Has anyone here adopted two children at once?

[Kerri]

Well I just got off the phone with our social worker. A birthmother is considering placing her babes with us. Yes, you read that right. Two children. Am I up to this? It would be good because it would mean we could be done, and it would cost alot less to do it all at once. A 3-year-old girl and a 2-month-old boy. She's considering one other family aswell, so there's a 50/50 chance we could have them next week! The almost-4-year-old is in foster care and the birthmama has partial custody of the baby. I called Dave and he said to go ahead and say we'll do it if she chooses us. So I called the worker back and she said she might set up a conference call tonight! Oh my goodness!

The logistics are a little tricky! We only have a car, not a van. We have one spare bedroom which wouldn't be spare anymore. I guess we'll need to get bunks eventually, and a van. But I have faith it will work out as it should if these are our children. We'll just take two cars to church until we figure something else out. I don't know if they have any issues or anything. But the social worker said the birthmother was very touched by our "dear birthparents" letter and it made her quite emotional and she is leaning heavily toward us, although her Mum is suggesting another couple. We shall see. It is in God's hands now.

Kerri

[Brooke]

My uncle adopted 2 brothers from a Romanian orphanage when they were 4 and 5 years old. That's the most experience I have with that.

Good luck! It's very exciting! I think it's wonderful that the children would be able to grow up together. The logistics will work out. You and your DH have enough love to make it work.

[Billy]

My parents just adopted my 2 nephews, ages 6 and 8. They had to get bunk beds so they could share a room also because they only had the one extra room but things seem to be working out great for them :nod: Good luck to you!! :hug99:

[Tara]

I have no experience with this but I wanted to say GOOD LUCK!! If anyone can do it, you and your family can! :bighug:

[SarahK]

Oh, best of luck to you, Kerri!! :bighug:

[Mrs.Greevy]

just wanted to share with the GOOD LUCK

[Kerri]

They aren't placing the babes with us. The grandma felt we were too far away for her to visit often. So I guess they're going to the other couple they were considering. That's okay. I'm relieved, but also pretty sad. They will sure make the other family happy, and I'm excited for them. Dave is more upset than I am. He was really excited too. Back on the rollercoaster I guess. It will work out when it's right.

Kerri

[Brooke]

Your little one is out there. I'm sure you'll find him or her soon.

[Kerri]

Thanks for your support guys. I was hanging together okay last night, but after Dave and I went to bed we both cried for a while. And I'm not doing very well today. I think it's a stay-home and bawl kind of day. It's the ups and downs that are so difficult. I just feel so weary.

Kerri

[SarahK]

:hug99:

[Theresa]

I'm sorry this didn't work out for you. :blue: I'll be praying for you!

[Karri]

:hug99:

[Kerri]

Okay, just to throw everyone again: WE'RE GETTING THE KIDS!!!

The social worker called again, said the Mum and Grandma both couldn't sleep all night after choosing the other couple, and were both prompted to choose us. (I guess we were all up the same night, us crying, and them reconsidering us!) We had a conference call last night, which went great. And we're going to visit them and bring them back with us in the next week! So it's a huge change, and I don't know if I'm up to it, but they think I am (I was honest about that) and obviously somehow God thinks I am. So on we go!

I have a thousand things to do in the next two days. I can't even face it. But it will work out. Somehow it has to come together.

Thanks for everyone's emails, prayers, PMs, positive vibes, etc. They've made a difference for us.

Kerri

[Cat]

Congratulations Kerri :woo::bighug:

[Brooke]

Wow! Congratulations!

[Shel]

:yippee: Congrats Kerri! I'm sure you'll do fine. It'll will be an adjustment, but it will all work out!!!

[Billy]

Congratulations!! That's so great!! :hug99:

[Jeni]

Congratulations, how exciting!

[Theresa]

:yippee: How exciting!! You'll do great!! God bless!

[Mrs.Greevy]

let us know as soon as you have them home!

[magoo]

Congratulations, Kerri! I'm thrilled for you!!!

[Karin]

Congratulations, Kerri! That is SUCH exciting news! Best of luck!
I can't wait to read more!

[Tara]

YAY!! :banana: I am soooo happy for you!!

[Kerri]

We're getting ready to leave tonight or tomorrow morning. We already started out, but only 10 minutes out of town we got in a car accident with our van we just bought today! We were on the highway when the truck in front of us lost its load and two mattresses and a chair came flying at us!

I truly thought we were going to die. Dave swerved and we somehow weren't physically hurt. The window where Adam was sitting was blown right out. There was glass everywhere, and he literally doesn't have a scratch on him. It's a total miracle. So now we're going through the nightmare of repairs, insurance, paperwork, expense to get it all ready to drive again. We also had a mirror smashed off and a few dents, but we can drive with those at least.

I have such a headache. I tried to take a nap but there's too much going on in my head. We haven't been able to sleep much for the past few nights either. Oh well. We're excited to get there tomorrow, if we can.

