Check In Adoption/Fostering - July 22

aligross

It?s Time to Check-In!

Every adoption/fostering situation is unique and each of us are able to share our incredible stories and journeys with each other!

 

Welcome to all our newbies! Lurkers, come out come out wherever you are! Check in with us and post even if you?re not in the process yet, or you?re just thinking about someday adopting, check in and let us know you?re around!

 

Have a great week ladies!

 

1. What kind of fostering/adoption process are you working towards? What age(s) is/are the kiddo(s)?

 

2. What is your most recent milestone or accomplishment? (Remember it doesn?t have to be adoption related!)

 

3. Where in the process are you at?

 

4. How are you feeling this week?

 

5. What?s the next step in this journey for you? (If waiting to be matched/matched and waiting for child, what are you doing to enjoy the summer/pass the time. Have you purchased items lately etc?!)

 

6. What have you done for yourself this week?

 

7. QOTW: With the royal baby on it's way... and the news being all over it let's take a poll.. do you think it's a boy or a girl? Thoughts on the possible name? 

 

Also, how would you like to see the Weekly Check In change? Are there certain questions you want to see on the QQTW? I'm taking suggestions as I think it's becoming mundane answering the first 6 questions every week! 

Kirstybaby

1. What kind of fostering/adoption process are you working towards? What age(s) is/are the kiddo(s)?

 

International Adoption from Uganda, ages 0-3

 

2. What is your most recent milestone or accomplishment? (Remember it doesn?t have to be adoption related!)

 

We got our USCIS approval (FINALLY, haha), and now we are officially on the waiting list for a referral!  So exciting!  I know that we could be on the waiting list for months (even a year or so), but still...it feels great to have made it this far.

 

3. Where in the process are you at?

 

See above!

 

4. How are you feeling this week?

 

Great!  It feels great to be officially on the waiting list, to be almost finishing our adoption reading, and to connect with other adopted families.

 

5. What?s the next step in this journey for you? (If waiting to be matched/matched and waiting for child, what are you doing to enjoy the summer/pass the time. Have you purchased items lately etc?!)

 

Waiting...the part of the story that we can't control.   Okay, we couldn't control any of it anyway, haha...  Right now I'm finishing up my summer dance session at my studio and preparing to do some repair work on the studio prior to opening for our 6th year (!!!) at the end of August.  There's lots that needs to happen between now and then, so I'm keeping pretty busy!

 

6. What have you done for yourself this week?

 

Husby and I went on a date over the weekend, and I've been reading a great fiction book that I have to reluctantly put down to do things like...live my life, work my job, pay attention to my man...haha.

 

7. QOTW: With the royal baby on it's way... and the news being all over it let's take a poll.. do you think it's a boy or a girl? Thoughts on the possible name? 

 

Boy.  

Keri Marie

1. What kind of fostering/adoption process are you working towards? What age(s) is/are the kiddo(s)?

DIA

 

2. What is your most recent milestone or accomplishment? (Remember it doesn?t have to be adoption related!)

 

Started a savings account. 

 

3. Where in the process are you at?

 

We are starting to save and we have our first adoption meeting Saturday. 

 

4. How are you feeling this week?

 

Great, but tired 

 

5. What?s the next step in this journey for you? (If waiting to be matched/matched and waiting for child, what are you doing to enjoy the summer/pass the time. Have you purchased items lately etc?!)

 

Next, we pay for and fill out the application

 

6. What have you done for yourself this week?

 

I had a nap yesterday.  

 

7. QOTW: With the royal baby on it's way... and the news being all over it let's take a poll.. do you think it's a boy or a girl? Thoughts on the possible name? 

 

I just heard that it's a boy, A girl would have made even bigger headlines. I hope they use family names like after Kates dad or Spencer. Charles, George, Harry and Phillip are all cute.

JoaPata

1. What kind of fostering/adoption process are you working towards? What age(s) is/are the kiddo(s)?

Adoption from Foster Care.  Age 0-3 years.

