Nursery Update!!

Well, here is an update to the Nursery!! Like I'd said before…we wanted to keep the main color gender neutral so when we find out the gender of our sweet bundle of joy all we have to do is add accent color!! So, take a look at the room so far (of course we will replace the twin bed with the crib once we purchase it).

Dan built the built-in cabinets (the bottom portion will have doors and he is currently working on finishing the shelves), the board & batten, aka wainscoating which has a 4 inch shelf instead of the typical chair rail (we also place the shelf higher than a normal chair rail), and the crown molding (which we copied this idea from a friend – we placed the molding about 2 inches below the ceiling and then place dimmable rope lighting inside for ambiance and a "night light"). I did all the painting…which included base color, measuring, drawing and taping off all the lines and the touch-up (which is not fun).

4th Status Update

Guess what....We're still waiting.....
When will it end?!? Hopefully soon!! =0)

Status Update: 1/12 ~ Kelly - Hasn't chosen a family yet; 1/12 ~ Angela - We were her 3rd choice; 1/17 ~ Julie - Chosen family & in the process of being matched; 1/28 ~ Autumn - Hasn't chosen a family yet; 1/28 ~ Gina - Matched with a family
AdoptHelp sent out all of our profiles, which means we were possible matches to 30 birthmoms. We contacted our printing company to print 15 more profiles to send to AdoptHelp for potential matches (hopefully we won't need to print anymore).
We have also been added to another adoption website for more exposure. Check it out:
www.adoptionplanners.com/choosefamily3.php?id=195

We are still waiting to have our home study approved. Other than that, that is all I have to report on the Adoption front....

~ HUGS & LUVS ~

Feelings & tissues

So Dan and I are getting a little impatient. It's been a month and a half since the last time we were picked and even though we've only been selected twice, the timeframe between them was about a month. I keep hoping that today is the day we get the call....We're still waiting.....

Well, as I was looking through some other adoption bogs I came across this video. It is so completely moving and oh so TRUE to most of the feelings I have been through or are going through.

**Warning: If you chose to watch this video, please do so with a box of tissues**

4th Status Update

Well, we just received our 4th status update (for the month of Dec) and we are still getting a good amount of interest so...YAY!!

Here's our status update:
12/2 - Amber: hasn't chosen a family; 12/2 - Erin: hasn't chosen a family; 12/2 - Diane: hasn't chosen a family; 12/3 - Elaine: hasn't chosen a family; 12/14 - Leonore: "has fallen off the radar"; 12/30 - Stacey: matched with a family

Although we are bummed that we are still waiting, I keep reminding myself (along with my mother, Miss Vicki) that it will happen when the universe deems it right....Miss Vicki has been a great sounding board through this experience. I love the way her face (and my dad's face) lights up when they talk about my adoption story....they were out of town and "back then" there were no cell phones so they were out of touch, finally they were reached and overjoyed. My parents tell me that adoption was so different back then....they got to see me right after I was born and then had to WAIT THREE MONTHS until I could come home to them...talk about learning the value of patience...LOL!! Well, as mom and dad remind me of my adoption story, I look at Dan and I and think....WE CAN DO THIS!!

I know I say it in about every post I post BUT....THANK YOU so much for being so supportive in our journey to our family!!

Emotional Roller Coaster

Well....here we are again....we were PICKED again a few weeks ago and we were so SUPER excited because we thought it was the perfect match. So here's the story....

It was a Friday evening when we received the call, again we were so stunned and giddy!! We waited and waited for AdoptHelp's case worker to email us the information on the BM. We LOVED the whole situation and the Birth parents!! We actually got to talk to the BM over the phone and it was amazing!! We were nervous, scared...didn't know what to expect but we ended up talking for over an hour!!
Well, long story short, come to find out our BM wanted something completely different than we did with regards to visitations with the child after finalization of the adoption. So, a few days later, we were notified that the BM is seeking out other families to fit her visitation requests. Which is fine because we all want to be completely comfortable with the entire situation before all of us get too vested emotionally.

I'm not gonna lie....it hurts to have this match fall through but I know that our baby is out there waiting for us and we will welcome with open arms and warm hearts!!

THANK YOU all again for supporting us during our family's journey!!

Status Update for Nov & Dec

Hi all!! I'm sure you probably think I forgot all about my blog....well, that's not entirely true. As most of you know, I (Becca) started my new job November 2nd and just haven't had the energy to get on the computer...so guess I better update you, huh?!?

2nd Profile Update ~ 10/5 - Christina (matched w/a family); 10/12 - Kim (hasn't chosen a family as of Nov 10th); 10/13 - Laura (matched w/a family); 10/13 - Amelia (matched w/a family); 10/13 - Cherice (hasn't chosen a family as of Nov 10th); 10/27 - Crystal (matched w/a family); 10/27 - Jessica (hasn't chosen a family as of Nov 10th); 10/27 - Catherine (matches w/a family).
Again, we were picked beginning of Nov (see blog entry: Decisions, Decisions...DECISIONS).

3rd Profile Update ~ 11/30 - Laura (hasn't chosen a family as of Dec 8th); 11/30 - Amanda (matched w/a family)
We were actually picked again.....(please see blog entry: Emotional Roller Coaster)

We had our Home Study visit last Sunday and it was...um, interesting to say the least. BUT it went GREAT!! We have to finish up some of our paperwork and then it will be COMPLETE!! Another thing that will be complete.....is the NURSERY!! We have worked so hard on it and can't wait to show you our creation for our lil' Locklear!!

