Thank GOODNESS!!

After calling the Department of Job & Family Services multiple times to see if our Child Abuse Registry Reports had been mailed out (thanks to Julie, our awesome social worker, who gave me the phone number of their direct extension), I finally tried one more time yesterday from work . The poor woman who answered the phone barely let me get my name out and she stopped me..."I mailed your letters May 28th." Sure enough, I came home to two envelopes from DJFS sitting on top of the pile of daily mail! YES!!!!! Those letters were the one thing that could have held up our homestudy update and cost us a TON of money to start the homestudy from scratch again!! All that's left are our physicals this week (mine is Tuesday, Daddy's is Thursday) and we have successfully gathered everything needed to finish this leg of the paperchase.

Guess it helps that I've done this paperchase before...nothing like a bit of experience to make the impossible seem quite possible after all!

Our Visit with the Firefighters...

Only an hour after I called our local fire department, they sent two firefighters to do our required fire inspection. They were super nice and tolerated Carson's constant talking...he learned the word "radio" and said it, like, 276 times during the five minutes they were here!!

The inspection went well, as I knew it would. They just wanted to see our fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and evacuation plan. (No biggie...we've done this before!)

After they were finished, I asked if they would let me take a picture of Carson with them. They were so sweet and were glad to oblige...but Carson started acting like a goof and refused to stand still for the picture. They offered to let him see the ambulance...he was still acting like a goof. The picture I finally did get was of him sadly watching the firefighters leave.

Sorry, Little Man, but they have REAL work to do!

I Feel Like I've Run a Race Today!

We started out this morning taking Meggie to the doctor for her physical (plus two vaccinations...sorry, Megster!). They also filled out Carson's physical form since he just had a check-up six months ago. He was SUPER excited this doctor's visit had nothing to do with him!

Then I called the State and confirmed our BCI fingerprints cleared on Friday! Yeah! That's only one day after we went to the police station to be printed. Excellent!!

I have a physical scheduled for next Tuesday, Daddy's is next Thursday, and the fire department will be here any minute to do our fire inspection.

All that's left for the homestudy update is our Child Abuse Registry Report...I called again today and, again today, was told they would place a "verbal request" on our file and forward it on. The woman on the phone was very nice but made no promises about when this very important form will finally be completed. I again told her our sob story about the homestudy expiring...she promised to "note it on the file."

Getting closer to June 12th...

A Visit to the Police Station

Since we needed to update our fingerprints for a State criminal background check for the homestudy, Daddy, Carson and I went to visit the police station today. Carson was QUITE impressed...even though we didn't see any actual police officers. But he definitely flirted with the ladies in the office!

We need our fingerprints to be dated before June 12th in order for our homestudy not to expire -- if it expires, we will have to start over and pay the full fee! -- and we were told they take 10-15 business days. Yikes!! If it goes the full 15 business days, we'll miss the June 12th deadline!!!! Oh, no!!

As soon as the clerk, Amy, finished both of our fingerprints and clicked "Submit" on the computer, there was a power outage in the police station. The computer shut down and we were in complete darkness. Are you KIDDING me??!! When the power was restored, Amy quickly rebooted the computer and assured me that our fingerprints had processed literal seconds before the outage -- we were safe. Now we just have to hope they process quickly!!

As I was sitting on the floor, waiting for Amy to reboot the computer, Carson turned and threw his Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal right in my face! Oooooooo, that boy!! He got a time out while we waited for Amy to finish -- and a stern talking-to in the minivan before heading home.

Before we left, Amy gave Carson a Junior Officer badge (see it on his shirt?). He left that police station strutting like he was the coolest cat in town.

Also today, I scheduled physicals for the kids, called the Department of Jobs and Families Services to follow up on our Child Abuse Registry Report request (mailed in three weeks ago, which I was told would now be expedited since I placed a "verbal request"), and completed the required financial report.

June 12th is looming quickly. Think we'll make it in time??

Gotta Love Phone Calls from the 303 Area Code!

Just got a phone call from a Littleton, Colorado phone number...being an old pro at this adoption game, I've learned that 303 area code numbers are calls from CCAI!! I spoke with Hillary...our adoption application has been approved! After we pay the first agency fee, we'll be able to download the Adoption Dossier Guide...then it's off to the races with the paperchase!

Yikes! I was going to take a quick nap before our busy evening of soccer and dance classes. Now I'm too wired thinking of all that I have to do!! Oh, well, sleep is so overrated anyway...

Got Two E-Mails from CCAI Today...

...one telling us our application has been received and one telling us our Medical Conditions Checklist (MCC) is on file effective today! This is good news because the MCC will sort of "hold our place" in the line while we compile our dossier!

Yeah! One thing checked off the list...only about a million more to go...

The Nursery Decorations are Back in Place...and the Adoption Application is Finished!

Today, Meggie and her best friend Sarah redecorated the nursery! Meggie said it was time to clean out what had become our junk storage room and open the nursery door again. I agreed, so the kids got busy. A few pictures from their busy day:

Hanging the wall decorations...
...Meggie and Carson organizing the stuffed animals......Carson adding a finishing touch on the stuffed animal pile...
...and Carson's reaction when we told him why we were cleaning out the room. Carson, you're getting a little sister. Carson's response..."WHAT??"
After the job was done, the kids spent some time goofing around...
...showing off their flexibility skills......and giving Carson "Sarah-back" rides!
When they were done, Meggie and Carson BEGGED Sarah to stay for dinner. She finally agreed...Many thanks to Meggie and Sarah for their hard work today! It really is nice to be able to peek into that adorable room and dream once again of the little girl who will one day sleep there.

Now that the adoption application is finished, we decided we needed to add a little extra "good luck" to the process. Carson gave it a kiss for good luck before we put it in the envelope.
Hey, it can't hurt...right?!

Our New Blog Design

My sad attempt to design blog #2 led me right back to my favorite blog designer, Randa Clay. After all, Carson's blog was her creation...and our someday baby sister deserves the same level of blog quality! With Randa's help, I found the picture for the header (don't get excited, people, it's not a referral pic!) and the rest is history. Isn't it awesome??

OK...back to the paperwork. I am determined to complete our application for this adoption and get it in the mail on Monday. Better get working...