New to Adoption Process

I'm curious...what age are you looking to adopt?

Hi! Welcome! There are quite a few of us on here but I don't know of anyone who is pregnant and adopting at the same time. Is this a designated adoption or do you just feel that you should adopt an older child and are just waiting to find one? You do sound a little crazy to me, but we are all a little crazy and if you are doing what the Lord wants, who cares who thinks you are crazy! Are you going through LDS FS? We wish you the best! LBL:)

We are wanting to adopt a child between the ages of like 3 and 8. We aren't going through LDS FS but are looking at waiting children online and such. We are using a local agency. We just feel like this is something we need to do.

Well, that makes two of us. People thinkwe are crazy but we are pregant and adopting. I'm due in 5 weeks and we are adopting a 2 yo from Guatemala. I'm hoping she'll be home this spring. We started the adoption process first then tried IVF and were successful first time. We always planned to continue the adoption but hoped for a toddler. Adoption just feels like something we are supposed to do. Hard to explain. We decided not to go through LDS FS since their international program was so new. It's funny when people ask me what number baby this is. I don't know how to answer that. I've only given birth to one but have two step daughters that I'm raising and now we are adopting. I used to say 2nd baby, 4th kid. Now, I don't know what to say. We have 3 going on 5? That gets funny looks when I explain that no, I'm not having twins. :) They really think we are crazy when I say we probably aren't done either. Most people outside of the church don't understand why we want so many kids. Somedays, I don't either. :) Good luck.

Having adopted 2 children, ages 5 & 7 six weeks after having my 3rd baby, yes, you are a bit crazy :) but I do understand. We had been waiting for them for 2 years! I would contact Debby Machuca machuca6@earthlink.net. she advocates for children in CA foster care and does a great job. Our youngest came through her. Pam

I forgot to tell you how we got into this "situation". :) Last year at Christmas time, we'd been through several rounds of Clomid, etc.. and were talking about adoption. We were thinking about pursuing adoption but then the "what if" I get pregnant question was always there. We got a Christmas announcement. Each side folded out. On one side was a little newborn boy and on the other a little one year old girl from China. It was announcing his birth and her adoption. Her "gotcha day" was two weeks after his birth. We decided this was our "worst case scenario" and it looked pretty good to us. We called them and grilled them with questions. This was child #6 & #7 for them. I think that makes us look pretty sane. :D After that, we decided to move forward with adoption. I'm so excited to be "expecting" two. I'm glad we didn't change our minds after I got pregnant.

My husband I and are getting ready to adopt a child but we just recieved some very startling information. So now I feel like we need to research more and more. I was unaware that LDS FS even started an international option for adoption, so we were researching other international adoption agencies. We are so very new and are trying to absorb all of the information that is coming to us rapidly. We need some guidance from other families who have been through international adoption, are LDS and hopefully have adopted older children. How have your children adjusted to the rapid change? And what kind of hoops do you have to jump through? Would you now suggest going domestic and waiting? I am beginning to feel so lost and my husband is growing impatient with all the conflicting information we are receiving. PLEASE HELP:( Kimberly Olsen LV,NV

Kimberly As far as I know LDSFS has discontinued thier international adoption program. I do not know if it will open up again. You may want to call the LDSFS office nearest you. You can find a number and information on the web site. Good luck on your journey! Rachel

Kimberly, There is a group called LDSIntadopt@yahoogroups.com. There is a great deal of experience on this list. Families who have adopted older and younger children from every country imaginable. They can tell you about attachment and bonding and anything else you want to know. There are some great agencies out there and even greater children. Jen