[adiliegro]

is it normal to start stressing out like I am? I walk around with a lot of butterflies in my stomach at this whole process. Renee and I just paid the app fee, did the criminal history (I have a minor misdemeanor), so I am stressing over this. We have the home study to do, I am strressing over this...THEN, even if we GET past the home study, DSS and INS have to still approve us. Yep, we are stressing over that. Let's not even begin to talk about the stress that I am feeling over financing this whole thing...Im just a ball of nerves.

Anyone else have these feelings? Care to share what you do/did to get past it? Will this last through the whole process?

Jeeze, Im stressing over stressing.

[kitz]

O.K., take the most awful, stressful, horrible day of your life times three. That's the way you will feel during the process of starting paper work and going through homestudy. Then take that times four....the waiting. But, then take the most wonderful, happiest, exciting day of your life times 100! That's the day you have your child in your arms for the first time! It's a very emotionally taxing process, but all very well worth the end result!!! Stay on the forums, it's what helped me through it all!!!!!

[dixiemom]

we received the referral of our daughter. Seeing her picture just changes things so much! No more stress, but now such love for this little baby, that the stressing turns into anxiousness....Sounds like you have a great deal of support and that is a great help, of course you have us here too! Do not worry about the misdemeanor, it shouldn't matter....and about dealing with the stree BEFORE your referral? Concentrate on doing all your paperwrok and doing it exactly as your agency (which is a great one, by the way) tells you.....keeping in mind the whole time that each form you fill out and each question you answer brings Brielle one step closer to you!

You can do it! Once you see her little face, you 'll probably start a new project, getting her room ready, etc......

Best wishes, take deep breaths and hang in there!

[DianaPrince]

You WILL get through the homestudy (even the criminal check parts), you WILL find the money, you WILL be fine (even if you develop a little gray hair in the process).

What you are feeling is normal. Welcome to the club.

Best of Luck!

Valerie

ps. I find your blog DELIGHTFUL (even though Guatemala is in Central America ).

[susanhuff]

Oh my goodness did we ever feel stressed! Think about it: you are entering a great unknown. That's very hard.

Take a deep breath. Talk to each other. Find an outlet for your stress (exercise, writing, whatever). Find an agency that you trust. Once you've done all you can, let go.

And above all, remember your feelings are so normal! Hang in there!

[foxl]

and can they give me the name of their prescription???

Seriously, it is hard, but soooo worth it!
Linda,
daughter home 2.5 years,
son in PGN ...

[JanCA]

I don't post much because we are still in the paperwork phase. But I understand the stressers! My problem was the initial urgency I felt once we got the list of required documents. I thought if we didn't check one thing off our list every day that we weren't moving forward fast enough. Then I realized I was stressing myself out. I came to the realization that it's better for me if I just go at a comfortable pace. In a weird cosmic way I was able to grasp the idea that the baby we're meant to have, will be there when we get to that point. Does that make any sense? Maybe it's a little different because we also have our 2.5 year old we're dealing with at home and there's not this huge sense of urgency one might have if it's your first. I dunno if that helps but it helped me.

Plus we'll get through it together!
Janet

[Karsco]

HI

We are mid process. The stressing ebbs and flows. Just a word of caution regarding the criminal background check/home study. My husband forgot to include a misdemeanor from 23 years ago and it has slowed us down quite a bit in getting CIS approval. Make sure yours is ont he homestudy. Good luck.

Karen

[Bexter]

We all go through it. Just take it one step at a time. And remember that your social worker, agency, and the board are all here to help you out.