Adoption Saga Recap {Weeks 27 & 28}

To those of you who read my previous post, thank you for coming back to read this one! I know I was a Debbie Downer a few days ago, but I'm better now.

Sometimes you just have to have a tantrum to get it out of your system, ya know?

We have started our paperwork again and have had to dig deep and make some tough decisions about the type of children we will accept. It sounds harsh to even say that out loud, but it's reality. The form is called "Child Factors Checklist" and it is definitely intense.

It's 4 fun-filled pages of every possible issue that a child could have: Emotional, Sexual, Physical. We have to say yes or no to accepting the issue in a child and if we say yes, we have to say to what severity: High, Med, Low. Then, we have to say yes or no to accepting a child whose parents have the issue.

Chase compared it to ordering a child. It doesn't feel right to be evaluating a child this way, but we know that we have to think about our ability to handle certain issues and also how it would affect future children that will come on board.
At least 25% of the issues are no-brainers for us, but the majority are just sticky situations that we are having to talk through. Ultimately we know that God has the perfect kid / kids for us and we will be perfectly matched with them as well, but we still have to fill out the form.

It really breaks my heart to think about the kids that are out there with some of these issues. I can only hope that when we say No to an issue, there's someone else saying Yes.

Sorry to end on such a sad note...I'm really not Debbie Downer today. I'm Realistic Ruby.

Thanks for cheering us on as we walk out this journey. You are all very important to us!

Steps in Adoption Saga

1. Complete over-the-phone intake and provide email or mailing address to receive application {Completed 11/30/11 and again on 12/2/11}
2. Application completed {Completed 12/2/11}
3. Orientation at regional office & turn in application {Completed 12/12/11}
4. Complete SLED/ Fingerprints and Child Abuse Central register releases on all members of household 18 years and older {Completed 12/19/11}
5. Attend 14 hours of preparatory training to help with self evaluation of the types of children which would fit into our family {Scheduled 7/14/12 & 7/28/12 hallelujer}
6. Fire and sanitation inspections completed on home by the Fire Marshal and DHEC.
7. Home Visits: adoption specialist visits the home and completes interviews for pre- placement investigation
8. Three/ Four References received and interviewed by adoption specialist {2/3/12}
9. Medicals on all family members
10. Provide copies of birth certificates, Marriage license and divorce petitions and decrees if applicable
11. During assessment we along with the agency assess qualifications and readiness to adopt
12. Approval received and we are considered for children along with other approved and waiting families
13. Placement committee selects us and notifies us of a child
14. We are presented full background on child/children for whom we are selected
15. We meet child/children and begin visitation with child/children
16. Placement occurs when child and we are ready for move
17. Post placement period begins and can continue up to 12 months
18. Finalization of the adoption in Family Court (Hallelujah!)