TTA (trying to adopt) Chat Thread - Page 12

[Newbian Mama]

Your plans sound really nice. I'm in the US and Thanksgiving Day is next week. Will be spending it either alone or with family. Either is fine with me although that may change once a kiddo arrives. I refuse to think about Christmas/Solstice until December 1! I saw a Santa Claus on tv about a week ago. That's ridiculously early IMO.

I finished CPR/First Aid/AED training and was fingerprinted this week. I'll send back some of the documents I've completed to the agency so they can begin their investigation. I listened to a radio show fewaturing children who had aged out of care. The experiences they had were absolutely heart-wrenching. I started this journey wanting to become a parent and now it's more about providing a child love and stability and helping them to reach their highest potential.

[Smithie]

DFS' mother signed the consent and the judge accepted it. Our finalization hearing may happen before the end of the year!!!!!

:joy:joy:joy:joy:joy

[Newbian Mama]

Oh my gosh!!! How exciting for you and your family. Can you believe it?

[MountainMamaGC]

YAY!!! Smithie, thats great news.

[PoorUglyHappy]

Wooohoooooooo!!!!!

[queenjane]

Smithie that is fantastic news!

[Smithie]

It is! It is fantastic news! Thank you all for your kind words and dancing smilies!

In less joyful news, WHY THE HECK is the adoption tax credit expiring at the end of 2012? How could our legislators fail to agree on extending THAT? 

[queenjane]

Originally Posted by Smithie 

It is! It is fantastic news! Thank you all for your kind words and dancing smilies!

In less joyful news, WHY THE HECK is the adoption tax credit expiring at the end of 2012? How could our legislators fail to agree on extending THAT? 

I thought it was just "scheduled" to cancel at that time, but will likely be included in the new package of credits that they will vote on soon? I know there is a big push in my online adoption circles to call your reps and such to promote renewing it.

The big question is whether or not they will make it *refundable* again which would be sooo awesome but it also makes it really expensive. I know some families got like $70K back (because they adopted large sib groups!) It was so helpful for us because i was able to buy a (preowned) minivan which means i have room now to adopt a couple more kids. I know other families that got larger vehicles, or put an addition on their home, paid off adoption-related debt, put that money towards another adoption, or were finally able to take their whole brood on a much needed vacation all of which is directly related to and benefits the adopted kids. So while to outsiders it might seem like people were getting "paid" to adopt a child really its helped more kids find or keep homes i think. So i really hope they consider it!

[PoorUglyHappy]

It's not too late to write to your congress person to tell them to support the bill:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr4373/text

I wrote an email with my personal story...  I think every little bit helps.

[rs11]

Smithie -woohoo!

We're waiting on our license here. It's been less than a week and I'm already impatient!

[Smithie]

I found out that I had been licensed when they called me up and offered me a placement. Just sayin'...

[Momma Aimee]

Originally Posted by kathteach 

I have been lurking around this forum since 2006.  My husband and I are beginning MAPP classes next month.  I'm surprised how much there is to do to get the house ready for a home study.

we are applying to foster to adopt in MO in March -- can you tell me more about "so much to do"?

[Momma Aimee]

Originally Posted by Grace and Granola 

Hi!  I'm Heather and I live in Missouri.  We have two sons ages 5 and 6, who I homeschool.  We've just become licensed foster parents and have had one call which we had to say no to.  We hope to adopt up to two children through the foster care system, but we are happy to pour into as many little lives as we can while we wait to complete our family.

Where in MO are you?  We will be moving home in Feb and applying to be a foster to adopt family in March, i am so excited

[PoorUglyHappy]

Momma Aimee, Welcome!  I don't know anything about the requirements in MO, but good luck finding all that information out!

AFM - I got an email about a placement today through a friend of my moms that runs an agency.   Baby boy due in 3 weeks.    Unfortunately.... 7 months after completing all the paperwork and my homestudy is still not complete.  %$^&*$%!!!!

[Smithie]

How frustrating, PUH! 

[MountainMamaGC]

Not much to say now that I am waiting......

That sucks PUH!!

[Momma Aimee]

just spinning my wheels here.  can't apply till we move into MO in March...

so what have the rest of you "spent your time on" while waiting.

yes i have the boys (or course :) ) and we home school ... but i just feel like i should be doing SOMETHING

[PoorUglyHappy]

New news today.... we may be able to "rush" another home study.    It seems what they are hung up on is background checks.  We lived in another state 3.5 years ago and my record has a small incident on it.   I am TRYING not to get my hopes up.   

[PoorUglyHappy]

Momma Aimee - I have spent a lot of time reading adoption related books, blogs, etc.   I've also tried to get "ahead" at work which means that I am writing papers that I will hold off on submitting so that it looks like I am still working when the child arrives.   Maybe you could get ahead in your homeschool planning?   We also had a ton of work to do on our house to get it ready for inspections.  In the summer, everything got a fresh coat of paint, closets and drawers were organized, floors were sanded and finished, old windows were replaced, we added the necessary childproofing and medicine storage, etc.

In general, though, I just do a bunch of obsessing. 

[rs11]

Aimee -get some books on foster parenting or read some more discussion forums to give yourself a better understanding of what you'll be getting yourself into. Those have been really helpful for us.

PUG -Good luck! I hope they can rush it through!

AFU -According to our LW, we will have our license approximately two days after our last reference arrives. One of our references is my partner's best friend from high school and college. Said friend has never really grown up and is often referred to as a stoner. Guess who we're waiting on? All the other references were returned last week.