Just checking in to see if there are any updates!

No news here, still waiting for that elusive match

Of course I don't have an update either, but I was hoping from news from y'all!

Hope things are well!

[Kare]

Sorry I haven't posted. Nothing really happening--our son didn't get to visit last weekend so he can spend this coming week with us. We pick him up Friday and he goes home the following Sunday. Still waiting for paperwork so he can come here permanently.

Noticed that Mare updated--hoping you find your match soon!

[itznett]

My two boys were placed with me last Friday. It's been a LONG interesting week of adjustment for us all. I am glad I have been able to take the time off of work to spend with them. Unfortunately it isn't as long as I would like to have to spend with them before school starts. I have to go back Aug 4th. Which means they will be in daycare for a month.....

Hope everyone is having a good day!

[szypzz]

Hi again everyone. This goofy site has stopped sending emails that there are updates again. I think tech support is purposely taking my email out of the loop because I'm always after them to fix this problem... JK!!

Things have been going great. We have our first 5 day visit starting tomorrow! We are SOOOOO excited. The kids are doing great. They really want to be here permenantly. Unfortunately the system/paperwork has not caught up with all our wishes though. Even the foster mom is complaining to their adoption worker that the kids are ready to move permanently and to hurry up the process. (And we trust the fmom's judgement...she's had 150 kids over the last 20 years!)

We are at a point starting 8/1 where we can get the kids for 5 days and then take them back to the fhome for 2 and then home with us for 5, back for 2, etc.

Also they are now going to put through our foster license, in order to make sure the kids can be placed with us before school starts. Because all the adoption paperwork is taking SO LONG. I'm so glad that we've completed everything except for our foster care worker sending in the last bit of paperwork. We've been told that it only takes 2 weeks at this point for that to go through. It should have been mailed Friday or early this week. It would be so nice to just have them here and not make the 2 hour drive anymore!!

Well that's the latest from here. Hope all is going well with the rest of you!!!

Let us know how the week went Kare! Any news jl?

[KIRK90]

This is not exacly on the subject of stealing, but with regard to testing the waters, we've had a lot of experience with our oldest son and lying (he just turned 11). For months, he would lie about the silliest things. His therapist kept telling us that he was testing the water, and that it was likely to get worse before the adoption was finalized. The therapist was right on. It went on for months, and we tried everything from positive rewards to taking away priviledges, to contests to see which child could get the most "good behavior" stars during a month. Nothing really worked. One day we just sat down with him and had a good conversation about why and what he was lying about, and reassurred him that we were not going to change our minds. It seemed to get better. I am happy to report that we are now three weeks away from finalization and he has really made remarkable improvements, although we do have an occasional setback.

On the subject of room decorations, we had his room all done as well, navy blue and burgundy with bunk beds, border, and all the matching stuff. He told us the first time he walked in he thought he was "in heaven" and that it was exactly as he had dreamed. Our daughter on the other hand, takes great delight in making changes to her room with Mom, everything from picking out new bedding, to having Mom paint murals on her wall, or move things around. I really think it is the difference between girls and boys. I'll bet your new daughter will have a great time helping decorate her room.

Good luck! You are where we were only a few short months ago. One day you are dreaming of having a child and the next day you have one or more!!!! Get ready for neverending laundry! (LOL)

[KIRK90]

One more! (Sorry, I should have read more before my last post). Both our kids have ADHD, our son's is severe. We are lucky to have great teachers who really involve us at school, and we review his IEP often. As with most ADHD kids, he has an above-average intelligence, so it is sometimes so frustrating for him to know the stuff but have so much difficulty focusing to get things done. We are very structured during the school year or we'd never make it. One good word of advice, these kids have a horrible time staying organized. We've learned to go through his backpack nightly or he ends up keeping everything and it gets so heavy he can't carry it! Also, in their room, everything has a place, which helps everything stay in its place. The whole back of his door is a corkboard which also helps.

Also, this is a weird one that I learned from the director at preschool, if they are just going crazy, give them a little cup of Mountain Dew. She learned this at a seminar, and it sounded wild to me, but strangely, it works.

One other thing, I have noticed the symptoms are starting to be reduced in both kids the longer they are with us and the more stable their lives become. Best of luck!

[JL Cauling]

Love reading what's up with everyone. Nothing new here at all. I'm actually pretty bummed out about it.

Hope everyone is doing well.

[kpm]

Don't be bummed out! There is nothing new happening on my front either. I have been keeping tabs on this thread but I didn't think that I had anything interesting to post. We got pretty close to a match in early August. We were one of three families that were presented in a matching meeting. We lost that one and I feel like we are right back at square one again. I haven't given up hope yet. Getting that close to a match really got me excited again. I really enjoy reading other's sucess stories too.

[JL Cauling]

Hi Kpm! You do sound positive

We applied for three children on Mare this month (august) still waiting to hear from their CW's. Time moves slooooowly in that regard!

Wonding how Szy and Kare are doing with their matches?

[kpm]

I think waiting for the SW to call is the worst part! It is hard for me to understand why things take so long. I am sure that there are a lot of good reasons but the it doesn't make the wait any easier. I take a lot of comfort in the fact that this will happen, it is just a matter of when. Keep smiling.

Did you apply for a sibling group or three separate children?

Keep us updated on your progress.

[JL Cauling]

Hi there! We applied for three individual children. One is already placed. Waiting to hear on the other two.

We have a two bedroom house, so there really isn't room for a sibling group.

Yep, still waiting for the phone to ring. I've looked at some children who are out of state, but nothing ever seems to come of it. Our homestudy was completed almost 5 months ago.

[itznett]

After only a few weeks I had to make the decision to disrupt the adoption with my two boys. It's killing me.
Hope things are going better for everyone else.

[Kare]

Hi Everyone,
I hate to say it, but our adoption has disrupted also. It was such a hard decision--the good news--there is another family interested in him.

[itznett]

Sorry to hear that your adoption has disrupted as well. If you need an ear...I am here.

Nett