Todd and I spent ALL DAY today (Sunday) working on the 15 pages of narratives that each one of us had to write as a part of the home study. I will turn those in when I meet with the social worker on Friday. One of the hazards of the home study: cramps in your hands from writing so much!
We are making a lot of progress. As mentioned: cleaned a ton last week. Did the fingerprints & mailed the ones into the Ga Crime folks Friday... got Todd to sign the coverletter for the one for the FBI and will send that tomorrow. These two documents are the ones that take the longest to process: 6 - 8 weeks, but they can be expedited if needed. We got our criminal background check done on Friday also -- all clear. Another hazard of the home study: wearing fingerprints off of your fingertips by cleaning so much! Seriously. The person at the police department taking our fingerprints didn't seem so concerned.
We're going to continue to clean tomorrow & Tuesday (New Year's Eve & New Year's Day. It's a good time to do it anyways.... before folks come over for soup night.) There's a few other forms that we need to fill out (only 1 - 2 pages each. easy!) and we'll need to set up doctor's appointments for physician's statement of health. The cats will get updated vaccinations tomorrow as well. I think that's about the jist of it.
On a side note, we are getting SO much positive response from the networking cards that were in our Christmas Cards... and great feedback on the website. I fixed the pages today that had glitches and made a couple of other tweaks. We feel pretty good about it and are happy with it overall.
Got more "New Year's" Cards to do -- and more networking cards to go in them. Still have a hundred or more to do. Wow....... it's a big big job. I should run. Candice
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
After Christmas
We had a busy holiday. This was the first time that Todd or I had ever missed Christmas in NC and NJ. We have SO SO much to do regarding the home study / creating an adoption network (spreading the news with our friends & family - basically) / finishing our website!!!
I've only finished 88 Christmas cards (I have to hand-deliver about 45 of those today around the neighborhood). There's about 200 more to go. Seriously! Christmas cards are always a big thing to do anyways (never this many)... but with adding a "dear family & friends" letter and a couple of post card-sized enclosures has made it an even bigger job. So..... if you haven't gotten a card yet from us -- please know that it's on the way -- we just have a few extra steps to getting them out.
The website was really the big hold-up on getting the cards out. I have been working day & night to finish it. There were also several pages that glitched -- so I had to re-do some of the pages. (There are still 2 pages that I have to re-do and a group of letters that Todd is scanning today (we scanned them previously, but couldn't find them on either computer or our memory sticks)).... so - if your letter isn't up there yet - it will be.... and it is VERY much appreciated! Again: just running a little more behind than normal!
The priority over the next 2 - 3 days is to finish the Christmas cards, get our FBI fingerprinting done, and to begin filling out the home-study paperwork. I think that will take us through to the new year, then we can begin working on the agency applications.
We are going full-force on ALL avenues (personal adoption network, agency adoption, and the random opportunities that come through our adoption consultant). We feel that we're working hard now... but it will pay off SOON!
__________
On another (non-adoption!) note: we had a nice Christmas. After cleaning all weekend, Todd worked hard on Christmas Eve to make his mom's lasagna recipe. He also made creme brulee for dessert too... then even did the dishes!! My mom came to town earlier that day and we all went to see a play (the Christmas Carol) at a neighborhood theater a little north of where we live. It was definitely a small / community theather, but was nice. (Then we watched a musical version on TV when we got home... which was much higher-budget!!) We finished the day with watching "It's a Wonderful Life" and working on those cards into the night. Mom helped address some of the envelopes while I tried to personalize or write a short note in each one.
One thing I'm amazed by: the bravery of the children who were in the play. It's so impressive to see them up there performing for strangers and family. There was one little girl who was distracted by someone in the crowd (she kept looking over and smiling to someone at one side of the audience).... but all of the others were in their game. It was not the best production we've seen by any means (a few of the actors were nervous and stalled on their lines or sounded like they were reading... and some of the adults and children who had singing roles weren't so polished or always on key) but I'm so glad we went to support a local production!! It was small, personal, and nice overall.
