Another blog?! So soon!!

For some reason, I felt the need to report that I feel like an adult today. I'm still very much a kid at heart... but I did something very "responsible" & that's what qualifies me - in my mind - as adult. (Not to mention the things I already do such as owning a home / holding down a job / pursuing adoption are all very "adult" things to do of course! But it just feels different.)

I voted in the primary today. I've never done that in the primary before... just in November during election years. (For those who know me -- they may be shocked b/c I am so NOT a political person!!) I was at home early (came home sick from work) and felt the urge to go vote. Don't know 100% why I felt compelled to do it - but I did.

ON AN ADOPTION NOTE -- as an update to yesterday's post -- I found out from our consultant that we aren't eligible for this particular situation in Utah. The social worker needs families who are ready to go right now & they need to have a completed homestudy in their hands by the end of the week. If we scrambled (the scenario would roll like this: I went & sat in a dr's office tomorrow and had a physical "on demand" AND if we were able to get the results of the bloodwork & other stuff back right away.... then got the paperwork back to our social worker right away.... then she finished it in a day.... then fed-ex it out.... we'd make it in time. but - all 3 of those steps likely have more than a 1 day turn-around (getting the appointment. getting the test results. getting the social worker to drop everything else she has going on).

This one was just not meant to be (again). It will happen. I'm ok with it.

Funny as I was trying to go to sleep last night -- I'm playing out all the stuff in my head. Birth mother's due date Feb 22. If she went into labor before then -- we'd be on a remote island camping (we're going to cumberland in a week & a half!!). fortunately, we would be able to get cell service to receive the call and would be able to get an emergency flight off the island (we checked -- the island has both cell and emergency services if needed). but then we'd have to pack up everything and drive back home before making flight arrangements.

Clearly - my mind was racing as I was trying to fall asleep. Todd was more rational: we just wouldn't go on the trip b/c we would need to be ready to go when we got the call. (he's so level-headed. I'm trying to figure out how to make it all work!) ugh.

Oh well. I should go. I'm going to take a nap for awhile. (Because naps are an "adult" luxury.) ; - )

A bit under the weather...

Hard to say if we picked up some ICK from our flight to Chicago or the flight to Ohio... or ICK in the hotel in Pennsylvania... or ICK from relatives at the funeral who were sick... or ICK on our flight to Charlotte... or ICK on our flight back to Atlanta. But - Todd & I got knocked down over the weekend! It's the first time that either of us could recall that we both got sick at the same time. I kept thinking -- what would it be like if we had a kid and were both sick? I wasn't feeling as bad as he was, so I suppose I would've taken care of the fam? (Like saying ICK almost as my favorite decription of miscellaneous substance: SCHMOO) Picked up SCHMOO on flight to Chicago.... or SCHMOO from the hotel... etc. Still works!

We made it back with no problems, really (since we were re-routed through Charlotte the next day). When we got home, we both took a nap. Later, I went for a walk up to the square with a couple of neighbors, hung out in the outdoor courtyard of the local coffee house, and then walked home. Todd & I both went to bed early that night, slept for 12 hours, and hung out in the house all day Sunday. We blew off a Superbowl party b/c we didn't want to pass any ICK (or SCHMOO) around -- just in case.

Both of us are on the mend now, thankfully. After the news of the prospect in Denver and Arkansas not panning out... finding out about Todd's aunt passing... and being hit with the flu (we think) - it wasn't a good week, honestly.

I'm optimistic that things will look up this week. We were contacted with another opportunity (a birthmother in Utah), but aren't sure yet if we're qualified b/c our homestudy isn't 100% done yet. (I had to post-pone my physical b/c of the funeral last week. It's scheduled next week -- but the birthmother is due in two weeks!) I may have to figure out how to get a physical in the next day or two pending a discussion with our consultant tomorrow.

I should crash now. -- Candice

Stuck in PA because of snow...

We've had a nice visit with all of Todd's family. They're such a large, warm, loving group of people. The service was yesterday at a Greek Orthodox church that they were members of. I'd never been to a Greek funeral. It was different than any I'd ever been to. It's so interesting to see the various rituals that different cultures & religions have. We couldn't understand most of what the greek priests said, but, it seemed comforting to his family to know that she was receiving blessings as she was passing from this life to her next.

