Showing posts with label Paperwork. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paperwork. Show all posts
Saturday, April 16, 2011
DONE!
We just finished our online training and adoption application paperwork this afternoon! What a huge relief--it's a great feeling to have the paperwork checklist crossed off and ready to send in. It was a ton of work, but as Jamie kept saying "BABY!". :) (As a side note, my application/essays were 13 pages and Jamie's were 14 pages--guess he's more long winded than me, which I didn't know was possible!) Our next big step is our adoption class on Thursday. Now I can focus on the garage sale (it's next Friday and Saturday) as well as our adoption website and profile. Bring it on!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Gulp.
Got the bill for the blood tests I had taken to determine if I have an autoimmune disease which could have lead to the loss of our baby boy. $2,616.60. Gulp. I'm praying that the bill is for all 11 tests--it's hard to tell. I'm trying to remind myself that we needed to have the testing done to determine if anything was wrong, and that if I didn't have it done, I would always wonder. But, I can't help but think that $2,616.60 would have paid for a nice Caribbean vacation. With lots of delicious blended drinks.
On the agenda tonight is movie time for Griffin while Jamie and I are on separate computers working on completing our online adoption training. We each have 8 hours of training to complete before Thursday (when we have our adoption class). Yikes.
It's going to be a long week, but a productive one.
On the agenda tonight is movie time for Griffin while Jamie and I are on separate computers working on completing our online adoption training. We each have 8 hours of training to complete before Thursday (when we have our adoption class). Yikes.
It's going to be a long week, but a productive one.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Field Trip the County Jail
We had another fun "Thompson Family Adventure" tonight...a trip to the county jail! Jamie and I needed to get fingerprinted as part of our adoption process. (Yes, Jamie did say he felt a little weird taking our picture.) And, look at those nice fingerprints! Check another thing off the long list of to-dos!
Progress.
I was having a hard time on Monday morning. I was feeling like we had too much to do before April 21 (our adoption training day). We need to finish our paperwork, complete 8 hours of online training, get fingerprinted and gather more "junk" and price it to make sure the adoption garage sale is a success. To top it off, I was
visiting with a friend that gets ready at the Y the same time I do. I told her about our adoption garage sale and she inquired about the cost of adoption. I casually mentioned that it would probably cost between $22,000-$25,000. Her face said it all, she had complete sticker shock. She repeated, "I can't believe it costs that much." That stuck in my head. Really, I can't believe it costs that much either. Sigh. So. Much. Money. I know it will be SO worth it. But, it feels so unfair. We've worked so hard in school and our careers to get to where we are. Living paycheck to paycheck was a thing of the past. Then, we couldn't have babies like other people. The easy way. The normal way. The natural way. And, we love babies. We have so much love to give. So, after time, the money didn't bother me. It's just money. We can make more, right? What would I rather have, a lifetime of joy or a finished basement and fun trips? A lifetime of joy, thank you very much! But, on Monday it all bothered me. I wanted a pity party! I married my true love...and, our fairy tale came to a screeching halt when we tried to pursue the next dream....to grow our family. So, I had a mini pity party on the way to work. And, I pity partied a bit at work.
Then I got an email from a friend/co-worker/someone that really understands and offers me lots of encouragement and support. She commented that she read this blog and she was impressed that we were making so much progress so quickly. Really, we were? I didn't seem like it. My baby bump is gone, we aren't approved for adoption yet and there are SO many LONG and UNPREDICTABLE steps between approval and holding our baby in our arms. But, you know what, she is right! Three months ago we lost our baby, and here we are 3 months later still putting one foot in front of the other-- and still on the journey. We haven't given up. We ARE making progress. Wow, did that one email turn all of my thoughts around. Thank you!!
And, it gets even better. She said she'd love to contribute to our "junk to blessing" garage sale, but she gave away her "junk" to another garage sale that was raising funds for a great cause last fall. So, instead she sent a check to our friend that is hosting the garage sale at her home. 100% thoughtful, but also 100% unexpected and unnecessary--which I told her. She told me that she wanted to contribute. Want. It's so great to have people that want to help. Again, we are blessed.
My day and thoughts completely turned around with one two paragraph email. We are making progress and we are not alone. We have people in our lives that really, truly care. And, they show it. Wow. We are so, so fortunate.
visiting with a friend that gets ready at the Y the same time I do. I told her about our adoption garage sale and she inquired about the cost of adoption. I casually mentioned that it would probably cost between $22,000-$25,000. Her face said it all, she had complete sticker shock. She repeated, "I can't believe it costs that much." That stuck in my head. Really, I can't believe it costs that much either. Sigh. So. Much. Money. I know it will be SO worth it. But, it feels so unfair. We've worked so hard in school and our careers to get to where we are. Living paycheck to paycheck was a thing of the past. Then, we couldn't have babies like other people. The easy way. The normal way. The natural way. And, we love babies. We have so much love to give. So, after time, the money didn't bother me. It's just money. We can make more, right? What would I rather have, a lifetime of joy or a finished basement and fun trips? A lifetime of joy, thank you very much! But, on Monday it all bothered me. I wanted a pity party! I married my true love...and, our fairy tale came to a screeching halt when we tried to pursue the next dream....to grow our family. So, I had a mini pity party on the way to work. And, I pity partied a bit at work.
