Jumping Through Hoops *Updated*

Brian and I had a really productive weekend on the adoption front. Truth be told, absolutely nothing else got done if it wasn't directly related to adoption paperwork. Well, other than going to the gym and a hockey game.

We filled out ALL of the paperwork. Umpteen pages of it. We need to have a couple of things notarized, but basically have no more "blanks" to fill in. We do, however, each need to write our autobiography. I'm dreading starting it because it seems so hard. I try to remind myself that since I can ramble on and on here on this blog I should be able to complete the silly thing. But that's just it. You guys don't mind my rambling. A judge might. Ahhh. Deep breath.

Today we both got our fingerprints done as well and I managed to not get my card smeared in spite of the rain. Yippee for me! I have a neat little packet all set to send in to the agency, including our fingerprint cards, application for certification to adopt, and adoptive families central registry records clearance. Hopefully all of these things will be approved within the next month.

So that just leaves our physician statements. The bane of my existence. Brian goes for his physical later this week and I go in 2 weeks. Oh, we also need to buy a fire extinguisher and a rope ladder to pass the home inspection. After that we can schedule another visit from the agency and they will come to meet with us and go over all of the loose ends. Then we wait. And wait. And wait some more. Or so I'm told. At least we are used to waiting.

I wanted to share some more thoughts about my RE. The encounter the other day was just so weird. We have both always really liked him and been very confident while being in his care. Maybe this just took him by surprise. We have never spoken with him about adoption. In fact, the last time we saw him we were talking about doing another IVF cycle at the beginning of the year. I think he was just trying to make a point that if I really want to try to get pregnant again it is going to have to be soon, or not at all. Oh well. It's water under the bridge now.

**Actually, the autobiographies we are writing are NOT for the profile that birthmothers will ever see. It is for the judge to read as part of the homestudy so that he can determine who we are before approving our homestudy. The profile/book for birthmothers to look at isn't even in the works yet. I'm not sure when they will give us the materials to begin that venture, whether it is when we turn in our paperwork or when the homestudy is approved. We are actually looking forward to that process.