We were supposed to fly home this afternoon (we'd be on a plane right now on our way to Chicago), but b/c of snow & delays... our airline cancelled their flight. They're re-routing us through Charlotte NC tomorrow before we make it home.

On our way up, we went through Chicago and it was 2 degrees. 2! (and we had to walk out onto the tarmac to get to our little commuter plane) 2 is cold. thankfully, it was only for a short time!

I should run. Time to go eat (again). Lots of food. Lots of family outings this trip. Big, loud, good-spirited family outings!

We found out about the other two situations....

... unfortunately, we were not picked for either situation. instead, other deserving families were chosen by the birth mothers in arkansas and in colorado.

it's hard to make a connection with the birth mothers by reading a few pages about each of them... so the little bit of "excitement" that we're able to feel about these situations is by what positive we can gain out of the experience in the particular state in which we'd be in for 2 - 3 - 4 weeks in.

the arkansas situation would've been cool. it would've given us a chance to visit Fay Jones' Thorncrown Chapel (beautiful!). http://www.thorncrown.com/architecture.htm

the colorado situation would've been cool because we could visit denver (i used to work there some and i really loved that town) / my cousin lives there / i've always wanted to take todd and show him some things. (also... we have a girl's name picked out which is a city in colorado that I've always loved the name of... so I was hoping to visit that city b/c I've never been! maybe it's better that we not visit that city - what if I didn't like it?)

i'm bummed of course, but todd was able to keep me in check and remind me that it was not meant to be. "our" baby is still out there waiting for us.

i should run. we have a lot to do before we fly out tomorrow morning.
good night. c

A short post

The end of Soup Night has arrived. We didn't have a "blow-out" crowd at any one event (week 3 was supposed to be it, but b/c of the snow -- we lost a number of attendees). That's ok, though, because we were able to really catch up and spend some quality time with the folks that did come. This past weekend was an average-sized gathering and was a nice finish. ('til next year's soup night!)

We did receive some bad news over the weekend. Todd's aunt in Pennsylvania passed away Saturday night so we are flying up the day after tomorrow. His mom and sister are very upset (as are his cousins)... and we are wanting to go spend some time with family during this time. We will hold onto the great memories that we had of Aunt Freida. She will be missed -- and will hold a special place in all of our lives.

There has been no news on the baby-front. We have our profile book out to the woman in Colorado, but we do not know when we will hear back about that situation (if she decides to choose us or another family). It would be wonderful if this situation worked out, not only for the sibling connection of the biological child who lives about 30 minutes away from us, but I have a cousin in Denver who I've been wanting to visit. I used to do work in Denver and think it's a fantastic town / want to spend some there and show Todd around.

We have finished with our work, really, on the home study. I've been researching and compiling a "READY-GO" list of things that we'll need in order to hop on a plane in a moment's notice and be prepared for taking care of a little one. I am trying to purchase organic and/or natural products when I can. I've been buying things here and there and am getting close to having the READY-GO package together.

g'night for now. c

Soup AND Snow

We finally got snow that "stuck." It started around 10:30 (while I was at yoga) and went 'til mid-afternoon. It was probably 1 1/2" +/- and it was NOT accompanied by ice (as usually happens here). So it was perfect. {I'll elaborate on how perfect things started off for the day: at yoga, my teacher was playing some GREAT chill / ambient music.... and I had a spot near the window, so I got to lay there & look up at snowflakes above me. How Awesome!}

We had soup night again, but it was a smaller crowd than we expected -- largely b/c the temps were dropping throughout the day and after the sun went down, folks were predicting all of the wet stuff on the roads would ice up.... but I don't know that they did. We had some folks coming from across town & would definitely have to go over bridges, so I'm glad they didn't chance it b/c if it turned to ice -- that would be the place for it. We had 12 neighbors and a few people who we used to work with who live somewhat close by show up. There was only 1 child at this one (there were supposed to be 7 more if it hadn't snowed & at least 6 more adults!).... so we felt kinda bad for her. Most of the adults took turns playing with her. She does really well with strangers, so it was all good (but you could tell she was bummed she was the only kid.) I made an Italian Tomato Bread soup which was inspired by a meal our friends Mike & Sara made on our trip to Italy last year.... and also made our "award winning" Chicken & Black Bean soup. Yum. Oh yeah -- we had someone from Mississippi drive all the way here for Soup Night. (ok, not entirely true... our friends Scott & Shelli who still have a house here on our street for sale came to take care of a few things & joined us at soup night while in town.)

