FAQ

Below are several questions that people have had so far concerning our adoption.  If you have other questions, feel free to email us at mullinsfamilyadoption@gmail.com.

Why are you adopting?
We have known we were going to adopt since before we were married; however, we did try to get pregnant first.  In fact, we succeeded twice, but both pregnancies ended in miscarriage.  After learning of my (Jessica's) thyroid issues in the past year, we have learned that there is a possibility that we can have a healthy pregnancy, but there is also the possibility that it could end in miscarriage again.  Because of that, we have decided that adoption is the best route for us.  This is not to say that we will not try to get pregnant again one day, BUT adoption is what is right for us today. We do not wish to get pregnant right now and we do not think that adoption is the second-best choice.  One of my favorites quotes right now is, "Family is not defined by genes...it is built and maintained through love."

Why adopt internationally and not domestically?
As I indicated above, fertility issues are not the only reason we're adopting.  Since even before we were married, it has been a passion of ours to adopt a child from another country.  We realize that there are children in the United States who need homes just as much as those abroad, but international adoption is just what we feel is best for us.  There are benefits and challenges to both domestic and international adoptions, and both are needed!  We want to have a multi-cultural family, to embrace our child's cultural background, and to raise him/her learning about and appreciating their heritage.  In addition, we also hope to adopt a child with special needs who may not have as much access to care in their home country as they would in the United States and/or who may be less likely to be adopted in their home country because of their needs.

What country are you adopting from?
Colombia!

Are you adopting an infant?
We are open to adopting a child between the ages of 0-4 years old.  Colombian law does not allow non-Colombian natives to adopt "healthy" children under age 8, but because we are open to some special needs, we are able to adopt a younger child.  That being said, we expect that it is more likely for us to get a referral for a toddler than an infant.

When will you get to bring your child home?
This is going to be a long journey, and we are still in the very early stages.  We wanted to share this experience with our family and friends, which is why we decided to announce it so early on.  However, it could be 1-2 years before the adoption is actually finalized.  We hope that you will stick around with us throughout the process because we will need the support!

How much does the adoption cost?
We estimate that the entire adoption will cost anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000.  This includes program fees to our adoption agency, attorney fees, travel to Colombia, living expenses for up to six weeks in Colombia, document fees, etc.  In general, there are a lot of fees!  We realize that the amount is quite large and we're a little nervous about that, but we have heard lots of success stories from people just like us who have made it work!  We plan to fundraise and to apply for grants when we're eligible (after an approved home study).  When you think about it, you can't really measure the cost of adopting a child who is in need of a loving family.

How can I support your adoption financially?
Check out our Current Fundraisers tab above to see ways that you can help!

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