Home Study Draft!

We got the draft Home Study from Phil today!  Looks great!  Just a few minor adjustments, and all we need now are the fingerprint clearances and it's done!

One step closer to the referral!

James

False Alarm

Hmmm, with a title like that, this should be interesting!
 
I got a phone call from Heather Thursday that could have turned our world upside down.  In fact, for about 24 hours, it did.  She'd taken a pregnancy test and it was positive.  It had to be divine intervention, because we weren't trying to get pregnant.  I caught the next flight home and she went to the doctor the next day.
 
It wasn't meant to be.  But it made us both have wild thoughts regarding parenting, finances, and the adoption of Isabella.  If we were pregnant, we'd have to delay the adoption, and that disappointed us as much as we were excited at the prospect of another baby of our own.  But when we found out we weren't, the disappointment and excitement flip-flopped.
 
We have to simply believe that God is shoring up our hearts for Isabella.  The thought of not getting her hurt--and we don't even know if she's been born yet!  So despite the weary stomachs from the roller coaster, we're more dedicated than ever.
 
And in the midst of all this, we had doctor's visits for the adoption paperwork, our (hopefully) final home study visit (hope to get the draft this week, pending ABI fingerprints), and left for Birmingham to do our FBI fingerprints.  That was all Friday!  Saturday we did the fingerprints and it took only an hour (thank goodness they have Saturday hours) and then met up with Heather's brother Mike at the mall.
 
All in all, it was a rather exhausting weekend.
 
James

Simple Update

Just wanted to pop in and say hi! We're pressing on with the paper chase, filling out forms for medical checkups, passports, homestudy, agency and more. But at least we're doing something. I can't imagine the frustration we'll feel when all is said and done and we simply wait.

The funny thing about the adoption process is how it is so much like a pregnancy. Sure, it begins with paperwork (which is very different!), but the emotions run the same. Heather is a bulldog when it comes to doing anything related to the adoption. I don't know if I've ever seen her so dedicated or organized. I just have to keep following orders and all will go smoothly! Otherwise I might get run over. No food cravings yet, though I'll keep you updated.

Oh, another big thing is that we've pretty much decided on a middle name--Dianne. It's not final, but we like the idea of giving her the same middle name as Heather and her mother. Even though Isabella won't be our biological daughter, it will give her a very personal connection to her new family.

Our second home study visit was last Saturday (3 July). It went fine, though we were surprised at how tough it was to answer questions about our childhood and family life growing up. Next visit at the end of next week, then we'll probably just need one more. We hope to have it done and sent off by 1 August. Wish us luck!

That's all for now. Still need to get Heather's approval to send this out to everyone.... If you stumble upon it, start at the bottom and work your way up!

Thanks and God Bless!

James