We've been in our pj's all day. We never changed. We never went outside, but the majority of snow has melted. We have been doing more "homework" for the adoption home study. Organizing papers & filling out a few more forms, etc. We're getting very close to finishing. At this point, we're mainly waiting for certificates and documents to come back from other organizations and people. We're 95% done with the work that we have to do. We found out, too, that this has to be re-done every 6 months now (b/c of the new laws here). Hopefully something would happen before then so we don't have to repeat these efforts, but we'll see.

Here's a pic of the pond & stream. A nice winter shot for ya. Man - the fish must be COLD!

Time to go warm up some soup for dinner. Later, C

Another opportunity

Yesterday, I was hanging out at work -- and up pops another email from our consultant. There is an opportunity with a birthmother in Colorado that we were presented with. Todd & I were both conflicted b/c we already had one book out -- and how do we know which may be the right opportunity?! Which is the right one to pursue?

We analzyed the pages that were presented about the birthmother and birthfather. I talked to a neighbor awhile about it, which was helpful... then slept on it. We decided that we would pursue the situation IF our consultant thought we could. There's two "preferences" that the birthmother had of the prospective adoptive parents: that they're fluent in 2 languages and that they already have children. I speak a little bit of french... and would LOVE to brush up on it & teach a child another language... but we don't have children. I believe that the birthmother wants the child to be raised not as an only child, but with siblings. We do plan to bring 2 or 3 children into our home, so I hope that this will suffice!

Our consultant said not to let the "adoptive parents with children" deter us from submitting a profile. If the birthmother feels moved by our profile book and makes a connection with us, they have seen birthmothers stray from their original preferences. Our consultant also green-lighted the sending of the profile book because the one we sent out last week to the prospective birthmother in Arkansas was not shown. She postponed (or cancelled?) her appointment with the social worker.

It has been hard for us to connect with the birthmothers in reading some paperwork that is submitted to us because there's not much information about personal things -- mainly medical information and family history is included. But, there was something that we feel is a unique opportunity with this birthmother (excerpt from our consultant's email): The baby is actually the biological sibling of another client's adopted daughter. Unfortunately, our client is unable to adopt the second child because of financial reasons. However, they greatly hope that they can maintain contact with the adoptive family since their daughter would be a sibling. They are a very nice family who live about 1/2 an hour north of you.

Isn't that cool?! We would be SO willing to share in this little girl's life b/c that would mean that the baby would have an automatic connection to a sibling! For both of the children's sakes, we really hope that this situation will work out! It would be AMAZING for them to be a part of each other's lives!

We got our FBI fingerprint cards in the mail yesterday -- no arrests. whew. (kidding - we knew it would be clean, but it's good to have them back. This was to have the longest lead time on our homestudy process.) Todd also had his full medical exam yesterday. I re-scheduled mine from the end of February (with my doctor) to the end of January (with his doctor).

We are taking online training this weekend (one course called "The journey of attachment" and another dealing with adoption of a multi-cultural child, since we are open to this.) We're getting close to finishing the homestudy process!

I was volunteering at a street clean tomorrow morning, but it's been cancelled. We're supposed to get snow starting around 6 am / continuing through lunch. Yay! I wonder if my yoga class will still be held? We are still planning Soup Night for Saturday, and have a number of people coming from various parts of Atlanta. I bet the snow will deter some of them from coming. I think we've had ice at one of the Soup Nights & our only guests were neighbors -- which is understandable. We'll see what happens! That's the beauty about Soup Night. It's always a surprise!

Stay warm, C