Holt package arrived!

February 28, 2009

So Monday I go to the Police Department to get my police check. I'm quite certain that my wheels won't be on my car when I get back to it judging by the crowd hanging out in the parking lot! And no, I didn't see one officer. There's a line of about 20 people. I had given myself 2 hours to get this piece of paper. After no one was processed in 10 minutes, I decide I'm coming back. Go back today at 8:25 (they open at 8:30) stand in the 25 degree weather and down my coffee in record time. I was in my car with my clean record at 8:40! GREAT! The guy next to me asked me what "slander" meant. Yikes - sorry about his bad luck!

This morning I have an email update from Holt! I can't read it fast enough. They sent me about 20 pages single spaced on what to do now. The good news is we have a lot of it completed already as I did a lot of internet research on what to get for our dossier (that's adoption talk for the package we send to Thailand via Holt). The bad news is there's been a huge interest in Thailand since January so they've actually run out of adoption guidebooks to send out! That could cause a delay! Of course, the competitor in me comes out a bit here, I'm like ok fine - we just have to beat all those people in completing our home study and dossier. First one to turn in all the papers is the next one on the waiting list! Home study paperwork is nearly collected - we have to get our medical checks and have some more meetings. It will truly come down to how much time our social worker has to spend on our write-up. Since we can't control that, we don't worry about that! In our spare time, we're pouring through adoption information so we hit our education requirements for the home study.

The boys continue to talk about it all the time! Matt is already talking about which car we're taking to the airport as if we're going next week. With our track record in cars, it will be something that we don't currently own!

There's a family in Thailand right now adopting their little girl Olivia through the same process we're going through. They are updating their blog everyday. It is very exciting to read knowing that will be us someday!

Home Study Meeting #1

February 22, 2008

Today we had our first home study meeting. It was painless. Why are you adopting? History of Chris and Terri. Tell me about your kids. The social worker is great and very honest - I like her - she will tell it to us straight! One meeting down three to go. Have meetings scheduled for 3/3 and 3/6 with her. The good news is we've made great progress with the paperwork. The bad news is she gave us a lot more papers to fill out! We have doctor appointments scheduled and we knocked out a lot of her forms yesterday. We still have to fill out our personal interviews and get results from having background checks, fingerprinting checks, medical checks, court checks, personal references, credit references, etc.

The bottom line here is we should be done by Mid-April, which means by May, we'll be on a waiting list!

UPS vs. Snail Mail

February 19, 2008

Yesterday the UPS guy almost got more than he ever wanted when he delivered the certified copies of our marriage certificate. It arrived within one week. I was told to expect to wait 4 weeks. Although I was willing to kill a day to drive to Frankfort to pick one up if we were waiting on it to finish our home study, I didn't want to.

Just got an email from Holt - our adoption agreement has been processed. They are mailing me an adoption process guidebook. You guessed it - snail mailing it. I'm thinking I should send them 10 prepaid UPS envelopes so we can eliminate this 4 day mail thing they like so much. Guessing that will arrive Fri/Sat, which is great as it sounds like it will take some time to read.

Right now everything is going great with the process.

Matt told his entire class today that we were getting his sister from Thailand. The boys are very excited - Matt and Mark are both pumped that they get to miss 2 weeks of school if the timing is right.

Chris was grinning at the teeny tiny pink crocs with fur the other day in the store (even pointed them out to me). I'm sure Little M will be bigger than those shoes but it was very great to see him ooh-ing and aah-ing over pink shoes. He denies it 100%, but the man is already whipped! I don't deny it.

Boy are we in for it!!!

Adoption Agreement sent today

February 16, 2008

We sent the Adoption Agreement to Holt via UPS today. It will arrive Tuesday morning and our file will be passed along to the Thailand representative. The family picture turned out pretty good - we look like fabulous parents and the boys looked very sweet. Glad it wasn't a video! Just kidding - they are sweet and we are fabulous! One more step out of the way.

In 7 days, we have accumulated a lot of certified and notarized paperwork, had an application approved, made a bunch of photocopies and scheduled meeting #1. Not bad for week one!

We would love to knock out the home study in 4 weeks!

Forward progress!

February 15, 2008

We have scheduled the 1st home study appointment for next Friday. Chris and I will go to their office. I'm getting the documentation together as soon as I know I need it. The faster we get information to them, the faster our home study gets completed and logged in. Once that occurs, we're actually put on the waiting list. I think we have 4 visits - one in their office with both of us, Chris and I will have individual meetings and then the home visit when she'll talk to the kids and check for dust under the beds!

We signed and notarized our International Adoption Agreement to work with Holt. Remember it came snail mail. We also had a photo session tonight - set a new record - only took 2 minutes to get a good picture of the four of us. We also received our numerous birth certificates today. Just need to copy tax returns for 3 years and it's ready for UPS tomorrow.

The boys are very excited about their new sibling. They've been talking non-stop about her, the process, the Thailand trip, everything. They are debating whether she'll be able to play video games when she gets here or if they'll have to teach her.

Happy Valentine's Day!

February 14, 2008

I spoke with the HS Agency today to start our home study. She said, “You are adopting from Thailand, is that correct?” I like the sound of that. She didn’t say, “You are trying to adopt from Thailand.” I guess I’ve felt like we’re trying to adopt. Living in fear that something will go wrong… So she told me what to do next. Sweet! I’ve already checked off most of that! Ordered a bunch of copies of documents. Still need to call my personal references. They are all busy busy so I keep thinking I should call at night. I wonder if they care that I interrupt their Valentine's Day dinner. HMMM - I'm guessing this won't be a 2 minute conversation. Still need a picture of the four of us together that says, “This is a great couple to raise this Thai baby. These boys look like they'll make great brothers.” I keep debating what that should look like. I only have 2 recent ones with all 4 of us in it and I keep thinking maybe we should set the tripod up and see if we can come up with a better one. I’m definitely over-thinking this request. But that’s about all I can do is think think think!

