It's ALMOST "Wait" Time

I don't have a lot to report, but I felt that I should what little is new in our world! We had our home study visits on Nov. 12th and 13th. I told our social worker that the home study approval is all that we are waiting on to become "on the books." So she said she would try to work on our file and get it to us as soon as possible. She was serious! I received it yesterday, and we are now going over all of the information to make sure it's correct. As I was reading it, tears came to my eyes. I really wanted to meet these people! I felt sorry for them, all the troubles they have had, and I was proud of them for overcoming them! BUT WAIT! These people are us! It's kinda interesting to read something about yourself that someone has put their own spin on.

Our social worker used to work with the agency that we are with, so she is very familiar with the "time line." I did something I said I would never do, I asked. Yep, the question, how long is this going to take? Her reply? "You should be up and going by the end of the year." This was music to my ears! Being "live" by the end of the year has been our goal. Then the real wait begins!

Dress Up

After Halloween, I hit the discount isle at Wal-Mart and let K pick out a couple things. She got a couple little skirt things.. (I forgot what they are called!) She loves them! For $2.50, I think it's the cutest dress up "clothes" ever! She uses one as a shirt and the other as a skirt!

Clean much?

I told myself (and my husband and best friend) that I was NOT going to go all nuts cleaning for our home-study visits. Our 1st home visit is set up for Friday. Our vacuum decided to crap out on us yesterday, so I went to the store today to get one (I think 4 days is a bit too long to go without vacuuming with a dog, cat, and 2 year old!). After I got back from the store, cleaning mode clicked on. I was only going to spot clean our baseboards, I realize now that there is no such thing as "spot cleaning" baseboards. Not when you have a huge dog that likes to sleep right up against them! I wiped some icky off and it was pristine white, and the rest dingy... so I had to clean all the baseboards! That led to vacuuming up against the baseboards, vacuuming the whole house of course, and then washing little hand prints off the walls.

Our social worker seems like a really nice lady. I'm anxious to meet her! To help us out, she scheduled our 1st visit for Friday, and our 2nd one on Saturday! We are both excited (and nervous!).

I'm So Proud!

Of my hubby that is! He made 1st class and I'm so happy for him! I told him at the beginning of the year that this year was going to be "our year." Our year that life falls into place and great things happen for us! Last year was very difficult for us and I felt that we deserved something better! I don't write about our trying time, not because we are "over" it or because we are "all better," but because it is so personal and I still struggle every day with the loss of our 2nd child. It's something that a person can never "get over" but instead learn to deal with it. Someone recently told me that it was a blessing in disguise. I'm not happy or blessed about the loss of our child, but I do know that it's what was meant to be. Maybe it was to make us appreciate life more, each other, our daughter... who really knows? I'm sure I will never find out the answers to my many questions, but I do know that in this life, I will appreciate those around me a lot more and be thankful for all that I have. I am thankful for my husband, he always supports me even when he doesn't understand my reasoning! I'm thankful that I am able to stay home with our daughter and see all of her milestones. I'm thankful that we are in a position to adopt a little one and that we have tons of support in growing our family this way!

Big bite!

It's tradition that when someone advances they buy breakfast or lunch, or I guess whatever everybody wants! Nick decided to take doughnuts to work and I picked up some orange juice as well. K and I went in to see Daddy's pinning ceremony, and of course to have some doughnuts!

 

The pinning..

The Cutest Little Dragon!

K begged me to be a dragon this year for Halloween. I kept trying to talk her into being something a little more, well, girlish I guess. Not that there aren't female dragons, but I was thinking a ladybug, princess, or something along those lines! My little tomboy, wasn't going to have any of it though! So a dragon she was, and a super cute one at that! :) We went trick or treating with our neighbors and had a great time! They have a little boy right around K's age, and they get along great.

My little dragon and I

Dragon and Daddy-o!

Carving Pumpkins

I know, I'm a little behind, but I'm trying to get caught up in my postings! We carved pumpkins a little over a week ago. We had our good friends over to join in the fun! K decided she wanted to "paint" her pumpkin, and it turned out beautifull!

B and S working together!

Pumpkin hand!

The Easley's pumpkins!

The pumpkin Nick carved for me... and probably the last one he will do!

Heard Already!

Wow! I'm really feeling blessed! (I know I seem to say that a lot, but it's the truth!) I heard from our social worker yesterday to start scheduling times for our home visits. I emailed her back our UN available dates, because I thought that would be easier than telling our available dates. I checked my email this morning, and we are tentatively setting the dates for November 12th and 13th! I just can't believe it is happening so fast! Not that I don't have faith, but I really thought we would be waiting until next year for our visits to happen. I know at the end of the year things get crazy with the holidays, so I was completely shocked when she shot those dates out there! I'm NOT complaining at all, we are both so excited.

I feel that I must stress though, that although we are super excited we also realize that there is another side to this process. There will be a birth mother out there somewhere that is meant for us, and in NO way or form do I want to speed up the process for her. It's going to be a very difficult time for her, and for her sake I'm okay with waiting. I know she's going to feel a heartache like she's never had but I do hope that we can somehow help her through this difficult time.