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| Jenn | Posted: Mar 15, 2007 01:37:53 PM
Thanks, Carol! We are definitely ready and can't wait! Looks like Elson and Wendy completed their adoption. I hope Wendy checks in soon to tell us how everything went. I'm sure she is SO excited!!
| | Trish | Posted: Mar 15, 2007 09:26:26 AM
Congratulations Wendy! I noticed your profile was moved to the completed adoptions page. Do you have a little girl or a little boy? You must be so happy! How far did you have to travel? and how long did it take to get the state clearance to take your baby home? Our birth Mom is due May 6. We are not sure about the gender yet, as the baby was never in the right position in the ultrasounds. We've decided on Dana May for a girl, but we're still tossing a couple names around for a boy. Carol, I'd love to hear about your travel experience when you go to pick up the baby, and please let us know if you bring home a girl or boy! Whitney, what was your travel experience like?
| | Carol | Posted: Mar 08, 2007 08:17:56 PM
Hi all!! Wow it seems as if there is a big baby boom going on. Congratulations Trish!! We don't know the gender of the baby. The b/m did have an ultrasound done but didn't want to know the sex. Our adoption specialists is trying to get the b/m's medical records so that we can find out. We are looking at numerous baby names for both sexes but haven't made any decisons....it's so hard to pick out the perfect name. Do you have any names or know your gender? Whitney...thanks for the prayers. Since this is our first adoption experience, we are really nervous. Jenn & Whitney...YOUR NEXT...so get ready!!
| | Jenn | Posted: Mar 08, 2007 05:26:28 PM
Wow, congratulations Trish and Carol! That's great news! We've now passed the 11-month mark. :( Very frustrating and disappointing needless to say. Trish, when is your baby due? Not too long I hope. Very exciting!!! Keep us posted.
| | Trish | Posted: Mar 06, 2007 04:06:16 PM
Congratulations Carol! I'm really happy for you! With your birth mom's due date so close, you must not be able to think about anything else. Do you know the gender? or have any names picked out? Wendy, your birth mom is due this month too; do you have any news yet? I'm happy to say that Jim and I are now matched as well! Our birth mom is due in early May, so we've been busy preparing the nursery and making arrangements to visit her in a few weeks. We also have about a 10 hour drive, from PA to Indiana. Hang in there Jenn, you guys have to be close! Since you've mentioned the profile packet, guess which one was in ours last year?...Wendy's! My best to all of you.
| | Colleen | Posted: Mar 06, 2007 08:22:35 AM
Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Our daughter Cara was born on November 10th! We still can't believe how quickly everything happened for us. We were activated in May, our birth parents picked us in September and Cara was born 2 months later. It was such a wonderful experience! She is so wonderful and the sweetest baby!
Good luck to all of you waiting. Your baby is out there and waiting to be born - it will happen soon enough!!! We truly believe that the birth parents picked us for a reason and they were drawn to us as much as we were to them. A connection truly is made when your birth parents see your profile. There is something that stands out for each person and it's different for everyone.
We are looking forward to growing our family by one more and will definately go through American Adoptions again sometime in the near future - we want Cara to have a brother or sister!!! American Adoptions couldn't have been more wonderful through the whole process.
| | Whitney | Posted: Mar 06, 2007 07:28:56 AM
Carol, that is great news! I will pray all goes well with the travel and everything. We drove 17 hours for our daughter, and it is amazing how easy it was. I guess we were so excited we never got tired or anything. Jenn, I hope it hapens for you all soon and the others who have been waiting. We will have waited a year April 1, which is not awful, but we waited a shorter time with our daughter so I figured it would have already happened.
| | Carol | Posted: Mar 05, 2007 01:37:26 PM
Jenn it was nice to see someone post again. I'm sorry to hear that you guys still haven't had your call!! I know how you feel about just waiting to get the call. Your profile is great and I'm sure you'll get a call at any time!!