On Christmas day, we received a package from Todd's mom with her decorated sugar cookies and a few gifts inside too. I'm so surprised that the Post Office delivered it that morning, but they did! We all opened gifts... laid around the house a bit... did some more Christmas cards (of course)... and then started cooking. I haven't ever made Christmas dinner and was a little intimidated -- so I ordered a package from Publix. It was economical and pretty easy. Well, the turkey breast still had to be cooked like a real turkey. But, the mashed potatoes / gravy / stuffing required only to be heated up & put into a dish. Mom brought & made home-grown green beans. I made Todd's mom's sweet potatoes and also made a "light" chocolate fudge pie. We invited a neighbor over who had a pre-cancerous disease / had been through a bone marrow transplant and chemo a few days before Thanksgiving. He & his father came over for dinner b/c he could not travel and be with his family. We had a nice dinner and conversation.
After running a load of dishes & cleaning up a bit, crashed.... hard! (well, did a few more cards, of course, THEN crashed!)
This morning (Dec 26th), we went back into production mode and printed up a bunch more letters and enclosure cards. This is what I'll be working on the majority of the day. Remember -- your card is on the way. ; - )
Oh yeah: Did I post the website? It's up and running -- and -- we're quite pleased with it!! Check it out: http://www.candice-and-todd.com/
Have a great rest of your holiday.... Candice
I've only finished 88 Christmas cards (I have to hand-deliver about 45 of those today around the neighborhood). There's about 200 more to go. Seriously! Christmas cards are always a big thing to do anyways (never this many)... but with adding a "dear family & friends" letter and a couple of post card-sized enclosures has made it an even bigger job. So..... if you haven't gotten a card yet from us -- please know that it's on the way -- we just have a few extra steps to getting them out.
The website was really the big hold-up on getting the cards out. I have been working day & night to finish it. There were also several pages that glitched -- so I had to re-do some of the pages. (There are still 2 pages that I have to re-do and a group of letters that Todd is scanning today (we scanned them previously, but couldn't find them on either computer or our memory sticks)).... so - if your letter isn't up there yet - it will be.... and it is VERY much appreciated! Again: just running a little more behind than normal!
The priority over the next 2 - 3 days is to finish the Christmas cards, get our FBI fingerprinting done, and to begin filling out the home-study paperwork. I think that will take us through to the new year, then we can begin working on the agency applications.
We are going full-force on ALL avenues (personal adoption network, agency adoption, and the random opportunities that come through our adoption consultant). We feel that we're working hard now... but it will pay off SOON!
__________
On another (non-adoption!) note: we had a nice Christmas. After cleaning all weekend, Todd worked hard on Christmas Eve to make his mom's lasagna recipe. He also made creme brulee for dessert too... then even did the dishes!! My mom came to town earlier that day and we all went to see a play (the Christmas Carol) at a neighborhood theater a little north of where we live. It was definitely a small / community theather, but was nice. (Then we watched a musical version on TV when we got home... which was much higher-budget!!) We finished the day with watching "It's a Wonderful Life" and working on those cards into the night. Mom helped address some of the envelopes while I tried to personalize or write a short note in each one.
One thing I'm amazed by: the bravery of the children who were in the play. It's so impressive to see them up there performing for strangers and family. There was one little girl who was distracted by someone in the crowd (she kept looking over and smiling to someone at one side of the audience).... but all of the others were in their game. It was not the best production we've seen by any means (a few of the actors were nervous and stalled on their lines or sounded like they were reading... and some of the adults and children who had singing roles weren't so polished or always on key) but I'm so glad we went to support a local production!! It was small, personal, and nice overall.
On Christmas day, we received a package from Todd's mom with her decorated sugar cookies and a few gifts inside too. I'm so surprised that the Post Office delivered it that morning, but they did! We all opened gifts... laid around the house a bit... did some more Christmas cards (of course)... and then started cooking. I haven't ever made Christmas dinner and was a little intimidated -- so I ordered a package from Publix. It was economical and pretty easy. Well, the turkey breast still had to be cooked like a real turkey. But, the mashed potatoes / gravy / stuffing required only to be heated up & put into a dish. Mom brought & made home-grown green beans. I made Todd's mom's sweet potatoes and also made a "light" chocolate fudge pie. We invited a neighbor over who had a pre-cancerous disease / had been through a bone marrow transplant and chemo a few days before Thanksgiving. He & his father came over for dinner b/c he could not travel and be with his family. We had a nice dinner and conversation.