 

2. What is your most recent milestone or accomplishment? (Remember it doesn?t have to be adoption related!)

 

Finishing our first PRIDE class :-)

 

3. Where in the process are you at?

 

PRIDE classes

 

4. How are you feeling this week?

 

Excited, nervous, scared, happy.

 

5. What?s the next step in this journey for you? (If waiting to be matched/matched and waiting for child, what are you doing to enjoy the summer/pass the time. Have you purchased items lately etc?!)

 

8 more weeks of PRIDE.  Next class is tomorrow night.  

 

6. What have you done for yourself this week?

 

Went on a nice long walk today.  

 

7. QOTW: With the royal baby on it's way... and the news being all over it let's take a poll.. do you think it's a boy or a girl? Thoughts on the possible name? 

 

Boy (I know this now).  My husands name is Eric so I will say Prince Eric :-)

 

Also, how would you like to see the Weekly Check In change? Are there certain questions you want to see on the QQTW? I'm taking suggestions as I think it's becoming mundane answering the first 6 questions every week!

Nope, but this is all new to me.

ellekae

Kirstybaby:

We got our USCIS approval (FINALLY, haha), and now we are officially on the waiting list for a referral!  So exciting!  I know that we could be on the waiting list for months (even a year or so), but still...it feels great to have made it this far.

Congrats!

ellekae

1. What kind of fostering/adoption process are you working towards? What age(s) is/are the kiddo(s)?
IA China // toddler

2. What is your most recent milestone or accomplishment? (Remember it doesn?t have to be adoption related!)
Nothing new adoption-wise.

3. Where in the process are you?
Home study

4. How are you feeling this week?
Tired and nervous about our big fundraiser next month, but excited anyway!
 
5. What?s the next step in this journey for you?
Complete Home Study

6. What have you done for yourself this week?
I ate strawberry shortcake for dinner last night. Does that count?

Also, how would you like to see the Weekly Check In change? Are there certain questions you want to see on the QOTW?
We could combine all the basics into a single question. Maybe something like this:

1. What are the basics of your adoption story?
2. Any updates, rants, prayer requests, or milestones (adoption or otherwise)?
3. QOTW

For QOTW, we could do some basic GTKY questions. I used to be in charge of that every week, but... then I got too busy to keep up with it. Just my two cents.

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

mmmraow

Kirstybaby:

 

6. What have you done for yourself this week?

 

Husby and I went on a date over the weekend, and I've been reading a great fiction book that I have to reluctantly put down to do things like...live my life, work my job, pay attention to my man...haha.

I call my husband "husby" too! Then he calls me "dearsband" and I roll my eyes. Every time.

mmmraow

ellekae:

6. What have you done for yourself this week?
I ate strawberry shortcake for dinner last night. Does that count?

This is so awesome. 

mmmraow

aligross:

 

1. What kind of fostering/adoption process are you working towards? What age(s) is/are the kiddo(s)?

 

IA, DRCongo, little girl ~21mos old 

 

2. What is your most recent milestone or accomplishment? (Remember it doesn?t have to be adoption related!)

 

I sketched, priced, and ordered the materials to make my Fall line of jewelry! Right now it's just to support our adoption, but I'd LOVE to turn it into a business after she's home. I really enjoy it.

 

3. Where in the process are you at?

 

We are waiting for our potential kiddo's blood work to come back. I really want to get it so we can get this ball a-rolling! 

 

4. How are you feeling this week?

 

Impatient. We've been on a waiting list since October and finally jumped ship to adopt a waiting child, so I want her home ASAP. Like in 5 minutes, please. So yes, a little impatient. And weepy. 

 

5. What?s the next step in this journey for you? (If waiting to be matched/matched and waiting for child, what are you doing to enjoy the summer/pass the time. Have you purchased items lately etc?!)

 

Get her blood work back and pay a new car's worth of money to bring her home. Goodbye, home equity! You were fun, kind of? Is equity fun? 

