We learned more information about another adoption avenue over the past week. It is adopting through the County of San Diego. I spoke with 2 people that adopted through the county and they had good outcomes. The pros are: there is minimal cost to adopt, the county pays $450/month and medical insurance until the child is considered an adult, all adoption and parenting classes are free and a county worker would be assigned to the adopting couple or person (no run-around). This all sounded like a better direction for us; however, we've talked about it more and did our homework. The cons are: the county is persistent on placing an older child into adoptive families homes, the wait time for a newborn is about double the time than at Adoption Center of San Diego and they don't always work as closely with the birth moms, if at all, to find out more about their background, addictions and medical history. Adoption Center of San Diego requires all birth moms to take a support group class bi-weekly so the birth-moms can learn from counselors and their peers about the adoption process, their emotions and more.
Needless to say, we've decided to continue on the path we began with Adoption Center of San Diego. We now have 9 days until our orientation (but who's counting). The 17th is when the ball begins to roll. Mike & I have already decided that our office will become the nursery and we plan on moving our office into the guest room. Sorry future guests, our couch will be the new guest room, but the plus it that the television is nice and the refrigerator is closer. :o) This may show my eagerness...I made my 1st purchase for the unknown baby. Jammies--not a good picture and it's a bit wrinkled, but mom made me promise to post a picture (love you mom!!)...
Lots of hugs and love,
Brenda
Good choice, sister!!! Don't look at insurance and money given each month - you will have insurance as soon as you become parents. And $450 sounds nice and all, but having a county worker dropping in doesn't sound all that great to me... You will need time to bond on your own, without someone coming in to "check" on you. If you feel you have problems with bonding and attachment, there is a ton of help out there, and you can choose who you go see, instead of having an assigned person that you just might not like all that much...
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'm really excited for you. You made a great choice, and I know you'll be a wonderful mommy!!!
Jammies look so darn cute - isn't it exciting to shop for your unknown baby?! By the time Ryan was born, I had a closet full of stuff. He had more clothes than Erik and I put together! :)