After running a load of dishes & cleaning up a bit, crashed.... hard! (well, did a few more cards, of course, THEN crashed!)
This morning (Dec 26th), we went back into production mode and printed up a bunch more letters and enclosure cards. This is what I'll be working on the majority of the day. Remember -- your card is on the way. ; - )
Oh yeah: Did I post the website? It's up and running -- and -- we're quite pleased with it!! Check it out: http://www.candice-and-todd.com/
Have a great rest of your holiday.... Candice
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Todd's going to kill me..... I elfed him.
This link will only be good for a week or so -- but it IS cute.
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1716161318
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1716161318
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Things could be moving very quickly!
Monday, we turned in our final edits for the book to the consultant. They turned the comments around really quickly... later that afternoon. Todd was in Asheville / I was at home freaking out about all of the things we'd have to be ready for once our book was done & we were on "the market."
On Tuesday at 4, a message pops up on my screen from our adoption consultant: We've got a potential birthmother situation for you. Are you interested? Todd was out of town, but we finally hooked up & decided around 5ish that we were goingto go for it. Our book was not done, so we finished it Tuesday night around midnight & ran up to Kinkos to print, assemble, then Fed Ex. We just sit and wait to see if we're picked. It's a crazy process. I don't know if she (the birth mother) is shown 3 or 4 profiles.... or 5 or 6.... but, I don't think it's too many profilebooks. I hope something stands out in our book that separates us from the rest.(Our book looks good - it's different than any others we've seen - if I must say so!) who knows!!! I guess if we don't hear anything by mid-feburary, it's not meant to be (she's due in feb and she is allowed to take as much time as she needs to decide, understandably).
There seem to be some nice similarities in her background & family to ours. And - she seems very healthy, so that's a plus too. We aren't getting our hopes up too much, though, b/c it's not guaranteed.
We had our meeting with the social worker. I really liked her. She's funky & cool. It was way more casual than I thought it would be. I go to meet her the Friday after the new year and Todd has a meeting with her in our home the following Friday. (She has a total of 3 visits -- and one of them has to be in our home so she can check it out.)
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at work, I was writing a proposal for an environmental education grant to work with public & private schools. If we get it, we'll be helping them to come up with ways to incorporate green building features into curriculum. Should be kinda cool. I'm excited about it / would love to get the grant.
Friday I had a slow day. Worked a short day. Finished some Christmas shoping before & after work... then, worked on the adoption website some on Friday night (after meeting with our mentor student at the pizza joint on the square). Worked on it most of the day Saturdayday too... I freaked out b/c something wasn't working right (I was trying to upload it witht he wrong program). Once I got the right program up, it worked GREAT. Check it out: www.candice-and-todd.com I'm SO exicted that it's pretty close. There's still letters to get in there and a couple of pages to fix that had a glitch.
It's done, I'm happy. The end.
I'm going to crash. Good night.
c
On Tuesday at 4, a message pops up on my screen from our adoption consultant: We've got a potential birthmother situation for you. Are you interested? Todd was out of town, but we finally hooked up & decided around 5ish that we were goingto go for it. Our book was not done, so we finished it Tuesday night around midnight & ran up to Kinkos to print, assemble, then Fed Ex. We just sit and wait to see if we're picked. It's a crazy process. I don't know if she (the birth mother) is shown 3 or 4 profiles.... or 5 or 6.... but, I don't think it's too many profilebooks. I hope something stands out in our book that separates us from the rest.(Our book looks good - it's different than any others we've seen - if I must say so!) who knows!!! I guess if we don't hear anything by mid-feburary, it's not meant to be (she's due in feb and she is allowed to take as much time as she needs to decide, understandably).
