[StorkWatcher]

Congratulations! I remember thinking once we got past the homestudy, I was SO glad to be beyond the point where it was all up to us to move things along and finally to the point of just letting God take care of things. And the homestudy was so NOT what I thought it would be! It was much easier and the SWs were more laid back.

DON"T go too crazy cleaning before the homestudy. BUt I know it made me feel good to clean well before the SW came. They didn't even check our medicine cabinet (but I MADE them look there!), fridge or anything! Be sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are up and you have enough.

After that point, when we weren't busy with profiles and paperwork all the time, I didn't know what to do w/ myself during the wait, so my nesting instinct kicked in BIG TIME. I read TONS of baby books and child development and raising the adopted child books. I hit resale shops and all the baby stores, planning what I would buy and researching thing so I would know what I wanted. I registered for gift items.

I spent time w/ my friends' kids and nieces to "practice".

I know I obsessed about things, and that's fine. Pregnant women do that too! Be sure to make time to exercise a little - you need a stress buster right now! And find adoptive parent friends to talk to - they can really understand where you are right now.

I second the calls coming at crazy moments - I swear I'd think about it 23.7 hours a day, and every time the phone rang, I'd get the nervous sweats and shakes. Program your cell phone so the agency (and the SWs cell phone) has a specific ring. The call will probably come when you least expect it.

Try to get some sleep - you'll need to store it up for those sleepless nights when the baby is crying and you're up feeding/changing/walking/rocking (they're FABULOUS! I miss them already- no joke).

Good luck! Wishing you a speedy recovery!