Home Study Wrap Up

The final interview and home visit went very well on Friday.  C. said everything looks good and the report should be ready a couple of weeks.  Afterward I went to lunch with a friend then took off to VA to go to Busch Gardens on Saturday.  It was a fun day and a really nice break!

On another note, I'm having a heck of a time putting together the "book."  I'm really struggling with what to write and the digital scrapbooking software doesn't seem to be cooperating with iPhoto, despite the fact that it is supposed to be compatible.  Grrr....

I'm going to devote the next two weeks to getting the book done and next weekend I'm going to take a class to learn to knit a hat. Then I'm going to knit tiny little hats until I have a baby to wear one!

In the Home Study Home Stretch

I had my first interview with my social worker, we'll call her C., yesterday.  She's fantastic!  I felt totally comfortable talking to her, which is a good thing since you spill your guts in this process.  I have one more interview and home visit next Friday, and she has to talk to my references, and then it's all done except for her write-up.  She said everything should be finished within a month.

While the home study is finishing up, I'm working on my "book."  I need to figure out how to get my personality and ability to provide a loving home for a child across in print.  I've had a bit of a hard time finding photos of myself to use since I am notorious for hiding from the camera.  I'm considering photo-bombing my own travel photos with a photoshopped version of myself!   Maybe I'll "squirrelize" them - LOL!  If you don't know what I'm talking about, check out these links:  http://www.lutralutra.co.uk/  and  http://www.urlesque.com/2009/08/10/squirrel-photobomber-steals-the-scene/.  So funny!!!

Until next time...

Hurry Up and Wait

WooHoo!  All of my application materials are finally in and my social worker has been assigned!  She called me today and my first appointment with her is scheduled for next Monday.  She's going to condense the normal three visits into two, so that should save a bit of time.  I guess I need to get busy on my "book" so that I can join the "waiting" pool once her report is done.  I feel like I've been waiting forever and it hasn't even started!  This is going to be tough, but oh so worth it.  :-)

Grade = A+

After nearly killing myself to clean EVERY nook and cranny of my home over the holiday weekend, I passed my home inspection with flying colors.  He didn't even look at the majority of the stuff on the list they sent me!  I'm convinced they have a sick sense of humor at the health department and they send out that list just for kicks.  Oh well, I have a super clean house so now I can relax a bit and he and I had a great chat while he was here.  Now I just wait for the agency to assign my social worker and do the interviews to finish up this home study.  Patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue...

My New Favorite Quote

I came across a quote today that I absolutely love and it seems to fit this journey well.

"Everything I did in my life that was worthwhile I caught hell for."

Earl Warren
(1891-1974)
14th Chief Justice of the United States

Home Inspection Angst

I finally got the information today to schedule my county health department home inspection. It would appear I have some work to do.  Based on this list, it's like a restaurant inspection combined with a "white glove" inspection worthy of a military academy!  My house is clean, but I can't tell you when I last wiped out the inside of a drawer!  I guess I know what I'll be doing all weekend.  Then the dogs and I will have to move into a hotel until they come to inspect the place...

And So It Begins

You may be thinking, "if she feels the need to proclaim her sanity in the title, she must be completely nuts!"  Well, since I began this quest I've been called a great many synonyms for insane by more people than I care to think about. Soooo, I decided to start this blog by stating, right off the bat, I am not crazy.  Since I've chosen adoption over continued heroic medical procedures, and I'm just starting the home study process, ask me again in a few months if I still feel that way!

So far, it hasn't been too bad.  I've signed on with an agency I feel really good about, done all of the required training, completed my pre-homestudy paperwork, and purchased a software package for scrapbooking to develop my "book" for prospective birth parents.  I'm now just waiting for all of the references to come in and the home safety inspection, so I can start the interviews.  I'm really anxious to get it all done so the real wait can begin!  I'll do my best to share my thoughts along the way...