China
Guatemala
Russia
Vietnam
Brazil
IndiaWe can honestly say the decision to adopt was one of the best decisions we have ever made. Natalie and Kenneth have quickly turned years of infertility into a wonderful blessing! If it weren't for infertility they would not be our children and we would have missed out on so much.
We became aware of Families Thru International Adoption after struggling for several years of infertility treatments which included multiple IVF, all of which ended up in disappointment. The desire to have children caused us to begin to explore adoption options and after looking at the challenges involved with domestic adoption, we began to focus our sights on international adoption.
Since Paul had grown up in a family with two sisters adopted from Korea, the idea of international adoption was not "foreign" to him. After attending a "Families Thru International Adoption" seminar together, and having met a local family who had adopted an adorable little boy from Russia we choose Russia. Shortly thereafter, we started the laborious task of preparing the paperwork for our dossier. We completed our dossier in 4 months.
We had determined early on that we ultimately wanted a little boy and girl, and opted to proceed with adopting both at the same time requesting an infant and a toddler. Admittedly, we initially did this in part to avoid having to replicate the paperwork a second time. We now are convinced that doing this turned out to be the best decision for us and for Natalie and Kenneth.
About 2 months after submitting our dossier, we received our referrals, one at a time, several weeks apart. First was the referral for a precious little girl, 19 months old, and later for a cute little boy, 11 months old, both at the same Baby Home in Ufa, Russia. We were able to receive photos and limited medical information in advance, and after reviewing what was available with Dr. Mary Staat of Children's Hospital International Adoption Center in Cincinnati, we opted to proceed. (The Ufa Region was one of the few regions still providing information ahead of time).
Arrangements were made and we traveled in late October 2002 to Ufa and met our children, one at a time at the Baby Home. It took only a few seconds of looking into their eyes and feeling and seeing their need for a loving family that we realized we couldn't let this opportunity pass by.
Natalie (then 19 mos) was scared and shy but let us hold her and comfort her when she cried. She later fell asleep in Karen's arms! We had a picture book for each child with pictures of us, our pets, our home and extended family members. The Baby Home staff told us she slept with it that night and wouldn't let go of it. The next day when we saw her she had it with her and kept looking at the pictures and pointing to her new Mommy and Daddy!
Kenneth (then 11 months) was easy going. He kept looking at us both and enjoyed the cookies we gave him. He loved our undivided attention and looking at the pictures of his new family.
The Baby Home in Ufa was very nice. The building was only two years old and the facility had 3 full-time doctors on staff. We met with the Baby Home Director and the children's doctor. They were very professional and answered all of our questions. It was obvious the children had very good care there. This made it much easier to leave without them on the first trip.
We filed our petition for adoption and returned to Cincinnati to wait anxiously for the call to return to bring our children home.
In early-January 2003 we got "the call" and began packing for the trip of a lifetime. We opted to bring our 11-year-old daughter Ashley with us for the second trip to help her feel a part of the process as well as to help out with an extra set of hands. We arrived in Ufa and completed the process with a court hearing that ultimately awarded us custody of Natalie Louisa Sparling and Kenneth Grayson Sparling.
The children cried when they left the Baby Home but it was very comforting for them to leave with each other. Natalie (then 22 months) was shy and wanted to be held but wouldn't look us in the eye at first. Each day she slowly opened up more and more and started bonding and attaching. Kenneth (then 11 months) started bonding immediately. On the plane ride from Ufa to Moscow, Kenneth laughed and giggled and played with his new Daddy while Natalie slept in her Mommy's arms.
The next few days were a whirlwind of activity, getting passports, visas, physicals and travel plans to get back home to the United States. It was truly rewarding to see the other families at the US Embassy in Moscow who were also providing homes to children so deserving of a family and home. The FTIA representatives in Russia made everything go so smoothly that we could focus on our new children.
The trip from Moscow to NY, although long in hours went by relatively quickly, and our daughter Ashley fulfilled her task to see that Natalie and Kenneth smiled before we got home. The highlight of the flight was Natalie calling Karen "Mama."
Since having our children home for five months, we can say we have been truly blessed to be their parents. The joy of seeing them flourish in a loving home is priceless. They love their new life and are such happy children.
Natalie loves to laugh and giggle. She likes playing in the bathtub during baths, getting her hair styled and getting into Mommy's make-up. She enjoys pushing buttons on the television remote control, telephone and cell phones. She wants to do everything herself like getting dressed, putting on her shoes and coat. She looks out for her little brother Kenneth and makes sure he stays out of trouble. She is saying several words in English. She gives us lots of hugs and kisses.
Kenneth loves to laugh and giggle too. He just started walking recently and is very excited about keeping up with Natalie. He loves playing in the bathtub during baths, looking at books, playing with toys and chasing our cat. He is very mechanical and likes to take things apart and then put them back together. He is saying several words in English. He adores his Daddy and gives us lots of hugs and kisses.
Natalie and Kenneth are very close to one another and they prefer to play together or at least near one another, which helps with all of the new parental duties and responsibilities we now have. It is so precious to see them hug and kiss one another at bedtime.
We cannot thank all of the people at FTIA for their wonderful efforts that made this all possible. From the local representative in Cincinnati, to the home office staff in Evansville, Indiana, to the facilitators in Russia, they all made what can be at times, a complicated, difficult, anxious, and stressful process, manageable and enjoyable. The professionalism and personal attention they all demonstrated makes us wholeheartedly recommend FTIA to anyone considering international adoption as a manner in which to "grow" their family.
Paul and Karen
859-341-7715
