Our social worker visited this Monday for our homevisit, which is the last step before she writes the homestudy. She thought the house was "lovely" and we talked more about stuff we've talked about before and things went well....well, until the end when she dropped the bomb that she would be away next week and then had others to write so the homstudy won't be done for around 5 weeks!!!!! What is going on here? Why is this so difficult? From start to finish with China it took 3 months-that's it, just 3 months!!! We begun this officially in May and Korea is actually easier than the China paperwork and at this rate it will be lucky to make it to Korea by Christmas!!!! I just wanted to cry! For the whole month of July we just sat around and waited for the homevisit and now for the whole month of August we'll just sit around and wait for what? our turn so she can write it. As you can I'm feeling really beaten down. The wait for Korea has increased in this amount of time our social worker drags her feet. She really doesn't understand our sense of URGENCY!!! We need to officially get on a list HURRY UP
Oh, and another little glitch. Our immigratiion and fingerprints expire for China soon and the original plan was to just do a change of country to Korea. But.... without the darn homstudy we can't apply with Korea yet. So, we put a call into someone and maybe they can help.(we aren't holding our breath) Our social worker didn't appear to concerned, I think she thinks its our problem not hers.
Just had to vent!!! What do I keep telling myself? All these little obstacles will bring us to the child thats meant to be ours. We're just so ready now. It really shouldn't have to be this hard!!!
MARTIN'S LITTLE DRAGON'S!!!!
7/23/08
7/18/08
Secret Revealed!!!!
Tonight we had our parents over for dinner and revealed the big secret WE ARE PURSUING A KOREAN ADOPTION!!! We told them in the same way that we had told them about China. They seemed excited but we refused to talk about timeframe and such. We asked them to keep it a secret until our homestudy goes to Korea. We have our home visit scheduled for Mon 7/21 then we'll see what happens. It felt great to get it off our chests. We continue to feel a bit guarded, but the excitement is definately building. We are dreaming of two babies. That's right, TWO BABIES. We have always had a picture of Ava in our minds and a new picture of her brother or sister began to appear tonight. I have a strange feeling all of our dreams will come true!!!!!
7/15/08
4th of July, Camping, Birthdays
This year we celebrated the 4th of July in Maine camping. We had a great time-the weather was good and so was the company!!!!
Our quest for our homestudy to be complete is moving at a snails pace. We have an appt for a home visit on 7/21 but other than that nothing. Joe's been alittle panicky lately saying that he guesses our social worker isn't feeling the same sense of urgency as we are. Hopefully this visit will put a little fire under her and she'll write it quickly. We keep asking her questions of what we should be doing in the meantime and she keeps saying she'll let us know. I'm trying to remember that all of these little stalls will lead us to OUR baby and we'll know why when we see them. Well, that's what I keep telling myself anyway.
In the world of China adoption the CCAA matched children with families logged in up to 1/25/06. Another month of extreme disappointment!!!!! There were early rumors they had made it to Feb, but just rumors. I continue to tell myself that it is not our right to raise these children from China, but rather our priveledge. Our time will come (maybe when we're 80, but it will come nonetheless). We have a small plate with a ladybug on our fireplace that says Keep the faith. That just about sums it up.
My birthday was this weekend. I handled it pretty well considering and had a nice day with family. As I blew out my candles Joe reminded me to make a wish. I looked at him and told him I already did. Hopefully this will be the year it comes true!!!!!!
Our quest for our homestudy to be complete is moving at a snails pace. We have an appt for a home visit on 7/21 but other than that nothing. Joe's been alittle panicky lately saying that he guesses our social worker isn't feeling the same sense of urgency as we are. Hopefully this visit will put a little fire under her and she'll write it quickly. We keep asking her questions of what we should be doing in the meantime and she keeps saying she'll let us know. I'm trying to remember that all of these little stalls will lead us to OUR baby and we'll know why when we see them. Well, that's what I keep telling myself anyway.
In the world of China adoption the CCAA matched children with families logged in up to 1/25/06. Another month of extreme disappointment!!!!! There were early rumors they had made it to Feb, but just rumors. I continue to tell myself that it is not our right to raise these children from China, but rather our priveledge. Our time will come (maybe when we're 80, but it will come nonetheless). We have a small plate with a ladybug on our fireplace that says Keep the faith. That just about sums it up.
My birthday was this weekend. I handled it pretty well considering and had a nice day with family. As I blew out my candles Joe reminded me to make a wish. I looked at him and told him I already did. Hopefully this will be the year it comes true!!!!!!
6/24/08
Pre-adopt group
Today we attended our pre-adopt group at WHFC office. It was a small group, including us there were only 4 other couples. 4 families are adopting from Korea and one found a waiting child in Columbia. It was interesting to talk to them, each came with a different story. One couple is also in line with China and using CAWLI as well. It really put that process into perspective as they have a 6/06 LID and are persuing Korea in the meantime. That's right I said 6/06!!!!!! and they think they'll have plenty of time between the two adoptions as well. That definately put everything into perspective and solidified our decision of our continued adoption with China with a stop along the way to pick up a little brother or sister.
