Our Adoption Journey

 

We are so excited about the journey we have started -- the journey to find a child we can love and share our lives with as our own. 

 

Our HOPE is that somewhere out there, there is a child meant for us through adoption. 

 

Somewhere out there, there is a birth mother considering one of the most difficult decisions she will ever face -- to give her child a different kind of life through adoption. We cannot begin to imagine how hard it must be to make such a decision, but we KNOW it is a decision of mercy and real love to carry a child knowing you will not raise him/her.

 

Somewhere out there are little hands we can't wait to hold, little eyes that we hope to show the world, and little feet we hope to join on life's journey.  Those little hands, eyes and feet will not contain our DNA, but we know they will hold our hearts.

 

Somewhere out there is our "somewhere child."

 

 

We've been asked LOTS of questions about our plans for adoption. Here are just some answers, but we are not afraid to answer your questions. If we don't know the answer, then we are glad you asked so we can find the answers ourselves through thought and prayer!

 

Q: Are you planning on adopting a baby? How old of a child are you hoping for?

A: Our answer, based on research, our life, Kylie's wishes and what we believe to be best for our family is... a HEALTHY child, boy or girl, 0 months- 28 months, and yes, we are open to siblings/twins.

 

Q: Are you adopting domestically or internationally?

A: We are adopting domestically. There are children all over the world who need loving homes, so this decision is not easy. For our family, we feel a domestic adoption is the best fit.

 

Q: What does your timeline look like?

A: We don't really know. We are assuming it will take 1 year or more. We are hopeful that it will take less time, but you have no way of knowing. Adopting takes time:

1. For us a big chunk of time was spent making decisions before we could even act. Time to consider domestic/international. Time to look into agencies. Time to take a look at your finances. Time to have serious discussions as a family. Time to find an agency to do a home study if you are adopting out of state or internationally. Time to assess your support system. DONE!
2. Next, you need to APPLY to an agency for a home study. Once you find an agency, the paperwork is pretty simple -- add a photo and a check for the application fee and you are set. DONE!
3. Once you are ACCEPTED by a home study agency, then the real work begins... the paper trail, doctors visits, references, interviews, prepping your home, a complete financial and criminal background check, and once you are done with all that, a final home visit.  WE ARE HERE... WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE HOME STUDY AGENCY.  They say this portion of the process can take up to 90 days to complete.
4. At the end of the home study, if you are successful, the HS agency then presents you with final, notarized and approved documents you can use to adopt through an agency of your choice. We are adopting through an agency in Florida (hopefully).
5. Okay, home study complete. Now you apply (or if you've already applied, they are awaiting the HS report) to be accepted by an adoption agency. 
6. If accepted by an agency, you then pay some fees up front and begin creating your profile and adoption book to be seen by potential birth mothers.
7. You wait.
8. On one, GLORIOUS day, the agency will call and let you know they believe they have found you a match. The mother considers you, you consider the child and what information you're provided. If you accept and the child is not yet born, you begin a journey with a mother giving you the greatest gift you will ever receive.
9. You wait. You pray...for the birth mother, for the baby, for your family and for it all to work out.
10. With faith that it will work out, we believe once the baby is born, no paperwork can be signed until 48 hours after the birth. At that point, God willing... our "somewhere child" will not be somewhere... he or she or they will be home.

Q: What type of adoption are you doing-- open, semi-open, closed?

A: We are open to all types. We know that many different circumstances lead to adoption, and some mothers may find an open adoption too painful. We also know that some mothers may want to get updates throughout their lives and stay connected that way. We can't say for sure what this relationship will look like, but if a woman is willing to give us this precious gift and wants to be part of our child's life, we would never deny her (or the child) the opportunity to LOVE!

 

 

Q: How much is this adoption going to cost?

A: We were simply AMAZED by the cost to adopt a child! When we did our research, we discovered that to work with a reputable agency, adopt out of state, and cover our legal fees, the adoption will likely cost us $40,000+ for a healthy baby with no serious substance abuse through a traditional adoption process.

 

• Home Study: $3,500-$4,000 for home study fees, documents required, notarizing items, etc.
• Agency Application fee: $750
• "Advertising fees": $3,500-$4,000 for agency to share our file with mothers, work interagency, and for us to put together our adoption books. $2,000 of this is due with the application.
• Upon match with an expecting birth mother: $17,500 which includes legal fees, review of home study, processing fees, counseling, and a fund to care for the birthmother and labor expenses.
• Upon birth of the baby and placement: $15K for agency fee.
• Interstate Compact: $1,000
• Travel: We estimate this will cost us $1,500 for two trips.
• Follow up home visit through our home state: Still unsure of this cost



 

So... we are hitting the ground running! Besides the process itself, our greatest focus is raising the funds to make this dream a reality. Here is our plan so far:

 

1. We have started a YouCaring page set up to track our fundraising efforts. 
2. I have plans to get crafty! I will post pics of crafty items along with their cost to make. I will donate my time/labor to make the items in return for your donation to cover the cost and whatever amount you'd like to donate for the labor.
3. We are going to have an adoption fundraiser yard sale in September. Will post more info once K's soccer schedule firms up. :)
4. We have more plans that will take some time and we welcome any ideas you may have!