I was just about to put a post on about our good news!! We got our phone call on March 1 and the baby is due March 18. We are totally in overdrive mode trying to get everything done. For a long time, it just seemed like we were never going to be picked because we were just so anxious. Now, we got a call and the baby is due in only 2 weeks. We have already started packing our suitcases and trying to make our travel arrangements. We will have to drive from Ky. to Kansas whick is about 10 hours. We are very nervous about everything but as usual the staff at AA is working so nicely with us and coaching us through everything. Please keep us in your prayers that everything goes smoothly. I will certainly do the same for you!!!!
| | Jenn | Posted: Mar 05, 2007 01:55:36 AM
Haven't seen any new posts in awhile ... Anyone have any good news? Or, anyone else about ready to pull their hair out? LOL Here's something funny we recently found out ... friends of our friends are starting their paperwork for their second adoption with AA, and when they received their packet, guess whose profile appeared as one of the examples? Yep, yours truly. We were relieved that AA must actually honestly think that our profile is good, but at the same time, it made us that much more frustrated that we STILL haven't been picked! Anyone else see the irony here? Ours may be a good profile but it certainly hasn't been a successful one! LOL In other news, my husband and I are thinking about either buying a new house or adding onto ours. We knew we'd need to do it eventually (in time for our second child), but we got hit with a big tax bill this year and that lit a fire under us to maybe do it sooner than later. We're also hoping that we can kick Murphy's Law into action ... we figure we'll get the call JUST as we're about to move or the renovations get underway.;) But hey, ANY time is a good time to get "the call!" Hope all is well with all of you. :)
| | Whitney | Posted: Feb 08, 2007 06:23:21 AM
Just wanted to say hello and see how everyone is doing. I hope all is well with those that are waiting to be matched and those waiting to meet their baby. We have now waited a little over 10 months, which is not that bad, especially since I needed to be at my new job a year to take FMLA and ensure I would not lose my job. We entered in the Trad. I because we were afraid we might get a baby too quick in Trad. II and because at the time our daughter was not 2 yet and we did not mind to wait and keep our finances good. Yesterday we decided to join the Trad. II program, so we'll see how that goes. I am getting anxious and ready for it to happen.
| | Laurie Walker | Posted: Jan 31, 2007 03:34:45 PM
Hi there,
I wanted to introduce myself to anyone else reading this. My name is Laurie Walker and I am one of the adoption specialists who helps the families here at the agency. I wanted to provide some feedback to you about the profile process to help make more sense of things for you guys. Digital Graphiti (DGS) does put the profile together after a family sends in their text and photos. Then, the Adoptive Family Specialist for the family reviews the profile and provides feedback on the rough draft DGS puts together. This feedback is based on many years of experience of watching and listening to birth mothers view family profiles. Sometimes we make comments that additional photos might be best if we feel the photos included do not show the family in the best way possible. Other times we make suggestions to improve the text if we feel the birth mother might benefit from hearing more about a subject you are speaking about. Sometimes we also make suggestions to soften the text a bit so that a birth mother doesn’t find something wrongly offensive or possibly misunderstand the message the family is meaning to make in the profile. We do our best to make suggestions to help each family make their profile the best it can be. DGS actually chooses between the wild cards submitted by the family so I would encourage all families to notify their social worker if they feel DGS did not choose the best wild cards for the profile. Although we do the best we can with helping the profile connect to as many birth mothers as possible, we can never know exactly why each birth mother will choose the family she ultimately decides to choose. For example, I might think it’s perfectly fine that a family include a photo of their dog. Several birth mothers could actually love seeing that photo in the profile and actually have a better view of that family based on their love for animals. Other birth mothers could be fearful of dogs and not wish to choose the family because of this. So, just know we do our best to always help each family be seen as favorable to as many birth mothers as possible, but in the end, all birth mothers are different so it’s very difficult to know exactly what to include in the profile. You know your family best and I would encourage you to think about what makes you unique that would help you choose your family if you were the birth mother. Wishing everyone the best in their adoption pursuits!!
