I thought I'd wave my e-hand in this forum and introduce myself. My husband and I have four gorgeous children. Three live with us at home, one lives in a residential facility. Five years ago, Joseline (13) was our first foster child. Eventually, her sister Ester (7) and brother José (14) came to live with us.
Ester has been living with us the longest (consistently). She's been here since the age of three. She's since been adopted. Yay! Her one year adoption anniversary was July 23rd. Jose came to live with us last year. July 10th was his one year anniversary, yay! AND we found out on July 16th we were expecting! July 2009 was an amazing month for us! We see Joseline all the time, and count her as our own in spite of her location. José, Joseline, and Ester are all biological siblings. Chase is our first and only biological son.
I don't know much about 'birth order' adoptions, but our situation couldn't have been more wonderful. José and Ester treat Chase as if he is their own little brother...which he is! Ester is extremely mothering to Chase, and José is quite proud of the fact that most people say Chase looks like him!
In our situation, I believe it helped that we always referred to Chase as their little brother. When we introduce any of our children in public, we introduce them as our own and never bring up their foster/adoptive situations. Especially with the older children, that is their story to tell if they wish. José and Ester were actually able to give Chase his first bath, and since then, have always been involved with activities with the baby. So far, we have had no manifested issues with jealousy.
Good luck to all the wonderful foster and adoptive families out there!
Ester has been living with us the longest (consistently). She's been here since the age of three. She's since been adopted. Yay! Her one year adoption anniversary was July 23rd. Jose came to live with us last year. July 10th was his one year anniversary, yay! AND we found out on July 16th we were expecting! July 2009 was an amazing month for us! We see Joseline all the time, and count her as our own in spite of her location. José, Joseline, and Ester are all biological siblings. Chase is our first and only biological son.
I don't know much about 'birth order' adoptions, but our situation couldn't have been more wonderful. José and Ester treat Chase as if he is their own little brother...which he is! Ester is extremely mothering to Chase, and José is quite proud of the fact that most people say Chase looks like him!
In our situation, I believe it helped that we always referred to Chase as their little brother. When we introduce any of our children in public, we introduce them as our own and never bring up their foster/adoptive situations. Especially with the older children, that is their story to tell if they wish. José and Ester were actually able to give Chase his first bath, and since then, have always been involved with activities with the baby. So far, we have had no manifested issues with jealousy.
Good luck to all the wonderful foster and adoptive families out there!
