Overly Sensitive?

I went and got my fingerprints done today. It was easy! I couldn't believe it. It only took about 10 minutes and cost $5 bucks. It's all done on a scan machine so there were no worries about smudges or smears.

I had a nice chat with the Officer. As we got done I commented that Mr. H and the kids would need to come in yet. He said one time there was a family he printed that was the mom, dad, and four or 5 kids they were adopting.

Then he said, "We just did it the old fashioned way."

And I replied acidly, "Well we tried but I didn't work."

"I meant the fingerprinting. We did it with ink."

I felt myself turning a little red. Sensitive anyone??

The Bad Economy is a Good Thing?

Mr H talked to another facilitator tonight. She said it's a weird time for adoptions because of the economy. There are fewer people who can afford to adopt and there are more BM's that can't afford to keep their offspring. So that's good for us. Isn't that awful?

The lady also said she usually has 25 couples in her pool - which is her self-imposed limit. However, she currently only has 15!

I'm getting excited again! I was in the dumps all day, too. I want someone to say to me "this is the agency/facilitator for you". Beyond that I'm willing to make all the other decisions, but this one just seems too much for me.

Mr H fell asleep writing the first paragraph of his autobiography last night. He therefore concluded that he leads a boring life. I have to say I read that first paragraph...... He might not be wrong!

Searching, Searching

Mr H is down in the basement going through our myriad of Rubbermaids looking for our 2007 tax return for our home study. I'm waiting for my mom to email me with the year I started school (I'm not sure) and math isn't my strong point so counting backwards isn't the best bet. I also need her to tell me her and dad's degrees and dates. It seems like some of this stuff is beyond goofy for the need to know. I'm sure it will get worse!

Mr H talked to his parents (as he does every Sunday) and his dad made what I would assume is our first negative comment. They were talking about the progress we're making on the adoption and where the babies come from and his dad says something to the effect of "to each his own". Lovely.

Thanks to everyone that's come over to say hello. Knowing others are out there going through the same things really helps. None of my friends can relate.

I haven't revealed many of our personal details yet. I'm not sure why that is. I have another blog where I blog about all our regular day stuff. I haven't given friends and family this address yet. I think it's because I'm scared we won't pass the home study and I don't want everyone I know knowing that I'm a failure as a mother before I even get a baby. Ridiculous I know!

It's hard not to be Happy...

when good things keep happening! I bought a powerball ticket tonight I'm feeling so lucky!

We met with the social worker for our initial interview and to get the criminal background and fingerprint cards from her. It went very well. She seems like a very nice lady. She's older and is an adoptive mom herself. She's also involved in lots of visible community type things and has worked at the state level on adoption reform. She referred a couple of attorneys to us, too.

We had a gift card to Outback so went there for a cheaper dinner. While dining Mr H imparted some good news. His company met its goal so there's going to be a substantial bonus. It will go a long way to helping us with this adoption! Yay!

What do you know!

We called the bank at noon and now at 2:06pm we are approved for financing for the adoption! Wow!

Rejection!

We got a form rejection letter from a facilitator today. I'm not that upset. They referred us to another facilitator who I'm currently researching. I filled out the obligatory preform so we can find out what their fees are.

I've started working on my autobiography (what a snooze that's going to be!) when on study breaks. Mr H is picking up the criminal background check paperwork etc from our home study lady Nancy tomorrow night.

I'll be gone on Saturday and the kids will be at their brother's so may be he can get going on that!

It's all forward movement right?

I can't believe

We're making progress! We've engaged a person to do our home study. She's answered our emails promptly and has a personality. Of course the thought of the home study makes me nauseous especially with two teenagers in the house. I think their animosity toward us winning custody has lessened quite a bit since the trial. I hope so. I'm scared to death they will cause us to get denied.

Mr H has a physical scheduled for Friday. She was able to email us that portion of the forms so he has it and we don't have to pay two office visits.

I found the list of state licensed agencies in our state so I emailed quite a few of them today. Hopefully, we'll hear back soon and we can keep moving forward!

Highs and Lows

I've been reading adoption websites, forums, blogs etc. They all say that there are highs and lows. Well, I've gotten to experience that today.

We had a conference call with an agency today. The number of families they serve sounds reasonable. The number of adoptions/infant placements they had last year sounds reasonable. Everything about it sounds good. I'm excited! We're signed up to attend an orientation next Wednesday. It feels good to be doing something. To be making some kind of progress. We already have their info packet on international but we've decided to go domestic. She'll email us the packet.

I get home tonight and Mr. H has forwarded me the link. I'm so excited sitting down to the computer to check it out.

This agency is not going to be for us. Their fees seem very high especially when it says that the money is used to help all pregnant women who contact them and not just those who decide to make adoption plans.

Plus it requires a letter from our pastor or priest. We're Christian. We've both been involved in our churches previously. We moved. The pastors have changed. We haven't found a new church home we're both comfortable with here. So already we are out before we were even in. Now, five hours later I've gone from excited to having a migraine.

Slowly but surely

We are making some progress. Mr H made calls to 3 adoption attorneys and faxed a homestudy agency yesterday. I started filling out an application for an adoption facilitation facility. Some of those questions are hard! I really like the sound/statistics of this agency. I'm afraid it might fall under the "sounds to good to be true" category.

Tomorrow I'm heading out of town to see my friend K and her family. She's got a new baby I have yet to meet. He's just over 2 months old. She also has a 6 year old son and a 4 year old daughter. Strangely, being around her fertile myrtle self and her kids doesn't bother me in the least. She told another friend she was scared to tell me (and a 3rd friend of ours who's struggling with infertility) that she was pregnant AGAIN! I was so excited for her though. Her first son is probably the closest I'll ever be to pregnant. We worked together so I saw her almost every, single day of her pregnancy. I was at the hospital just before she was in labor and then a few hours after S came into the world. I'd go over and have lunch with her and the baby, too. I love him dearly.

Hopefully, Mr H will work on his answers for the facilitator this weekend while I'm gone. He'll have his hands full with the teens though. I'll be lucky to come home and find him awake and our house still standing. Our 3rd wedding anniversary is Sunday.