 

6. What have you done for yourself this week?

 

Ummmmm I went to a thrift store for 15 minutes without my toddler on Saturday. It's DH's birthday tomorrow, so I've been trying to be extra helpful.

 

7. QOTW: With the royal baby on its way... and the news being all over it let's take a poll.. do you think it's a boy or a girl? Thoughts on the possible name? 

 

I know I need to add to my brood when I'm excited about strangers' babies! And I love having a little boy, though I think it means he gets hurt by us playing more than if he was a girl. 

I was also super impressed with the photogs who spotted the Duke & Duchess on their way into the hosp and didn't take pics. I doubt that would happen here in the US. 

ellekae

mmmraow:

ellekae:

6. What have you done for yourself this week?
I ate strawberry shortcake for dinner last night. Does that count?

This is so awesome. 

I am glad you are back, MMMR  

kimmyb1020

Kirstybaby:

1. What kind of fostering/adoption process are you working towards? What age(s) is/are the kiddo(s)?

 

International Adoption from Uganda, ages 0-3

 

2. What is your most recent milestone or accomplishment? (Remember it doesn?t have to be adoption related!)

 

We got our USCIS approval (FINALLY, haha), and now we are officially on the waiting list for a referral!  So exciting!  I know that we could be on the waiting list for months (even a year or so), but still...it feels great to have made it this far.

 

Congrats on USCIS approval!! Isn't that awful it's taking so long? Here's hoping you get a referral quickly!  

Kirstybaby

ellekae:

Kirstybaby:

We got our USCIS approval (FINALLY, haha), and now we are officially on the waiting list for a referral!  So exciting!  I know that we could be on the waiting list for months (even a year or so), but still...it feels great to have made it this far.

Congrats!

Thank you!

Kirstybaby

mmmraow:

Kirstybaby:

 

6. What have you done for yourself this week?

 

Husby and I went on a date over the weekend, and I've been reading a great fiction book that I have to reluctantly put down to do things like...live my life, work my job, pay attention to my man...haha.

I call my husband "husby" too! Then he calls me "dearsband" and I roll my eyes. Every time.

LOL, that's awesome!  I only refer to him as "husby" in writing on FB or online places. In person I call him way more embarrassing nicknames...

MrsNezumi

I'm a huge lurker since I can't log in to comment at work... Hi! 

1. What kind of fostering/adoption process are you working towards? What age(s) is/are the kiddo(s)?

Adopting a 6 year old boy from China.

 2. What is your most recent milestone or accomplishment?

We got our Log In Date a couple of weeks ago, meaning our dossier is totally complete and being worked on in China.

 3. Where in the process are you at?

Waiting for China and USCIS to tell us we can go get our little boy

 4. How are you feeling this week?

I'm stuck between knowing how much we need to accomplish in a short period of time and hopeless that I'll survive the wait for our LOA to arrive.

 What?s the next step in this journey for you?

While waiting on our LOA, we need to finish our media room conversion.  So, that means removing a wall and installing a header.  We met with a contractor this week, so we are just waiting to hear when the project can begin. 

6. What have you done for yourself this week?

Trying to get more rest and eat better.  I know rest and home cooked food may be in short supply after our son arrives.

Also, how would you like to see the Weekly Check In change? 

I agree with the prior posters that a more concise, open ended format would be more conducive to replies and readability. 

kva11isho

OK, so I'm a little late but I figured I'd post anyway!

 

1. What kind of fostering/adoption process are you working towards? What age(s) is/are the kiddo(s)? DIA

 

2. What is your most recent milestone or accomplishment? (Remember it doesn?t have to be adoption related!) We recieved and assembled our nursery furniture!  So cute!