| | Jenn | Posted: Jan 30, 2007 02:44:20 PM
Doris, congratulations on the birth of your daughter! I'm so glad everything worked out for you. They always say that the best way to get pregnant is to try to adopt. ;) Wendy, thanks for the info! I'm sure you two are getting excited! March will be here before you know it. Can't wait to hear how everything went once you bring your little bundle of joy home. Be sure to check in when you get a chance and let us know how you guys are doing. Carol, I know exactly how you feel. We looked for profile advice from our friends and family recently. Although we didn't see anything "wrong" with our profile, we assumed that something about it just wasn't working. That may or may not have been true. As everyone says, it just takes that one special connection, and who knows whether a profile change will make a difference. Having said that, we did do some major revamping of our text. In truth, it's closer to what I initially envisioned. Digital Graphiti had picked different sections of what we had written than what I would have chosen. We figured they knew what they were doing and left it as they selected. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they don't know what they're doing. But ultimately, since we've been waiting almost 10 mths now, we decided a change couldn't hurt and we went with more of what we would have initially picked. Here's to hoping that spring brings stork visits all around! ;)
| | Wendy | Posted: Jan 29, 2007 03:09:32 PM
Oh my goodness Doris it is so good to hear from you!! Congratulations on the birth of your daughter!! I have often thought about you and hoped/prayed everything worked out. I cannot believe that we decided on the same girls name! I know we had talked about names before and we both liked names like Elena, Elaina etc. We finally settled on Alaina Kathryn. I love both spellings (Alaina & Alayna) and it was really hard to decide which one to use. Have you been getting compliments on her name? Thanks everyone for all the well wishes!! The closer it gets the more excited we are getting of course. Jenn - we have not actually spoken with our potential birth mom. We communicate through our social worker at American and have sent mail. I am really anxious to hear from her why she chose us. We were told that she was looking for a family that communicated well, was down to earth and had a close family/community. JenT - I guess your time is almost here. I will be thinking of you all and praying that things go smoothly and you are soon home with your beautiful miracle!!
| | Carol | Posted: Jan 22, 2007 11:04:47 AM
Hi everyone!! I'm Carol (our portfolio is listed as "Nick & Carol" on the website). We were activated with AA on April 28, 2006 and have not yet been matched with a birthmother. So, I feel your heartaches with those of you who have been waiting 9 months or so without a match also. I'm getting nervous that what if we won't get chosen. I would appreciate any suggestions on our portfolio. Thanks so much!! and all of you still waiting are in my prayers everyday!! Hopefully, 2007 will be the year for all of us!!!!
| | Doris | Posted: Jan 19, 2007 07:42:58 PM
Wendy, CONGRATULATIONS!!! I have been praying for you for a long time. I have been checking this chat occasionally to see if you have had any news. I am SO very happy for you. You will truly be blessed. We are enjoying our almost three month baby girl, Alayna!! Word of advice, get your rest now because it will become a thing of the past. It is worth EVERY minute of it !!!!
| | Meg | Posted: Jan 19, 2007 09:08:18 AM
Hi Jen! I just wanted to let you know that my husband and I are also waiting to be activated for agency assisted. It is nice to find someone who will be going through the same process....I was told that we may not wait long at all. Did you specify if you wanted a boy or girl? To us, it doesn't matter because if I was pregnant, you don't have a choice! But, we prefer a boy, since we already have a girl. As long as the baby is happy, I really don't care!! Keep me posted....it is just a matter of time now!
| | JenT | Posted: Jan 17, 2007 01:46:03 PM
Wendy - congratulations!!!!!!!!!!! I know you have been waiting a long time and have been such a great support to everyone on this forum. Hoping the next month or two goes by quickly! The mom we are matched with has about 2 more weeks until her due date so we are starting to get everything ready and trying not to freak out!!!! Hope everyone else is hanging in there and trying to remember that it will happen for you!
