One Medical Exam Done, One To Go

Jeremiah got his complete Medical Exam today.  So that's one more thing marked off on our list of things to bring us closer to bringing home our baby.  Those of you who know me well, know how much I despise needles after being poked and prodded with them way too many times over the past four years.  Jeremiah assured me that I will only have to get 3 vials of blood drawn for this baby, unlike weekly pokes and way too many internal ultrasounds when I was pregnant with the boys.  I'm not complaining about the pregnancies, just looking at the positive aspects of the process of adoption!

We also both got our job verification forms done this week.  Now we have to work on a financial statement which is going to be a bit time consuming.  We have our next Home Study interview next week Wednesday.  Kathy, our social worker, will talk briefly with the boys and then meet with just me.

Today is also Thankful Thursday in the blogging world so here it goes.  Today, I'm most thankful two things:  we have more than enough food to eat and my friend, Lesley, let the boys play at her house while I went grocery shopping.  We often take for granted that we have so much.  I had an experience at work today that reminded me that there are some children who go to bed hungry and that breaks my heart.  On that note, please pray for our baby.  I'm tearful now thinking that her little cries of hunger may not always be satisfied.  My arms long to hold her in the rocking chair and give her a warm bottle.  So, we ask that little angels soothe her stomach until we can get there to bring her home.  The next time you are too busy at work to grab a bite to eat, be thankful for all that you have and remember those that have this feeling each day.  

Tracy

First Home Study Visit

Whew...I can't believe I'm still awake.  We just finished our first Home Study Interview with our social worker, Kathy.  Jeremiah and I really like her.  She has a very quiet and calm personality.  We were both worried that we wouldn't be able to get the boys to sleep before she arrived, but all went well.  Jeremiah put Parker to bed and I read Harry Potter to Preston, and snuggled for a while and he went right to sleep.  He wanted to stay up to meet Kathy and show her his Transformers and talk to her about his "discoveries", but I promised him that he could do all of the at her next visit. 

Kathy talked with us a lot about attachment issues and bonding.  She said that our baby will most likely be at least 9 months old, but it is more than likely that by the time we travel to China and get home she will be about 13-14 months old.  She shared with us a lot of cultural resources and playgroups that will be helpful for our daughter to have others to connect with who are adopted and who are also Chinese.  

We have several things to complete before she can complete our Home Study.  Right now we are working on employment verification letters and medical exams.  We are in the process of trying to find a family doctor in Jackson County so that we don't have to drive all the way to Lawrenceville.  Jeremiah is going to check with our insurance company tomorrow to see who we can switch to that will be in the network.  Oh, the joy of HMO's!  

We have two more appointments with Kathy this month.  We will be busy!  Keep us in your prayers as we move forward with the paper chase and Home Study.  This is a very exciting time as each day passes, we move closer to bringing home our Chinese daughter. 

Tracy