2216mom

I am pretty sure I called and talked to (Renee?) a good six months ago, but I just can't seem to find my notes. Yes, I will be sure to talk to someone at Abrazo again and get my specific questions answered. I was just curious if there were some "three timers" here on the forum, and if the wait is longer/more difficult than previous ( I assume that it is, but if you are anything like me, you are busy busy busy....) Cameon in NC

Hello! I live in NC and have known about Abrazo for MANY years - at least 10 years! We adopted an 8yo boy from foster care, and he is now almost 18 and plans to enter the military sometime next year. It has been a long road with him - he has fetal alcohol exposure and attachment disorder, but I think he will be ready to leave the nest soon. We have a wonderful 5 yo daughter, adopted as a newborn through an agency here in NC. She is a fully open adoption. We have a sweet 3.5 year old daughter from China as well, that we received when she was 11 months old. As much as we would like to adopt from China again, it saddens me that our daughter from China will never have the connection to her birthfamily that my other daughter will have. For that reason, we are considering domestic adoption again. I really think the costs will be about the same. I am 40 years old, with documented infertility, and my husband is 42 years old. I know Abrazo is a wonderful agency - I have been "watching" them for many years, and I know we would be in good hands if we decided to apply with them. I am worried that our family size may be consided "large" by some agencies. Ironically, the agency I used with my daugthers is a Catholic Agency, and they consider us to be a "large" family! We are traditional Roman Catholic, and homeschool as well. I am a stay-at-home mother. This may be an issue for some birthmoms. Maybe not. My daughters, who look so different, are inseparable. The do EVERYTHING together. They sleep in the same room, go to the bathroom together, and never play without the other. It is so rewarding to see their love for each other, a love that will remain (I pray) long after my husband and I are gone. It is my hope that someday a BP will see that great love that we have for our children, and the love that they have for each other, and want her child to be a part of our family. I read somewhere that a child told his parents that "brothers and sisters are friends that never have to go home". When I see my girls play, I realize how true that statement is. (Then a quarrel breaks out and the moment is lost!) Would love to hear from others who have adopted using Abrazo for child #3 or more. As yet, I have been unable to get my husband to agree to adopting an AA child, so it would be Cauc/Hispanic for us. We would also consider toddlers and preschoolers. Blessings, Cameon in NC