| | Trish | Posted: Jan 17, 2007 09:46:23 AM
Congratulations Wendy! I am truly very happy and excited for you!! This baby is extremely lucky to be getting such a sweet and caring mother. March is not far away at all. :)
| | Whitney | Posted: Jan 17, 2007 08:33:01 AM
Wendy, I am so excited and happy for you and your husband. The baby will be here before you know it. I pray the whole process will go smooth for you all. I don't think it hit me for a while how real it was. Even when we got to hold her and see her, it was surreal. I pray it will happen soon for you Jenn and Trish. Once you get the call and eventually the baby, the wait is forgotten.
| | Jenn | Posted: Jan 16, 2007 08:01:15 PM
Wendy, CONGRATULATIONS!! What fabulous news and even better timing! I'm sure your holiday was much sweeter with having gotten such great news. Will you have to travel far? Did she say what made her pick you guys? I'm always curious as to what birth mothers are looking for, as it's so difficult to relate when you're not in their position. How many times have you been able to talk to her so far? Well Trish, that's one more off both of our lists of people who have waited as long as us. While I'm certainly happy for Wendy, it does get ever more frustrating, doesn't it?
| | Wendy | Posted: Jan 16, 2007 01:19:13 PM
Hi girls - We do have news!! : ) We got THE CALL before Christmas. It made the holidays so much sweeter!! The baby is due in March and we are not sure yet if it is a boy or a girl. Trish and Jenn hang in there!! When it happens it will be perfect and it will take your breath away. I felt like I could barely breath for a couple of days. I still sometimes feel like I am walking around in a dream. It is so amazing. I cannot believe how much we already love the woman that has chosen us to parent her child!! There is just nothing else quite like it. Jenn, I think it is great to make changes to your profile if it would make you feel better and help to pass the time. It does help sometimes to feel like you are doing SOMETHING!! I think that your profile is great though and it is just a matter of time. There have been some fabulous couples with great profiles that have waited longer than anticipated.
Jen - welcome! I think you will have success with American in a fairly short amount of time.
| | Jenn | Posted: Jan 15, 2007 08:10:30 PM
Welcome Jen! Hang in there, it won't be long til you're activated now. If you're doing Agency Assisted, I don't think your wait will be long at all with A.A. I'm sure you'll have your new baby before long!:) As for us ... still waiting. :( We've decided to completely revamp our profile now that we've hit (and now passed) the 9-mth mark. We're changing a couple sections, a few pictures, etc. We're hoping this will help. Anyone else have any good news?
| | Jen | Posted: Jan 12, 2007 02:06:41 PM
Hi everyone...we are in the process of becoming activated in the agency assist program. Everything is complete except for four sentences our social worker needs to add to our homestudy! We have been waiting for these 4 items since Dec 22nd- so frustrating!! We have been waiting for 2 years for our first baby using a facilitaor in CA. We decided to expand to American Adoptions b/c it was very successful for our good friends! So with all the waiting talk I know exactly how you are feeling. We have been matched three times and all 3 have not worked out. I am just hoping to be activated by Jan 20th which was the due date of the last birthmom we matched with.
| | Trish | Posted: Jan 09, 2007 10:10:05 AM
Thanks Whitney and JenT for sharing your stories, I really appreciate it! Maggie, it is not necessary to have the nursery completed for the home study visit. When the social worker visited our home, we showed her which room would be the babies room, and told her a little about our plans to transform it. She told us that most couples didn't have it prepared before the home study was completed, and that it was not a problem. In fact, we still haven't furnished the room for the baby yet. I sort of dread walking by a furnished nursery, knowing there's not a baby there yet, and not knowing how long it will be. The wait is hard enough as it is. Still, we are doing little things here and there to prepare, and will finish it quickly when we get that call!
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American Adoptions, a private adoption agency founded on the belief that lives of children can be bettered through adoption, provides safe adoption services to children, birth parents and adoptive families by educating, supporting and coordinating necessary services for adoptions throughout the United States. For more information on American Adoptions please call 1-800-ADOPTION (236-7846).
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