Orientation Class 2

We have our adoption application filled out and ready to turn in!  We had to provide the names of 4 people to use as references, and I called 3 or the 4 during the week to make sure it was okay to use them and to let them know that they would receive a letter in the mail and they'll have to respond to the request. And Rob still needs to contact the other person on our list, but we know that one will be not be a problem at all.  

Last night was another orientation class.  This class lasted just over 3 hours.  Since we didn't have time to do it at the last class, we did an "around the room" introduction, then the 2 caseworkers began the slideshow and question/answer session and we had some discussion among the group.  We got a folder of new information to read at home and more paperwork to fill out, watched a video that featured some young birth mom's who discussed their experience and feelings about making an adoption plan for their baby's, and lastly, we decided on dates for our next round of classes. (woo!)

So, our next step is the Home Study classes, which will be daytime classes, February 17th & 28th from 10am-4pm.  In this next step, we will get more involved in the adoption process and begin the groundwork in getting (hopefully) approved and eventually in circulation for adoption of our own little angel.  As I understand it, thanks to my friend Sarah :), we're just at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to paperwork and "homework".  Lots to do still...it will be a long road, but so worth it in the end! 

Orientation Class | Family Dynamics of Open Adoption

Tonight was our first "Orientation" Class...which was supposed to be LAST Thursday, but instead Mother Nature interrupted those plans by bringing us the first snow storm of the winter season (gotta love Midwestern winters!).

The class size was larger than I expected, if I remember correctly there were 8 other couples besides us.  Due to last week's class being cancelled, in this week's class we covered topics that are normally covered in week 2 because the guest speakers were already booked for this week.  So, tonight we met an adoptive family that consisted of dad, mom, their 9 yr. old biological son, and their 1 yr. old adopted son...plus the birth mom, who is currently a high school senior.  We found it to be very interesting and informative!

The birth mom spoke about things such as: what brought her to adoption, how difficult it was, how things are going for her now,  what made her choose this family over the other 2 profiles she viewed, among other things.  The adoptive parents spoke about what brought them to adoption after having a biological child, how the open adoption process has worked (and continues to work) for them, how long their wait was before being matched, and many other things.  Plus we were all given a chance to ask questions of both the adoptive parents and the birth mom.  This took up a majority of the class, then after this family left, the caseworkers explained a little more background on this family, discussed a few other topics and then we had a quick discussion on when our "make up" class will be in place of the class time we missed last week.  We were also given more paperwork that needs to be filled out...I know there will be MUCH more paperwork to come!

Overall, I thought tonight's session was great, and I can't wait for the next one!  The caseworkers will be in contact with each of us for confirm the reschedule date for this....so, for right now, we just have to hang tight for a few days before we have more info!

The checklist

Let the whirlwind begin!  Our first of two orientation classes begins tomorrow night.  How am I feeling?  Nervous. Excited. Happy. Scared.  A lot of feelings are running through my veins!

We have a checklist of things that we need to bring with us tomorrow night. I've just about got them all ready and in a folder:

• Copy of marriage certificate
• First page of most recent US 1040 tax form
• Proof of pet inoculations
• Proof of life insurance
• Photo of the two of us
• Check for payment of orientation classes

We had to scramble to get a photo of the two of us together.  I'm not one for being in FRONT of the camera, since I'm an aspiring photographer, I'd much rather be TAKING the pictures...so the last decent photo of the two of us together was (gasp) 5 years ago?!   So, mom came over during Rob's dinner break to take a couple quick snapshots.  I just uploaded them to walgreens.com (another taboo thing for this photographer), and Rob will be picking them up tomorrow afternoon!  I know you're curious...so, I won't keep you in suspense any longer....here's the dang the photo! Say cheese!!