Updates

I can't believe it's been over a month since I've posted anything to my journal. I had good intentions of keeping it more up to date, but it seems to be last on my priority list these days. I've been trying to get the rest of my adoption paperwork finished, plus it seems lately all I want to do is sleep when I'm not working. I need to sleep less and get more done. We'll see how that works for me!

My social worker came to do my home visit the first week of March. I can't remember the exact day. I think it was either the 2nd or 3rd. Anyway, the visit went well. He wasn't here long. Mom was here too because he wanted to meet her since she's going with me to Nepal. He looked around the house and outside, and the only problem he had was with the fish pond. He said he didn't think it was a big deal but he has to address it in the report. So, he asked if we would be willing to put up a fence when the time came, and we said we would. He was happy with that and said he didn't foresee any problems with my home study. I got a call from him Monday telling me that he has dictated the home study and is ready to email a draft to me for review. He has not received reference letters from two of my references. One of them said she filled out the form but then misplaced it so the home study agency has to send her another one. Hopefully she won't lose this one.

We were waiting on child abuse clearance from Arkansas and I hadn't heard anything so I contacted the home study agency and she said "I got the clearance from Arkansas on March 6th. I'll forward it to Jim" (my social worker). So why hadn't she sent it already?!?! Who knows. I seriously doubt I'll ever adopt again but if I do, I will not use this same agency. And, I don't think I'll recommend them to anyone either. Getting information is like pulling teeth and this process is hard enough as it is.

It seems impossible, but I'm almost finished with the paperwork. I have to go to the Constable's office and get a local criminal background clearance. I also have to get back my medical forms from my doctor, and my employment verification from my manager. The hardest part is having to rely on others to complete paperwork in a timely manner. Most have done great, but others....not so much. I figure everything will happen in time and I'm trying to be patient. My hospital has cancelled all travel nurse contracts so after months of them screaming "no overtime", they are now begging for people to work extra shifts because without the travel nurses, we are really short handed. I'm tired but I need the money so I'm not going to complain too much.

I have to be in Dallas Tuesday morning at 10AM to get my fingerprints taken. When I sent in the form, I thought I could have the fingerprints done in Tyler, but when I got the letter confirming my appointment, it says I have to get them done in Dallas. I hate driving in Dallas so that causes additional stress, but I'll manage. I have to work Tuesday night so I hope the appointment doesn't take too long.

My case worker at the adoption agency said I needed to get 10 to12 passport photos. I'm not sure why I need them. Today mom and I went to get them taken. Our first stop was Moto Photo. They were going to charge $10 for 2. That seemed outrageous so we decided to check around. We went to Penney's portrait studio and they were going to charge $14 for 2. Seriously?!? She told us that Walgreen's and CVS do them too so our next stop was CVS. The lady at the photo counter told me that the pictures would be $7.97 for 2. That was the better deal so I had her take the pictures. We left and went to eat lunch then came back to get the pictures. When she rang it up, she charged me $8.65 for all 10. I don't know if she was doing me a favor or if she made a mistake. I didn't question it. I really don't understand why passport photos are so expensive. I was certainly happy to pay $8.65 as opposed to $80!

I have started to work on the nursery. I haven't gotten far. I put the first coat of primer on. It needs another coat. I still haven't decided what color to paint, or if I want a border or a chair rail. I looked at some books at Lowe's but couldn't find a border I like that goes with the bedding I bought. I'm thinking I'll just put up a chair rail so that I won't have to replace and/or paint over the border when she gets older and changes the decor in her room. Hopefully this weekend I can get the second coat of primer on the walls. I wish I were more creative. I have no interior design ability! I know I should probaby paint the walls a neutral color, but this is most likely the only nursery I'll ever get to decorate so I'm thinking I want to paint it pink, and if I have to re-paint it in a few years, then so be it. Then again, pink walls may be too much pink. I'm just not sure what I want to do yet. I'm open to suggestions!

I can't believe it's April already. Time sure flies.