Physical for adoption...

Today we went in for our physicals to get one step closer to finish our adoption application process. It was one thing I was not looking forward to doing because I have not been to the doctor for myself since having to get a physical before going to scout camp when I was probably 15. It was not too bad. Shaileen thought it was going real well until the doctor asked have you had your hepatitis shots and we had to say "I don't know", then he asked the same thing about our tetnis shots, and we had to say that we didn't know as well. So we got a total of 3 shots and our blood drawn. :) I told the nurse after they took my blood if I could at least get an apple juice or something because that is what you get when you give blood. She said I could have a sucker on the way out if I wanted...you better believe that I took a sucker and boy did it make my arm feel better. After, we ran all of the paperwork that we had up to the LDS Family Services Center and dropped it off. Now all we have to do is get our birth parent letter, teaser and a couple other things completed. Then we need our personal interviews which we will probably schedule this coming week and then our home visit. We are getting so excited and look forward to getting our names out there. We do ask for anyone reading this to keep us in your minds and prayers and if anyone brings up adoption feel free to bring up our names in conversation. Having a network of people putting our names out there will help we believe. Thank you and we love you!

Bees Game

Friday during work we got a call from Scott and Cindy saying that they scored some tickets to the Bees Game and they asked us if we would like to go. We said that we would love to because we love Bees game and to get out and spend some time with the family. It was a great game and was tied up until the 8th inning until the Bees gave up some key runs. They ended up losing 4-1 but we still had a great time as we were able to get out and just enjoy some sports. Thank you to Scott and Cindy for inviting us!

Adoption Paperwork

About 2 weeks ago we walked out of the adoption intake quite overwhelmed with all that we were told that we had to do and fill out. The good news is we have been well on our way to getting our profile up on itsaboutlove.org. Let me be the first to say that there is a ton of paperwork to fill out. We have completed:

1. contact information


2. personal information


3. marriage information


4. employment information


5. church information


6. references


7. release of information


8. financial statement


9. Health Insurance information


10. Parents Background


11. Siblings background


12. Husband Matching Sheet


13. Wife Matching Sheet


14. Questionaire for Me


15. Questionaire for Shaileen


16. Child Preferences


17. Birth conditions


18. Contact with Parents


19. Getting to know us form


20. Contact couple form


21. Certified Copies of Marriage License


22. Certified Copies of both Birth Certificates


23. Temple Marriage Certificate


24. Employement Verification


25. Infertility Verification

I feel that we have done pretty good with getting on our way. We are to the difficult things now. Not that it should take long but hard to know what to say. We are trying to put together our birth parent letter which is the letter that potential birth parents first read when they look at our profile. It is difficult because there is sooooo much to say but we want to make it really show who we are without boring them. Also we are deciding what photographs to put on our profile. This is difficult because as you probably know I am a little into photography and we were looking on our computer and we have over 70,000 photographs. Its hard to narrow it down but I think we pretty much know which ones we are going to choose now for the most part. We continually pray for guidance and strength to make it though this process. Birth parents are always in our prayers. We do not understand what they are going through but through continual study about adoption we have learned about their strength and great courage to look seek what is best for their child rather it be through adoption or not. I do not think I have ever asked for it but if you are reading this we would like to ask anyone that is willing to keep us and all birth parents in your prayers. We know that our heavenly father hears each and every one. Thank you for all of your continued support.

Adoption Intake

On Thursday August 4 2011 we got off work a couple hours early because it was time for our adoption intake. We were quite excited as well as quite nervous because we did not know what to expect. Promptly at 4pm we showed up and met up with Amber which is our caseworker. She had an intern there with her learning as well. As we first sat down Amber asked us to tell a little bit about us and about our upbringing and then pretty basic questions came from there. Before intake we had a very general idea of how the process worked and what it was going to take to be able to be approved and to get our profile out there on the Itsaboutlove.org site. Let me be the first to tell you that it is a ton of paperwork that you have to fill out online. I am happy that this kind of information is required though because it ensures that we are ready as a husband and wife to bring a child into our home. We are going to try to fill out this paperwork as quick and efficiently as we can because we both believe that we are ready! We were both a little sad though because this past weekend was the Families Supporting Adoption Conference (FSA) and we wanted to go and learn really bad but were not able to make it. The next classes that we are going to be able to attend are in October. It is going to be a really great experience because we have been told that they have birth mother, adoptive parent and children that were adopted panels. It will be really nice to learn what others are really thinking and have a knowledge and background on how they really think. In the long run it will be really helpful because I know there are going to be times that we are going to want to know what to do in certain circumstances and how we should handle certain things and it is always good to be educated as much as possible. I just have to say that I have a testimony about adoption. It has really strengthened Shaileen's and my marriage because we have been able to work with each other through some hard times. We know that there is a certain little child that is going to come to our home one day and it is really meant to be. When we went into adoption intake we purchased this book about adoption and I truly did not know the churches stance on adoption. The first page was a First Presidency Letter that was read in Elders Quorum, High Priests Quorom and Relief Society. If you ever get the chance to read it do so because I didn't know the church had such an opinion on it. Anyways, we are going to take a couple of hours today to fill out a lot of this paperwork online. Wish us luck. As always, keep us in mind and do not be afraid to bring us up in conversation letting people know that we are looking to adopt. :)