Kerri

[Mrs.Greevy]

Good Lord

I hope things go better for you

let us know what happen

[Theresa]

OMGosh! :eek: I'm so glad you're all ok. I hope getting it fixed goes smoothly! :hug99:

[Kerri]

I have a picture of each of our babes-to-be, but I don't know how to post them! Could anyone do me the favour? I don't really have time to learn, as we'll be leaving in a few hours again. PM or email me and I'll send them right away!

Kerri

[Karin]

Kerri,
I'm so sorry about the accident - but, thankfully you were all okay!
I hope that you're able to go tomorrow with no trouble at all!

[Kerri]

I'm trying to upload the pictures. I doubt it will work, but here goes:

[Kerri]

Wow! Am I ever smart. We are keeping their first names the same: Noah, and Naomi. There is too much else for Naomi to adjust to, so we'll leave them as they are. We'll probably play with their middle names, but I don't even know what they are yet.

Kerri

[Cortney]

:yippee: How great Kerri!!!!!!!! When will you get to bring the sweet angels home?

[SarahK]

What cuties!! I'm so glad you get to adopt them.

[Silke]

What cuties! The two are so fortunate that a loving family is taken them in and that they can stay together! Good luck!

[Stacy]

:bawl: This whole thread brought tears to my eyes. What a total rollercoaster ride.

The kids are adorable.

Congratulations.

[Theresa]

They're beautiful! :love3: Naomi is one of my favorite names. That's probably what Ian would have been if he had been a girl. God bless!

[Carla]

Congratulations on being able to adopt Noah and Naomi! They're such cuties :love: . You must feel really blessed.

Scary and miraculous about the car accident! :eek:

(nak)

[cimberdog]

Congratulations mama! That's really scary about the car accident - someone is looking out for you all:)

[Karin]

Congratulations! Noah and Naomi are just adorable!

[Jeni]

So happy for you! Sorry about the accident:bighug:

[Kerri]

Well we're home and adjusting and things are going fine. I'll post more tomorrow, we've been driving for a couple of days and I'm just exhausted after having a new baby for a week. So things are going beautifully. Much better than we expected as far as Naomi fitting in and stuff. Noah is a doll and is figuring out how to nurse pretty well. Thanks so much for everyone's kind messages!

Kerri

[Stacey]

Wow, what an action-packed thread! :lol: I went through quite a bit of emotions just reading this. I can only imagine the roller coaster ride it was living it! I'm so glad that you got to take Noah and Naomi home. They're very cute. :nod: And thank goodness you all weren't harmed in that car accident. :eek: I hope things continue to go well for your expanded family. :)

[mybabygarrett]

Congratulations! What a great story!!!

[jessie2001]

:hug99: oh wow....congratulations. im so happy for you guys. good luck for nursing...im sure this will be #3 sucessful nursing. you rock ;)

jess

[Kerri]

Nursing is going awesome! He's gotten awesome at latching over this last week. And I'm producing more than half of what he's eating already! It's a total miracle.

Kerri

[Stacey]

That's incredible, Kerri. Congrats!

[KristenF]

omg, I just read your sig in the bf forum, and couldn't believe it! What a wonderful, amazing story! Congratulations on your two beautiful new children! They are so unbelievably lucky to have found their way to such a wonderful mother and family :heart:

[jessie2001]

:hug99: you really are a breastfeeding legend!!!

jess

[Theresa]

I know this is off topic, but I have a friend who is thinking of adpoting and really wants to BF if she does. Do you know of any websites or books I can recommend to her?

[Kerri]

Noah only took 6 oz. of supplement yesterday! So we're nearly there. I can't believe it.

Theresa,
You can just have your friend email me and I can send her articles and stuff I've written. There are a few websites too that I found really helpful. So send her my way! kerrijeansmith@aol.com

Kerri

[Karri]

WOW! Congratulations, Kerri!! And how awesome that he's a nursing pro already!!! How wonderful!!

[Mandi]

Holy Moly, where have I been? Congratulations, Kerri!! That's such wonderful news.

How great that Noah is such a good nurser. And you're hardly having to suppliment at all. That's fantastic!!

[Nadine]

Kerri how wonderful!
I have been lurking here, wanting to post.
Congratulations on your newest addition to the family! I am so happy to read things are going so well!
Can I ask you a question? (Obviously I already am...) In your siggi, it says that you are mom to 4 kids. Did I understand corrctly that you have 2 biological kids and now also 2 adopted ones?

[Kerri]

Yes, we have four little ones, and they all joined our family through adoption. I have a journal that takes you through all of them, but this site doesn't have an adoption journals area, and I don't know where to put it! It's at www.simply-baby.net (http://www.simply-baby.net) if you want to learn more.

Kerri

[jessie2001]

:( a shame they dont have adoption journals here :( have yuou asked shelia to make a place for them? cause i would really love to keep up with how your going ;)

jess

[Brandi]

WOW! I just saw all this and am so happy for you guys!