We qualify for Thailand!

February 13, 2008

I just received an email from Holt (our adoption agency) that states, “It looks like you qualify for Thailand”. Holt has snail mailed me the international agency agreement form to fill out, notarize and send back. They told me to start the home study! I called the HS agency and wouldn’t you know got voicemail. I think this is their way to teach parents the patience necessary to raise children. I’m so excited! Even though we knew we met their qualifications, there’s always that chance that they don’t like how we answered something or filled something out. Don't get me wrong - there's still about a million things to do and things to go wrong but we have faith that this is going to happen.

We pushed the button!

February 10, 2008

Chris put on his Lower 9th shirt this morning. I said that is the softest shirt. Where’s the cotton from? Made in Thailand… It’s a sign. We eat Thai food for lunch (kids are still at Mom and Dad’s) and discuss the home study process. We are so excited. We’re at the mall and I want to buy a Gymboree blanket or dress or something for this child we know absolutely nothing about and haven’t even been approved to adopt. Actually, we haven’t applied to adopt! We go to Hallmark to find a Littlekin for Matt and Mark for Valentines Day. He picks up this sippy cup and is looking at it. I look down and low and behold, they have Mia – my favorite girl’s name. I’m just calling the child Little M. I’m guessing I have to resist the urge to shop for a while or he’ll think I’ve lost my mind.

WE PUSHED THE BUTTON!!!! We have officially joined the thousands of hopeful, anxious people who want to be adoptive parents. I guess this puts us in the trying to get “pregnant” part of the adoption process, as we’re not approved yet. I’m too nervous to actually tell anyone yet in case something goes wrong.

After pushing the button, I get to print my application and put it in my binder. I’ve never been so thrilled to file anything!

I also get an email immediately that tells me an intake staff will review it in one to two business days. If all is well, they will mail me an International Adoption Services Agreement. More snail mail! I know that will take 4 days so I should get that Friday or Saturday. I’m going to use UPS to send it back. Go figure!

So how does it feel to push the button??? I’m guessing Chris doesn’t have a clue what’s next. He’ll gladly help when he needs to. My mind is racing with all the millions of things that have to be done. It reminds me of planning our wedding. We have the things that need to be done right away, the things that need to be done during the next month or two. Then the long wait… then the huge rush right before the big day – which in adoption talk – is Gotcha Day. In the meantime, I get to act like nothing big is going on in my life because I’m too freaked out about something going wrong to talk about it possibly all going right. That’s not easy to do! In the meantime, I say a prayer that if Little M is born, she senses that she’s one step closer to home. But I know her foster parents are taking great care of her.

So how does this work? Thailand’s process with Holt is as follows – from the date of application 2/10/08, it takes about 21-24 months to bring the child home – that would be 12/09 to 2/10. In 16-21 months (6/09-12/09), we’ll receive a referral, which will include a picture and medical history of the child. We will review the medical history with a pediatrician and based on all that, agree to accept or not accept the referral. Thailand children adopted through this program have been healthy and well taken care of by their foster family. 3-5 months later we will fly half way around the world to pick her up. While we wait to travel, we will get pictures and medical updates on Little M. We’ll spend about 2 weeks in Thailand. The child will most likely be 14 months – 2 years old when we pick her up. That means she could be born already. When she is born and relinquished by her parents, she’ll live in a foster home until we go pick her up. We will meet Little M a few days into our trip. Thailand puts her in our custody forever three days after we meet her. We have requested a girl even though we think boys are fabulous! Since we got married, I always pictured 2 blonde boys and maybe someday, if all the stars aligned, a small Asian girl.

Thailand is it!

February 9, 2008

We have a sitter and can finally talk about it. Don’t want to get the boys hopes up until we’re approved. We talk and we decide this is right! This is where our child is. We’re going to push the button. I don’t know about Chris but I’ve never been more relieved and scared and excited all at the same time. I pray every minute that everything works out.

I think Thailand is our country!

February 2, 2008

I’m very excited and hopeful to have discovered a country whose timeframe, process, travel itinerary and fees might mesh with our life. I’ve requested information from the agency and researched every inch of the Internet for any negative comments about the country’s process. So far so good. Looks like Thailand might be it. But I requested information from Holt International and have to wait for it. I’m not even telling Chris until I find out more. I don’t want to talk about another country that turns out corrupt, closing the program or whatever…

February 4, 2008

I can’t stand it – I’ve exchanged emails with the home study agency that Holt International uses in Louisville. I’ve called Holt to ask them if I can download the information but it comes snail mail…

February 6, 2008

Rush home – it’s not in the mail – I buy a binder to organize the mounds of information we’ll hopefully have to collect.

February 7, 2008

Rush home – it’s not in the mail – how long does it take to get mail from the West Coast? OK – I know this – 3-4 business days. It’s ok – I am very busy and must continue to work and not think about it.

February 8, 2008

Rush home – it’s in the mail!!!! However, I’m working the fish fry at St. Michael’s and can’t read it until I get home tonight. I rip it open and skim it in 5 minutes. Everything appears to be ok – say a quick prayer – and run out the door to the fry. Get home late, tired but have to pour through every word they have mailed me. Don’t watch the video. The videos make me cry and get my hopes up. Not getting my hopes up until I talk to Chris. I pass him the country information sheet and said check out Thailand. To that I got a hmmm, that might work. It sounded positive. We were tired. I said think about it and we’ll talk. Can't talk in front of the kids. Don't want to get their hopes up.