Saturday, August 25, 2007

I think I'm nesting

For those of you who don't know, because I've been too frazzled to make sure everyone knows, we're adopting again. G's birthmom is due in September and wants us to adopt the baby. Since she is scheduled for an induction on the 11th, that means this is the fastest I've ever had a baby. Most people have about 9 months to prepare. We did with M, and it was just right. With G, we had two or three months, I can't remember. A little tight, but we did it. This time, 3 weeks. THREE WEEKS!!! So I have a lot of nesting to accomplish in a very short amount of time. On top of regular baby preparations such as digging through the garage trying to remember exactly which box is the newborn clothes and where the heck all those cloth diapers I knew I had went, we have paperwork. See, you can't just take someones baby even if they ask you to. Why not? Well....
First we need a homestudy and criminal background check and child abuse check. So our placing agency (the one where birthmother is) has to send a list of requirements to our in-state agency (where we are). In-state agency has to receive our application, 3 letters of reference, physicals for C and me, and background check paperwork. They send off the background checks to the state and cross fingers that someone at Oregon DHS isn't too busy with something else to process our paperwork which has been marked "RUSH". Then they have to decide as an agency that we are a good family to open a file on (or -re-open in our case). Then they have to send out a social worker to our house to ask a million questions and check to see that we have a house and it won't explode or isn't a hazardous waste dump and that we have a minimum standard of cleanliness (hence the nesting which we'll get to later). Then the social worker has to write up a report on us recommending us for adoption. This report has to be faxed to the placing agency (in Utah) where they shove it in a file and say, Great! Because at that point the baby is either already born or about to crown.
Then we get to stay in Utah for a while. Parental rights cannot be terminated before 24 hours and even after that, Utah, Oregon and our lawyer and our agencies have to have prolonged conversations which amount to, "adoption can be finalized in Oregon and the family can leave the state." After 2 more visits and another mountain of paperwork, we can call our baby ours approxamately 6 months later.
I think pregnancy was far easier.

Anyway, all this leads me to my nesting projects. For any of you who saw these two rooms in question before, you will be shocked. The sewing room really scared me. Terrified me. But I am so proud of the final result. Our dear friend volunteered 2 days of her time to help me. She is amazing and deserves much chocolate.


Here is the boy's room. I had a hard time getting good shots. Sorry. And the beds aren't made-but ya gotta pick your battles and for me-the bed ain't one of 'em.


My sewing room. It truly was scary before. I'm not kidding when I say I'm getting rid of a pickup load of shtuff. Most of it trash, and a bunch of Goodwill donations. I feel free!


7 comments:

Elle R. said...

Last photo, bottom picture hanging on the wall--what the heck is that??

Nothing like impending visits from official-types to make our housekeeping suddenly improve. Our flat is nice and clean at the moment. It just might have something to do with the inspection from the letting agent the other day. ;)

RasJane said...

It's a picture by Liz Lemmon Swindle of Nephi showing his bow to a little boy who was reading Book of Mormon picture stories. A comment on how small children are so imaginative and experience the stories they read as real. Plus it's a cute picture.

Anonymous said...

I am awed and astounded at the amount you've been able to accomplish. I, too, think your friend (D?) deserves lots of chocolate! You guys are doing great -- hang in there!

Love,
Gramre

Caitlin said...

Wow-- double congratulations!

MMMandM said...

how EXCITING!!!!!!!!!!!!! what do the boys think about it!!!???

seriously, I had no idea-- that is great news!

I bed you are freaking out---- 3 weeks is NOT much time...

Mollie.

RasJane said...

Gramre, I'm awed too! Thanks, and yes it is D. She's amazing.
Thanks, Caitlin.
Mollie, yes, freaking out is one way to put it...
The boys are excited, although G doesn't really understand of course. I'm still trying to figure out logistics for a couple of weeks in Utah. I don't think G is going to be willing to go back up to Idaho with Gramma J like M will be.

K said...

That is SO exciting! I am so happy for you guys and I can't wait to see you. Your family pictures are adorable too, what a cute family :)