A summary of our Journey...

October 2006
We were told we could not conceive naturally. We discussed our options and decided to try Invetro Fertilization.

January 2007
We started the testing and preparation for Invetro Fertilization.

March 2007
We decided to hold off on the Invetro Process. We just didn’t feel like it was the right time, the right path for us… and would start again after our vacation in May. After our vacation in may, we decided Invetro just wasn’t for us.

September 2007
We discussed the option of Adoption. It was very important to Kristi to adopt at some point in her life, and that was discussed prior to marriage. At this time, it became obvious that, this was the path that was set for them!
The intense research began! The Internet became our new best friend!

October 2007
International Adoption was chosen. After a lot of research we felt this was the road we wanted to travel.
We didn’t do enough research, we soon found out that although all the information we read, led us to believe this was the easier way to adopt, it turns out that so many laws and procedures have changed as well as a lot of hidden costs. This process was expected to cost approximately $50,000.


January 2008
After more research, we decided to switch our plan to Open Adoption in the US. This means we would create a profile and “advertise” ourselves to different pregnant women that were putting their baby up for adoption. If we were chosen, we would be responsible for her medical costs, her living expenses and all the agency and legal fees. This process would cost between $20,000 - $40,000.

February 2008
We thought about it a lot. We felt that we didn’t want to “sell” ourselves to a birth mom or agency. We didn’t like the idea of, what we felt was like buying a baby. We looked more in the foster to adopt program here in Orange County. We learned that, although there are great risks of losing the child back to the birth family before an adoption is finalized, this was a risk we were willing to take. We have decided that having an infant was not as important to us as just being parents. We like the idea of giving a child a home that is in desperate need. We want to open our hearts, our home and our family to a loving child that has nothing.
Then we had to decide what we are open to as far as the type of child. We decided that a sibling set (of two) under the age of five, will make our family complete.
This process has very little cost. All the money that has been fundraised will definitely cover it! We are responsible for certain classes and records that have to be provided and the cost of making sure our home meets county guidelines.

March 2008
We are now currently taking the 9 week PRIDE classes that are required.
PRIDE = Parenting Recourse for Information, Development, and Education
Once we finish our PRIDE classes we will be assigned a Social Worker who will conduct our Home Study. Which is an inspection of our home, our background checks, financial evaluations, and personal interviews. Once that is complete (which can take up to 6 months, we will then be approved and wait for our placement. (which would be our child(ren)) They will be foster child(ren) with us until the parental rights have been officially terminated, and we will at that time be able to start the adoption finalization.