Thursday, January 15, 2009

Adoption update!

For those of you who are wondering about where we are in the adoption process ... here's the latest-and-greatest news:

1) We've finished our "interviews" with the adoption agency. The social worker now needs to start preparing a report.

2) Once she's done with the report, she'll get in touch with us to schedule a home inspection. (We need to get some fire extinguishers installed ... but we think that other than that, we are good to go!)

3) Meanwhile, we'll be working on creating a "family profile" that will be shared with prospective birthparents. It'll need to show them who we are and what our life is like. For many birthparents, it may be the only "contact" they elect to have with us, so we've got to give some careful consideration about what we'll include. We'll also run this past the adoption worker for a thumbs-up before we make copies.

4) We've found out that our insurance coverage doesn't cover an adopted child until the adoption is legally finalized, which often takes about 6 months after placement. So, we'll need to come up with some kind of interim coverage. (You all know me ... I've already emailed the adoption specialist to inquire if the state has some kind of program ... and I've called our --- yup, our insurance agent, who just called me back & said she'll have to do some research, too, and get back to me.)

5) We had a frank discussion with our adoption counselor about our upcoming vacations & how it'll affect any potential adoption. Ken & I had mapped out how we'd feel going on each vacation as a couple, as opposed to what it'd feel like with an infant along. We developed some pretty good strategies & were comfortable with the idea ... but now it turns out we'd have to get permission from the adoption agency to take the child out of state, and that our counselor is concerned about taking a newborn on a plane, from a health-risk standpoint. So, I need to revisit our vacation plans & see if we can get travel insurance & if it even covers adoption as a valid reason to cancel last minute! We've been told to live our lives as we normally would ... but I balk at the idea of sinking a couple thousand dollars into a vacation & then have to take it as a loss! Would I trade the opportunity to be a parent for a single vacation? Heck no! I just cringe at the idea of that money being wasted!

So the long and short of it is that we're still deep in the paperwork, but once we have the inspection visit, we'll be able to give the adoption specialist our profiles, and then we start the waiting process!

Thanks to everyone for your support. If you have any thoughts on how to help us out when the day actually comes that we bring a baby home, please feel free to let us know!

15 comments:

Trees said...

Wow, what an amazing journey you are on!
Have you read the children's book by Jamie Lee Curtis? (I'm sure you have). It's called something like "Tell me again about the night I was born", I'll try and find out the proper title. My only advice would be journal this journey so that one day your son or daughter will see how loved and longed for and planned their arrival in your lives was.

...and 'fire extinguishers'?!! I fear I am a bad bad parent ;-)

Kat said...

That sounds very promising, Latharia. Not that I have looked into the adoption process (still have hopes), and there may be differences between UK and US anyway, so can't offer any tips.

Keep us updated though! .. As for the fire extinguishers... that's a small thing to rectify. :) We've got one in the kitchen downstairs, but that's the only one (and thankfully never needed so far).

Dawn Lindstrom said...

Enjoy this journay Susanne, and as others have stated...journal all of it.

It certainly is a special and wonderful process.

jacquie said...

YAY! Progress! What an exciting journey this is for you and Ken. It's not without challenges, yet you seem armed to handle whatever comes your way. Knowing you, you are on page 20 of the "adoption" journal. What a wonderful memory to share with your child.

Janelle said...

I'm the last person to give advice on taking care of a baby, but I'm an excellent finger-crosser and prayer-maker, and I'm doing both for you guys! My dad used to be a social worker years ago and he was telling me the other day what a blessing it was to be able to help children be placed for adoption. (One of the very few joys of his job, but definitely a memorable one.) Blessings to you guys as you make your preparations!

John Peebles said...

Everyone knows the key to parenthood is having a fire extinguisher.

If i had just known sooner. ;-)

Tink said...

If everyone had to jump through this many hoops to become parents, I bet we'd have a decrease in teen pregnancy! Sheesh.

We have a fire extinguisher, so I guess I'm a good mommy. It was a moving in present from my inlaws... apparently my husband has a knack for starting grease fires. 8/ Good to know, I guess!

Mariangeles M said...

How exciting!!!

Thanks for the update :o)

Jen Mc said...

You two continue to be in my thoughts & prayers. I am sure everything will work out.
Yes, I agree with Trees - the JLC book is very good.

Mel said...

:-)

It's a process and a half, eh?
For good reason--but that's just from the other side of the fence.

Perseverence.....and good luck with the home study.

<-- personally NEEDS the fire extinguishers (ya might remember I'm disallowed near the stove--FOR A REASON! LOL)

crazierinreallife said...

sounds as if things are really moving along. congrats

Anonymous said...

I have missed coming to your blog~ I miss my friend through Shimelle. I want all adoption updates...and I will continue to pray.

Sarah said...

so exciting!!!! can't wait to hear more as things come along!!

Anonymous said...

Your journey sounds familiar..we did the same thing some 20 years ago and our two boys are almost grown now...adoption is a blessing and you will be in my prayers....I didn't read previous posts so don't know if you are going through the state or not but we got medi-cal (we are in california) for the boys through the state....

Anonymous said...

I haven't visited in awhile...but, I am very happy to hear about the adoption update! I will be praying for you and hubby.