[Mandi]

I don't think that Sheila thought of Adoptive journals, since she has Mommy/Daddy journals. You are, after all, a Mommy. It's irrelevant (in so far as the journal) how you became a Mommy. A Mommy is a mommy, IMO! :)

[jessie2001]

i totally agree with you mandi...a mum is a mum...and kerri you are definately a mum.

jess

[Kerri]

I probably could put it in the Parenting journals, but it deals with our waits and applications and everything too. It goes from Cole until now!

Naomi is acting up. Which I expected and is probably a good sign she's settling, but I'm going crazy. Every five minutes she's doing something naughty. Right now she's throwing her cereal. Yesterday she slashed the living crap out of our couch and it is in ribbons. The day before was two cans of shaving cream sprayed all over the bathroom. We're talking floor, counters, toilet, bath, ceiling, etc. The boys used to do that stuff, but they stopped in the last year and I'm not used to it. She was just so gentle and quiet the first week or two, I'm pretty sure she's testing boundaries. I had to put her dresser in the closet because she kept climbing on it and jumping off. Then I had to put Cole's and Adam's in their dresser too, because she went in there to do it as well! I need more patience.

Kerri

[Jeni]

:eek: good luck with her. She just needs extra attnetion I'm sure.

[Theresa]

I'm sure she's just adjusting! :bighug: I hope it gets better soon!

BTW, I say you open a Mommy journal, too! Just post the link here so I can find it! :lol:

[Brandi]

WOW! I hope things are going better.

[jessie2001]

:hug99: you have been throught hsi before, but doesnt mean its still not hard. if it makes you feel any better my kids have moments like these too (usually i want to throtle them...but they have survived so far :lol: ) :hug99:

jess

[Jennie]

Wow - I just found this thread Kerri - congratulations on the 2 new additions!

[AahRee]

I just found this, too - I'm so happy for you! I hope Naomi is more settled now. How is everything going?

[Kerri]

Hi again,

We're still kicking! There have been days when I want to pack it all in, but I think it's more related to going from a small to large family in a short time than anything else.

Naomi is slowly settling down. My Mum took her to get her hair cut yesterday because the kids had a 3-way haircutting party while I was in the shower the other day. The boys are okay because I just give them buzz cuts anyway, but my little girl didn't look so cute anymore. Unfortunately all the years of growing her hair have been undone, but she does look cuter than she did with uneven shaggy scraggly hair.

I'm not mad at her so much. I've been really praying for patience and love so I can attach to her more. She's attached to me, but I've been so frustrated with all the destruction it's been harder for me. We're doing much better now. I do love her, but was struggling with liking her, if that makes sense.

Noah is my angel. My darling snuggly nursing (no supplements now!) baby boy. He makes my heart race when I smell him, I am just so in love. He loves me back and stares and smiles with his big baby eyes. He feels like a part of me and I am smitten!

Cole and Adam are fine. Cole is doing well in kindergarten and Adam is his happy little self. They get in more trouble with an extra partner-in-crime around, but are thriving. David and I are pulling together more (out of necessity) and feel happy with our hectic crazy life too. It's overwhelming, but somehow we'll do it, you know?

Kerri

[Stacey]

I'm glad you updated, Kerri. :) I can imagine that going from having two kids to having four so quickly would be a huge adjustment... for everyone involved. It sounds like things are going pretty well though for the most part.

I'd love to see some pictures of all the kids, if you get a chance. I'm another one who'd like to see you start a journal here. :nod:

Way to go on the BFing! You and Noah are amazing! :clap:

[sheila]

I don't think that Sheila thought of Adoptive journals, since she has Mommy/Daddy journals. You are, after all, a Mommy. It's irrelevant (in so far as the journal) how you became a Mommy. A Mommy is a mommy, IMO! :) This was my basic thought. :nod:

[Kerri]

I know, but the journal I've kept has gone from first deciding to fill out forms until parenting, so it starts out as an adoption journal I guess. I guess I could go start a parenting journal though. It's on my extremely long to-do list. LOL.

Kerri

[Kate]

Kerri, I don't know how I missed this!! Belated Congratulations!! It sounds like everything is going great. I am so happy that Noah is a great nurser. I hope that Naomi finds the boundaries and pays attention to them!!

[Tara]

IT sounds like things are going well! YOu are an inspiration!

[ArtsyMom]

I just happened upon this thread. Good for you! I think adopting is such an unselfish and helpful thing to do in this crazy world! :yippee:

If you don't mind me asking, what was your first step in adopting: did you just search on the web or call CAS and tell them you were interested?

[Kerri]

Hi Artsy,

We had applied through the adoption agency that we had used when we adopted our first two boys. But social services were also involved in these adoptions because they were worried about the kids and basically were going to put them into foster care if the birthfamily didn't agree to place them for adoption pretty darn quick. So the birthfamily approached our agency looking for a family for our two new little ones. And they read our profiles and felt like we were the family for these kids. To go through the government would have taken ALOT longer. Agencies run very differently.

Kerri

[Kerri]

[HollyNSC]

I love the picture of the kids :) They are soo cute!!

[Jeni]

Awww, what cuties:)