Nov. 7th(Wed.) -
Tara worked on the Lifebook today. One page has been completed using Creative Memories(scrapbooking). She is getting antsy again. It is hard to sit still and wait for our homestudy to be returned to us. So, working away at the books atleast feels like we're doing something. They should be completed by now but due to *procrastination*, have not. Tara ordered some paper over the weekend to be used for composing the book. What we will be doing is creating one book then having color copies done to compile the 10 that are needed. Tara loves scrapbooking so once that paper gets here, she'll be focused on that! We still have to take a couple pictures and develop the film as well. As soon as Tara is paid, we'll be sending off the Immigration Sponsorship application. There is a $100 fee to be submitted.
Nov. 8th(Thur.) -
Tara called the provinical social worker to inquire as to the where abouts/what to expect in the return of our Homestudy. We need to send it off to the agency. She didn't expect to get a person but left a message since she is out of the office until next Tues. If we do not receive the homestudy prior to then, we'll call again on Wed, the 14th. I do not think they would send the homestudy off to the agency themselves(they have a hard time doing what is required of them). Sorry, just a little bitter towards the whole Provincial system. Anyhow, we're anxious to hear back or receive the homestudy so things can get under way.
Paul has begun "cleaning things out". He wants to begin working on the spare room, which will be Parkers new room next. It is basically the junk room. Our old bed, the old crib, table and storage have occupied that space for to long.
It is hard to believe that winter is here. That NOV. is here already! Tara has an appointment to see the Gyn. in Fredericton on the 16th. Paul may be able to take the day so we hope to begin some Christmas shopping while in the city. Parker will be spending the day with Tasia and the boys. She is rather EXCITED about playing with Isaac!
It's dinner time and Park wants to get that out of the way so she can have dessert or a treat so hopefully the next note entered will be that we heard from the dept. or have received the homestudy.
Nov. 9th(Fri.) -
SURPRISE the socks off me .. the provincial social worker returned Tara's call yesterday! We have hit a little snag, delaying the homestudys return. Upon having it sent to the Central Office, they noticed a couple things were missing:
-Where we will be adopting from, specifically
-How we will be keeping the childs culture/heritage alive
So, once our social worker includes that info. for them, we may have to notarize it and then send it back to Central Office. Since we are not ready here with everything else, we are not bent all out of shape over it. Sad that it is delayed, but the spare time makes up for the procrastination we have been doing here.
The reality that we will parent again has hit us. To be honest, it is as equaly scary as exciting. Us, we are going to be parents again and to this incredible wonderful little person ... amazing!
We have been really enjoying family time together. Parker seems to be at the stage/age where she is able to actively take part in things and enjoy them. Litte things like going out for pizza and her putting in an order for her own cheese pizza and eating every bit of it, going for a donut etc. The little things that we get to enjoy with her as they are not viewed as little in to this incredible four year old girl. We are thinking of taking her to see her first movie at the theatre this weekend. She'd feel so big and grown up to sit there with her own popcorn and drink!
Nov. 13th(Tues.) -
We heard from the agency today. Exciting, exciting, exciting! Just what we needed, a nice little boost came in when needed to assure us this is real. They inquired to see how our Homestudy was coming and that they have several birthmothers due within the next few weeks and they are in need of Lifebooks to show these special ladies. Wouldn't have be AWESOME to be matched right away and have our newest family member home at the first of the Year! We're blown away at the posibility that this could happen so fast.
We've put a "rush" on things here. Tara called our social worker today to make sure she had been contacted about the lag in getting the homestudy back. We left a msg. so hopefully she'll get back to us if needed. The Lifebooks need to be completed and the Immigration Sponsorship will be sent off by the end of this week. We've been informed that application should be completed within 2 weeks.
Keep us in prayer and the many "hands" involved in this process. As well as for the potential birthmom and babe.
Nov. 14th(Wed.) -
Our social worked called last night. She was unable to contact the Provincial co-ordinator yesterday but will try tomorrow. She said there is no need for any notorization of the homestudy prior to having it sent to central office again. That wasn't even how it was done the first time. She had stated the necessities within the homestudy so will be going to "the head" to see exactly what they are looking for. She noted that we will be adopting from Thomasville, Georgia -The Open Door. Since it has been so long(over a month) since we completed the homestudy, she deleted our file. She, as us believe we are getting the run around again. This is common with the Provincial system, especially in reference to one worker.
We would just love to have it back and sent off to the agency. Especially now! Everything happens for a reason, right?
Not being able to do anything about this is driving Tara nuts. Little sleep was had for her last night. Excitment about the chance to be parents again and right in front of us, thinking about the baby things we need and would love to purchase and how increbile that this could happen, and happen quickly if we were chosen. We soooo want to have everything sent off to the agency! This homestudy snag is like the last straw. It shouldn't be bothering us so much, it's just one of those things, right. I guess after completing everything, after waiting so long to begin the homestudy, we didn't expect any further "opposition/snags". We are all approved, we have jumped thru all the hoops yet it sits somewhere ... while we wait to be parents again and a potential birthmother is preparing for birth. The frustration :o(
Nov. 21st(Wed) -
Still no word or receipt of the homestudy yet. AGGGGGGHHHHH!!! It has been the day of email. Tara has emailed the provincial consultant in regards to the homestudy. Just a little note to see if it may have been taken care of or if there is anything we could do or need to inorder to have this rapped up. We also emailed the agency to let them know they should have received our Lifebooks, signed papers and adoption order today. They were finished up last weekend and sent off on Monday.
Being patient isn't Tara's strongest trait :o( We're hoping to hear back, via email from both this week. Tomorrow would be super ~laugh~. All in His time with His strength. That right little person is out there for us. We're so close :o)
Nov. 30th(Fri.) -
We have the homestudy! It arrived this afternoon via courier. The Provincial Consultant took care of it. We need the criminal clearence back in order to complete the dossier. We have to make copies(2-3) of the study and then get them notarized. A reguest has been sent to the person in charge of our file. Hopefully they are returned quickly without difficulty. This was a rather frustrating week. Emails and phone calls until we finally received some results.
Tara also called Betty at TOD(The Open Door) to see if the study needs to be legalized which the Provincial Consultant can take care of or authenticated which involves the US Embassy. Betty was out for the week so we left a message for her.
