Almost there!

I got a call from our home study case worker this past week.... She wanted to make an appt to meet with us to have us read our draft of our home study and if all is well, sign off on it.... I am meeting with her tomorrow at 8am.... My hubby can't get off work to make the appt so, she will leave it with me and I will have him review it, sign off and return it to her office on Tues.... She says Wednesday morning she will take it to her supervisor and once it's approved, she will mail out our license.... She says we might have it by the end of the week....

With that said, then a new waiting period begins.... We never know how long it will take to get a placement... It could be hours, days, weeks or months! But, at least we will be certified when it happens!

We are almost another step closer to our goal! Can't wait!

So far so good!

This past week we had 3 visits/inspections:

Monday 8/10- Fire Marshall inspection- No violations!

Tuesday 8/11- Home lead test w/ our home study case worker- No lead!

Wednesday 8/12- Sanitation/Health inspection- Only violation that I know of so far (still waiting for water test results which take about a week she said) is our hot water temp was 130 degrees so we have to turn it back to 110.

All in all we are thrilled that that is all that went 'wrong'.... When the case worker was here she said once she gets our reference checks finished and the reports from this week's inspections she will finish writing our narative and then schedule a visit for us to 'read' it.... Then we should be certified... She hopes to have us completed by the end of Aug/ begining of Sept!

Wow, sometimes it's crazy (in a GREAT way though) to believe that we will soon be done this process.... We have been working on this since January and with in the next month (hopefully) we will be certified and could accept a placement if one becomes available!

So, so far so good.....

Inspections scheduled!

We finally got the calls we have been waiting for! We have our health and fire inspections scheduled for next week! Monday afternoon will be the fire inspection and Wednesday afternoon will be the health inspection.....

I have a few finishing touches on our house to prepare for both this weekend (finish child-proofing the house and finalize our fire escape plan) and hopefully both will find our home fit for a child and then once our case worker finalizes our paperwork and reference checks we will be certified soon!

Maybe by my hubby's birthday in September we would be available for a placement when one comes available :-)

You know you are getting old when......

We are still waiting for the fire and health inspectors to call and set up our appointments.... Since nothing new has happened since I last wrote about the Foster Care/Adoption home study process I though I would share this story with you..... I hope you don't mind!

About 10 yrs ago when I was new to the area I now call my home, I was working at a daycare. A family at the daycare was looking for a baby sitter and one of the administrators (whom I had done some baby sitting for too) suggested me.... We talked and I began sitting for them.... I got very close to this family and for a couple of years would take the children from school (where I worked) to either their house or one of their parents @ work and also baby sat on weekends.... When I decided to leave the daycare and pursue another job opportunity I lost touch with them and didn't baby sit for them anymore... I have always thought about them and wondered how they were..... but, after some time I let life get busy and didn't keep in touch. The last time I saw these children they were 8 (a girl), 7 (a girl) and almost 4 (a boy) yrs old. That was in December 2001....

So, over the weekend I was on Facebook and saw a 'suggested' possible friend and it was a 'baby/child' that I knew from the daycare.... Last time I saw her she was about 4 yrs old.... Now she is old enough for Facebook? No way! Curiosity got me so, I looked @ her friends and saw 2 other 'babies/children' from the day care... These 2 I knew when they were just a few weeks old... Wow! I can't believe it... These children probably won't remember me as much b/c I spent less time w/ them so, I didn't/don't plan on contacting them....

So, it got me thinking.... Does anyone in the family I was so close too have Facebook pages? Guess what? 3 out of 5 of them do! The Dad and the 2 oldest. I told my hubby about finding them and took 24 hrs to decide if I should contact them or not.... It's been almost 8 yrs since I saw/talked to them..... Would they remember me? Would they care? I did promise them I would keep in touch and didn't.... Would they be angry? Would they be glad?

I decided to contact them.... If I got a negative response back I would leave it alone but, I just had to know! So, last night I friend requested them and sent them each a message (reminding them who I was) and all 3 have accepted my friend invite and 2 (the Dad & the middle child) have sent me a message sounding happy that I have gotten back in touch with them....

Why didn't time stand still? How come these children are pre-teens & teenagers? The middle girl told me she is Oh my gosh!-- starting high school this year! Yikes!

So, here are 2 answers to my title:

You know your getting old when.... the kids you used to watch Disney movies with now have Facebook pages!

You know you are getting old when.... the kids you used to babysit could now babysit your (future) child/children!

I lied... I still don't 'feel' old! But, I still can't believe that the children I once knew are growing up and not still 8, 7 and almost 4 like the last time I saw them :-)

Another year gone....

Today is my birthday.... I am 33 yrs old today.... I love my birthday and to everyone I know I am the 'only' person over the age of 21 that still loves their birthday.... It's MY day.... My special day.... As a child I had to 'share' the other holidays with my siblings and cousins but, my birthday was MINE! All MINE!

My birthday does bring some sadness though... A month after my 29th birthday my hubby and I decided to start our family and 'threw away' the birth control..... Call it being pessimistic but, I always had a 'feeling' that I would not get pregnant right away.... I had no medical basis for this until several months after we started TTC but, I think I always knew..... I tried being optimistic though and was hoping to be a Mom before my 30th birthday (or shortly after).... By the time I was 33 I would have 2 kids or be pregnant with my 2nd at least right??? Almost 4 yrs later I still have no baby or child to hold in my arms and call me 'Mama'....

I am still very hopeful that our foster care/ adoption process will bring us to our child.... We met with our case worker last week and it seems we only have the fire and health inspections left and we could be done our home study process.... She will check into why they haven't called yet.... So, we are still 'waiting'..... Do you think someone is trying to teach me patience?

So, I am 33..... I am not a Mom yet but, I am: An Infertile person living with Diabetes and Hypothyriodism that has High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol and Sleep Apnea (as of last week when I got tested and now waiting for my machine). Wow what a mouth full!

I hope this year brings a new 'title'.... I hope by this time next year I can finally say I am a Mama! But, for now-- another year is gone.

'Happy Birthday MK'

Today would've been my friend MK's 41st birthday.... I miss her so much and have been thinking of her all day (like I do everyday).... I hope she is at peace.... Some times I wish I could talk to her one more time and tell her how much I miss her..... I can't believe that this Thursday she will be gone 4 months already.... Last year her b-day was on Memorial day and we celebrated it with her family....

My hubby came home from the hosptial today! He was in there 1 full week... It was one of the longest week in a long time.... I missed having him here with me and tonight I am appreciating having him back here!

Just wanted to 'wish' MK a happy birthday and give an update on my hubby!

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....