There seem to be some nice similarities in her background & family to ours. And - she seems very healthy, so that's a plus too. We aren't getting our hopes up too much, though, b/c it's not guaranteed.
We had our meeting with the social worker. I really liked her. She's funky & cool. It was way more casual than I thought it would be. I go to meet her the Friday after the new year and Todd has a meeting with her in our home the following Friday. (She has a total of 3 visits -- and one of them has to be in our home so she can check it out.)
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at work, I was writing a proposal for an environmental education grant to work with public & private schools. If we get it, we'll be helping them to come up with ways to incorporate green building features into curriculum. Should be kinda cool. I'm excited about it / would love to get the grant.
Friday I had a slow day. Worked a short day. Finished some Christmas shoping before & after work... then, worked on the adoption website some on Friday night (after meeting with our mentor student at the pizza joint on the square). Worked on it most of the day Saturdayday too... I freaked out b/c something wasn't working right (I was trying to upload it witht he wrong program). Once I got the right program up, it worked GREAT. Check it out: www.candice-and-todd.com I'm SO exicted that it's pretty close. There's still letters to get in there and a couple of pages to fix that had a glitch.
It's done, I'm happy. The end.
I'm going to crash. Good night.
c
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Here's what we're up to regarding adoption stuff:
Todd's in Asheville today for his project meeting and we were corresponding last night. I thought - since it was all mapped out here - that I'd throw an excerpt into a blog so our few friends who are reading this know what we're up to (in terms of process).
* within next few days: finish the edits to the profile book AND the website, meet with social worker (19th) to begin home study process
* dec 22nd - 29th week: send out 2 - 300 (belated) christmas cards with adoption announcements / networking letters [todd work on card printing & cutting. candice work on christmas cards]..... clean house & finish small projects around house (crown moulding / closet door / repair drywall in closet / paint ceiling infront bedroom) re-assemble art studio, clean out spare bedroom)..... send book to print shop / run one copy as "proof"..... once approved, make multiple copies
* over new year's: assemble 8 - 10 profile books (ask AIS to verify #), continue home study paperwork, begin applications with adoption agencies..... continue with small projects and cleaning. prepare for social worker "surprise" visits! (hopefully no earlier than 1st of Jan)
* january: finish homestudy paperwork, apply with 3-4 adoption agencies..... continue with small projects and cleaning. early january - purchase clothes / diapers / carseat / etc etc. (make a "take on the plane" package of necessities for a baby)
I started to assemble an excel spreadsheet of everything. (homestudy requirements,app fees, agency fees, estimated medical & lodging for birth mother, estimated airfare / lodging / car rental for us for 2 - 3 weeks in another state, and - whatI'm really getting nervous about - getting the necessary goods for maintaining a baby the first few weeks 'til we get back home.
WOW. it's all starting to set in that it could happen soon.
* within next few days: finish the edits to the profile book AND the website, meet with social worker (19th) to begin home study process
* dec 22nd - 29th week: send out 2 - 300 (belated) christmas cards with adoption announcements / networking letters [todd work on card printing & cutting. candice work on christmas cards]..... clean house & finish small projects around house (crown moulding / closet door / repair drywall in closet / paint ceiling infront bedroom) re-assemble art studio, clean out spare bedroom)..... send book to print shop / run one copy as "proof"..... once approved, make multiple copies
* over new year's: assemble 8 - 10 profile books (ask AIS to verify #), continue home study paperwork, begin applications with adoption agencies..... continue with small projects and cleaning. prepare for social worker "surprise" visits! (hopefully no earlier than 1st of Jan)
* january: finish homestudy paperwork, apply with 3-4 adoption agencies..... continue with small projects and cleaning. early january - purchase clothes / diapers / carseat / etc etc. (make a "take on the plane" package of necessities for a baby)
I started to assemble an excel spreadsheet of everything. (homestudy requirements,app fees, agency fees, estimated medical & lodging for birth mother, estimated airfare / lodging / car rental for us for 2 - 3 weeks in another state, and - whatI'm really getting nervous about - getting the necessary goods for maintaining a baby the first few weeks 'til we get back home.