Well, now that I've updated you....I hope your holidays were filled with love, laughter and joy!! I wish you all happiness, peace and prosperity in the New Year!!

Decisions, Decisions...DECISIONS

How do I begin to write about this, other than coming right out and saying it!! Dan and I were PICKED!! I was in the middle of cooking dinner one night and my phone rang. I looked at the number and thought "oh great, a telemarketer is calling me" (it was an 818 number) and YES, I do occasionally screen my calls...who doesn't...LOL!! Anyway, I decided to answer it anyway, the gal on the phone didn't sound like a telemarketer so I was instantly engaged in what she was saying and then the words came out......"You and Dan have been PICKED!" My heart started pounding so hard I thought it was going to jump out of my chest!! I stopped making dinner, ran upstairs to where Dan was and shook him like crazy...he gave this look like "why did you just do that and acting so crazy"!! I started mouthing the words "it's the call!! it's the call!!" while pointing at the phone!! He got this look of "OMG, is this really happening".
So we listened to what the case worker had to say. She informed us of all the details of the BM and possible Birth Fathers...yes that is plural. She said to give her 15 mins to gather all the info she just told us and compile it to an email. That 15 mins felt like an hour! We finally got the email. The email included light history of BM, her parents and siblings, her health, the birth fathers status, a picture of herself (which Dan referred to as a total Facebook profile pic) and an ultrasound picture and a list of her possible expenses. The ultrasound picture was the sex determination one....and it's a Girl. The case worker told us to review the info and get back to her with our decision.
The Decision: After careful consideration of all aspects of the BM match we decided to decline the match. This was probably one of the HARDEST decisions either one of us have EVER had to make. Here we have the chance to give this little girl a good home and we were rejecting her...also, what if this is our 1 shot and we get put back into the pool and then end up waiting over a year.....our conversations regarding the match was FULL of ifs.
We feel good with our decision and the case worker assured us that we will get picked again and it will probably be soon. As for the BM, the case worker assured us that they are working with her to find a good match for the BM and her situation.
So....here we are again, waiting for "THE CALL". The next time, we will be ready and not so shocked and hoping that it will be a good fit!!

1st Status Update

Well, we have received our first status update on how many times our profile has been shown to birth moms. Here is what our case worker emailed us on October 8th:

"Here is your September status update: 9/14 ~ Racquel: hasn't chosen a family yet; 9/15 ~ Ester: matches with a family; 9/15 ~ Evi: hasn't chosen a family yet; 9/17 ~ Blanca: hasn't chosen a family yet; 9/29 ~ Samantha: hasn't chosen a family yet; 9/29 ~ Kim: hasn't chosen a family yet"

Now keep in mind, our caseworker received our profiles (birth mother letters) on September 14th....so in 3 weeks we were shown to 6 birth mothers. We feel that is a good start!!

We are in the Home Study stage now. Our first home study step is to gather all our required paperwork, then we will have our home study case worker come and visit us in our home.

Update & Sneak Peek

Update on Journey:
Well, AdoptHelp received our package of 30 birth mother letters (profiles) and our case worker sent the following email regarding the next step:

"Your profile will now be presented to birth mothers who match your filters. Sometime during the 1st to the 10th of each month you'll receive a status update from me via email or phone or both, which ever you prefer. You will receive your first status update in October. This status update will let you know on what date you profile was sent to the birth mother, what her name is and what her adoption status is. However, you will always be called if you are a 1st choice. If you are a 2nd or 3rd choice this will show up on your status update."

YAY!! We have chosen who will be completing our home study and are in the process of completing it...its a llloooooonnnngg process though, and masses amounts of paperwork. Can you say...PAPERCUTS...ouch....lol!

Now for the Sneak Peek......

Here's a peek from the nursery!! It's getting soooo close to completion!! The BIG reveal is coming!!

Waiting....

Well, our birth mother letters (30 to be exact) are printed and mailed off TODAY!! Once AdoptHelp recieves them we are on to our next step.

In the meantime, I have researched who in the state of Idaho and locally is the cheapest to provide our home study. A home study is basically when a social worker deems us fit to be adoptive parents....it seems simple but the paperwork is CrAzY!! The social worker told me that on average, most people complete their home studies within 60-90 days...WOWZERS!! It's a good thing I'm "working from home" to get it completed faster. My goal is completing it no later than 45 days from application. The first thing we have to do is apply for the home study which costs ($150 for the app and then an addl $950 for the completion of the home study). Eeeekkk! Good thing I had over 10 yrs in the banking industry to be knowledgable enough in managing finances...LOL!!

Also....since we are waiting for "The Call" ("the call" is where we get a call from our firm telling us that we are being presented to a birthmom and we have been picked)...we need to get the nursery complete (decor wise, not furniture). I kinda dropped the ball with the stripes. I started a section and then quit, here's what it looks like:

It's only a 3 foot section vertically....I did it to test the colors and decided, I didn't like it. I had a couple of people tell me that I was acting like a pregnant lady with my indecisiveness....LOL!! So, we are still doing stripes just in a different fashion. I'm so excited to get it started and hopefully finished in the next few weeks....my personal deadline is my birthday (Sept 28th)! We'll see how I do on that timeline...LOL!!