on her way to Kaz. She was in Germany for a layover as of 3:00 this morning Eastern time... can you keep her in your prayers for a safe journey

Thanks!!

ZPT1022

Thanks for the welcome! Julie must be VERY excited! Is Kaz a one trip adoption? I will definitely be thinking of her and sending off some prayers. How very exciting!

-Becky

 

[kdibattista]

Thanks for the welcome! Julie must be VERY excited! Is Kaz a one trip adoption? I will definitely be thinking of her and sending off some prayers. How very exciting!

-Becky

It can either be one trip of 6 - 8 weeks or 2 trips with the first being 3 weeks, 2 - 4 week wait, 1 week return trip. I think Julie is taking two trips.

 

[scarlett873]

Another batch of China referrals has arrived!! This time, families who were logged in between Sept 29 & Oct 13, 2005 have been matched to their children!!

I wish this dang process would speed up...lol...

Lots and lots of good wishes for Julie!!! I couldn't imagine being over there for so long. I think 2 weeks in China will be forever!! Truthfully, I don't know much about Kaz...i'll have to do some research!

We heard from our SW today! (well, actually yesterday, but I didn't check my e-mail after class last night) Our homestudy is done and she's submitted it to the director of our local office for approval! We are making progress...slowly but surely! I still can't believe that our homestudy was done in less than a month...Our first meeting with her was January 8th! Now let's hope that USCIS comes through quickly! We've got about a month before our dossier needs to be completely together! I just hope that everything will be ok once we get it all together so that it can go right off to China quickly!

 

[Tink561]

Yes! Our good friend got her referral from China today. We get to welcome another little girl home soon.

 

[RUDisney]

Yes! Our good friend got her referral from China today. We get to welcome another little girl home soon.

How long does it take between referral and the welcome home party from China?

Congrats, Brandie on a quick homestudy! Ours took 3 months because we went through Catholic Social Services. They really knew how to keep the makers of red tape in business!

 

[scarlett873]

How long does it take between referral and the welcome home party from China?

It varies with the time of year. Our agency says that you typically travel within 4-8 weeks after receiving your referral. Then you are in China for 2 weeks finalizing the adoption of your child.

Congrats, Brandie on a quick homestudy! Ours took 3 months because we went through Catholic Social Services. They really knew how to keep the makers of red tape in business!

I am just so impressed with our agency! They are doing everything they can to get our dossier off to China as soon as humanly possible!

 

[Tink561]

How long does it take between referral and the welcome home party from China?

Congrats, Brandie on a quick homestudy! Ours took 3 months because we went through Catholic Social Services. They really knew how to keep the makers of red tape in business!

Ours was a little longer due to Chinese holidays in October and a trade show in part of China. We received our referral on August 25 and left for China on October 26. We arrived home on November 8th.

 

[RUDisney]

We spent 3 weeks in Russia. You do what you need to do. I always wanted to go to Russia, so it was an experience I always wanted to have. It's just funny that the food I grew up eating that my Russian grandmothers would make was completely different tasting than what we ate there.

I'd guess that our Chinese food is Americanized, too. At least rice is always edible if you don't like anything else, and heck, they've eaten that for 39-days on Survivor, so you could eat it for 3-weeks if you had to.

 

[scarlett873]

Homestudy approved!!!! WOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Just sent it the payment for our agency's fees and homestudy. They are going to send our homestudy off to immigration next. Now we wait for our fingerprinting appointment...and then the background check! Woooo!!!!! Inching ever closer!!!!

 

[Tink561]

Homestudy approved!!!! WOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Just sent it the payment for our agency's fees and homestudy. They are going to send our homestudy off to immigration next. Now we wait for our fingerprinting appointment...and then the background check! Woooo!!!!! Inching ever closer!!!!

Congratulations on geting your homestudy done! Which agency are you using? We used Great Wall for our little Gracie.

 

[scarlett873]

We are with Bethany...