We got an email today from our social worker that our home study was written up, so we just needed to read through it, make corrections, and it would be sent in. I just took a peek at it and I was a little surprised...it's pretty much a 15 page history of our life. It's actually quite interesting to read (but maybe that's just because it's about OUR life!) She even wrote about how we met, and I appreciate that she commented that it wasn't my general practice to give my phone number to men that I met in bars! It's going to be fun to read, and I want to enjoy it with Jamie, so I'll hold off until he's around so we can read through it together. I have a feeling it will make us laugh, and cry!
I can't believe I am saying this, and might take it back if we don't get matched for a long time, but for now I can't believe how fast it's going! There have been so many positive steps along the way. Feelings of success, hope, excitement and progress....completely the opposite of our infertility journey. I'm keeping the hope alive that we'll end up with another precious little addition to our family someday. Can't wait, but I will!
Showing posts with label social worker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social worker. Show all posts
Friday, October 7, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Verbally Approved!
Our social worker came to our home for a brief visit. She's laid back and encouraging--she definitely makes us feel at ease. Griffin gave her the grand tour and showed her the important parts of our house, including blocks to build a hide out, every noisy toy he owns and his new bedroom ("that he will sleep in when we have another baby"....long time from now but it's ready!). She asked him some questions about his responsibilities around the house and some of our rules. After some encouragement he got more comfortable and answered questions. He definitely was showing off a bit and had a hard time not acting goofy. It was a little tough for me to see--he's such a great kid with a wonderful personality--and he wasn't himself during the visit. But, I am sure she's used to it. It's always different for a kid to have a stranger in his home--and one asking questions and taking notes is even more "strange".
We got into some tough questions, "Would you consider this....? What would you do if....?" Basically questions trying to determine what we would consider in a child and birth family. What it comes down to is that we are open. We are open, welcoming people and would welcome a child into our lives. It's hard to put conditions on anything and be definitive, because as we well know, you never know where life could lead you. I would have said I would never own a minivan, never do IVF, never survive 4 miscarriages, but here I am!
At the end of our meeting she said we were verbally approved and could go on the waiting list to be in the profile book (down to a wait of 12 families trying to get in the book of 60 families). So, that's it! Now it's the fun stuff--develop our website and profile for the book and wait.
We got into some tough questions, "Would you consider this....? What would you do if....?" Basically questions trying to determine what we would consider in a child and birth family. What it comes down to is that we are open. We are open, welcoming people and would welcome a child into our lives. It's hard to put conditions on anything and be definitive, because as we well know, you never know where life could lead you. I would have said I would never own a minivan, never do IVF, never survive 4 miscarriages, but here I am!
At the end of our meeting she said we were verbally approved and could go on the waiting list to be in the profile book (down to a wait of 12 families trying to get in the book of 60 families). So, that's it! Now it's the fun stuff--develop our website and profile for the book and wait.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
1st Home Study Meeting
Our 1st home study meeting went great! We met our social worker at her office in St. Cloud and spent 3 hours visiting with her. She is wonderful--positive, easy to talk to, and offered us lots of helpful insight. She is adopted, which is what prompted her to go into the profession. It was interesting to hear her story, she found out she was adopted when she was about 7.
She talked to us about the waiting list right away, it's much longer than it's been in a while--17 families are waiting to get into the profile book of 60 families. The families that we met during our training in April are approved and ready for adoption but, we are about 2 months behind due to our most recent miscarriage. She recommended doing some outreach, if we are able to be connected to a birth mother without going in the profile book, this could expedite the process and save us $5,000. But, it will be worth the wait!
She asked us lots of questions, but the meeting felt much more like a conversation than an interview. It was actually quite fun and easy, we talked to her about growing up, school, how we met and our favorite topic, Griffin. She asked some "deep" questions--how do we cope with grief and loss, what types of support systems do we have in place, how do we make decisions when we don't agree, etc.
The second part of our home study will be at our home, most likely a week from Friday (due to the state shutdown a course she was planning to teach is cancelled). She needs to see our home to make sure that we have room for another child and that it's safe. We have another section of questions to answer regarding our family life and it will be helpful to have Griffin involved in that piece. I can't wait to have her meet him!
We are excited for our next steps...thanks for the support and for joining us on this journey!
She talked to us about the waiting list right away, it's much longer than it's been in a while--17 families are waiting to get into the profile book of 60 families. The families that we met during our training in April are approved and ready for adoption but, we are about 2 months behind due to our most recent miscarriage. She recommended doing some outreach, if we are able to be connected to a birth mother without going in the profile book, this could expedite the process and save us $5,000. But, it will be worth the wait!
She asked us lots of questions, but the meeting felt much more like a conversation than an interview. It was actually quite fun and easy, we talked to her about growing up, school, how we met and our favorite topic, Griffin. She asked some "deep" questions--how do we cope with grief and loss, what types of support systems do we have in place, how do we make decisions when we don't agree, etc.
The second part of our home study will be at our home, most likely a week from Friday (due to the state shutdown a course she was planning to teach is cancelled). She needs to see our home to make sure that we have room for another child and that it's safe. We have another section of questions to answer regarding our family life and it will be helpful to have Griffin involved in that piece. I can't wait to have her meet him!
We are excited for our next steps...thanks for the support and for joining us on this journey!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
All set to meet our social worker
Tomorrow is the day we have been looking forward to for a long time--we are meeting our adoption social worker at her office in St. Cloud to begin our home study! It's so refreshing to not feel nervous like I did when I went to the doctor--I was concerned that my body wasn't going to respond how it should and, of course, the ultrasound appointments after we found out we were pregnant were nerve wracking. All we have to do tomorrow is be ourselves. So easy. Now if I could just stay this calm throughout the whole process....good luck with that!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
We have a Date!
She called back and, we have a date. A home study date. I am so excited! July 13 at 9:00 a.m. We'll be meeting with her in St. Cloud, and will have another meeting where she will come to our home. I really, really needed this now. With my 35th birthday right around the corner and the due date of the baby we lost in January coming up quickly, a bit of hope is really helpful. More to come.....
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
I did it.
I called our social worker. Yep, probably doesn't seem like a big step to just punch 10 numbers on my cell phone, but it was! I left her a message and hope and pray that we can get our home study back on the calendar and begin the adoption process again. I was waiting to call because I knew she wanted us to have some time to cope with our loss. When we last spoke she mentioned getting together in a few months and giving us time to grieve. Those that are reading this know me, and know that progress and hope have been a healing part of this process. A date on the calendar, even if it's two months out would help with the healing. So, lets keep our fingers crossed that I get a return call soon and a date to meet the woman that will change our lives.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Home Study
We heard from our adoption social worker! We'll be heading to her office in St. Cloud on May 17th. We'll have a 2 hour+ meeting with her, then the next step will a meeting in our home. We're moving along.....
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Social Workers and Butterflies
I got an email today that we have a Social Worker assigned to us! She will be calling us soon to set up our home study. I honestly got butterflies....this is really happening! It seems like such a huge step. We will soon be meeting the woman that will help us through this process. She will be calling us to let us know if a potential birth parent wants to meet us. She'll let us know if we are "picked". And, she will most likely be there when our baby is born. Such an important person in our lives and we've never met! We're excited for the next steps of our journey!
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