Afi you are to be admired, as is anyone who raises his/her own children, let alone adopts a child or two. I would think it is probably better to get a child two years old or less because then you will have the true influence of a parent. You know, a dog or a cat can sire younglings, but it takes quite a bit more than biology to really be a mother or a father. If you love the child and if you raise the child in a sound environment and discipline the child in a consistent and rational way, you ARE the parent of the child and it will not matter if some biologiacl parent comes out of the woodwork some day.

I am blessed with two children (not adopted) so I do not know much about the adoption process. I do know that it is important to have basic information about the child, especially if there are inherited medical issues.