Lots of changes

It's time to move on.  There are new journey's to start.  One thing I'm moving past, is the infertility treatment part of my life.  Do you know, we've been trying to create our family for over 10 years now?  Seriously.  We got married in 2001.  We started trying right away.  Actually, I quit birth control before we got married and we were never careful.  We're at the point now that clomid is no longer recommended.  They want me to move up to injections, iui, and lots of more involved appts and treatments.  I'm done.  I don't have it in me anymore.  My heart has not been in it for a while actually.  Maybe that's why I had such bad luck with the studies.  I just have been so worn out and exhausted by the frequent visits, the constant blood work, the crazy hormones from the meds.  I'm officially weighing more than I have in a long time.  Coming off this clomid buzz or whatever you want to call it, has been really difficult on me.  My hormones are starting to balance out to my "normal".  I haven't gotten a period since the final round.  I may start herbs again just for the regularity, and mental support.  It did help balance me out and not cause the craziness. 

 

Now, that all being said, we still want to grow.  We want another child.  We've started the adoption process.  My original plan was to try international adoption, because the older Kristopher gets, the more I'd like to bypass the newborn stage.  Babysitting has proved that it's not as easy as it was when we had K, and the older I get, the more tired and less patience I have.  So, my ideal situation would have been internationally adopting.  Getting a child that is past the newborn stage, and between 9-18 months.  But, the problem with that is we have to travel, and for 2-3 weeks, sometimes longer, sometimes 2 trips.  Depending on where we picked.  I can not leave Kristopher that long.  It's just not possible.  And then there is my husband's job.  And my babysitting commitments.  And the dogs.  Just too much depending on us to be here right now.  I don't see that changing for years.  So after talking with the agency, it was recommend if we were open to it, foster to adopt.  We thought about it.  We reviewed the paperwork and had 2 meetings.  And we've started the process of the mountain of paperwork.  We're going for it!  To me, it sounds like a great idea.  We have a chance to make a difference in a kid's life.  Whether it ends up staying with us for good and we adopt, or we make a difference in a really hard point of their lives. 

 

So here's the details.  We've started paperwork.  Phase one is in the works.  We have foster resource training in Feb.  We have to finish background checks.  The entire process to become approved, have the home study and entire their system, is about 3 months.  I'm ocd, so I've already made tons of copies of stuff, and filled out a bunch of these forms.  We're entering the system with the age range of up to preschool age.  Under 5.  We have a lot of benefits to our family that will make us a good match they say.  There is always a chance of a newborn.  It's not something we can really plan much, but I'm open to that if the chance became available.  The type of child that gets placed with us, is going to have a better chance of adoption in time, because we are open to that.  Not saying that it will definitely become adoptable.  There are so many risks and we can't get too hopeful till it was truly in the works and finalized.  Once that happens, there's no turning back.  It's just a long process of the child in our care as a foster while that paperwork and stuff is going through.  We're prepared and think we can handle this. 

 

That's what's going on here.  I'll track a little of the journey, but obviously due to the way it works, real important details will not be publicly posted.  Such as names/photos/etc. 

 

Current game plan is:

• Send phase 1 paperwork this weekend.
• Get background checks completed.
• Training classes in late Feb.
• online training courses
• 2 books to be read and tests completed.
• home study and meetings
• then the waiting game

Above info should be completed in April.  We could get a call as soon as May or June.  It may not be till near the end of the year.  But it will be this year by the sound of things.  I feel very good about this.

We've got some home repairs to work at to make it easier to have another child.  Room rearranging, I want to get K a new bed and save his twin size bed for if the child is old enough for that.  I want to get a new car seat that is acceptible for any age group (Radian is my plan).  I think this is a lot like nesting.  Major nesting without an end date in sight.  At least I'm not overly huge and uncomfortable. 

Oh and the diet is going to start again. This time for me.  To feel better and be healthier.  New year, new start.  It's long overdue.