[smousekc]

Hello All;

Well have been lurking for about 2 months now and you all have been a wealth of information.

It was so reassuring to read all of the threads and found out many basic answers.

So here is where my DH and I are in foster adopt:

PRIDE Training done
All home inspections done
Home Study done and signed as of last Friday 10/28
Everything has been approved.

We have our license done and we are told it will be mailed to us.

So now we wait----we have said we would take up to 3 children from 0-6yrs of age.

So any advice....insight?....things to do to keep me patient? ::smile:: We are so excited--we do not have children and we are wanting to adopt.

Would be thrilled to hear from you all. Thanks. Cheryl

[DianeScraps]

Deep breath

Get yourself as 'ahead' in as many things as you can right now I would be thinking:
Holiday shopping/wrapping
making sure all the winter clothes are out and ready
dentist appts, etc

Once those kiddos move - those other 'normal' things become MUCH harder to do.

If you can - throw in a massage to, that is one thing I haven't gotten to do since the girls moved in and ooooo could I use one!

Diane

[smousekc]

Thank you so much for your advice--have been doing just that. This past month DH and I have done the complete dentist and eye appts and doctor check-ups...etc.

This weekend I am wrapping Christmas presents. And last night address holiday cards. I really am trying to plan ahead as best as possible.

Do you think they could place soon? Or is it really just up in the air?

Feels so wild to just wait. Thanks again for your advice. The massage sounds awesome. Will be looking at things that I can get done with as well.

Thanks. Cheryl

[shycar]

Congratulations. I remember when I was waiting for my first placement I was soo excited and my heart would beat so hard when the phone rang. I would keep money put on the side. Many of the kids come with very little or nothing. Even children in other foster home. I just got a two yr old about 2 weeks ago. She was in a foster home for almost 6 months and she came with three outfits that fit her. Others were either to small or dirty and ripped. We keep a credit card from a department store for our foster children that come into care. Its not a large amount, but at least they will have what they need. I had one foster child that came with just a diaper on. Luckily he was almost the same size as my other fs.

[mamasoon]

Oh I remember those days-our wait was alltogether about a year but it felt like 5 years. I would call the caseworker and bug the heck out of her at least twice a month. Some things I wish I would have done before the kids came:

Cleaned out closets/get rid of junk/have yard sale
Get a bigger car
Watch all R rated movies that I want to watch because you will not have time or be too tired for that later.
Sleep, sleep, sleep. They get up early!!!
Locate services you will need around town, doctors, schools, pharmacies that take medicaid. Check out daycares if you plan to use one.
If you are fostering, I know at least in our state, the babysitter must be background checked and fingerprinted.
Start pricing car seats and furniture so that you can get the best deal in a hurry.

I had to modify a lot when I got my 2 boys. I had to start bathing at night, started wearing easy clothes. Easy meaning, pants and blouses that were quick to put on and looked good and were comfortable. I even had to change my getting ready routine-get up at least 20 minutes before the kids, run back and forth between bathroom and kids every 2 minutes.
I wish you all the best and I hate to tell you but an instant family is going to be rough but just keep telling yourself that it will get easier. It did for us!
Kathy

[smousekc]

Thank you so much Kathy----and shycar too;

All of those are excellant pieces of advice. I definitely am going to start looking at car seats--that was one I totally gapped on. And more then likely one of the first things that we will need. Almost bought a potty chair second hand the other day and then thought...best wait and see.

Have done all the closets, dresser drawers and have about 1/3 of the basement to finish...but then done with all three floors. I tell ya, I have been cleaning to keep myself focused. And totally childproofing.

Uhmmm--no R's in the house. rofl. Hubby/I are don't watch violence and anything past PG-13--I know, we're not to risque. rofl

This past week I called three days cares within our neighborhood...and I have to say I think that they thought I was a bit goofy at first....not knowing if I had one or three children or even the ages of my children. rofl They things got alittle better once I mentioned we were in foster-adopt....so have been working on that.

Have a doctor, dentist, eye doctor and a pharmacy lined up that will accept medicaid. About a month ago we got the hubby a new-to- us van--seats 7--I have a feeling that I will be swapping vehicles...mine is a two door sportier car.

Hmmm, what else---bought more pants this year and blouses instead of dresses and suits for work.

And lastly have bought about 2 rubbermaids full of generic sized pj's and pants/tops/socks, etc....to hold us over a day or two until we can get to a store.

The director of the program did our home study and she said she will be working with us through to the placement, will definitely keep calling twice a month too.

Everyone tells us that it will be a super super shock to our system---we're pretty laid back and actually quite homebodies...so will have to adjust.

Thank you so much for the insight...I appreciate everything...it's good to validate that we are on the right track. And a year??? WOW---we have been hearing shorter then that...but hard to say--suppose it just depends on the need and the match. Thanks again.

Cheryl