Hurry Up and Wait...

So, most of our time working on our foster/adoption application has been spent hurrying... rushing to complete form after form and jump through loop after loop.  It was stressful and time consuming.  Now, for the past month we've actually been approved but because we want to adopt as our primary interest, then we have to wait to be chosen for a child or sibling group which can, apparently, take a very long time.

The process works like this:

1. We set up the online search with our preferences and information.
2. Our case worker uploads our home study into the system somehow.
3. We search for children or sibling groups based on our "preferences."  How bizarre is it that we are choosing children via "preferences."  Ours are quite minimal as we wanted it to be a broad selection.
4. We choose some to submit formal inquires for and are told to choose more than one at a time, as it is unlikely we will be chosen and likely we will need to submit more inquires.
5. Somehow our case worker has to submit more things each time we submit an inquiry (seems like a flaw in the online system somehow). 
6. We sit around and wait for an acceptance or rejection, then if rejected, submit new inquiries.

So, we're now waiting to hear back on inquiries before submitting more inquires.  This could go on for a while.  I wish I had done this while we were still doing our paperwork (if that's even possible) so that I wouldn't feel like I'm in such a game of "hurry up and wait" with the process.  I've been warned from folks in our PRIDE class who were ahead of us that there are more forms to come, so at least we have the advantage of their experience...

Lost in a Sea of Paperwork...

Since January, we have been lost in a sea of paperwork, swimming in it's depths and hoping that someone will throw us a life-raft.  So far, it all seems reasonable but a bit curious...  For example, I understand the point of doing fingerprints to check and see if we are criminals but I'm not sure how calling references I've chosen and obviously picked to give a good reference would help show I'm a good parent.

But, we continue on, braving the seas and hoping to soon see the shore.  Finally yesterday I went and had the fire extinguisher purchased for the house "tagged." It was really not a drama in the slightest, but having never done it before I thought it would be a huge deal. Turns out it only cost me $5.50 (+ the cost of a 5lb fire extinguisher) to get the extinguisher "tagged" and about 3 minutes of time. The "tagging" involves a person who is certified to "tag" fire extinguishers checks the extinguisher to make sure it's working, then puts a paper tag on it with the date to say that it's been checked.  That's all.

Everything to do with the paperwork just seems overwhelming and scary. Getting fingerprinted can be new and intimidating. Asking your loved ones to complete background checks can definitely be intimidating and almost embarrassing, but in the end most of the paperwork makes sense if you can just wade through it all. Finally, 5 months later, I can see the shore in the distance.

Beginning our journey towards family additions

Malcolm and I have decided that we would like another child to love and cherish.  It is a selfish request, really, as I still feel that I get much more from Miss P than she has ever received from me (perhaps that will change as we enter the teenage years later).  We know that our family does not feel complete.

My childbirth with Miss P was not unusual.  Many people struggle with childbirth.  It's hard.  But after a month of bed-rest due to preeclampsia and then the recovery from surgery from a c-section, it was all a bit too much for me.  I understand what my limits are now, and the end of pregnancy and childbirth just doesn't seem to agree with my body.  Adding to that the continuing complications from Hashimoto's thyroiditis that were exacerbated through pregnancy, I'm declaring that my body has had enough.  So, then what to do...

Many of you that know me will know that I have considered adoption a viable option for quite a while.  I have been interested in adoption since I was younger and have a close friend that grew up mostly in foster care, so I know her stories.  When I was a teacher, I taught many teenagers who were stuck in the foster care system to usually age out when they were older.  And, in addition to these children all stuck in limbo in the United States, there are literally millions of ophans worldwide who live in foster care, orphanages and even on the streets.

We have decided that we will adopt to complete our family.  This blog will record the story.