Roll call anyone?

We are in the same boat as you...although you are way ahead of us! I will be thrilled when you guys are finally matched with your baby after such a long wait! We are also a non-Colombian family adopting via ICBF and are trying to patiently wait our turn - some days are easier than others! But...I did see the new list posted at [url=http://www.adecop.org/web/index.php]ADECOP. Federacin de Asociaciones de Adopcin Internacional[/url] which looks like some of the ages are moving faster than before ;) I am sure that Sumerce will post the math soon ;) Here is hoping to a shorter than 44 month wait! Our blog is in my signature...

We have been waiting also for a long time. We were approved to adopt a 3-4 year old, but are currently trying to change that officially to a sibling pair ages 0-6. We have been having problems with updating our home study. As a result, what should have been a short process has stretched into months.

I check out this site a few times a year to see what's going on in the world of adoption from Colombia. Our daughter has been home for nearly 5 years now. WoW!!

We are back!

Waiting 30 months!! We are just ahead of Hartclan. Also we are non Colombian through ICBF for 0-24 months. We have just celebrated waiting 14 months. We are busy with our 4 year old celebrating Halloween today. What a magical time! Maureen

I just got back from Colombia, my wife is still there, finishing things up. While we were there, there were 2 other families adopting small (12-18 mo) children. Everyone was ecstatic. So take heart everyone. It will happen, and your day will come, and it will be worth it.

I rarely check in because we don't have much spare time, but love to encourage and be encouraged. I'm not sure what my signature line says any more and don't have time to update it today... But, we have a 4 1/2 year old son adopted through Ayudame at 4 months old in 2006 and an almost 6 year old daughter adopted through Ayudame at 4 months old in 2005 as well. In 2008 we returned and adopted a sibling group (then ages 5, 8, and 10). It has been a very difficult journey for our family and we placed our son (the then 5 year old) for adoption a year after we returned home for a myriad of private and heartbreaking reasons. He is doing well in his new adoptive family. Our big girls, are now ages 10 and 12. Our 10 year old suffers from RAD and severe PTSD as well as cognitive delays. Our 12 year old is flourishing wonderfully in our family. We have learned so much about therapeutic parenting, selfless love, and patience. We rejoice in the opportunity to parent our children. Each member of our family is learning and growing together, though it has been, and some days continues to be, hard at times. My desire is not to discourage anyone from older child adoption, but to be a voice of realistic hope, a willing ear, and someone to cheer you on if you should need it. Blessings, Megan

Congratulations BillTheCat!! I hope your wife and baby will be coming home soon!!

meganicolson - I noticed that you adopted an older sibling group from Colombia and that they were home a year after you applied.... I'm also noticing that those of you who are waiting for younger kids have been waiting for years. We were initially put off by the long wait time, but the more we thought about it, the more we adjusted our preferred age range (thanks for your part in that, BilltheCat, btw), and realized that it may mean a shorter wait. We're hoping for a 3-8 yo, or two sibs, not expecting perfect health. Could anyone here speak to the realistic wait time from dossier to referral for us? Agencies and the state dept just note "shorter wait times for older kids or siblings", but how much shorter? Are we talking 3 years instead of 4? Or maybe 12-18mos? For us it will mean the difference between going with an established program (Colombia) versus risking it with a pilot program (Costa Rica). :thanks:

There should be a new waitlist soon if you want to check here: [url=http://www.adecop.org/web/index.php]ADECOP. Federacin de Asociaciones de Adopcin Internacional[/url] According to the last list posted on August 30th, Siblings up to 8 years families had quick referrals. Siblings up to 7 years families waited about 1 year Siblings up to 6 years families waited about 1 years 7 months Siblings up to 5 years families waited about 2 years 10 months This list is for families on the ICBF waitlist who are non-Colombian. Unfortunately, things can and often do change. When we started our journey almost 4 years ago, we were expecting a referral after 12-18 months. I thought by this point we would already have two children! It could also change the other way and go faster. Here is a great blog [url=http://raisingcolombiankids.blogspot.com/search/label/ICBF%20Wait%20List]Colombian Culture, Colombia Adoption and Raising Colombian Kids: ICBF Wait List[/url]

Yes, our wait was one year for the sibling group of older children (ages 5, 8, and 10). Our wait for our first infant from Colombia was near 2 years and for the second infant was only 16 months (both from Ayudame) and we were told to prepare for 2-3 years for each of those adoptions, so the time frame does change. I would say that while older child adoption is wonderful and challenging - and wonderfully challenging. It would be best to go into the process of older child (non-infant) adoption because you want to adopt older children and you understand the complications that brings, but not because it would lessen the time frame. Waiting for your child(ren) is hard if it is one year, two years or more - but when you get home life is drastically different parenting a child who has been hurt by family and exposed to years of extreme trauma. (I understand this is not the case for every child.) Not to discourage you from adopting older children but to caution against using a quicker waiting time frame as a reason to adopt older children. Thanks Frantastic for adding the current waitlist times to the discussion. Blessings!

Thanks to you both. We're not looking to adopt older kids due to the time frame, but we are using the timeframe as a way to help us decide on a country. Why did all of you go with Colombia, especially since it does seem to have one of the longer waits? We're interested in adopting a Hispanic child or sibs (DH is Latino, and we both speak Spanish). So that's where we're coming from. :thanks:

We chose Colombia for several reasons (which are in no particular order: we liked the adoption program and how the children are cared for after relinquishment; we were interested in an Hispanic culture; and our church has a sister church in Colombia.Good luck in your decision.Rebecca

When we began our process the wait was only 12-18 months. We also wanted a baby under 2 years old and love the Latino culture. We considered Guatemala but at the time, the Guatemala program was just starting to have issues.