Today was the home inspection for our foster license/home study. For those who are wondering, yes, we passed. We are essentially done with everything we can do on our own at this point. We have to wait for J’s background check to come back (they messed it up and had to redo it). Then, our social worker completes her report. She calls us in to review it. She submits it to her boss and then submits it to the state for our foster license. After that, we then have a “transition” meeting with the social worker in charge of placement and start looking for the right match.

But just so people are clear, we are not in the matching phase yet. We have to wait on the background information and the completion of paperwork.

 

Let me tell you, prepping for the home inspection was EXPENSIVE. We bought one outdoor shed, one 5’ tall locking wooden cabinet for the dining room, one Rubbermaid 6’ tall cabinet (that can be locked) for the basement, as well as two sets of “garage” shelves. We bought numerous plastic bins for storage.

In addition there was the purchase of a portable wardrobe. And those are just the “big” items. We also had to buy all the little things people get when there’s going to be a baby- cabinet locks, non-slip duckies for the tub, outlet plugs, and cord tie ups for blinds. And I can’t forget the fire extinguishers and emergency lighting.

I would guess that we spent over $2k on everything we needed for the home inspection.

None of this even addresses the fact that we got a new car. (Needed a vehicle that could safely transport a car seat and 3 dogs.)

And, we still need to purchase a second fireplace gate- despite the fact that we asked over and over again if the glass doors would be enough.

 

We will owe the agency some money for the completion of the home study. If we adopt from foster care, we won’t owe them any more money. If we end up with an infant relinquishment, we’ll owe approximately another $15k.

Adopting is expensive. And insurance doesn’t pay for any of it.

 

Now, there are still a few more things we can do on our own. We’re working on a little booklet that will introduce us to prospective birth parents in the infant relinquishment program. We’ll have to get that put together and get at least 5 copies printed.

Then, our agency is starting to add potential adoptive family profiles to it’s website. We’ll need to send in a picture of us that can be thumbnailed, and write a 100 word blurb for the site. At least I have lots of practice writing 100 word blurbs.

 

And now that I’ve poured all my remaining stress out on the page, here’s a fun story for you.

We decided to put the dogs in the yard on their tie up while our social worker was at the house. That way, we wouldn’t have to worry about opening and closing doors, or having the dogs underfoot. We moved the tie out to a place that allowed them choice of shade or sun and put a water bowl out there.

Normally when we use the tie out, we’re also outside, doing yard work. This is the first time we’ve used it and then retreated into the house. About 90 minutes into the process, C looks over and sees Junebug standing at the back door, wanting to come in.

She chewed through her leash- her heavy, thick, nylon leash.

I need to go pick up a new one on the way home from work this afternoon.