All of the Newbies Stand Up!

[Trent&Jen]

Oh wow! It is so great to see so many new families on the forum! We've ALL been new at some point or another, right? We are Jen & Trent in Oregon. We're waiting for referral for either gender. We have 2 bio kids, boy (5) and girl (2). Anyone feel free to swing by my blog at www.brazenlilly.blogspot.com and maybe we can touch base outside the forum too!

[momto7soon]

Hello Everyone!

[momto7soon]

Hello Everyone! I have been lurking on this forum for the past year. Now it's time to say hello! We are praying that right now, as the adoption board is meeting, that hopefully, they are issuing our First Approval......please pray. Our dossier went to Thailand on Aug. 13 for our newest son who is 10 years old (waiting child) and living outside of Bangkok with his foster family. We are so excited to have him join our family and are really hoping to be able to travel at the end of April while he is on school break. My name is Rebecca and my husband, Elliott are the proud parents of ds 22, dd 20, dd 18, ds 17, dd 8, ds7 (the first 4 bio, our 8 year old was adopted from Vietnam in 2007, and our 7 year old from China in 2004). We live in Minnesota but are originally from California.....with this unbelievable snowy and cold winter we're wondering how much longer we can stay here Bangkok is 85 right now while Minneapolis is 2......bbbbuuuurrrrrr!

Nice to finally, officially meet you all!!

Rebecca

[momto7soon]

Hello

[momto7soon]

Last night I tried to post and introduce ourselves. I also stated that we were hoping to hear of 1st approval. I am sad to say that there has been a mix up and because of my husbands age (he's 53) and the number of children we already have our process has another step that must be completed. It doesn't sound like we will be able to travel until sometime between Aug - November. We are so sad. This poor boy has been waiting for a forever family for so long....

Rebecca (dh Elliott)

[ChrisandBethAnne]

Rebecca,

I'm so sorry to hear that things will be delayed for you to bring your son home. Here's hoping and praying that things somehow speed up again!

Beth Anne

[Danyelanders]

Rebecca -

I just wanted to send you ((hugs)). I am sure it is hard to think you have overcome one hurdle, only to find out there is another.

Danyel

[NeilandCatie]

Hi to Kelli and Tiffany!!

You sound just like us too. We have two boys, 5 and 2, and are hoping to adopt a young little girl. So fun and I am praying for you as you are in paperwork mode. Just keep trying to do as much as you can each day!! It will come together.

Catie

[Annabel_29]

Hi all!
Well, I am in panic mode. Our home study visit is next week, and I am trying to get my house ready inside and out. One side of my brain says don't worry it's not gonna be that bad. Then the other is my ocd side and says this house needs work and be afraid, be very afraid! Because we live so far away from our branch agency, our individual interviews and the kids interviews will be on this day too. We have 5 and 3 yr old boys, and they are wild. Our social worker better be ready for the wild bunch in our house. I have been trying to tell our 5 yr old that a women will be coming and asking us and him some questions about a new Sister. Who knows what he will say to her. You know how kids are. I always make things more stressful than it needs to be. I will be so glad when this part is over! Any advice would be great! Hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day!

[Danyelanders]

Annabel_29

I can remember being that nervous, but I really love our social worker. Of course I have heard horror stories, but she is great. I remember I was worried about things I had heard about like having a lock on cleaning supplies and medications, or having a fire extinguisher, and immediately she said not to worry about those things. She said that kind of stuff is more for a home study for foster parents since the state is liable for putting the child in your home.

Anyhow, at the time I had a two year old and a three year old. I swear the house was clean an hour before she came, but you know how that goes. In about 15 minutes the boys had undone all of my hard work. So as I was apologizing and picking up crayons, our social worker said "If any Mom of a two year old and a three year old kept a spotless house, I would be more worried". She said it was great having the boys there to see they were happy well adjusted kids. She mostly just sat and talked. She asked questions about how we were raised and what we would change about that. It really was not as stressful as I had built it up to be.

However, we did spend a lot of time chatting. To help keep the boys occupied I got new coloring books and brought them out. I also had a favorite movie on low. I had drinks and snacks prepared and on a table they could reach. Maybe if it is a nice day the boys could play in the back yard.

Try not to worry too much. Again - I love our social worker. When we had issues with program closures I called her a cried on the phone and she was so supportive. She has been such a blessing during this process.

[youngs]

The home study is nothing of which to be afraid! The social worker just asks you questions about you, your spouse, your family. Easy! One of our meetings wasn't even at our home. Our social worker said they just look for things that are dangerous to children. Guns in improper storage, things plugged in that could be easily turned on- table saw, hair dryer near tub-, past run ins with the law, etc. She didn't look at cleanliness with a white glove! Don't worry, I thought home study rumors were way over-hyped!

[momto7soon]

Tonight the Adoption Board is meeting again tonight. We have heard that there is a slight possibility that we might get some good news. (After the bad news following the last meeting we would like to hear that we are back moving forward). I pray that the AB gets to ours and other Holt files this time.

Rebecca

[Di+Jer]

Hi Rebecca,
Welcome! Would you like me to add you to the progress list or would you prefer that I wait until you've gotten through all age and family size waivers?

I saw that you're in Minnesota - Minneapolis area?? We're just outside Minneapolis! We just moved here over the summer from Illinois... we thought all this snow was normal - didn't know we were going to be here for a record-setting year! Yes, it's a little chilly but I love that my kids are seeing what a "real" winter looks like!

Diana

[momto7soon]

Sure you can add us. Early next week we hope to hear what the next step will be or at least a time line. So I'll keep you posted. Our application for our waiting child went to Holt 12/09, our dossier 8/10, and now we are waiting.

Yes, we are in Mn, Burnsville actually. Where are you? It would be fun to meet sometime. We could meet for lunch at IKEA if you are interested!

Thanks!
Rebecca

[Di+Jer]

We're in Bloomington! We're neighbors! Yes, we'll have to get together sometime... My kids think the Ikea cafe is quite the classy joint!