Then I got an email from a friend/co-worker/someone that really understands and offers me lots of encouragement and support. She commented that she read this blog and she was impressed that we were making so much progress so quickly. Really, we were? I didn't seem like it. My baby bump is gone, we aren't approved for adoption yet and there are SO many LONG and UNPREDICTABLE steps between approval and holding our baby in our arms. But, you know what, she is right! Three months ago we lost our baby, and here we are 3 months later still putting one foot in front of the other-- and still on the journey. We haven't given up. We ARE making progress. Wow, did that one email turn all of my thoughts around. Thank you!!
And, it gets even better. She said she'd love to contribute to our "junk to blessing" garage sale, but she gave away her "junk" to another garage sale that was raising funds for a great cause last fall. So, instead she sent a check to our friend that is hosting the garage sale at her home. 100% thoughtful, but also 100% unexpected and unnecessary--which I told her. She told me that she wanted to contribute. Want. It's so great to have people that want to help. Again, we are blessed.
My day and thoughts completely turned around with one two paragraph email. We are making progress and we are not alone. We have people in our lives that really, truly care. And, they show it. Wow. We are so, so fortunate.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
My Take on Paperwork
I love scrapbooking...it's so fun to look back on all of our great memories and preserve them for the future. Griffin will probably have no interest in dragging 20 scrapbooks with him to his home someday, but I am sure I will enjoy sharing each moment with my fellow residents at the nursing home.
The writing part of the adoption paperwork is a bit like scrapbooking. I've been reliving my life stage by stage for the last 2.5 hours+ (and I still have MANY more questions to answer....and I PROMISE I am not being long winded).
It was fun to write about my childhood. I had to call my mom to check on how I was disciplined....I don't really recall getting punished much. I hated disappointing my parents. My mom reminded me that if Chris and I weren't getting along she'd sit us across from each other at the little kid's table and in no time we'd be giggling. I can't wait for Griffin to have a sibling so I can test that out! She also told me that once they took the door off my room for slamming it too many times! I don't remember that, but I don't doubt one bit that in my pre-teen years I was a door slammer.
I had to write about my favorite memories as a child--I talked about "Wolney Snow Day"--the day each year that there was lots of snow, but school was still on. My parents would keep us home from school, my dad would stay home from work and we would watch movies and eat pizza in our PJs. I also loved "Heather Day" and "Chris Day" when we got to choose the plans for the day for our whole family.
I also got to write about my friendships (I am blessed with great friends), and about how Jamie and I met....and every other detail about our relationship! I was able to write my observations of him as a father and felt like I could go on forever about how patient, understanding, loving and supportive he is.
I had to write about tragedy, loss and how I dealt with it. Tears were flowing then. But through the tears, I was reminded of the outpouring of support we have had through each tough moment in life.
Overall, this part of the paperwork is actually fun--reliving the good times (and rough times) and being thankful for the good life we have.
OK, back at it!
Just checked--I have 29 questions to go (plus financial info, etc.) and completed 26. Jamie only has 9 left to go (he worked on his for 4 hours yesterday)!
The writing part of the adoption paperwork is a bit like scrapbooking. I've been reliving my life stage by stage for the last 2.5 hours+ (and I still have MANY more questions to answer....and I PROMISE I am not being long winded).
It was fun to write about my childhood. I had to call my mom to check on how I was disciplined....I don't really recall getting punished much. I hated disappointing my parents. My mom reminded me that if Chris and I weren't getting along she'd sit us across from each other at the little kid's table and in no time we'd be giggling. I can't wait for Griffin to have a sibling so I can test that out! She also told me that once they took the door off my room for slamming it too many times! I don't remember that, but I don't doubt one bit that in my pre-teen years I was a door slammer.
I had to write about my favorite memories as a child--I talked about "Wolney Snow Day"--the day each year that there was lots of snow, but school was still on. My parents would keep us home from school, my dad would stay home from work and we would watch movies and eat pizza in our PJs. I also loved "Heather Day" and "Chris Day" when we got to choose the plans for the day for our whole family.
I also got to write about my friendships (I am blessed with great friends), and about how Jamie and I met....and every other detail about our relationship! I was able to write my observations of him as a father and felt like I could go on forever about how patient, understanding, loving and supportive he is.
I had to write about tragedy, loss and how I dealt with it. Tears were flowing then. But through the tears, I was reminded of the outpouring of support we have had through each tough moment in life.
Overall, this part of the paperwork is actually fun--reliving the good times (and rough times) and being thankful for the good life we have.
OK, back at it!
Just checked--I have 29 questions to go (plus financial info, etc.) and completed 26. Jamie only has 9 left to go (he worked on his for 4 hours yesterday)!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Paperwork
Our new hobby, adoption paperwork.
Adoption paperwork with butter caramels.
Adoption paperwork with french press coffee.
Adoption paperwork with butter caramels.
Adoption paperwork with french press coffee.
Friday, March 4, 2011
First Offical Step!
After a great phone meeting with Lutheran Social Services, we took our first offical step towards adoption....below is our first piece of paperwork and money spent towards growing our family through adoption! (And, MUCH more to come!) We applied for the Domestic Infant Adoption Program through Lutheran Social Services. On 3/3/11 we received the information for our next steps including lots of paperwork and background check information. Oh how I wish I loved paperwork and running errands. We'll be working on completing paperwork, gathering documents, taking an 8 hour online training course, and on 4/21/11 we will be attending an adoption training course in the Cities. It all seems so overwhleming, and a bit unfair. I believe we are great parents, it's a little frustrating that we have to prove that to others. But, I also understand that its important for children to be placed in good homes. So, we will cheerfully go through all of the necessary steps, and hope and pray that we are blessed with a precious addition to our family! 
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