The realities of adopting from foster care

M?Lisa and Ryun always knew that they wanted to adopt children and got their foster care license as soon as M?Lisa was old enough. Their family received their first foster placement two weeks before M?Lisa's 21st birthday. All of a sudden at not even 21, M?Lisa was the temporary mom to a 12-year-old. As M?Lisa recounts the story of the six months the child was in her home, she says that the experience was a million times harder than she could ever have imagined. Though the first placement ended with the child being admitted to a psychiatric facility, that didn't discourage M?Lisa and her husband from wanting to continue helping children.

Read about moms meeting their babies for the first time >>

The package deal

"In just three years, the carefree couple had transformed into a family of five with special needs kids."

One day, the couple received a call about a 3-year-old boy who was part of a package deal with his 5-year-old brother, and this wasn't just a strictly foster situation?? the agency was looking for an adoptive home. In less than two weeks, the boys were moved into their home forever. Over the next few years, their family went through a lot of changes?? adopting a third child, who was 18 months old at the time, along the way. In just three years, they went from a carefree couple who played in a band together to a family of five with special needs kids.

The family moved and they toured a lot with their band (often taking the kids along with them). And eventually they settled in Los Angeles, where they went through the process to get their foster care license once again. The couple thought they'd adopt another child eventually, maybe two. Little did they know that three more kids were in store for them.

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Three more?

While attending an adoption fair, they met a little girl who was part of a sibling group of three. They didn't think they were interested in taking on three more kids, but they were drawn to the girl and curiosity got the best of them. They had to meet the other two. It was love at first sight and soon the threesome would become their daughters.

And now here they are?? a blended, transracial family with six kids, two cats and two parents trying to balance marriage, parenting, art and passion.

M?Lisa says, "We?re both in our mid-thirties and we have a lot less time, money and sleep, but we honestly wouldn?t change a thing."

Read more about foster care, adoption and the Lomelino family at AdoptiveLegacy.com >>

Next up: M?Lisa talks about the foster care system >>

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