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A houseful of love
  
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By DIANE TEZENO
National Adoption Day was a day of celebration for Noel and Delores Medina of Needville as the couple was allowed to “keep it all in the family” with the adoption of their six grandchildren.
Fort Bend County judges Ron Pope and Robert Kern, in collaboration with judges in courts from across the country, participated in finalizing more than 3,000 adoptions on National Adoption Day, including the Medinas’ adoption of their grandchildren on Nov. 14.
“I believe this is the largest group of children to be adopted at one time in the Fort Bend County area,” Fort Bend Child Advocates Program Director Allison Edwards said of the Medinas’ case.
The national observance was also a record day for the court system in Fort Bend County, with 24 children adopted by area families, including 12 from Child Protective Services.
“We have had a huge collaboration with all of the agencies involved; we have had attorneys that have stepped up to waive all of their legal fees for families to be able to adopt, we’ve had the CPS and child welfare system to work double time to make sure these adoptions happened,” Edwards said.
Local groups involved in National Adoption Day included Child Advocates of Fort Bend, Arrow Child and Family Ministries, Child Protective Services, Fort Bend Bar Association, Fort Bend County Attorney’s Office, Fort Bend Lawyers Care, the Fort Bend Zero to Three Project, in addition to several local attorneys.
“We see so many kids that languish in the foster system, and don’t get to be adopted and to see this day finally come to fruition for some children is very exciting and makes us get choked up inside,” Edwards said of the event.
The day signified a new beginning for area families and brought an end to the Medinas’ year-long struggle to adopt their daughter’s children.
“Now they are really legally our kids, although it has been kind of a rocky road at times, it has all been worth it,” Noel Medina said of the experience.
In 2007, their 24-year-old daughter’s newborn twins tested positive for cocaine, prompting Child Protective Services to step in to protect the children.
Their six grandchildren, now ranging in age from 15 months to 6 years old, faced being placed in separate foster homes, something the Medinas did not want to see happen.
“They wanted to take them away and that was very hurtful, and we weren’t going to let that happen,” 48-year-old Delores Medina said.
A year after their legal journey began, the Medina’s were able to finally breathe a sigh of relief as the gavel sounded on Nov. 14 marking the end to their quest to adopt their grandchildren.
“The kids have been with us from day one, and so today just makes it official and we will now go home and continue our life as a family,” Noel Medina said.
The Needville couple are undaunted at the task of raising their six grandchildren at a time when most couples are contemplating retirement.
Both from large families - Delores Medina from a family of 13 and Noel Medina from a family of 11 - they are accustomed to a house filled with children.
“They keep us young,” Delores Medina said.
“We just want them to have a loving household and know that they are wanted and loved and to help them to follow the right road.”
A bus driver for 19 years with the Fort Bend Independent School District, Delores Medina’s greatest comfort is that her grandchildren will grow up together with their family.
“No one can step in and say anything or take them now, “ she said.
Noel Medina, a maintenance worker with a LaPorte chemical company, looks forward to the upcoming holiday season with his family.
“It is the perfect time of year for us to have this process taken care of and legalized, it will make us feel more of a family now than ever before, and I think it will bring us even closer together,” Noel Medina said.
Delores Medina hopes the couple’s legal quest will help their daughter understand the impact of her choices.
According to Medina, she has expressed appreciation to her parents for stepping in and making it possible for her children to grow up together.
“We can’t just forget about her, we want her to recover and have a chance to be involved with her children,” Delores Medina said.
The couple celebrated their legal victory with a family barbecue at their home in Needville.
“We couldn’t have done it without the help of my parents and family and the volunteers from Child Advocates,” Delores Medina said.
Fort Bend County judges Ron Pope and Robert Kern, in collaboration with judges in courts from across the country, participated in finalizing more than 3,000 adoptions on National Adoption Day, including the Medinas’ adoption of their grandchildren on Nov. 14.
“I believe this is the largest group of children to be adopted at one time in the Fort Bend County area,” Fort Bend Child Advocates Program Director Allison Edwards said of the Medinas’ case.
The national observance was also a record day for the court system in Fort Bend County, with 24 children adopted by area families, including 12 from Child Protective Services.
“We have had a huge collaboration with all of the agencies involved; we have had attorneys that have stepped up to waive all of their legal fees for families to be able to adopt, we’ve had the CPS and child welfare system to work double time to make sure these adoptions happened,” Edwards said.
Local groups involved in National Adoption Day included Child Advocates of Fort Bend, Arrow Child and Family Ministries, Child Protective Services, Fort Bend Bar Association, Fort Bend County Attorney’s Office, Fort Bend Lawyers Care, the Fort Bend Zero to Three Project, in addition to several local attorneys.
“We see so many kids that languish in the foster system, and don’t get to be adopted and to see this day finally come to fruition for some children is very exciting and makes us get choked up inside,” Edwards said of the event.
The day signified a new beginning for area families and brought an end to the Medinas’ year-long struggle to adopt their daughter’s children.
“Now they are really legally our kids, although it has been kind of a rocky road at times, it has all been worth it,” Noel Medina said of the experience.
In 2007, their 24-year-old daughter’s newborn twins tested positive for cocaine, prompting Child Protective Services to step in to protect the children.
Their six grandchildren, now ranging in age from 15 months to 6 years old, faced being placed in separate foster homes, something the Medinas did not want to see happen.
“They wanted to take them away and that was very hurtful, and we weren’t going to let that happen,” 48-year-old Delores Medina said.
A year after their legal journey began, the Medina’s were able to finally breathe a sigh of relief as the gavel sounded on Nov. 14 marking the end to their quest to adopt their grandchildren.
“The kids have been with us from day one, and so today just makes it official and we will now go home and continue our life as a family,” Noel Medina said.
The Needville couple are undaunted at the task of raising their six grandchildren at a time when most couples are contemplating retirement.
Both from large families - Delores Medina from a family of 13 and Noel Medina from a family of 11 - they are accustomed to a house filled with children.
“They keep us young,” Delores Medina said.
“We just want them to have a loving household and know that they are wanted and loved and to help them to follow the right road.”
A bus driver for 19 years with the Fort Bend Independent School District, Delores Medina’s greatest comfort is that her grandchildren will grow up together with their family.
“No one can step in and say anything or take them now, “ she said.
Noel Medina, a maintenance worker with a LaPorte chemical company, looks forward to the upcoming holiday season with his family.
“It is the perfect time of year for us to have this process taken care of and legalized, it will make us feel more of a family now than ever before, and I think it will bring us even closer together,” Noel Medina said.
Delores Medina hopes the couple’s legal quest will help their daughter understand the impact of her choices.
According to Medina, she has expressed appreciation to her parents for stepping in and making it possible for her children to grow up together.
“We can’t just forget about her, we want her to recover and have a chance to be involved with her children,” Delores Medina said.
The couple celebrated their legal victory with a family barbecue at their home in Needville.
“We couldn’t have done it without the help of my parents and family and the volunteers from Child Advocates,” Delores Medina said.
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