Sorry for my absence.....

I am sorry I haven't written an update lately.... My husband had a hernia repair surgery on March 10th and since then he has had several complications.... just as it seems he has turned a corner to getting well-- WHAM! something else happens.... Today was one of those days.... About 2 weeks after his surgery, we had to take him to the ER to see if he had a blood clot in his leg... Tests the next day at the hospital confirmed one but, in the 'superficial' vein... more bed rest and meds given and it got better..... then a few days later is when his wound 'opened up' and the Dr found the infection.... 2 weeks of Dr appt's later and they decide it's not healing so, he had to have the surgery again... They took out the old and put in brand new.... That was 4 weeks ago yesterday.... This time he had to stay in the hospital a few days to get IV antibiotics run through him to help prevent an infection.....This time we seemed to be on track! He was released to go back to work yesterday (5/18/09).... After almost 10 weeks of being off he was ready to get back to 'real' life.... Over the weekend we noticed his left leg was swollen but, thought it was his body getting used to being more active after being off of his legs for weeks..... But, last night when he came home from work his leg was still very swollen and now very red..... He rested it and this morning since it seemed to be no better (the redness had even spread more) we decided to get it checked out.... His PCP first thought it was an infection or cellulitis... He wanted to be sure and sent us to the ER for possible IV antibiotics to fight the 'infection'.... The ER Dr seemed to think the same thing but, just to be safe ordered a 'Doppler' of his leg to check for leg clots... GUESS WHAT??? They found 2 blood clots this time in the 'deep vein' and one was above his knee and the other below the knee (I now know the ones above the knee are the ones they worry about and could move to other parts of the body that we don't want them too) So, they have admitted him again to run more IV antibiotics and started him on blood thinners.... I don't know how long he will be in... It's so hard to see him not feeling well and not be himself.... I hope this works and he will be feeling 'as good as new' in no time....

So, the last I posted we had just had our first visit with the home study case worker.... Since then she did her individual interview w/ my husband on April 30th... He was nervous before it but, afterwards said it went well.... My individual interview was on May 11th and I feel it went well too..... A lot of questions about my childhood and early adult life up til now... I did very well recounting our infertility/IVF journey with out getting emotional.... I was proud of myself.... She told me that day too that she sent out our reference questionnaires and will follow up with them as she got them back.... The next step is waiting for the health and fire inspectors to call and schedule those appointments and another meeting (at least) with her to do more paperwork/questionnaire..... So, that's where we are at for now.... I don't have any dates set but, hoping to get the calls soon to get moving on this again....

Another thing that has been on my mind besides my hubby getting better is my friend MK.... I still think about her EVERYDAY.....Next Tuesday (May 26th) would've been her birthday she would've been 41.... I remember celebrating her 40th last year on Memorial Day at her sister's house.... It was a surprise..... I really do think we did get her.... We were so happy to share this milestone with her.... Also, next Thursday (May 28th) will be the 4 month anniversary of her death.... I do not know if I will ever get over loosing her... She was such a good person..... I miss her so!

Well, that's all I have for now.... I will try to be better at posting as things happen and not have to do a 'catch up' post but, right now in this stage of the process it's more waiting then action.... But, I am hopeful that this will lead us to a child that will become forever ours.... We just have to wait and see....

1st Home Study Visit....

Today we had our 1st home study visit for the foster care/ adoption process... I got nervous because our case worker was late for our appt. After waiting a half hour and worrying that I had the wrong date and/or time for our visit I called the office and she said there was an emergency and she would be there in just a few minutes....

Once she arrived things went well. She started by doing a brief 'Home Health Report' on our house and property. She did not find anything she felt the health inspector or fire marshall would find wrong....

She asked us some background questions and then set up our appointments to interview my husband & I separately.... His appointment is next Thurs 4/29/09 and mine is scheduled for 5/11/09. She is also going to submit for our health inspection and fire marshall inspections to be completed. She said they would contact us for those dates and times...

