First off I want to say we are overwhelmed with the positive comments and love we have received since announcing our intent to adopt Danny. When you tell someone you are CHOOSING to adopt a child with special needs you never know what the reaction will be. In fact I fully (and I mean fully) expected people to treat us like we are crazy. What I am trying to say is thank you! Thank you for being positive. Thank you for asking questions. Thank you for offering to help!
I am going to try to answer some of those questions here. Feel free to ask away if you want to know something, I will do my best to keep you all in the loop, however please understand there are some things we may not be able to answer at certain points.
1. How long will the adoption take? at this point we aren't totally sure. originally we thought around 6 months but we are now hearing it might be 12 to 14 months. we are still holding out hope that we will have danny home before his 4th birthday.
2. Have we/when will we get to meet Danny? we have only met danny through his Reece's Rainbow's website and photo so far. we will get to meet Danny before bringing him home, but don't have dates yet. this is up to us and getting the mountains of paperwork turned in as quickly as we can and the governments in two countries cooperating.
3. What does this cost? this question is a doozie! ultimately I don't know, but the estimate is quite overwhelming...this is part of the reason we are fundraising. (we are also blessed to have employers who will reimburse us part of the costs once the adoption is complete, but we have to front the money.)
4. What can I do to help? we will be fundraising as soon as I am rescued from the mountain of paperwork I am under so you can absolutely help then. UNTIL then you can pray, tell your family & friends about Danny and Reece's Rainbow, and send us ideas for fundraising that you would participate in if you heard about it...read: fun stuff!
A final note, Reece's Rainbow has respectfully asked us to not include the country where Danny currently resides as public info on our blog, facebook, etc. I can tell you (whisper in your ear!) if you want to know, but you will notice that I've removed as many references of the country from the blog as I can find.
Thank you all again for following along and being loving and supportive! We have the best family and friends we could ask for.
I am so beyond excited for you and in awe of what you are doing. Taking on a baby boy with special needs is so selfless and loving. I know that God will bless this journey. Cling to Him as you travel through the ups and downs of the adoption process.
ReplyDeleteAlways praying for you! I know that even if you encounter some trials along the way, you will ultimately be blessed!I'm watching as God is already blessing you :)
ReplyDeleteJessica, Got your post on my blog. We'd love to meet you guys sometime soon. You'll be driving right past us on your way to Austin to get all that apostilling done! You can e-mail me directly at kjakubauskas at austin dot rr dot com.
ReplyDeleteHi Jessica!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Jessica and my husband and I are adopting a little girl with ds from RR as well. Part of our journey to adoption was losing our daughter from turner syndrome as well. Congratulations and so excited to follow your journey!
Jessica
Yes, lets definitely chat through email! Mine is jessica.lim@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI have found that I can foretell the future as far as other people's reactions to the news! If I know the person well (like my mother or a certain friend) I know how they are going to react. Whether they will be supportive, call me crazy either out loud or in their own head, want to help, worry that I will ask them for help, etc. That is why I am so grateful to have the RR yahoo support group, and other mothers like you. Only someone who has experienced it themselves can understand how you can see picture of a child living thousands of miles away and feel like that child is your child. I hope we get to meet you guys sometime soon.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
www.moveanymountian.blogspot.com