Can you afford to adopt?

Celebrities are making headlines doing it.

But some suburban parents want you to know you can do it, too.

Even without a Hollywood-size bank account, middle-income families like Michelle and Jeff Bilotti of Bartlett are among an increasing number of couples throughout the suburbs who have adopted children from another country.

Since 1990, the number of international adoptions more than tripled. According to U.S. State Department figures, the number jumped from just 7,093 in 1990 to 22,728 in 2005, based on immigrant visas issued to orphans coming to the United States. The number dropped slightly to 20,679 in 2006, the latest year data was available.

"It's leaped," said Sue Cain, an adoptive parent who has helped others navigate the process.

Cain attributes some of the increase to high-profile celebrity adoptions by people like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Madonna, and Meg Ryan.

"Thank you Brangelina," says Cain of Wheaton. "It's good they're pointing out this is a good thing."

They gave exposure to international adoption, which Cain says provides a wonderful result. "What a good thing," she said, "They took these kids and gave them a home."

The celebrity factor is not the only contributor.

As more women have waited to get married and have children, many found their time to conceive ran out, Cain said. On the flip side, with more women gaining more earning power in the work force, some have gained the independence and the ability to pursue parenthood without a spouse.

Agencies have become more sophisticated in understanding how to facilitate international adoptions and the process has been streamlined. At the same time, the system here encourages relatives to take in children of family members who can't or don't want to raise their own, Cain says. That makes domestic adoption more difficult.

Lastly, cost plays a role. Domestic adoptions start at $25,000, parents say, while international adoptions can cost less.

China, Ukraine and Poland are the least expensive, ranging from $17,000 to $30,000 depending on whether parents go independently or through an agency, Cain estimated. Russia and Vietnam follow at $18,000 to $35,000, depending on whether an agency is involved, she said.

The Bilottis spent about $18,000. On the other end is Guatemala, where parents have to pay $28,000 to $40,000 because it funds the country's private foster care system.

The Bilottis opted for adoption after encountering complications during the birth of their son, Vince, seven years ago. He was 11 weeks premature, suffered hernias and needed nine surgeries. During the delivery, they discovered that Michelle had a blood-clotting disorder.

After much soul-searching, they decided having another biological child was not worth risking Michelle's life in delivery.

They started looking domestically, but found it was beyond the means of a kindergarten teacher at a Hanover Park learning center and an account manager of a candy business.

"We were getting quoted $25,000 and up … (and) it could be anywhere from two to seven years," Michelle recalled. "And at that time there were stories about paternal fathers showing up after the fact. All that really scared us."

Facing that setback in their quest, they opted to look to Eastern Europe. They settled on Ukraine since Michelle's ancestors hail from there.

Fulfilling that dream was at times stressful and heart-wrenching.

They found a woman in Florida who serves as a facilitator to help people adopt. "She's just a mom who helps others." She directed them to Sue Cain, who's also a social worker to handle the home study. The cost soared even before they stepped on a plane. "A lot of that is the paper chase."

The United States requires a great deal of paperwork, including criminal background checks and financial history, and the Ukrainian government also needs notarized documents. The couple had to shell out a few thousand dollars for airfare and another $4,500 once they arrived in the European country to cover travel costs, an interpreter and translation of all documents.

Costs can be a daunting factor.

But the Bilottis had been saving and even held a fundraiser at Maywood Park Racetrack.

"It was unbelievable how many people who came out to help us," Michelle said. "One woman who saw our flier and was Ukrainian said she just wanted help out.

"It was unbelievable how many people wanted to help us," Michelle said.

Former President Clinton gave adoptive parents another assist while he was in office by signing into law a $10,000 income tax credit.

They mailed the paperwork to the Ukrainian authorities in May 2005 and got approved two months later. Bureaucracy and other complications delayed things. But in November 2006 they traveled to Ukraine and met a 27-month-old tow-head with shocking deep blue eyes.

"He's so cute," Grandma Sue Bilotti said of the family's newest member, Anthony.

Almost a year later, that shy boy is happy and healthy and almost talking like a native, though a slight accent remains.

"It's like he's been here forever," Michelle says. "When you're going through it, everything seems like a big deal. You just have to have faith that it'll happen and when it's meant to happen."