Just starting this journey

[mommy_mini]

Hey Ladies,

I figured it's time I come out of lurking and introduce myself. I'm a SAHM mom to my biological DD who will be 3 in may. My son was stillborn in Sept. '08 and we've had 5 m/c's since then. DH and I are both tired and frustrated of going through so many losses. There is still testing that could be done, but neither of us have the energy to go down that road right now. Before getting married we had agreed that no matter how many biological children we were able to have, we were still going to adopt.
So now we're just beginning this adoption process and are so excited and ready for something new and different! We've decided to foster to adopt through DSS. Our classes start the end of March. So once again we're waiting. I know this whole journey will be filled with lots of waiting, so I better get used to it and learn to be patient. As we wait for our classes I'm still researching and learning as much as I can. Do you all have any suggestions of other things I can be doing as we wait to start the classes? I'm just so excited and I feel like I need an outlet for all this pent up energy and excitement! How do you all pass the time during your waiting periods?
I'm so happy to be here and can't wait to get to know you all. Best of luck to everyone!

~Laura

[onewayoranother]

Welcome! I'm kind of new to this forum but have been on the adoption roller coaster for years.
If you haven't already I would start giving a good hard look into what you are considering as far as children. Are there medical or emotional needs that are absolute 'no's'? I filled my time reading books on trauma& loss in children and getting myself familiar with various diagnosis and what sort of treatment is involved. I know some agencies will allow you to attend local support groups for adoptive parents before you've adopted. We found it helpful to attend them. I also poured myself into volunteer work. Enjoy this one on one time with your LO!
I'm also a photolisting junkie which isn't the best thing but it passes time.
I hope your journey is short and sweet! I found this group to have much more experience than some of the others I've belonged to. It seems like a great group of women.

[Polliwog]

Welcome to the wonderful (and crazy world) of fostering and adopting. I've been fostering for 3 1/2 years and have adopted one child and in the process of adopting my foster daughter.

I would suggest joining the message boards at www.fosterparents.com. It's not a place I go to for crunchy parenting advice but was extremely helpful when I started out. Some people who post here also post there. Reading there really helps to take some of the shine off the "rose colored glasses" many foster parents come in wearing. The website also has a lot of "online classes" that are helpful (and count for ongoing training hours in many places."

[RedOakMomma]

Welcome! We adopted internationally, so not quite the same boat, but just wanted to say hi.