This weekend we did our online courses. They were very informative and we got lots of great info. Things are moving along. Our social worker led the group today and we connected with her and she wants us to call on Thurs. to schedule the home visit. I think thats the last step before she writes the homestudy (well, I think anyway.)
Joe's having his physical tonight. Fingers crossed that his doctor thinks he'll be a great parent!!
This weekend we also put cabinets in our mudroom (we did many projects) and they look great. I told Joe that someday we can hang little hooks from the bottom for little jackets, low enough for them to reach. He got this huge grin on his face and giggled. We love our babies already!!!
This weekend we did our online courses. They were very informative and we got lots of great info. Things are moving along. Our social worker led the group today and we connected with her and she wants us to call on Thurs. to schedule the home visit. I think thats the last step before she writes the homestudy (well, I think anyway.)
Joe's having his physical tonight. Fingers crossed that his doctor thinks he'll be a great parent!!
This weekend we also put cabinets in our mudroom (we did many projects) and they look great. I told Joe that someday we can hang little hooks from the bottom for little jackets, low enough for them to reach. He got this huge grin on his face and giggled. We love our babies already!!!
6/18/08
Medical Records Seminar
On Monday night we went to a medical records seminar with a pediatrician from Childrens Hospital. She was so informative and of course some of the stuff was alittle scary to talk about but she seems so positive and said the majority of children do so well (which we knew already). We'll contact her as our referral comes close and fax it to her to review. We'll also bring our baby to her after about 4 wks of being home just for a look. Well, if all goes according to planned we'll see her a few times!!!
We've been puttering along with the Hague stuff and Joe has to finish his chapters and then we have a group next Tues. Hopefully things will continue and our social worker will pick up the pace. We saw her at the seminar and she thought we looked familiar but didn't know us. After that I got the giggles because Joe couldn't believe she doesn't remember us after the looooooooong interegation. We'll have to see what she says this Tues. Who knows, maybe it will all make sense to her. Oh, at the seminar we got a baby bag with formula which had been left over from another class. I was shocked Joe let it into the house. The formula expires in 2009. Do we dare say we will be able to use it? We'll see.
We've been puttering along with the Hague stuff and Joe has to finish his chapters and then we have a group next Tues. Hopefully things will continue and our social worker will pick up the pace. We saw her at the seminar and she thought we looked familiar but didn't know us. After that I got the giggles because Joe couldn't believe she doesn't remember us after the looooooooong interegation. We'll have to see what she says this Tues. Who knows, maybe it will all make sense to her. Oh, at the seminar we got a baby bag with formula which had been left over from another class. I was shocked Joe let it into the house. The formula expires in 2009. Do we dare say we will be able to use it? We'll see.
Happy Father's Day June 15th
Happy Father's Day to our dad's!!! They are both such wonderful guys and we are so thankful they are both here with us and we could celebrate with them.
Also, Happy Father's Day to Joe! I know that he's a dad in his heart and can't wait for the day when I can see him be a dad to a little one. I know that I'll sit back in pure amazement. Someday honey.
Also, Happy Father's Day to Joe! I know that he's a dad in his heart and can't wait for the day when I can see him be a dad to a little one. I know that I'll sit back in pure amazement. Someday honey.
6/9/08
Birthdays and Referrals
Happy Birthday Joe!!! Today is dear Joe's birthday. We had a little get together last Friday night and today we hung pretty low(after work). Another year older. At least we're the same age for one month!! Happy Birthday and many more.
Referrals arrived today and it appears that the cutoff is either 1/20 or 1/22 of 2006. This is alittle better than 3 days. Its also a happy time for one family that we know. My friend from gradeschools brother had a 1/16 LID and saw their beautiful TWIN daughters for the first time today. Thats right TWINS. They are 15 months old. My mom called with the news and tears sprang to my eyes. It's weird to think that someone we know got their referral. It's starting to happen!! We felt emotions for them like I know we will feel someday for our own referral. Congratulations to all those seeing their babies. This is the best time of the month. We continue to hold out hope and carry Ava in our hearts.
Referrals arrived today and it appears that the cutoff is either 1/20 or 1/22 of 2006. This is alittle better than 3 days. Its also a happy time for one family that we know. My friend from gradeschools brother had a 1/16 LID and saw their beautiful TWIN daughters for the first time today. Thats right TWINS. They are 15 months old. My mom called with the news and tears sprang to my eyes. It's weird to think that someone we know got their referral. It's starting to happen!! We felt emotions for them like I know we will feel someday for our own referral. Congratulations to all those seeing their babies. This is the best time of the month. We continue to hold out hope and carry Ava in our hearts.
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