WOW. it's all starting to set in that it could happen soon.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Birthday Weekend...
I meant to blog on Sunday (Dec 9) when we got home from our weekend away but I didn’t – so I’m doing it on the ride down to work Wednesday morning and finally posting Thursday (Todd was driving – don’t worry).
I wanted to say what a nice weekend we had. Todd took me to Chattanooga (about 1 ½ - 2 hours north of where we live). I didn’t know ‘til about an hour away where we were going – so it was a surprise almost all the way to the event. He wanted to take me to see penguins for my birthday. Plus, I like the Tennessee aquarium more than the Georgia aquarium (long story why)… and we haven’t been since the penguins got there. It’s a smaller aquarium and it’s not really that crowded, so you can get more up-close and spend more time in front of particular areas. Plus, they have the most magnificent display of sea dragons and leafy sea dragons…. which are some of my favorites to watch swim. They have a great big puffer. Love him too. And – they have a cool jellyfish exhibit that we’ve seen several times, but always enjoy. (I crawled into this bubble that they have (for kids, probably) that sits inside the aquarium -- we have a photo, too, of us with the penguins, but it's not on my computer / I'll add it to the next blog.)
After we left the aquarium, we walked around the river a bit until it started sprinkling. We hopped in the car and headed to our next excursion – to go to the B&B that he had picked out. The area it was in wasn’t so great, but the B&B itself was very nice. We hung out in their common room (a giant living room with several different seating groups) we chose a space near a fireplace and worked for several hours on the website & the profile book. (Todd worked on one – I worked on the other.) We went to a nice dinner at a restaurant in a giant stone house just down the road. It was a national historic register home and there were placards on the wall with stories of Al Capone / mob money coming through the house.
The next morning, we went downstairs and ate a hearty breakfast, worked on the website and profile book a bit more, then headed to a nearby town. We went there b/c we saw some etchings on the wall of several buildings in this town (which was largely made up of a college campus) and we saw something of interest to check out. We drove around the town and campus a bit, but couldn’t find what we were looking for ‘til we were about to give up, then saw an area for theology buildings…. we headed in the direction and found it: a chapel that looked like it was designed by Faye Jones (famous church & chapel architect). The doors were unlocked. The facility was empty, so we went in. And – a placard on the wall there said, indeed, it was designed by him! We were thrilled b/c we’ve never been in one of his buildings / experienced his architecture. It’s a bit dated (although it’s not old), but the space is quite nice. Todd snapped a ton of photos. Satisfied with our find, we hopped in the car & headed back home.
I ended up going to the top of the street to check in with an event that I was participating in (as a ghost participant). The art event I usually participate in was that same weekend. But, since Todd had planned such a fabulous weekend, I asked that I not work this show. I did not make new products – only repackaged things I had left over from a previous show. I moved a little bit of merchandise, but not much. That’s ok. My priorities were in check this season: work on adoption things… and spend a nice quality weekend with my husband who took the time and effort to plan a great (surprise) event for me.
It was perfect. ; - )
I wanted to say what a nice weekend we had. Todd took me to Chattanooga (about 1 ½ - 2 hours north of where we live). I didn’t know ‘til about an hour away where we were going – so it was a surprise almost all the way to the event. He wanted to take me to see penguins for my birthday. Plus, I like the Tennessee aquarium more than the Georgia aquarium (long story why)… and we haven’t been since the penguins got there. It’s a smaller aquarium and it’s not really that crowded, so you can get more up-close and spend more time in front of particular areas. Plus, they have the most magnificent display of sea dragons and leafy sea dragons…. which are some of my favorites to watch swim. They have a great big puffer. Love him too. And – they have a cool jellyfish exhibit that we’ve seen several times, but always enjoy. (I crawled into this bubble that they have (for kids, probably) that sits inside the aquarium -- we have a photo, too, of us with the penguins, but it's not on my computer / I'll add it to the next blog.)
