We didn't have our Adoption Class this past weekend due to it being right after Thanksgiving. However, on Thanksgiving, my Mom ordered us a new crib, dresser & changing table set. It actually arrived on Saturday & I put it together that day! I'm so excited. It really looks like a nursery now....complete w/2 cribs :) The walls are bare, but I'll fix that once our babies are home so I can customize it just for them. I'm back to wanting twins and can't wait to see them in there. Steve's excited to get another boy, so I'm just praying that there are boy twins (or boy/girl) that are looking for a home. I can't wait to have new babies in the house!
Just 2 more classes and then we have to wait for our Home Inspections to be scheduled. I'm getting nervous because we haven't heard from the State yet. We did our fingerprinting for them quite awhile ago. We were told that they'd be calling to set up the appt as soon as they got the results in. I've gotten my copies, so I'm hoping they got theirs. I'll call this week if I don't hear from them. After our classes are done, we'll be scheduled for our County Inspection. Gotta love all that "red tape!" LOL
Monday, November 29, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Teens
I forgot to mention something we learned in class about teens. I think we all know it seems they've all "lost their marbles" and I know I'd heard in the past that their brains aren't fully developed (especially the decision making part). But, did you know that part of their brain literally stops working? It does that so the rest can continue to grow. Sounds strange, but makes a lot of sense!
We're HALF-WAY DONE!!!!!
Yesterday was our 3rd PRIDE class. I'm so incredibly grateful that we're taking the Saturday classes! Since our classes are longer, we actually have 2 sessions in one day. Yesterday's first session was very heavy and depressing. It was on Grief and Loss. We talked about the loss that the children in Foster Care and the kids that are Adopted feel. We had a video that was simply words across the screen and children talking. It showed a child's view of going thru the process. All the feelings they experience and how they don't understand why they should feel grateful. They've lost so much and all they want is to go home and belong. It was so heart-wrenching. We then had to explore our own losses in life (health, death, etc).
Thankfully, the 2nd session was much easier and we ended class on a very positive note. We all sat in a circle and each one of us expressed what it was that we wanted to offer a child. It was really neat to hear from everyone in the class. There's some in class that we hear from all the time because they speak up & answer questions (like my hubby). Then we have some in class that sit back and listen and we rarely hear form (like me). Most of the things everyone came up with was what all of us want to offer (sense of security, love, faith, acceptance, etc). Mine was a sense of family and that, no matter what happens, you can always come home. Steve's was a sense of humor and not to take life so seriously.
They were also finally able to update our folders. I checked ours before leaving class to ensure they had everything I'd turned in. Thankfully, they did. I'm just waiting to get a copy of Steve's Divorce Decree in the mail and we need to finish our Auto Biographies and turn them in.
One of the ladies was also talking about the home inspection she had with the State of CA. So, it sounds like those are getting done, too. I'm hoping to get a call to schedule ours very soon! So, today I'll be cleaning house and making sure everything is in place! I want to be sure we're ready. I'm pretty sure everything is done that's on our Checklist, but I want to check it several times to be absolutely certain. I can't chance having to reschedule. After we're done with class, we'll get scheduled for our home inspection with the County of Riverside. After that, we'll be licensed and then its just a waiting game........
Thankfully, the 2nd session was much easier and we ended class on a very positive note. We all sat in a circle and each one of us expressed what it was that we wanted to offer a child. It was really neat to hear from everyone in the class. There's some in class that we hear from all the time because they speak up & answer questions (like my hubby). Then we have some in class that sit back and listen and we rarely hear form (like me). Most of the things everyone came up with was what all of us want to offer (sense of security, love, faith, acceptance, etc). Mine was a sense of family and that, no matter what happens, you can always come home. Steve's was a sense of humor and not to take life so seriously.
They were also finally able to update our folders. I checked ours before leaving class to ensure they had everything I'd turned in. Thankfully, they did. I'm just waiting to get a copy of Steve's Divorce Decree in the mail and we need to finish our Auto Biographies and turn them in.
One of the ladies was also talking about the home inspection she had with the State of CA. So, it sounds like those are getting done, too. I'm hoping to get a call to schedule ours very soon! So, today I'll be cleaning house and making sure everything is in place! I want to be sure we're ready. I'm pretty sure everything is done that's on our Checklist, but I want to check it several times to be absolutely certain. I can't chance having to reschedule. After we're done with class, we'll get scheduled for our home inspection with the County of Riverside. After that, we'll be licensed and then its just a waiting game........
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Class #2
Today we had our 2nd PRIDE (Parent Resource for Information, Development and Education) Class. A lot of it really is simply common sense (especially for those of us that already have kids). Today we were talking about how children are affected by all sorts of abuse (physical, emotional, sexual, etc). I'm not sure if I've just heard too much in my lifetime because today's class didn't affect me like it seemed to affect others. Although I don't like hearing about these cases, I can't say that anything actually surprised me. I'm sure, if we end up with a child thats been subjected to any sort of abuse and/or neglect, things will be much more emotional. Its much easier to put on the "tough girl" face and just take in the facts when its not directly affecting your life right at that moment.
We also talked to Cheyenne a bit more when we picked her up. We explained that her new brother/sister may be scared and may act that out. She's such an understanding little girl and truly amazes me! Again, once that new brother/sister is here, it won't be as easy for her, either.
We also found out that, while we're allowed to (and encouraged) to have pictures of our new children in the house, we cannot share their pictures with others. I was not too surprised that we couldn't post them online. I was, however, very surprised to learn that we cannot send pictures to family/friends via e-mail or even snail mail or handing them a picture. This is going to be hard because, as with any new child, you just want to show them off because you're so proud. However, until the adoption is final (at least 6 months), we cannot share those pictures. Considering how many pictures we take at family events, thats going to be very difficult.
One really cool part ~ We've now completed enough hours for the State of CA! All we need to be licensed by the State of CA now is to have them come out to do our home study. We won't be able to be placed w/children until we've completed everything for the County of Riverside, but its nice to know that we've done everything for the State that we can. Now we wait for their phone call for our home study..........
We also talked to Cheyenne a bit more when we picked her up. We explained that her new brother/sister may be scared and may act that out. She's such an understanding little girl and truly amazes me! Again, once that new brother/sister is here, it won't be as easy for her, either.
We also found out that, while we're allowed to (and encouraged) to have pictures of our new children in the house, we cannot share their pictures with others. I was not too surprised that we couldn't post them online. I was, however, very surprised to learn that we cannot send pictures to family/friends via e-mail or even snail mail or handing them a picture. This is going to be hard because, as with any new child, you just want to show them off because you're so proud. However, until the adoption is final (at least 6 months), we cannot share those pictures. Considering how many pictures we take at family events, thats going to be very difficult.
One really cool part ~ We've now completed enough hours for the State of CA! All we need to be licensed by the State of CA now is to have them come out to do our home study. We won't be able to be placed w/children until we've completed everything for the County of Riverside, but its nice to know that we've done everything for the State that we can. Now we wait for their phone call for our home study..........
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Classes
Our adoption classes thru the County of Riverside started last Saturday. It was interesting to see the different types of people in our class. Some are like us and strictly want to adopt, others strictly want to foster. After our class, Steve and I talked a lot about what we're looking for. Believe it or not, our views are already changing! We were originally set on only babies. We're now considering not only an older child, but possibly 2 babies as well. They told us we'd probably change our minds about things as we went along & learned more. Its definately a learning process! We enjoyed our class and getting to meet people that are in the same boat as us. Our next class is this Saturday. The Social Workers promised we won't get out early again (like we did last week). LOL.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)