Sigh...

I have thought about adopting for many years, since i was a teengager and before I had kids of my own.  Over the years, even before I got my four boys, I have thought about adoption and read many adoption blogs/forums.  Many times, I have searched waiting child listings, and though I always thought the children looked sweet, I never had a child jump out at me as one I could call my own, if that makes sense.  Yesterday, while looking at a waiting child listing from Russia, I saw a little girl that I wanted to adopt so bad.  I don't know why, but the look on her face reminded me of my boys and how they look as babies.  She really stuck out to me and now her face is plastered in my mind. I've never had that happen before.  She is special needs and has a missing foot.

 

I did mention it to DH but he won't consider adoption for another year or two.  One, because of the cost, and two, because our youngest is only 4 months old and he wants the baby to have some time to grow up before we take another child on.  I totally understand that--but by the time we might be ready, that little girl will be gone from the waiting child list.  Well, HOPEFULLY she will be gone.  I hope so bad she finds a nice home asap, even though it wont' be with me.

What are the waiting child listings that you check?

 thanks!

Is it Tasha on Reece's Rainbow? She is so cute. I am in love with Marissa and also can't get her out of my mind. I wish I could take the plunge and do it. Maybe remind your husband that adoption is a lengthy process and your son may be over 1 by the time you actually bring her home. The costs are high, but it's cheap compared to the long-term costs of raising a child. No matter how children come to you they're always expensive, but isn't it worth it in the end?

Yes, it is Tasha on Reece's Rainbow.   Marissa is also very cute.  I contacted the site and they said they could not give me any more info on Tasha and because she is from the Ukraine, her medical info is likely incomplete.  I want to knwo if she has any other issues like FAS, Epilepsy, etc...just so know what I could be dealing with.  And Dh certinaly would not go for it unless we had more info.  SIGH!!!!!  I wish someone could help me find out more!

I'm not an expert but she doesn't appear to have facial features of FAS. She has a defined philtrum and from what I can tell eye shape and ear placement look typical. It's a shame you can't get more medical information before you commit.

Tasha is in Ukraine, not Russia. It is a 2 1/2 week trip which both parents must go, 2nd trip is about 2 weeks just one parent.

Also, it is not possible to detect if a child has FAS by facial features. Many children have FAS with no facial features at all.

I really just wanted to weight in here, as FAS is a very big "special need".

If you want to know more about Ukraine and RR, please PM me. Ashli has had an "OK" experience, but mine has NOT been good at all so far!

I've been following your blog Seegal and I'm sorry things aren't working out the way you'd planned. You're in my prayers. I'm not ready to make a commitment to adopt yet, but I'll pm you for advice if we reach that point.

My experience with RR has been fine for the most part. The "drama" during my experience was not caused by RR, but by another non-RR family who wanted to adopt the same child. RR could have handled it a bit differently in my opinion but overall....it was fine. I got my girl and that was the goal. Would I adopt through RR again? No...because we are DONE. Our family is complete. Unless we win the lottery....twice. LOL! So if that happens, I would give RR a call.

Adopting from any EE country is a leap of faith. Russia does tend to have more detailed medicals than Ukraine. At my SDA appt however, I was told about 3 "issues" she has other than Down syndrome. But once I got to the baby home, they said no, none of those are correct or have resolved, but....she does have this and that. Okie dokie. Now mind you, they are NOT a big deal and will be very treatable but they are common issues in children with DS so I was half-way expecting them anyways.

FAS is a tough one. Some kids have NO facial features of it - some are very pronounced. It depends on when the mom drank what during the course of her pregnancy.

I think it is important to decided what you CANNOT accept/handle and go from there. For us, it was FAS and a child who would never be able to walk. At this time in our lives with 4 other young children, those were the 2 SNs we were not prepared for.