Today I am getting my first mini-van! It is 2001 Honda Odyssey with 119,000 miles. It has been well cared for by a good friend of mine. Most importantly it has a third row I can access without having to climb over seats or pulling my back out. Another great feature is a jazzy automatic door that slides open with the push of a button.
Why am I excited about this? My husband and I have been sharing a car for two and a half years. In general I am happy to have saved so much money over these past few years sharing a car. With the arrival of more children I feel much better having the added freedom a second car will bring.
On Thursday evening I told my SW of my plan to resist my urge to pester her for updates and only contact her every other week. She said that our file had moved onto the main agency representative who has 30 days to review it and then send it onto someone in Tallahassee who has another 30 days. She originally gave us a 4-6 week waiting estimate. she is counting on things moving along faster. I am going to email her on Thursday. I'll post any updates.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
At Last
This evening I will attend the last in a ten week series of MAPP training classes. Yeah! The class started out with about twenty five people. We are down to at least half if not less then that. Most of the people that attending the class are child specific. There are only two other families that are interested in fostering. I hope we can maintain contact with both of the families.
We are having a potluck in class this evening and guest speakers. A few caseworkers and a former foster child that aged out will be available for questions. I am actually looking forward to getting some helpful information.
Having been through the adoption process and being a certified teacher most of the information was review for me. My husband found it to be interesting and full of new information. We did a few skits and listened while two smart, tired SW's read out of a class manual.
The real motivator for me to push through and get my paper work in early came through our local paper. There where two large sibling groups put in care over the holidays. One group of seven and another group of nine!
Our district has had a 30% increase in caseloads this past year. About half way through training a SW shared that a CW wanted to know if she had anyone in the "pipeline" to take a sibling group of three ages 3,2,1. She thought of us but we where still to far from being finished. She also shared that they had to be split up.
My brother In law and his family are coming into town for MLK weekend. Having guests will take my mind off the wait. I'm excited to see my nephew. It should be a fun weekend.
We are having a potluck in class this evening and guest speakers. A few caseworkers and a former foster child that aged out will be available for questions. I am actually looking forward to getting some helpful information.
Having been through the adoption process and being a certified teacher most of the information was review for me. My husband found it to be interesting and full of new information. We did a few skits and listened while two smart, tired SW's read out of a class manual.
The real motivator for me to push through and get my paper work in early came through our local paper. There where two large sibling groups put in care over the holidays. One group of seven and another group of nine!
Our district has had a 30% increase in caseloads this past year. About half way through training a SW shared that a CW wanted to know if she had anyone in the "pipeline" to take a sibling group of three ages 3,2,1. She thought of us but we where still to far from being finished. She also shared that they had to be split up.
My brother In law and his family are coming into town for MLK weekend. Having guests will take my mind off the wait. I'm excited to see my nephew. It should be a fun weekend.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Nesting
It seems most of the physical stuff is finished. Funny as I type that my mind starts running over a list of things I want to do or buy that will somehow make me feel "ready". It is a nesting thing I find it interesting to reflect back on how my nesting habits have evolved.
With our first daughter it was pretty simple and short. I just washed and organized dozens of baby cloths from simple onesies to boutique dresses. I did other little things like bought paper plates so I wouldn't have to worry about dishes for the first few weeks.
International Adoption brought nesting to a whole new level. The idea of taking care of an infant in a developing country sent me into a organizing frenzy. I can remember having all of my goods separated into Rubbermaid containers in a spare bedroom and visiting them each night refolding and organizing. I can also remember falling to my knees in prayer in that room after learning our baby girl was fighting a sepsis infection half way across the world. I threw the contents of those containers into a few suitcases and got onto a plane.
Fostering has really thrown my therapeutic organizing for a spin. I do have my trusty Rubbermaid's organized. It hard to put into words but instead of nesting in joyous way I systematical preparing myself for numerous emergencies.
With our first daughter it was pretty simple and short. I just washed and organized dozens of baby cloths from simple onesies to boutique dresses. I did other little things like bought paper plates so I wouldn't have to worry about dishes for the first few weeks.
International Adoption brought nesting to a whole new level. The idea of taking care of an infant in a developing country sent me into a organizing frenzy. I can remember having all of my goods separated into Rubbermaid containers in a spare bedroom and visiting them each night refolding and organizing. I can also remember falling to my knees in prayer in that room after learning our baby girl was fighting a sepsis infection half way across the world. I threw the contents of those containers into a few suitcases and got onto a plane.
Fostering has really thrown my therapeutic organizing for a spin. I do have my trusty Rubbermaid's organized. It hard to put into words but instead of nesting in joyous way I systematical preparing myself for numerous emergencies.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Waiting.....
We are waiting for our foster care license to be approved. Last Friday we signed off on our home study. We can expect a 4-6 week wait until we are officially licensed. There is a great need for new families in our area. It is normal to get a placement call with in minutes of approval. We are taking up to three children in addition to our two at home all are six and under.
The beds are in place. Clothing reserves have been sorted. I gave notice to one of my volunteer jobs. I have special one on one activities planned with the girls. From the moment I wake up until I go to sleep I am waiting.
The beds are in place. Clothing reserves have been sorted. I gave notice to one of my volunteer jobs. I have special one on one activities planned with the girls. From the moment I wake up until I go to sleep I am waiting.
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