Ahhhhmazingggg hubby I have!

I spent this past weekend trying to get my mind off adoption, foster care, homestudies,.. just about anything to do with my day to day life! My sister, hubby and I went to hang out with real African penguins in NJ! Ha ha They were very cute they just bite pretty hard!!! All in all had a GREAT day and a superrrrr fun time! I know my sister did. She had to touch everything!! I CAN'T WAIT TIL WE HAVE A CHILD TO SHARE THESE MOMENTS WITH!

On a side note we did have to sign a release form to have our homestudy sent to SC for a match meeting with M (7)! Why is it that it's a SC state law that we had to have our CW black out any race, religion info on our homestudy?

We got it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Woo-hooo!!! My husband and I both woke up this morning feeling less then well. We went to work and guess what we found in the mail box today?!?!?!?

Our foster/adoption licence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really thought this day would never come!! It's been a crazy long road! I wouldn't have missed it for the world! We are SO ready to share our home and heart with a special child/children!!!

**UPDATE***

We went to see the CW again on Monday to see our home study and correct anything we found wrong. It was really pretty good! I have to say our CW did a pretty awesome job! She got to really know us and it really shows on paper.

I did get a call to ask about "our infertility" We are not hell bent on having our own bio kids.

The whole baby making thing has been out of our thoughts for a very long time. It just wears you down over time. The ups and downs, the early am appointments, the "timed" baby dancing, the meds, thw two WEEK wait.. ugh It just became too much.

I think we are in a good place now and hope to stay that way. I say if it happens it does but we talked about adoption long before our "infertility" journey. I am so very lucky to have a husband who has no issues with adoption!!!

On a side note.. she said we are in the computer already! So I guess that means we are approved?!?!?!?!?!

Room is READY!!!!!!

So we went to see the CW on Thursday to sign something that was missed during our visits and since we only had "one" bed she told us make sure we had both beds ASAP! So we took care of everything over the weekend.

I really wasn't sure how the heck we were ever going to get two beds into a 150 square foot room!! I think we did a pretty decent job!

We are trying not to paint or do a bunch of stuff until we get matched or we get a long term placement.

We are finally....DONE

OMG! We are finally done thank goodness!!! We are just waiting for home study to be completed by our social worker. She called this week and said she should have it done in the next few weeks. THEN the real fun begins the hurry up and wait!

PRIDE!!!!!!

We finally made it!!!!!!!! PRIDE is complete!!!!!!!!!

We should have our homestudy done first week of March could be sooner.

We were told by our CW to check out the photolisting sites. I can't do it. I feel like I am searching for a new pet. I know these children need a home but I feel so bad reading and looking at the photo and saying.. well... hmm.. what if.. CRAZY. I am going to try and NOT check photo listings until we got our licence in the mail. If at that point the CW doesn't call with a placement we will move onto those area's.

I'm waiting ...

This is yet another amazing song!

With our adoption journey now moving forward.

It brings me to this thought...
How do others handle the wait? What helps you get through the day?

Everyone tells you to get the room 'ready' so you spend so much time trying to fill it with just the 'right' things. Only to have it sit empty for MONTHS (some cases YEAR+). It's heart breaking!!

Moving on....

We are set to have our health and safety inspection at 10am in the morning. SUPERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR nervous! I know it's driving my huband crazy but I want EVERYTHING to be perfect. 'I even went as far as to get down on my hands and knees and scrub the floor where sometimes the swiffer doesn't always reach.'

We are also scheduled to have our 2nd homestudy at 1 pm tomorrow. My grandfather is one of our references and he will also be here.

UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH JUST SO MUCH RIGHT NOW!!!! I know in the end it's all 10000000000000% worth it to make us a family! That's all that really matters right!?!?!?

PLEASE Vote for Wallace

Wallace wants to use any winnings toward 'animal rescue inc' in honor our Sadie! We might have lost her body but we will never forget her soul! We love you "curly tail girl"

There is a contest for the BISSELL box! Part of the package of winnings go toward the pet charity of your choice!

Bathroom

So since I'm in the "nesting" mood I wanted to go full on with the bathroom.

We "rarely" use it so what better time?

Our family ... so far

Name: William (Billy) Age: 26

Name: Tamara Age:28

Name: Randy and Ralphie Age: 7 months

Name: Wallace Age: 2 1/2

Name: Frankie Age: 12 1/2

Nesting

I have been feeling this something aweful lately. I know this says pregnant, preparing for baby but as any adoptive mother knows this is true for us as well!

Note to my husband: I am so sorry but I hope this helps you understand what's going on.

Here is what I read:

This is an uncontrollable urge to clean one's house brought on by a desire to prepare a nest for the new baby, to tie up loose ends of old projects and to organize your world. Females of the animal kingdom are all equipped with this same need. It is a primal instinct. Just as you see birds making their nests, mothers-to-be do exactly the same thing. The act of nesting puts you in control and gives a sense of accomplishment toward birth.

Nesting brings about some unique and seemingly irrational behaviors in pregnant women and all of them experience it differently. Women have reported throwing away perfectly good sheets and towels because they felt the strong need to have "brand new, clean" sheets and towels in their home. They have also reported doing things like taking apart the knobs on kitchen cupboards, just so they could disinfect the screws attached to the knobs. Women have discussed taking on cleaning their entire house, armed with a toothbrush. There seems to be no end to the lengths a nesting mother will go to prepare for her upcoming arrival.

One that you and your partner are sure to laugh about in the years to come...if he ever forgives you for sending him off to work and ripping down all the wallpaper in the hall! You may laugh about it now but you probably won't laugh when you're in the middle of it. No one can pull you out of it no matter how silly your behavior may seem. It simply becomes something that you must do!

