Just What I Need Right Now...

...more paperwork!

Julie, our social worker, visited tonight to do our 6-month follow-up visit on Carson's adoption. While she was here, we discussed pursuing a second adoption right away and went over the Medical Conditions Checklist (MCC) we filled out to submit to CCAI. The MCC lists the various categories of major and minor health problems we feel we are able to handle for this next adoption. At first, Julie seemed a bit skeptical that we were ready so soon. She smiled sweetly and perused the MCC closely.

But after an hour or so of talking to us and watching Carson in action (he was his typical charming self), she actually suggested that we submit a dossier right now for adoption #2. I reminded her that we can submit the MCC now, at the 6-month mark with Carson, but are required to wait 12 months to submit another dossier. She recommended I contact CCAI and try to convince them to let us go ahead right now. Yikes!

While I'm still finishing my Bachelor's degree (12 weeks to go!), my plan was to wait until after graduation and then start on our dossier documents. I'm not sure I could handle another paperchase right now. However, our home study from the first adoption expires on June 12th -- and there are certain documents that need to be renewed before that date or we'll have to pay for an entirely new home study for adoption #2 instead of just using the updated one from Carson's adoption.

What does this all mean? It means that, instead of lounging on the couch tonight watching TV after Julie left, I'm in the office making copies of documents that need to be mailed out TOMORROW and returned from various government offices quickly in order to beat that June 12th deadline. Long story short...I'm paperchasing right now.

Do you think God is laughing at me? After all, I had a plan...

Dipping Our Feet Back into the Pool...

It's official...we're ready to start another adoption! Carson has been with us for nearly six months and has adjusted so well. He's doing well in OT and PT, loving school, and speaking English like a champ. Since we've always wanted more children, we figured there's no better time like the present to start the process again.

Last week, I e-mailed our adoption agency, CCAI, and requested an application...it arrived in the mail on Friday. With a busy weekend, filling out the multi-page booklet had to be put off...but tonight's the night I dive in and tackle that first step in the paperchase.

Since Carson's adoption, our girl-ready nursery has been basically ignored. So ignored, in fact, that we've been keeping the door shut. Well, it's time to open the door, dust off the furniture, and get ready to add a little sister to our growing family.

Even though I'll now be managing information on TWO blogs, that's OK. We're just so excited to be continuing the journey...