By ED RUNYAN

By ED RUNYAN

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

WARREN — Terry and Theresa Langley of Hartford were parents of a 7-year-old daughter in summer of 2004. They wanted to have another child but were having trouble getting pregnant.

They decided to sign up with the Trumbull County Children Services Board to become foster parents. That way, they could help another child, even if the youngster was not theirs.

The Langleys took the required classes and became certified as foster parents in February of 2005 — only to find out that Theresa was finally pregnant one week later.

“When you try the least, it happens the most,” said Terry, who works at a steel recycling plant in Pennsylvania.

A couple of weeks later, children services notified the Langleys they were eligible to take care of a newborn baby waiting at St. Joseph Health Center.

They jumped at the chance, knowing that getting a newborn is a rare opportunity.

“We were in love with him from the first day, and we would have adopted him right then,” Theresa said of George, who is now 2. Children services requires that foster parents care for such a child for a year before they are eligible to adopt.

The Langleys were in for another surprise, however, when they learned three weeks after George was born that he had a brother two years older who was living in a foster home. Two weeks later, Robert became part of their family, too.

Even though the Langleys didn’t plan to adopt when they entered the foster care program, the decision was an easy one for them a year later when they were eligible to take permanent custody of George and Robert.

“We love children, but we just wanted to help out,” Theresa said. “We realized the opportunity was coming along to adopt them and we wanted to keep them.” Their first priority, Theresa said, was keeping the boys together.

That adoption became official Thursday, when they adopted George and Robert in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. Their adoption was part of a morninglong celebration of November as National Adoption Month. Six other children were adopted Thursday, too, with Probate Judge Thomas A. Swift presiding.

With two 2-year-old boys — their biological son is named Terry Jr. — a 4-year-old and their now 10-year-old daughter Chelsea, the Langleys have lots of activity at home.

“It was a little crazy, but there was so much going on so quickly, we didn’t have time to think about it,” Theresa said of spring 2005, when their family grew so suddenly.

Nonetheless, when children services came calling earlier this year, asking whether the Langleys would provide a temporary home for a 7-year-old girl named Holland, they said yes to that, too, Terry said.

“I guess we have a love for children and want to help as many as possible,” Theresa said.

Marcia Tiger, executive director of the CSB, said the agency still has 23 children waiting to be adopted. Later in the day, officials released balloons representing the children still waiting for their own “forever family.”

In her remarks before the adoptions took place, Tiger said being a foster child without a permanent home is like being in a dating relationship without an engagement ring.

“I wonder how you’d feel about dating year after year, no ring, no permanent commitment,” she said. “Today is the ring ceremony.”

runyan@vindy.com