Medically Cleared

1 step closer and 1 more thing crossed off the list today. It was more a formality than anything since I recently had a physical for school and don't really have many issues to speak of presently that affect much.

I deal with my bouts of depression and anxiety with comfort foods, losing myself in movies, my favorite books, or even my favorite tv show couples, and of course by simply starting another project so that I can focus on that.

Just Two More

Two more weeks of the PS MAPPs class. We still have to do the medically fragile child classes though, but we could be licensed in about 3 weeks if everything continues on. We have a Home Study meeting on Friday and then 1 more after that. We still have the Life Home Inspection to do and we are finishing up getting everything ready for that tomorrow.

We have decided on regular kids ages 4-12 (Younger if part of a sibling group, older of part of a sibling group) and medically fragile any age as long as they are serverly disabled which does not include autistic.

Sometimes there is just a line that you have to draw when you learn what it is you can or can not handle.

Hand Me Downs?

So I am going through my son's room getting ready for placements and such. So he has a ton of clothes that he has outgrown that I just didn't have the heart to get rid of, mainly favorite sports teams and such. However, knowing that we will decidedly come to a point where we get a placement that comes with ZERO clothes or at least very few, does it make sense to keep what he has outgrown and doesn't want?


My plan was to start hitting up the yard sales and 1/2 price Goodwill days to get clothes to put in bins with sizes for both sexes to draw from in emergency situations. ( In my mind I am so organized- I really really hope this actually happens)Now these clothes are not to be used as the only source of clothing, I mean my kids will get new clothes the same as my biokids did... with that being said we did NOT stock up on all designer clothes, but had a few key pieces. Anyway I digress, currently we do not have the storage, that the new house will have so I really didn't want to do the stock up thing yet. The dilemma, where do I put these clothes? LOL

Also, so we are cleaning his room, because he stays with my Mom and really won't be home until the time we move into the new house, so right now since the girl is here, we are using his room as the "source" of available space for our Homestudy. She will actually be moving out right around the same time that we probably get our first placement, so we will have two rooms available. I want to put a generic comforter on the beds, to at least make the room look nice, but I also want to actually get ones specific for each child so that it is something that they like.

I have already picked out another set of beds to put into her room for future placements. This may change, but right now it will get the job done and allow for my future plans.

Checklists

Actively going through the checklist and getting all the rest of the paperwork in order that we need. The problem is that I have a real issue with procrastination and despite really really wanting to get this process moving and DONE. I just play a constant head game with myself regarding getting my butt in gear sometimes and actively checking certain things off.

I need to get to the bank and get a notary to sign off on a paper for my criminal background check, I also need to schedule doctor appointments to fill out some stupid paperwork stating we are healthy enough to foster/adopt. I also need to just scan and email my car insurance and registration information, not to mention make vet appointments for 3 of the 4 dogs to get their updated rabies shots.

The only thing left on the online application is the financial information and the budget. Yuck the word budget just makes me cringe..lol.

So anyway, that is where we are at this very moment. Did I mention that we have about 4 weeks or so until we could actually be officially licensed?

I asked the caseworker what the turn around time is then for placement, she said that depending on how flexible we are and how fast we can set things up in the house, that we actually are pretty much looking at a fast turn around. She said that she is aggressive with her placements and that if you have a licence, then you should have a child in your home or two!

3 more to go

Only 3 more Tuesday classes left. A ton of paperwork still to do though. Slowly we will let it trickle all in and perhaps we will have placements before our move.

Ok not really much I feel like writing right now... but for posterity, I wanted to write something.

Letter to the Parent

(Before the next class and to keep in our file, we had to write a letter to the parents of our future foster/adoptive children- so this is what I wrote so far. I am just not sure what to write without being too sappy, or too stupid.)

Dear Parents,

My name is Christine and my husband’s name is Frank. We have been married for nearly 15 years and we have two nearly grown children. Our son, Daniel is graduating from High School and leaving for Army Basic Training soon. If he hasn't already by the time you actually see this. Our daughter, Samantha is studying Speech Therapy at ASU and works as an Aide at a Montessori Pre-School, and is happily anticipating moving into her very first apartment soon. Despite being originally born here in Arizona most of my family except my parents, are located in the Boston Massachusetts area, while Frank’s family is still located in Massachusetts.

We are an active family who enjoys outdoor activities but also enjoy quite Sunday’s just vegging out relaxing and spending time as a family. We like to attend sporting events, movies, plays, go swimming, hiking, bicycling, and camping to name but a few of our hobbies.

We chose to become foster/adoptive parents because for a long time we have felt that there is a space in our home and hearts to fill and there are many children in need. As a young couple I am not ready for my “nest” to be empty and desire to continue to help children. As a Pediatric Registered Nurse I a have extensive experience with children with special needs, as well as children without.

One important fact to know is that, I came into this marriage with two children from a previous marriage and Frank stepped right in and loved my children as if they were his own. I want you to know this because it speaks volumes about the character of this man, who has become an amazing father, despite not having biological children. I also tell you this because we want you to be assured that we will care for and love your children as if they are our own.

We want you to know that your children will be safe and we will do everything in our power to advocate for your child (ren) in every aspect of their care and safety. We will work with you to facilitate a positive transition and hope that you will feel comfortable working with us.

Kindest Regards,

Christine and Frank

The Homestudy...

The Homestudy process has begun. Our first meeting is on Wednesday. This is actually real this time. What do I mean this time? Well not sure if I ever mentioned it but a few years ago, perhaps the year we moved here, Frank and I had looked into adoption and foster parenting. The kids were excited at the prospect at first. We attended 3 classes, the 4th had been cancelled, and it was at that point that we had decided that we were not ready for that step.

First off the kids had decided that they did not want to share a room with a random kid. Being part of a divorced family, and the crap that they had to endure at the hands of their father's girlfriends and their children over the years, I understood their concerns. So we tabled the idea for awhile. We were not in a financial position at that time either to be able to be able to really afford to make such a lifestyle change.

So fast forward to about a year ago, and the concept popped back into my head. I think the fact that my nest was eminently empty was really turning the wheels this time. So I started thinking about the prospect of adoption and foster parenting. Probably when I really started to settle into my placement at work the path became much clearer. The medical foster parenting really spoke to me, and well here we are.

Frank and I have had this conversation quite a few times now, we have adapted to being on the same page with regard to which types of kids that we think will best fit into our lives see our plan as finally being in a place where there is room for more children, even for children that have major medical needs.

So our goal, is to foster medically fragile children, maybe adopt them. But there is still an idea to adopt a sibling group of nonmedical needs children. I am thinking right now a group of 4 boys would be a trip, since Frank will be the stay at home Dad. Boys would be the best idea.

I do still want another little girl though. I just haven't decided if she will have medical needs or not.

We shall just had to see where the road takes us.

So lots to do this weekend. Cleaning and organizing and getting things set for the Life Safety inspection.

Our plan is to be ready to start accepting placement in May. The daughter has decided that she is going to move in with

1/2 way done

5 out of 10 completed. Hubby did the CPR/First Aide class today. We still have some more paperwork to track down, and have not heard from our HomeStudy person yet.