Snow!

"This white powder is cold and evil!!!! I must rule it! -Frankie"

We got 30" of snow this weekend and they are calling for more on Tuesday night!

This has been a crazy wacky winter so far!

They cancelled class last Tuesday which was to be our last PRIDE class (didn't snow until late) we could have made it!

Our last home study was cancelled on Friday because it was supposed to start snowing around

noon (it didn’t lay until after 5) .

We did get our FBI and local background checks in the mail this week. YAY!!! Just another step in our journey!!

Health Department Inspection

Since we are scheduled to have our health department inspection . We really don’t have a clue as to what they will be looking for.

I took a small list from the foster and adoption forums so this is what we have done if you see anything that needs to be added please let me know!!

Check the fridge and freezer temperatures
Check the fire extinguisher
Check plumbing working correctly, toilet flushes, etc
Hot water available and at correct temp (120)
Check to make sure our cat has his rabies
Outlet covers
Safety Gates
Blinds were cut, or have proper cord protection
Safety latches
Oven knob covers
Trigger locks, ammo stored separate
Measure the rooms we want to use





Fridge and Freezer temp


Safety Gate



Talking fire and Carbon Detector.



Normal fire detector in every room of the house!




Bath thermometer



Bathtub faucet cover



ABC fire extinguisher


Safety cabinet locks



Small Kitchen fire extinguisher


Stove and oven covers


Outlet Covers


Window Blind Cord Wind-Ups

Book: A Mother for Choco

I got this book last night from the one and only Janet "Mom" Jones

We hope to help our child understand in life that families are people who live together and love each other, not just those who look like each other.

I cried reading this book, because it is so beautiful.

Pretty much the book goes like this:

He's looking for a mother who looks just like him, but cannot find one. Mrs. Giraffe doesn't have wings, Mrs. Penguin doesn't have plump cheeks, Mrs. Walrus doesn't have striped feet. He sees Mrs. Bear picking apples and he just KNOWS she can't be his mother because she looks nothing like him. He starts to cry and lo and behold, Mrs. Bear comes to "mother" him. She kisses him just like a mother would, she hugs him just like a mother would, she cheers him up by singing and dancing with him, just like a mother would. Eventually, she invites him home for some apple pie. Turns out, she has three other children, a baby hippo "hippy" and a baby alligator "allie", a baby pig named "piggy". Choco decides to stay for apple pie, finally happy that his new mother looks just the way she is.

Amazing Song!!

Below are the lyrics. Can't say enough about this song! After a rough day of wondering if we were doing the right thing I actually found the book in the song at my new favorite thift store for .60!

Who say's God doesn't talk to you?

Artist: Mark Schultz
Album: Broken & Beautiful
Title: Everything to Me

I must have felt your tears
When they took me from your arms
I'm sure I must have heard you say goodbye
Lonely and afraid had you made a big mistake
Could an ocean even hold the tears you cried
But you had dreams for me
You wanted the best for meAnd you made the only choice you could that night
[Chorus]
You gave life to me
A brand new world to see
Like playing baseball in the yard with dad at night
Mom reading Goodnight Moon
And praying in my room
So if you worry if your choice was right
You gave me up but you gave everything to me
And if I saw you on the street
Would you know that it was me
And would your eyes be blue or green like mine
Would we share a warm embrace
Would you know me in your heart
Or would you smile and let me walk on by
Knowing you had dreams for me
You wanted the best for me
And I hope that you'd be proud of who I am
[Chorus]
You gave life to me
A chance to find my dreams
And a chance to fall in love
You should have seen her shining face
On our wedding day
Oh is this the dream you had in mind
When you gave me up
You gave everything to me
And when I see you there
Watching from heaven's gates
Into your arms
I'm gonna run
And when you look in my eyes
You can see my whole life
See who I was
And who I've become
[Chorus]

Our time table

So sorry we haven't kept everyone updated.
Here is our time table so far.
Will update when we are finished!

11/03/09- Contacted AA County Dept of SS
11/05/2009- RSVP'd for Orientation (Rescheduled until 12/10)
12/10/09- 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Attended Orientation

01/07/10 PRIDE classes (every Tues & Thurs) until 02/02/10
**Our last PRIDE class cancelled because of the weather** Rescheduled until 02/09/10
**02/09/10 Yet another reschedule because of the snow Next schedule date 02/23/10**
**02/23/10 DONE PRIDE!!!!!!!!**

Home Study #1 01/08/10 2:30pm

Fingerprinted 01/14/10
**RESULTS IN TODAY 02/04/10*** PASSED

Physicals 01/23/10
TB test read 01/25/10 Tamara's -Neg Billy's- Pos (it's a mistake)
Chest X-ray 01/25/10 got results 01/27/10 NEG!!!! Thank you GOD!

Our 3 references turned in 01/26/10
Checked refernce 1 on 02/19/10
Checked reference 2 and 3 on 2/23/10

Homestudy #2 02/05/10
**Rescheduled due to weather until 02/12/10 @ 1:00PM**
**Yet another reschedule new date 02/19/10***

Health & Safety Inspection 02/12/10 @ 10:00am
**Rescheduled due to recent snow unti 02/19/10 @ 10am**
**We PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!**
Bedroom 1 is 15'x10
Bedroom 2 is 11'10'

Fire Inspection 03/05/10 PASSED!!!!

Homestudy # 3 03/23/10 -Done

Our Homestudy submitted to Sup for finally approval.. 03/24/10...

04/06/2010- Got our license in the mail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!