We adopted our daughter Joanna at the age of 6 months from Korea. She was in excellent health and still is. We have had "regular" kid issues like eating, and sleeping issues but nothing adoption related. She is quite small for her age, but we believe it's her genetics, after some testing, because she is healthy and thriving.
Conditions in the orphanage were excellent, she was there for two months and then in foster care for four months. Her excellent care really helped our transition. We even got two rolls of film from her foster family.
We only traveled to the Detroit airport from Ohio to pick her up. It was very surreal. There were four planes that all landed so it took much longer for her to get through customs. The extra hour wait was horrible.
When we saw our daughter for the first time we were completely overwhelmed. It was like meeting a movie star since all we had before had been pictures. She laid her head on my shoulder and patted my arm. It was as if she knew I was her mother already. It was the most incredible moment of my life. She bonded very easily and has fit in beautifully.
Our entire extended family loves her so much. Her only cousins are six and two years old and live ten minutes away. She has grown exceptionally close to them. Her cousin, Hayden started kindergarten this year and was excited to have a girl adopted from Korea in his class. They became immediate friends-it's a great experience for all.
Since Joanna has been home she has been doing very well. She is thriving and well ahead developmentally. She runs and jumps and speaks in full sentences. We have enjoyed discovering her personality. She is very strong willed I love that, she's such a strong individual and has always known what she wants.
It's amazing that she was placed with us. WE cannot
imagine anyone else raising her. We believe God placed us together. Our lives
would be much less fulfilling without her. I will say that many cautioned us
to wait to adopt until we were older, had more money, etc. However, this had
been the greatest decision for our family. I encourage anyone who has the means
to provide for a child and has a desire and heart for adoption to pursue it.
When it's meant to be, everything falls into place.