When you were looking for an agency, did you just know when you found the right one?
As I said in my intro we had a few meetings set up this week to talk with agencies. We met with one last night and I left with this great feelingof peace and calmness. We met with the lady for about an hour and at the end we were talking about our own families, sharing pictures of pets on our phones, and she was asking MH security questions.
They are a VERY VERY small agency. They placed 10 babies last year but currently only have 6 families on the waiting list. The fees are great, so so so much lower than other places we're looking at. She said they work on our time frame and could move as fast/slow as we wanted.
MH woke up this morning and asked me if I wanted to cancel our appt this afternoon. I told him I would be OK with that. Hmmm, maybe we did find *the one*.....
Re: Did you just know?
I wish I would have the experience that you did Kdg. That's what I keep looking for to know if we have the right agency.... I'm jealous.
I've wondered this too. I've researched a ton of agencies online. I found one that I would sign with in a heartbeat.... but they aren't licensed for my state. According to our state laws, they must be to work with us. We've worked our way to another agency... but it feels like I'm picking them because I don't have a ton of other options. And there is one agency that I feel like we should just take a look at... The reviews aren't that great from BMs. (And I absolutely want an agency that treats the BMs well.) But something keeps nudging me that I need to give them a closer look... This is nerve racking.
July - Nov 2011: Testing with OB... OB said everything looks good
March - Sept 2012: Moved to RE.. 4 treatment cycles - responses of one or no follicles
09.03.12: Diagnosed Poor Ovarian Response.. DE IVF only option
Feb - Nov 2012: Pursued Adoption. That door slammed shut.
12.23.12: Surprise BFP (first ever)... 12.25 - 12.31: Natural M/C
I felt like we did, but DH was torn. There was a tiny agency we talked to, and the woman we spoke with turned me off immediately. But man, the fees were low. Then we talked to a large, long-running agency and I LOVED them. But the fees were higher. It took DH a couple of months to commit, but that's his personality anyway.
IMO it wouldn't hurt to talk to the second agency. If you still love the first one, they're not going anywhere.
So excited for you!
Ditto this. My hubby was pretty apprehensive before we attended the orientation at our agency. Totally freaked out by the cost, the belief that he'd have trouble bonding with an adopted baby, and fears about choosing an open adoption situation. The orientation made him feel a lot more relaxed about the whole process, and that, coupled with the fact that I'm friends with a couple social workers in my area who highly recommended our agency, sold us.
We figured out pretty quickly which agency we preferred. We gathered information from quite a few and made appointments with 2. We attended to meetings for the one agency as well - one was about domestic adoption and one was about international.
I didn't like the 2nd agency at all. We were uncomfortable with some of the things the director said to us. She asked us which one of us wanted to adopt more than the other and that said something about how one spouse always wants to adopt more than the other or has to convince them...I realize that it takes some couples a while to get on the same page and be ready, but it was a really weird thing to say to a couple that was sitting there ready to start the process.
We LOVE the agency we picked and we're very happy with everything they did to help us.
b2b Injectable IUI #1 7/25/10 & 7/26/10 = BFP beta 14dpIUI = 133 MC 9/14 at 9 weeks
b2b Injectable IUI #2 12/5/10 & 12/6/10 = BFN
IVF #1 ER 3/28/11 ET 3 embryos 3/31/11= BFN
b2b Injectable IUI#3 6/28/11 & 6/29/11 = BFN
PAIF/SAIF Welcome
Submitted Adoption Application on 6/1/2011
Homestudy 7/19/2011
IVF#2 CX due to Adoption Match
We were blessed with our daughter through the gift of adoption
IVF #2.1 ET 2 embryos 2/14/13 7 frosties
We had a great feeling after our informational session this weekend but we're forcing ourselves to talk with at least two more agencies. I think our minds are made up though.
Good luck
I absolutely knew the minute I spoke with them. Ours was small too, like your potential one, only doing about 10 adoptions the year before we went active. Once we met our social worker, we felt totally at ease and so happy with our choice!