A Different Kind of Flock

If you’ve read my About Me page (alternately titled Who is this Chick?) you may remember that one topic I might write about here is infertility.  Another might be building a family.  This is the first of hopefully many of those posts.  You see, we are about to begin a long, wonderful journey that, God willing, will result in bedtime stories and boo-boo kissing and toys strewn about the house.

Hubz and I are presently child-free.  That hasn't been our choice, but it's the hand we've been dealt.  We've made 2 attempts at IVF (in vitro fertilization for those of you lucky enough to NOT know what that stands for) and they were unsuccessful.  For the past few years, adoption has been on our hearts.  We've gone back and forth about whether we would prefer an International or Domestic adoption.  Hubz has been more pro-domestic.  His argument is why shouldn’t we first help a child in our own country that needs a family?  I have been primarily pro-international as there are children in orphanages which seems so much more tragic than foster care although I could be wrong AND, there is less likelihood of birth parent interference when adopting internationally. 

But, up until the past few months, it's just been talk.

We have finally decided to pursue it and sign on with an agency.  We've met with an agency that focuses more on Domestic placements and next month we meet with another agency that is more focused on International placements.  There are benefits and disadvantages to both.  Either way we go, it will be a very long and expensive process so we want to make as informed of a decision as we can. 

At this point, I honestly don’t know which path we’ll choose.  I got good vibes from the folks we visited with last month, but I’m learning more about the agency we’re visiting next month and they seem like a great group as well.  We actually attended their Financing Adoption seminar a couple weeks ago and the fact that:  a)  They offer the seminar at no charge and b)  They offer it for anyone regardless of which agency you’re signing with, says a lot about the agency itself.

While we were there we met a woman who, along with her husband, has been waiting for a domestic placement for over 18 months and they are now changing their course and pursuing an international adoption.  That was a little scary for me.  18 months and now you’re basically starting over?  I pray that doesn’t happen to us.

Have you adopted a child?  Has someone close to you adopted?  What can you tell us about your or their experience?  What questions should we be asking?

I’ll keep you updated as we move further down this path and begin this process.