Home Study Over!!!

Yea!!! We are through with the Home Study..well, Ok...our part. The loads of paperwork and such. Now we just have to wait for our Social Worker to write her report, send it to the agency for approval and then on to Immigration. Then a long wait. We've been told 10 weeks to 3 months. Of course, we basically have everything ready for the dossier (paperwork) and will just be waiting for USCIS approval.

So summer is here..hot hot.. so the girls and I have enjoyed the weather and spent as much time as allowed outside. 1 bottle of sunscreen down, 3 to go before we stock up again.

I'm looking forward to holiday in June. Can't wait to go to Palm Island...snorkeling, sun, sailing, swimming, sleeping in, etc...
Need it...
Plus we've heard the Grenadines is gorgeous.

Mia has entered the "terrible twos" phase and is no replying to ever question, statement, or comment "No"

Lily is obsessed with the iPhone apps for kids. I guess it's good for her dexterity and brain...I can only guess...Ha

Not much other than that.

Almost through...I think

Tomorrow we have our individual interviews with our social worker. Not sure what else they can ask but I'm determined to make her laugh either way.

Mia has hit the "terrible-twos" I'm afraid and now says "NO" "Uh UH" "Waaaaa" and "ahhhhhh" on a regular basis.

Lily is learning how to deal with such precarious behavior. She said today "Momma, Mia hit me!"
I asked what she did and she said "I ran in here to where you are."

Mia has begun to hit, bite, and pull anything that resembles human hair. Love this stage.

So while finishing up with the thesis, and dealing with two opposite creatures, Garry and I are planning a holiday..yeah!!!!!

So excited. I'll leave you with some general Lillisms

Lily: Momma why are the people riding their back (her reactions to the Wonder Pets onstage)

Mia: WAAA
Lily: I didn't do it. I was over here. (as she runs to the other couch)

Mia: Yiyi!! (Lily)
Lily: Mia I'm busy you'll have to come back later. Or you can leave me a message.

Been awhile

Yes, it's been awhile. We have had tons going on but luckily we have almost finished all of the required paperwork for the home study and have begun working on the dossier paperwork, which actually isn't that much stuff.

I did get my new passport with my married name so that part is taken care of. I think one of the last things we have to do is take the girls to get physicals. I am of course waiting for one to get sick so we don't have to make an extra trip. (Is that mean?)

Oh well, today is an amazing day!

One of my college girlfriends and her husband have just signed the paperwork required to adopt their precious baby girl. After struggling with years of infertility, they felt God lead them to adopt domestically from Utah.

They began the process in September of 2009 and as of today have a brand new baby girl. They are beside themselves with happiness and I know they will be the best parents and spoil her to the brink.
(as they should)

I can't wait to meet her!

Lillisms and the start of many Miaisms

Lily gets in the bed in the middle of the night: 
Lily: Momma, I wanna cuddle. 
Garry: But I wanna cuddle 
Lily: Uh uh, You not supposed to cuddle with boys. 
Garry: But you can cuddle with daddy...and Pop 
Lily: No Daddy, Pop doesn't cuddle, He snores.


Mia wants yogurt
Mia: I wont dat! 
Me: Ok get your spoon and go sit in your chair.
Mia gets the spoon out of the drawer and goes to sit in the chair. The chair is on it's side because she likes to climb on the table. 
I put the chair to the table.
Mia climbs in. Bangs her spoon on the table
Mia: YOYUR!!!!!!!!!! (YOGURT)
Me: Ok, calm down here it is. 
Mia: Tant too! (thank you)

Top Ten

SO We met with our social worker (wonderful) and she gave us ALL the forms to fill out. ALL being the key words. Garry makes a good point. You don't have to do everything that is require for adoption when you're having a baby. There is something very wrong with that picture.

Top Ten Things you don't have to have/do when having a baby but must when adopting that you should have to do when having a baby:

1. Have health insurance. When the reality is all you have to do is cancel it after the adoption is final. (Not that this is problem for us)

2. Provide every address of every place you've ever lived for background checks. Not to mention the fingerprinting for FBI clearance.

3. Provide a 13 page family background questionnaire. (per person)

4. Have references.

5. Provide all financial information as well as a monthly budget.

6. Meet with experts in pediatric psychology (basically)

7. Read books on parenting. (To be fair I think some do this)

8. Provide photos of your home and everything in and around it. Provide photos of yourself.

9. Submit to a physical exam. (Enough said)

10. Pay out of pocket. (Can't use medicaid or insurance)

Just something to think about.

So...

We are currently working out an interagency agreement I think and then the Home Study agency will be checking references.

So, just waiting on that. Well and we will hopefully start on the dossier this week or next.

Saw a 20/20 special on Haiti last night. Spent the next hour crying. Thank you so much 20/20.

Of course they followed an adoptive family who were worried sick wondering if their daughter was alive and well. Of course they documented the reunion. Viewership went up 5 points I'm sure.

I am thankful that the US is allowing those already pledged to families here to be granted temporary asylum until their adoptions are complete. But I can't help wondering how insincere that is. What about the other children? What about the ones not in orphanages? What about the ones who have just become orphans?

My heart goes out. I can't begin to understand what the government thinks (though I tend to think they don't)

As a mother I can't imagine...

Coming soon...

So we made it back, alive, from Park City. We had a great time but really missed the girls. We're thinking this will be the last time we vacation for that long without them (excluding the trips to Bulgaria). Every time we saw little girls on the slopes we thought of them...we thought that's Lily (crying to go home or just play in the snow) and that's Mia (crying to ski faster and do the black runs at age 2)

It is so funny to think of the differences between two children who are biologically related. The girls look nothing alike and act nothing alike. It's strange to think that our son will fit right in, but hey, if the shoe fits.

So we have filled out most of the formal application for the home study agency and will then get to work! Woo hoo!

Lily: When I have a brother, he has to play with boy toys and he can't play with girl toys.
Me: Why is that?
Lily: (giving me the classic-out-the-corner-of-the-eye-look) Because he's a boy.