[mandirenee]

So happy for Chris - can't wait to hear details!!!!

Susan - If you are in state then you will get to travel home since there won't be ICPC. At the hospital they will provide everything you need - diapers, formula, t-shirts, blankets. But for the travel home you will want an outfit (and maybe a few extra), blanket, car seat, camera, maybe a paci. Good luck - hope this is it for you.

[jjlutefisk]

I hope you have a great trip and that things go smoothly! How exciting!

[Linny]

Now not to throw a wrench in the works, regarding a hospital having everything you'll need....but we've not had those kinds of experiences with our three. Sure, the hospital (and agency in one adoption) gave us a couple of tiny bottles of formula, one time we received a diaper bag, with one adoption, the baby was wearing a cute little outfit, and I suppose once we got a couple of diapers too....but never anything else.
My suggestion is to buy the formula (if you're needing it) near the place you receive the baby after you find out what he/she's on; take a couple of sleepers, a few diapers (you can always purchase more--there), definately a nuk (pacifier), and if you're having to spend the night anywhere, I'd suggest one of those infant sleepers that fit in the bed next to you. (Had one of those the last time around and found it invaluable. )
Gosh Susan...I hope you have a new one very, very soon!!!!

As for us, one agency we're networking with phoned yesterday about a very special needs baby. Probably too special needs for us to take...but in the end, the birthfamily requested the baby go into CPS custody.
Sad part is, while we probably wouldn't have taken the baby.....I knew someone else who networks and felt she could find a family fairly quickly. (sigh)
Guess it just wasn't meant to be.
Then today....we actually got a phone call from an adoption attorney I'd just spoken with (out of state). My heart jumped for a few seconds, only to know that he'd dialed the wrong number!!!!!!!
Now tell me.....HOW many times does THAT happen?????!!!!!
Glad this isn't our first time for adopting. I think I'd have gone crazy!!!! LOL

Sincerely,

Linny

[JenC]

Am I just a grump when it comes to paperwork, or does anyone else think it is completely ridiculous to have to fill out a new application and pay a new application fee to update a homestudy with the same agency you used less than 2 years ago???

/vent

[Jenn4615]

OH CHRIS!! YEAH!! I can't believe I didn't log on yesterday!! OH MY GOSH!! WONDERFUL WONDERFUL WONDERFUL!! Can't wait to see pics! PRaying for all you guys!!

[jjlutefisk]

I agree that it's a pain to redo everything for just an update! Working on the paperwork made me feel like I was doing something to move the process along. Of course now that we're actually waiting, I am just jumping every time the phone rings.

[sissyminsky]

I agree - redoing the paperwork is mind-numbing. We chose different references this time just to make sure everyone stayed our friends.

Congrats to ChrisandAaaron!

Good luck MomtoSami!

Nice to have some action here!

sissy

[OnTheJourney]

fingers and toes crossed that all goes well for you Chris! Can't wait to hear details! Prayer to all involved.

[Linny]

I hear ya about the paperwork for an updated homestudy!!!!! Unless you've had a LOT going on from the time you last adopted, someone tell me WHY there has to be so much more paperwork????

The agency we're working with now...is pretty good about this. They're small, and to update is minor compared to the mounds of paperwork we've previously had in years past! I swear it's a way to assure the parents REALLY want to adopt again, KWIM?
Combined with this, are re-doing the physicals (something none of our insurances have ever paid for...so it's always been expensive). I often think too, you know, if we'd chosen to get pregnant, no one would be asking us to have a complete physical and swear that we were okay to care for another baby..... (sigh)

As I get older (and I know I'm a lot older than most of you here).......it just gets more wearisome to go through the same steps time and again. Oh sure, it's worth it, but the monies involved before you even get there....make me wonder the 'whys' a lot!

Sincerely,

Linny

[chrisandaaron]

Thanks for posting for me Marci!

So far things are going well. We are spending a lot of time at the hospital so I've had little time to check email or post anything. We are hoping to bring baby back to the hotel tomorrow! We also got to name her! We are at the same hospital were we adopted our son 2 years ago, so it is like deja vu (sp).

TPR is schedule for Friday and then we plan to drive home (several hours). I will post her name and pics when I get a chance.

Thanks everyone!
This has been a real whirlwind!


P.S. I think the new application and fees for the update is crazy. We did not have to pay a new application fee the second time around, we just sent them our books and got started. We now have to do the update (our hs expires in August) and pay the update fee, but that is OK with me.

[Jenn4615]

OH CHRIS I am so glad its going well!
Can't wait to see pictures of the little princess!! You must be in heaven with a little girl after have two little guys!!

[chrisandaaron]

Well, today has been a GREAT day! We were pretty down last night (had a little scare that things may not be working out). But as soon as we got up this morning things started to change. First Aaron grabbed our hotel bill that was under the door and they had cut the price of our room by over 1/2! We had planned to check out today and move to a cheaper hotel that wasn't so close to the hospital. So, Aaron went down to the front desk and they agreed to give us the same discounted rate for tonight- so we don't have to pack up and switch hotels! Then we got to the hospital and baby girl was so cute and doing fantastic. Our SW called mid morning to check in. I told her about the events of last night and she immediately started making phone calls to make sure things were OK. Within 10 minutes she called me back and basically said it was a misunderstanding on her part. Pbmom was still totally on plan, the SW had just misunderstood what her plan was. Shortly after the Dr. came in and said baby girl could go home (or to the hotel with us) as long as it was OK with the hospital SW. We were waiting for our nurse to get back from lunch and hospital SW stopped by to check in. I told her what the Dr. said and she said "Oh, absolutely." Within 2 minutes she confirmed with the Dr., signed the discharge and brought us a whole case of formula and diapers! By the time our nurse got back we were ready to go! All afternoon we have be relaxing in our room with the sweetest baby girl ever! On top of that my work called and my partners are really stepping up to the plate and pitching in so I can have some time off!

TPR is tomorrow afternoon, so please keep everyone (especially pbmom) in your prayers. We will be leaving as soon as we get that call to drive home. I probably won't be able to post, but I will try to call Marci and ask her to post for me.

Thanks for your support everyone!

[Linny]

Ohhh Chris....how absolutely wonderful for ALL of you!!!!!! Hope things continue to go well and that baby girl is an easy one!
Looking forward to hearing more from you when you can.

Sincerely,

Linny

[KansasMomToBe]

Chris that is so wonderful, ! I'm glad to know that there is some baby dust in here.

We are just waiting hear something ....... Oh my gosh the phone rang as I was writing the post just now and it was the social worker. A baby is available and we are one of the two families being considered!!!!!! Information is sketchy but it's a girl and she is healthy!!!! TPR has been signed and the baby is in cradle care right now, final decision for placement will be made by the birthmother next Tuesday.

[jjlutefisk]

Oh Chirs, I'm thrilled for you! I'm so glad everything worked out. I'm definitely going to brave the dial up at my parents' house tomorrow night to check in!

I'll be thinking of you, too Kansas. What great news all around! Hoping for more of us to get more calls!