The first meeting...

My first home study meeting is going to be on Monday.  I didn't expect it to happen so fast.  So much to do, and we're still not very far on this room switch for Kristopher.  We ran into some floor drama, and what should have been done 2-3 weeks ago, just got done this past weekend.  So, hopefully, if all goes well, it will be finished this weekend.  I sure hope so. 
I'm really nervous though.  I feel like my house is so cluttered and always crazy. And the dogs better make a good impression.  They are still a little wild and crazy, and I don't want them to act too nuts.  If I crate them while she's here though, it makes it look like they can't be trusted around people.  And they will cry and bark for attention.  So, I regret not getting better training for them.  They do pretty good, but have been deprived of visitors for a few weeks, so they are going to be showing off.  Just like toddlers. 
So that's our latest update.  More on Monday.

Sent! And more ramblings.

I'm late at posting this, but final paperwork for our application was sent on Saturday!  I should be hearing something within a week or so to start scheduling our home study family meeting, as well as 2 separate meetings for each my husband and myself.  We're close to the end of the paperwork journey!  I'm fine with the waiting longer for placement, it was the paperwork that was so difficult for me.  It was so much, and so much waiting on clearances, trainings, etc.  Now I feel like we're on our way.  :)


Today Marley is at the vet.  She's 6 months old already and spay time it is.  We switched vets because something happened to Roxie when she was spayed, and she became terrified of anyone she hasn't seen before.  And apparently is marked bite risk at their office because after the event, she snapped at anyone who would touch her.  I keep her socialized, and she goes shopping to petsmart very regularly, but she's still uneasy about anyone new trying to touch her too fast.  The only thing I know was they said she didn't walk well on their "leash" (rope tied around neck) and they had to "tug" her to get her to go to the kennel area.  Which was in the basement.  So, I don't know what happened at the steps, but I'm assuming they scared the crap out of her.  And hurt her somehow.
But back to Marley.  My big moose of a puppy is now 6 months old, and about 45lbs.  (Roxie is 21 at 7 months!)  And, she is a good bit taller than Zoey was.  I moved both puppies up to medium collars when Roxie was spayed, and I think Marley is going to need a large pretty soon. 

Construction is still a slow process.  We sanded and stained the wood floor Saturday, and it's taking forever to dry.  We're hoping that the clear coats can be done this week, and trim and final wall stuff can be done this weekend.  Then, we have to wait a couple weeks to move everything in.  It says no rugs for 3 weeks, so I will wait to move everything in at once.  It looks like everything requires a ton of waiting...Story of my life!  I should be use to it.  But I'm incredibly impatient.

So behind

I really wanted to blog through this foster/adoption process.  It's been so crazy busy around here, that I have not done much.  We completed our group training in February.  Since then, I've done both books, all online courses, and am waiting on 2 final things to be finished.  Then, our entire application is submitted.  That should be done by the end of the week/beginning of next week.  Then, we wait for our home study.  It's getting very close.

We have been in contruction mode here.  Kristopher will be getting a new room.  We discovered oak hardwood floors under our very ugly green carpet in that room.  Sander was bought this weekend, so hopefully in the next week or so, we're going to be starting to move him over.  All that is left is the floor, and the trim.  And then I want to do new curtains, and bump him up to a full size bed.  We have the frame, just need to get the mattress and bedding.  He wants a dino room.

We shared with him what is in the works.  He's super excited and looking forward to having another kid in the house.  Given his anxiety and need to know, we figured it was better to explain it now, rather then waiting till it's very close to happening.  He's definitely looking forward to it.  I'll write a whole new post on that at another time on how we told him, kid friendly ways, etc. 

I need to make my yearly appt soon.  I was hoping to go back to the PCOS clinic, but I don't know if they are going to be much help since they are more treatment driven.  At this point, I'm thinking I want to go on a low dose birth control for regularity.   My periods have been out of control annoying again, and this last cycle was 24 days.  Nasty spotting for about a week before it starts, and several days before it's actually gone.  I just had a full week of the spotting, and now it's finally hit me over the weekend.  It's wearing me down and I can't cope with it right now.  If I could go back to skipping entirely for months on end, I'd much prefer that.  This is old.

So, that's what's up from here.  I've managed to read blogs but never enough time to sit and comment.  And lately blogger has been weird and not letting me reply to what I want.  So, those of you who may have thought I've fallen off the planet, I am around, just crazy busy.

Training

Last night was our first foster/adopt training.  It was really just going over a lot of topics of the type of children that come into the system, why, how placements work, how the agency works, etc.  It was informative, and interesting. 

