Finger Print Update

I should know by now I that should trust my blogger friends. Yesterday I received my letter for my finger print appointment. I am due to be in Elizabeth, NJ for my finger prints on March 6th. I hate it when I am not the one that gets to pick out my appointment dates and times because it can be difficult to get my schedule changed around because I work 12 hour shifts at night then add in that because of some serious cut backs the pool of people that I can ask to cover my shift is not very big like 8 or 9 people.

I am trying to save all my favors for when I have to travel. I will however have to start to take some time off because a new policy where I work about the amount of vacation time that I can have in my vacation bank. Currently I have close to 600 hours and I was hoping to just use them all when the little Banana comes home but I believe the new policy will only allow me to carry 240 hours.

Usually when the census is down and I am put on call I take it without pay. I have done this for a couple of years in the hopes that I will feel comfortable not getting a full paycheck so that going part time will not feel so different. In the past couple of months I have worked a couple of months in a row that I only got a part time paycheck. It is tight but I think I can do it.

But I have a plan. I will buy back 100 hours and put it in the bank for things that I may need to travel and I will start to take my call offs with pay. My plan is to save as much money as I can now for later. We are still kicking around the thought of me going part time. I think with the state of the economy Gerard is a little hesitant but once she is here I am pretty sure that he will see it my way.

So alas no travel dates this week but I plan to call again next week. Off to make a mess out of my organized home.

Stop the Madness!

Poor Gerard is all I have to say. Our house is turned upside down. I find it amazing how unorganized my house becomes when I sew or do other projects. I am the only one to blame. No one else. I am sure that if he were not so sensitive to my feelings right now he would say "Stop the madness, put the sewing away. I just can not think with the house so unorganized!"

Thank goodness he understands that this is my way of relieving stress. I just put the buttons on a new sweater for Little Banana. He is relieved when I have finished a project. I just never tell him that I usually have started 2 others.



I also promised my Mother that I would put a better picture of her on the blog. The last one she was in her night gown without make-up and crying. So here is a better one of her from Aristotle's violin concert. For a 6 year old he can really bring down the house.



I think this is the one that I will leave for the little Banana in her photo album.

Monthly Agency Update Letter

Just a small bit of news. I did get a letter yesterday that I am guessing everyone has gotten to update the families who are waiting for a referral, travel or court dates. The letter discusses the plan of action for those who have a home study with a black listed agency and how the death of a little boy in Virginia has affected the adoption process.

The good thing is this letter also stated that 6 different families have had their court date in the past 2 weeks. I am no expert but I think that is a lot of families in a 2 week period. Also the letter states that in the past 3 weeks 8 families have traveled for their first trip.

Even though it is not me who has traveled I am comforted by the thought that others are traveling. Families are being formed. Soon I will be one of those parents being talked about in a letter to other waiting families and that makes me smile.

The Peeps are out

I still do not have any travel dates yet. I think I have a theory but one that I will keep to myself at this time because it can not be denied or confirmed. Either way my theory has settled my nerves about not getting my travels dates yet. I am sure that part of the problem is that there have been so many changes in the past 2 weeks.

Is there anything better then stale marshmallow peeps? Yes, travel dates but I will have to settle for the peeps for now.

Today's Creation-More Bonnets

Okay I know I am boring everyone but here is today's creation! Two almost matching bonnets. White with pale pink inside. I just love the pink. I think it is so delicate. Are these for Anna? Well no they are not. They are for someone who has quietly followed along and prayed for my daughter. I hope you and your girls love them.

I believe that I am lucky to have been able to make these bonnets because it has helped me today. While I was making them I sat in my dinning room and watched the snow come down. Snow Just makes me think of the little Banana.
Thanks!

Update About the Agency's Financial Outlook

Saturday morning one of the emails that I received was about the financial outlook of the agency. Back in January there was quite a bit of concern about the financial viability of my agency. Of course that got me into a bit of a panic and I was scrambling to position myself for the worst possible news and the need to change agencies.

Well the financial outlook has improved!! That is music to my ears. According to the letter the agency has sent me there has been a significant rise in domestic adoptions for this year. 86% of the waiting families have paid the supplemental fees that we were asked to pay by February. The need and expectation was 75%. Since the first week of January my agency has placed 9 infants for domestic adoption. From what the letter states there has also been a significant rise in calls from potential birthmothers to the agency to discuss their options. I am sure the the economic state of Michigan has been a factor in the increased number of calls by birthmothers.

I applaud any pregnant woman who considers adoption. I think making a plan for adoption and placing a child for a adoption has got to be one of the hardest decisions any woman could make. Please know that the birth parents are thought about every time an adoptive mother thinks of her child. In my case every time I see a woman give birth I think of the birth parents. Sorry off on a tangent!

Internationally, the letter stated that 16 children have been brought home to the U.S. Since the beginning of the year. 16 that is get news!! 2 of these children were from Russian which by itself is wonderful considering there is a slowdown every year in January because of the holidays.

The agency has taken our request for them to be more financially transparent seriously. As a waiting parent I will receive a quarterly statement about their finances. I can only hope and pray for financial security for the agency because they are given every child that they place an opportunity for a life with a loving family who can care for them.

My Coordinator has been changed again!

In an effort not to get upset I have waited to post about these changes and I am glad that I did. Thursday I got a call from a friend who is also using my agency to tell me that she got a letter telling her that our coordinator is being moved internally to a different area of the agency. I had not gotten that letter so I had a bit of concern over who would take over my case or if she was having to keep it and start a new position.

Believe me I understand that in every company especially in Michigan there are a number of changes that each employee is having to make to keep there job. My job is no different. We are making changes left and right with additional responsiblities being added daily. The pressure for every one is on because of the economy.

I just feel that I am at a very delicate stage in the process that I just want to make sure that things are not being missed. I do have some questions that can not seemingly be answered until I travel for my first trip. The age limit in my home study is one area that will have to be changed before my second trip so I am making a list of things that I think might need attention so that I have it handy.

I emailed my agency on Thursday night (very late) so I did not expect an answer until Friday late or maybe not even until Monday. I did check my email before I went to bed last night just in case I had missed a response but there was nothing.

So this morning I woke up and the first thing I did before even getting out of bed was to check my email from my new phone. How did I live without that for so many years. To my surprise I had 3 emails from my agency. No travel dates but I am still hopeful. The first two responses were from my old coordinator telling me that yes she was moving to a different position. To my excitement she told me that the director of the Russian program will be taking on my case.

I am a bit shocked and relieved to know that she will be the one handling my case. I am sure that I am not the only one that has been farmed out to her but WOW and I glad that I was. I know that in the past couple of months I have posted that I really did not and quite honestly do not feel any emotional connection between my agency and myself. I hope and pray that this will change. Believe me I am not looking for them to hold my hand through the process or stroke my feelings daily because that is not what I expect or need at this point but I do expect and deserve a level of compassion and empathy.

The director of the Russian program is actually the one who told me about my referral when I was in Detroit and honestly she was wonderful to talk to that day even before I found out about Little Banana. I have confidence that she will do her best to help me complete my adoption. I really think that if it is in her power she will help to smooth out as many bumps as possible along the way. So in my opinion this is great news!