First Home Study Visit

We did it!  We survived!!!!!!  Today was the first of our two home visits from our social worker.  Whew.  Last night I was up until 2am, not cleaning.  Actually, I was working on stuff for my sister's baby shower on Sunday (tomorrow) and chatting with a friend that is going through some tough times. It was good.

I also discovered that the toilet was clogged downstairs, and at 2am could not find the toilet plunger. So, this morning, within minutes of our SW coming, I was running to the hardware store to buy a toilet plunger.

The sales clerk asked me, cheerfully, "So how is your day?!"
I blinked at her. "Um, I am buying a toilet plunger."
She sort of startled and was like, "Crappy day, huh?"

Otherwise, things went really well today. Our SW got here as the kiddos needed to go to nap, so we kept them up just a little longer so she could do the home inspection part upstairs in their rooms and whatnot.  She also asked them questions like, "Are you excited about having as sibling?" "Will you share your toys?" "What happens when you get into trouble?" "What are some of your favorite things to do?" "What happens when you're sad?" "Who cooks?" "What is your favorite food?"

Both kiddos listed hotdogs (and only hotdogs) as their favorite food.  I NEVER MAKE HOTDOGS.  I have no idea to what they are talking about. Otherwise, there was nothing horribly shocking.  Philip and I both got to be in on the interview.  I was really grateful that did not become an issue.

After the kiddos were at nap, she asked Philip and I questions about strengths in our relationship, the toughest things we have been through as a couple, our favorite memories, how we worked together, if we had made a decision on schooling (private, public or homeschool), etc.  She asked a lot of questions about how we planned to incorporate Indian culture into our home, which we didn't have fantastic ideas for.  She was super understanding and gracious (praise God) about the entire thing, especially me not cleaning everything, and I felt like things went really well.  She also interviewed Stasia, finished the home inspection, and gave us a rundown on the things we needed to have complete before her next visit next week.  Stasia's interview lasted less than 10 minutes, so I guess it went well.

We were not required to have things like baby gates or outlet plugs. Our first HS, we went overboard and had everything on hand, almost all of which we didn't need with the kiddos.  I think having healthy, happy kiddos on site was an advantage: proving we have done this before and haven't completely gummed it up.

One thing our SW was really excited about was the booklet we made our kiddos about their story.  This booklet includes pictures of their first mamas, the town they grew up in, and an age-appropriate explanation of how they came to be a part of our family.

Fingerprints are taking 6 weeks or so to complete, and some of the other background stuff is taking really long.  Some of that is outside our control, so we will finish up as much as we can in the next week, and hang tight for the stuff we still need.

Kicking Butt

Ok.  Whew.  I have one insane weekend ahead of me, but at the moment I'm feeling pretty great about it.  I spent about 5 hours last night, and another 3+ hours today working on adoption stuff, and I see the end in sight.

Specifically, Philip now has his "list" of items to do, and he knocked out 3 of them already.  (Woot woot!)  They are the financial documents that make my head ache. When I stopped by the police department, the girl at the desk was so supportive and awesome-- she made my day, and knocked out our "good conduct" letters within 3 hours.  Philip is picking them up as I type. The police officers were awesome to the kiddos.  It does my heart good when law enforcement and first responders are kind to my small folks.  Someone in uniform can be scary, so I appreciate the help teaching the kiddos that law enforcement are real people, and are the good guys.

I wrote about 5 letters last night and today, explaining that I am unemployed, explaining that we don't need alternative childcare outside the home, explaining that Philip's brother and sister-in-law will take care of the kiddos should we not be able to (so morbid), explaining that we actually like India and are excited to have a child from there, etc.  All of this will need to be notarized, and none of it really seems like something that would carry weight in real life.  But, for the sake of India's government, we will jump through their hoops and barrels and give them whatever makes their heart happy.

Tchau for now.

_______

Ha ha, when the girl called from the police department, I told her my husband would stop by and pick them up, and that he was a hot blond guy.  So, when Philip went in, she took one look at him and exclaimed "Oh! You're the dad."  Poor Philip had no idea how she recognized him, or the context of that until he got home.  He was rather mortified.

Continued Crazies

At some point, this craziness is gonna stop.  Maybe after Sunday.

So, my schedule goes thusly:
Tonight, I have a massage.  This is bliss.  I'm also making a big family diner.
Tomorrow my husband has an appointment in the morning, we have Tae Kwon Do in the evening, both the kiddos' class and ours. I'll need to stop by the town sheriff's office tomorrow to see if we can get the "we are not criminals" letter from them, notarized.  (Oh, I also need to stop by the doctor's office tomorrow too)
Friday afternoon is two of our fingerprinting appointments, and Friday evening is the kiddos' martial arts belt testing, along with a large meal for the Bible Study crew.  Blessings to the inventor of crockpots.
Then Saturday we have a home visit with the social worker, which is a surprise since I forgot we talked about having a meeting this weekend.  I was all psyched up for the one on the 12th, but evidently we need another face-to-face meeting, and had talked about having it this weekend.  Saturday night is dinner with friends.
Sunday, Philip is preaching and it's also my sister's baby shower (which I'm partly in charge of).
Monday is a pleasant nothing.

I was reminded I forgot to schedule fingerprinting appointments, which need to be done before Sunday, and I also need to help my cousin with hers-- I hate asking things of her, but this sorta needs to happen soonish.

I refuse to deep-clean the house for the social worker.  We live here.  I have two small children and a husband and a life, and am just not gonna stress about cleaning.  However, I should probably put away the clean, folded laundry that's currently residing on the couch.  Details.

Our SW mentioned needing individual interviews with each family member, inducing the kiddos.  Mama-bear came out, and I needed to confirm that we would be able to be in the room during the kiddos' interview. She will double check on this, but both Philip and I feel strongly that one or the other of us will begin the room during that interview.  It's not that we don't trust her.  It has nothing to do with trust, but rather our 3 and 4 year olds being interviewed apart from mama.  Not cool.  Evidently it is mostly questions about how they feel about a new little sibling, and if they have any questions about adoption.  My Facebook "India Adoption" Group peeps are telling me not to worry, so I'll try to believe them.  But, we will be at the interview.

At the moment, I need to be writing some letters for the Dossier, need to bug the Husband about getting some financial reports done, and bug my reference letter peeps about getting those to me soonish.

The medical reports are on target, I think.  Oh, we need to stop back by the doctor's office tomorrow to show a negative TB test. The kiddos needed the skin test, which we had yesterday at Philip's physical appointment.  They were rockstars- even though it involved needles and a little pain, neither cried, and both were incredibly brave.  This is a HUGE improvement over the last (and only) time Anya had to give blood, where the entire staff in that wing knew us because of her screams.

Hopefully I covered all my bases with the medical stuff.  I really don't want to have to redo anything. I even had a nightmare about it.

Got some great friends praying for me.  It's really really hard not to tell other friends about this process, and I really REALLY hope they take it well that I've been hiding this from them for months. We had a play date today with a friend, and she was asking what was going on in life, etc.  It seemed natural to explain about all the craziness, but I couldn't really.  I'm proud of the kiddos for keeping their mouths shut about it too-- They aren't excited yet, but it is something that is taking up some of mama's time and it would be reasonable for them to talk about it.

This last week, Philip and I were in Cuba for a week.  I can't express how wonderful it was.  Just the time with Philip, with no obligations or responsibilities, no technology, no children, and no meals to prep.  For reals, I felt so refreshed!  It was so good for Philip and I too, just to spend that time together apart from the stress of every day life.  We had some good laughs and good talks.

Ok, I need to be done procrastinating the letter-writing.  Tchau!