After we left the aquarium, we walked around the river a bit until it started sprinkling. We hopped in the car and headed to our next excursion – to go to the B&B that he had picked out. The area it was in wasn’t so great, but the B&B itself was very nice. We hung out in their common room (a giant living room with several different seating groups) we chose a space near a fireplace and worked for several hours on the website & the profile book. (Todd worked on one – I worked on the other.) We went to a nice dinner at a restaurant in a giant stone house just down the road. It was a national historic register home and there were placards on the wall with stories of Al Capone / mob money coming through the house.
The next morning, we went downstairs and ate a hearty breakfast, worked on the website and profile book a bit more, then headed to a nearby town. We went there b/c we saw some etchings on the wall of several buildings in this town (which was largely made up of a college campus) and we saw something of interest to check out. We drove around the town and campus a bit, but couldn’t find what we were looking for ‘til we were about to give up, then saw an area for theology buildings…. we headed in the direction and found it: a chapel that looked like it was designed by Faye Jones (famous church & chapel architect). The doors were unlocked. The facility was empty, so we went in. And – a placard on the wall there said, indeed, it was designed by him! We were thrilled b/c we’ve never been in one of his buildings / experienced his architecture. It’s a bit dated (although it’s not old), but the space is quite nice. Todd snapped a ton of photos. Satisfied with our find, we hopped in the car & headed back home.
I ended up going to the top of the street to check in with an event that I was participating in (as a ghost participant). The art event I usually participate in was that same weekend. But, since Todd had planned such a fabulous weekend, I asked that I not work this show. I did not make new products – only repackaged things I had left over from a previous show. I moved a little bit of merchandise, but not much. That’s ok. My priorities were in check this season: work on adoption things… and spend a nice quality weekend with my husband who took the time and effort to plan a great (surprise) event for me.
It was perfect. ; - )
Saturday, December 8, 2007
all better?
I know my last blog wasn't the greatest. But - I'm happy to report that I'm feeling a lot better. I had a month or two that was blah. I talked to someone a few times and realized that the process of leaving fertility / moving to adoption felt like a failure to me.... and once I was able to verbalize that -- I realized that was (quite frankly) dumb. There was no reason I should feel that way. So, I snapped out of it. Seriously. It was that easy.
I was talking to someone last month about how they were in a fog when their mom was going through illness and death. And, a few days ago, I looked at how hazy things were for me over the past couple of months -- how I was just going through the motions of work and life.
I feel, now, that I'm back on my game.
Speaking of which - I have a lot of catch-up that I'm doing these days. The art show that I participate in is this weekend. Because of the 2nd job that I feel that I have (working on adoption profile book and website)... I haven't had time to make anything. That's ok, though, because I had a lot of stuff left over from the last show. I ended up re-pricing / merchandising / re-packaging some things and took them to the show site.
I am not actually working at the show 'til Sunday afternoon. Todd planned a trip for us this weekend -- a surprise. (I'm not sure where we are going. I'm thrilled b/c he's never planned a trip before!)
I should get ready. Pack for who knows what?! (It's actually going to be warm here - 70 degrees, I think.) We're oinly going an hour or two away, so it may be quite similar.
Later. C
I was talking to someone last month about how they were in a fog when their mom was going through illness and death. And, a few days ago, I looked at how hazy things were for me over the past couple of months -- how I was just going through the motions of work and life.
I feel, now, that I'm back on my game.
Speaking of which - I have a lot of catch-up that I'm doing these days. The art show that I participate in is this weekend. Because of the 2nd job that I feel that I have (working on adoption profile book and website)... I haven't had time to make anything. That's ok, though, because I had a lot of stuff left over from the last show. I ended up re-pricing / merchandising / re-packaging some things and took them to the show site.
I am not actually working at the show 'til Sunday afternoon. Todd planned a trip for us this weekend -- a surprise. (I'm not sure where we are going. I'm thrilled b/c he's never planned a trip before!)
I should get ready. Pack for who knows what?! (It's actually going to be warm here - 70 degrees, I think.) We're oinly going an hour or two away, so it may be quite similar.
Later. C
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