So, visit #1 went well and I am ready for the next step!

Got the baby furniture.... Just need the baby!

Here are some pictures I have been meaning to add.... We invested in some gently used baby furniture from a close friend's daughter.... We've got it set up in the room....

We still need to get some decorations and make it more 'child' friendly but, we will get there!

Our first home study visit is still set for this Thursday(4/23/09) @ 3:30 p.m. Can't wait!

Another step further.....

We took another step today! I received a call first thing this morning from the home study case worker saying she received our paper work that we sent back and was calling to set up our first appt with her.... We made it for April 23rd, 2009!

I was so happy to hear from her again so soon! I am hoping the rest of the process goes smoothly & quickly too!

One step forward......

The call came! I just heard from the case worker that will be doing our home study! She was one of our trainers in PRIDE class and I really was hoping she would be the one to do our home study!

She called to say that the first step is to send us a questionaire for both my hubby & I to fill out individually and then send back in. She will review them and make notes of any questions she has and then call us to set up the appt for our first visit with her! So, today I feel like we took one step forward.... I have a face and a name to put behind 'home study case worker' now!

I am sooo excited! I teared up a bit when telling my hubby and a couple close friends at work....

I know it's a small step but, right now I will take it!

Trying to be patient.....

I am not really a patient person.... You would think that the 3 IVF cycles would've taught me patience.... But, they didn't!

We finished our PRIDE classes on March 4th and were told by our trainers that they would get our paperwork that we had been handing in together and give to their supervisor and she would let them know when to start the home studies.... I wait everyday to get the phone call from our home study social worker that he/she has been given the go ahead to start ours..... I know it's only been 24 days since class ended and only 17 of them have been business days... But, still I am anxious to get that call and have a date set to meet him/her and get this next phase started.... Ugh! Each day that passes I think-- maybe it will come tomorrow......

Today has been 2 months since we lost our friend MK... I miss her everyday... I think about her everyday... Some days it doesn't seem real still that I will not see her.... I hope she is at peace.... I see her hubby and want to ask him how he is doing but, am afraid he will break down and I know he is trying to be strong... I just want to tell him that I miss her very much and think of her everyday. He does talk about her and tells stories about her and does good.... I just don't want to be the one to make him sad.... MK was a wonderful wife, mother, daughter, sister, child care provider and friend.... She was a patient person.... I am trying to learn to be more patient too.... I hope I can be half the Mom she was when I am a Mom... I miss her so!

Well.... Maybe I will get my call on Monday-- or Tuesday-- or some day this week :-) For now I just wait and know it will come eventually!

PRIDE 'graduation'

Last Wednesday night (3/4/09) we had our last Foster Care/Adoption class.... We 'graduated'! We received our certificates, had an open discussion with some current foster care/ adoptive parents and had a nice dinner w/ our trainers and fellow classmates.... It felt so good to get that step in the process done....

The next step is to wait for the DSS Home study case worker contact us to start our home study.... Once it's started they have 120 days to get it completed.... It consists of at least 2 visits from our case worker, a Fire Marshall inspection and Health Dept inspection....

My husband had outpatient hernia surgery today (3/10/09-- actually it's already 3/11/09 so I guess it should read 'yesterday') and will not be able to do any heavy lifting for a few weeks, so this past Sunday we got some stuff done around here..... One thing we did together is finally got the old computer room cleaned out and moved in some of the furniture we bought a few weeks ago... We moved in the dresser, changing table and rocking chair... We need to put the crib/child's daybed together and ran out of time then all of the furniture will be in there.... I was excited to have a room look like a child's room....

I have a few other 'spring cleaning' type projects to prepare for our home study I hope to get done these next few days while I am off with my hubby helping him recoup from his surgery.... I feel like everything we do to prepare gets us one step closer to our future child sharing our lives, home and hearts.... I can't wait to get the call and set a date for our home study to begin.... Then the next step will start...

It's been a long day and I am tired.... I am going to bed now.... I will try to be back soon!