 

3. Where in the process are you at? Waiting to be matched since 1/14/13

 

4. How are you feeling this week? I read somewhere that your adoption journey will have  constent undercurrent of general anxiety - that's how I'm feeling.  I'm hopeful though because we should have an expectant birthmother looking at our profile tomorrow or Friday! *fingers crossed*

 

5. What?s the next step in this journey for you? (If waiting to be matched/matched and waiting for child, what are you doing to enjoy the summer/pass the time. Have you purchased items lately etc?!)  Get Matched!  We've had a busy summer of household projects.  We had the carpets cleaned, are waiting for a painter to come paint a few rooms, cleaned the house from top to bottom and had a successful garage sale.  It feels like nesting to me!  I'm getting the itch to buy baby items... but so far we just bought our nursery furniture and got it all set up!

 

6. What have you done for yourself this week?

I bought myself some chocolate and toffee covered pretzels (yum!), even though I'm trying really hard to stick to my diet (down 30 lbs so far and hubby is down 75 lbs!!!)

 

7. QOTW: With the royal baby on it's way... and the news being all over it let's take a poll.. do you think it's a boy or a girl? Thoughts on the possible name? This question doesn't apply since I'm a slacker...

 

Also, how would you like to see the Weekly Check In change? Are there certain questions you want to see on the QQTW? I'm taking suggestions as I think it's becoming mundane answering the first 6 questions every week!   I think we should leave the first 6 questions for newbies and for those who have updates.  Not sure what other questions I'd add though...

Jitter34

1. What kind of fostering/adoption process are you working towards? What age(s) is/are the kiddo(s)? Adopting from Foster care, 19month ol boy. 2. What is your most recent milestone or accomplishment? (Remember it doesn?t have to be adoption related!) Foster son just learned to walk! 3. Where in the process are you at? TPR set in August 4. How are you feeling this week? Excited 5. What?s the next step in this journey for you? (If waiting to be matched/matched and waiting for child, what are you doing to enjoy the summer/pass the time. Have you purchased items lately etc?!) next step is finalizing the adoption, traveling with husband 6. What have you done for yourself this week? Read a couple good books! 7. QOTW: With the royal baby on it's way... and the news being all over it let's take a poll.. do you think it's a boy or a girl? Thoughts on the possible name? Learned it is a boy! Also, how would you like to see the Weekly Check In change? Are there certain questions you want to see on the QQTW? I'm taking suggestions as I think it's becoming mundane answering the first 6 questions every week! Nothing I'm new!!

bumpuser794640

1. What kind of fostering/adoption process are you working towards? What age(s) is/are the kiddo(s)?: We are purusing domestic infant adoption through an agency.  Most likely we will be adopting a newborn.

 

2. What is your most recent milestone or accomplishment? (Remember it doesn?t have to be adoption related!): I finished knitting a blanket for our future LO this week!

 

3. Where in the process are you at?: Recently completed our seminar/education hours, waiting to schedule our home visit and interviews.

 

4. How are you feeling this week?: Slightly annoyed that it's been 2 weeks since our seminar and we still haven't heard anything about scheduling the next steps.

 

5. What?s the next step in this journey for you? (If waiting to be matched/matched and waiting for child, what are you doing to enjoy the summer/pass the time. Have you purchased items lately etc?!): Next step is completing our homestudy!  Also, the glider/recliner we ordered for the nursery came in and I picked it up yesterday - it's perfect!

 

6. What have you done for yourself this week?: This week I slept in (yesterday and today) on my days off, and I treated myself to Starbucks plus my favorite cake (chocolate espresso cake from Target) yesterday.

 

7. QOTW: With the royal baby on it's way... and the news being all over it let's take a poll.. do you think it's a boy or a girl? Thoughts on the possible name?: Well, the baby has been born and named already, since I'm a slacker at answering this check in sometimes.  I like the name!

pumkiepoo

Hello!  I'm new to this board.  I took a few years away from from the bump.  DH and I have been trying to start our family in one way or another for 4 years.  We recently started the adoption process (mid June) and are waiting to find out next week if we have been matched with a birth mom due in the fall!  It is all happening very fast and is totally a God thing!  We completed our home study last night so we are looking forward to the news next week.