We go next Tuesday for the 2nd part, and then we're down to just a few online courses and 2 books.  I've already started the first book and it's given me some helpful information on ways to control my stress when the kids are acting wild and out of control. Ways without snapping and yelling at someone.  I've tried a few things directed towards Kristopher and the 3 yr old I watch, and they seemed shocked that they didn't get time outs or yelled at.  And the calm approach was worse than isolating them on time out.  So, I may have found a way to lower my stress level during that dreaded hour in the evening when the house falls apart. 

I got a day off today, so I went out and did some more errands for this process.  I have officially submitted all 3 clearances I need to have, and was fingerprinted this morning.  I had to go to the social security office to get a print out of the last 10 years of income for myself (depressing to look back on) and the last step I need to complete is cpr/first aid training.  The rest is easy breeze through courses.  We're over half way through the process! 

Once we get the final FBI clearances back, we should be totally finished with everything, and then about 2 weeks after it's handed back, we start the home study.  We've been working on some home repairs here so that the bedrooms are better laid out, and updated.  We moved our room down to what was used as the kids play room on our lower level, and Kristopher will be getting our old bedroom.  This past weekend we pulled down some ancient paneling, replaced electrical issues, and put up drywall.  While doing so, I discovered wood under the carpet.  Pulled back a section and discovered it's oak hardwood floors!!  And in pretty good shape.  Huge highlight of my weekend.  The plan is to sand it and clear coat it a few times to make it look nice and finished again, and then the room should be pretty awesome!  And, hardwood floor is so much better than carpeting for a child with asthma and allergy issues.  I'm really excited about that.  Of course, it seems that it's the only room that has it. 
So that's what's up with the adoption process.  Since we're getting closer to the end of the process, I'm going to be updating a lot more on that.  Maybe I should start a timeline on the sidebar....

Time to catch up

Ok, it's been almost 2 weeks.  Time for a long recap.

• Roxie's spay went well.  She came home acting like they gave her crack instead of pain meds.  She never really slowed down.  I made her spend most of the first couple days home in her crate so she was restricted, and when she was out she had to wear a shirt to keep her from messing with the stitches.  Which her biggest problem was razor burn.  They shaved her poor little nipples off.  There were scabs and rash all around.  So she scratched a lot, but as long as her shirt was on, she left it alone. 
  Oh and apparently she is aggressive.  She bite each person who tried to get her out of the crate to take her potty or do pretty much anything.  Except for the girl who fed her.  I think it had a lot to do with the fact that they tied a rope around her neck instead of using a leash, and they pulled her since she was scared to walk.  I'm not happy and am in the process of switching vets.  It's time to do so since we live so far now, and every time I walk into that place I see the image of my dead dog laying on the table.  So now making my puppy scared enough to bite and snap, I am done.
  Here's a picture of the vicious little ankle biter during the shameful tshirt recovery stage. 

• Foster/Adoption updates.  We are about half way through our paperwork process.  From what I'm told, our referral people got letters and at least half were mailed in already.  I have 1 more background check to complete, and a few little things to finish up.  We have 1 out of 2 group training sessions tomorrow, next one will be next week.  I have to read and write an essay on 2 books about parenting special needs kids.  I started the first.  I think everything should be submitted to the agency by this point in March. 

• I had another conference with school.  I'm still not happy with how this year has turned out, and not happy with the progress.  They want to blow it off as no big deal because he's way advanced in his grade level.  Yes, he is advanced.  Yes, he's paassing everything with no problems.  BUT.  Last year he was at an end of first grade reading level.  Comprehension was right along with it.  He was a little nervous when answering the questions, and did not want to get them wrong.  Probably because he was a kindergartener moved into a high level first grade group, and probably scared of looking like a baby.  When he did answer, it was when he knew it was right.  This year, she said his confidence has improved.  But, his reading level is the same as it was last year.  When we go to the library, he picks books that are way past his reading level, reads them and can do online tests getting most of the questions right.  It depends on how long it takes him to read it, and he has a problem with trying to read several books at once.  So info isn't sticking the way it would if he reads just one at a time.  Again, he's reading those books just for fun, not for school, so I let him do what he wants with it. 
  But anyway, there has not been much change at all in reading levels since spring.  He should be moving up just the same as all those kids who are in 2nd grade this year, are doing.  So I feel that making him stay there just because of the writing was wrong and has slowed him down.  He no longer has that spark about reading anymore.  They've taken it away from him.
  Math has been fine.  He's still into multiplication, and doing well.  For the entire school year they put him at a 99% on that.  His report card and tests they do each marking period are all advanced.  I love that he doesn't have to struggle with it, but it really frustrates me to see him slowing down.  It should not be that way.  It would be different if he was super happy and loved school still.  He goes without the tears we had earlier in the year, but he's so excited for days off and weekends.  Sunday nights he is a bit annoyed knowing that the next morning, he's back to it all. 
  
  That's all I have time to update with today.  Overall, things have been crazy busy around here.  As usual.