How / when did you and your spouse decide to adopt?

I really want to look into adoption agencies. We've had a few failed pregnancies and while it's not impossible for me to have children, I know it's going to be very difficult. I know the adoption process can be a long one and I'd like to meet with a few since I know nothing about this. DH thinks I'm rushing into this and thinks we should try a little longer. If we do ever have a successful pregnancy, I'm perfectly fine with having an adopted child and a biological child. How did you and DH discuss it and know it was right for the both of you?

Re: How / when did you and your spouse decide to adopt?

DH and I have been faced with fertility issues. We had DD through IVF almost fours ago. We always knew that we wanted two children. When it came time for us to try for baby #2, we again turned to IVF, which did not work out for us. We always knew that we would adopt. DH is adopted and I have relatives who were adopted so it was something that we always wanted to do. We are now in the waiting phase. Our profile has been out there since 5/11.

Good luck with your journey!

Re: How / when did you and your spouse decide to adopt?

We did a lot of talking and a lot of reading. We read books, blogs and some chatboards. DH was always pretty comfortable with the idea of adopting. I had some trouble coming to grips with the fact that I'd never be pg again. we went to some orientation sessions at adoption agencies and called attorneys to get an idea of what the process entails. Finally (and I do mean "finally" - took us about 10 months to make a move) we made our decision and started on this new path.
Best of luck to you!

Re: How / when did you and your spouse decide to adopt?

Thanks ladies for answering me. Do you think a good place to start is contacting adoption agencies? Any recommendations?

Re: How / when did you and your spouse decide to adopt?

in my case, i was born with Turner's Syndrome. Basically, instead of 2 "X" chromsomes, i only have like 1 or 1 1/2. one of the major parts of this is that my ovaries aren't totally formed, so i don't make eggs. so, having a bio. child is basically out of the question.
my parents talked to me about all of this from the time i was like 7... so i basically grew up knowing i would become a mom through adoption. (my mom would say "you'll be able to be a mom somebody- you'll just have to do it a little bit differently than other people")
Dh and i have been researching the whole thing for a long time. we decided on international adoption. (Dh just wasnt comfortable with domestic adoption because of the bigger chance that a birth mom could change her mind and decide to keep the baby-TOO heartbreaking!!!)
SOOO we decided on adopting from Korea. we like that the medical care in korea is pretty much the same as it is here. also, while they're waiting to be adopted, the kids are in foster homes- not orphanages. SO much better for attachment/adjustment.
we found Holt International Children's Services. they're a GREAT agency thats been in operation for over 50 years!! so far, they've been amazing! answer every question so quickly and just so on top of everything! we started the process in February-- and were matched with our son in August!!! He turned a year old on November 9th- there is stilla bunch of paperwork to be done, but we should be bringing him home sometime in the spring (when hes about 18 months old)
anyway- long store, but hope it helps a little bit! feel free to FM me becasue like i said i've done a bunch of research in all the different areas of adoption. good luck!!

Re: How / when did you and your spouse decide to adopt?

Wow - congrats ml110!!

As far as adoption agencies, I don't have one to recommend but I would suggest finding some locally that have orientation sessions. Wide Horizons has orientations and we found that one a good way to start exploring agencies. We didn't end up with Wide Horizons but it was a helpful workshop. You'll want to explore whether or not you want domestic or international (or both) and then find agencies that handle one or the other or both.

Re: How / when did you and your spouse decide to adopt?

Good question... I have wanted to be a mother for as long as I can remember. After getting married it took my husband a little while to feel he was ready to start trying. We tried on our own for a year and then went through 3-4years of infertility treatments. When my body and marriage couldn't take the treatments any longer, we considered other options. Adoption was always an option for my husband. It took me a little longer to come to terms with the fact that I would never get pregnant.
Basically, I realized that I wanted to be a mother. I am also a teacher and have seen my "different" types of families. For some reason I have always been drawn to children who have been adopted. Maybe this is why..Bottom line is my husband and I are going to have a family together...just not the way I thought we would originally.
The good news is we have been matched with a birthmom and if all goes according to plan, we will have our baby this winter.
Good luck to all in your decision making. I understand how difficult it is and it is an individual choice.

Re: How / when did you and your spouse decide to adopt?

I've always known I wanted to adopt, even before I knew I was adopted. I have no reason to believe I can't have a bio child, but we want to have both. Plan is to look into adoption after the birth of first bio child (I'm not getting younger).

Good Luck! I'm so happy to hear about people choosing adoption!