Thank you for all of your questions and comments in the last week. For simplicity - I am doing a short Q and A.
Q - How is the insomnia
A - I'm sleeping like a baby! I'm actually sleeping like 9 hours a night - awesome! I even had the brain-power to play the ENTIRE Moonlight Sonata today - it's like 10 pages long with 4 sharps OR 5 flats! It's been like 15 years since I played the whole thing.
Q - What's up with the baby situation?
A - We are looking at different financing options. I am still very excited to move forward QUICKLY.
Q- What's with LDS Family Services?
A -We have been approved with them for a year. When we did the paperwork they said the average wait time with their agency was about 2 years. Granted, LDSFS is WAY cheaper than the other agencies, but like everything you have three choices: time, money or quality (the type of baby you are interested in). Unfortunately, racial issues start in the womb - white children "cost" more than mixed race or black babies. Also children with severe birth defects 'cost' less.
Q - How can adoption agencies charge so much?
A - The amount varies greatly among agencies. Although the 'average' is $18K - I have seem very few agency adoptions for that sum. Most agencies pay birthmother expenses up-front (rent, utilities, medical care, clothes, food, etc.). They also pay for advertising costs to attract birthmoms, counseling, attorney fees, etc. Most of these are legitimate costs. But some agencies do add a pretty sum for themselves.
There are also 'facilitators' who aren't agencies, but are individuals (usually) that find birthmoms, or attornies who work with birthmoms and (for a fee) help 'their' couples get hooked up with these birthmoms. Unfortunately, if a situation falls through (the birthmom changes her mind), you can still be out some serious money. Most of these groups will 'roll over' your fees into a new situation, but if you have paid rent, etc. then you are out that.
Q - What is the deal with agencies?
A- Well, everyone wants to make money, and like it or not, adoption IS a business. Here are some links to agencies I check out, so you can check out the situations:
http://www.abcadoptions.com/prosituations.htm
http://www.heartfeltadoption.com/newbabies.htm
http://www.adoptlink.com/domestic_grid.htm
Q - That seems like a lot of money!
A - Yes it is. Fortunately we have good jobs. Also, in Utah - your insurance company is REQUIRED to pay you for an adoption what they would have paid for an uncomplicated birth. When we adopted Ellie, my insurance company sent us a check for $3,600 -yah! Also, the adoption tax credit is $11,600 - if you spent that amount on an adoption, then you can get it back on your taxes - for up to five years. It is a bit more complicated than that, but that is the basic deal as I understand it.
Q - Anything I (you, dear reader) can do?
A - Yes! You can talk about adoption! You can look at our website. You can tell family and friends that you have DEAR friends who would love to adopt. November is National Adoption Month - mention that adoption is a great CHOICE. If people talk about choice - then mention that ALL CHOICES should be presented in every situation: parenting, abortion and adoption! So often adoption is left off the 'choices' list.
You could also post the link to our site: http://www.parentprofiles.com/profiles/db21760.html
on your blogg and tell people to look at it!
Q - I really want you to get a baby!
A - Me too! I really feel like the time is getting close. We would deeply appreciate any prayers you wanted to send up in our behalf.
