Update Updates

Ahhhh. Our home study update visit is scheduled for next week. The last thread is getting knotted off.

I called the agency the other day and they put my mind at ease -- apparently very few home study dates line up exactly and we are comparatively in really good shape for our update. We would not miss any profile opportunities at all (it was incredibly hard not to say something snarky like, "Definitely not, given we haven't had one since March..."), and even if a last minute situation came up they could make it happen, expedite things. There is no reason to be anxious about it, we are in good shape, and the social worker should call later today (they had assigned her last week).

That did make me feel better. It's just that I feel when a ball starts rolling in April, it shouldn't slowly roll up a hill until late June. I am not processing a ton of paperwork, just filling out mine and sending it in, but it just seems it could be a bit more of a streamlined process. But, that is the control freak in me speaking. I have to quell this thought that "I wouldn't do it that way."

I can breathe a little easier though, knowing that we are all set for our update visit and soon we will have an updated home study in hand.

I did ask what's involved in an update visit. Apparently, a lot of it is talking about how the wait's been, how you feel about being one year later and renewing (rarely are people like "That's GREAT! Just what I wanted!"), how did you work though profile opportunities you did have, revisit the grid, show her the nursery or any other updates to the house. The end. My family advocate said it's bittersweet, because you get to connect with your home study and post-placement social worker again, but it's because nothing happened to further you to post-placement. So it's kind of disappointing.

That seemed accurate to me.

I know I probably won't go as crazy cleaning this time -- I won't be trying to have an eat-off-the-floor-or-toilet cleanliness standard Of course I'll be off for a couple days before so I could spend my first days of summer cleaning like a madwoman if I wanted to. I feel the urge to explain that I am buying black out blinds that are push-operated, no cords, because currently the nursery sports some lovely baby-killing cheapo bamboo blinds with cords that loop and dangle like little deathtraps. Obviously that will change. At least they're not over the crib.

I also sent out my email update to my school yesterday, the one that says where we are and has pictures of the nursery in it. I am really glad I did that because people have been coming out of the woodwork to tell me they've been thinking of us or praying for us or loved our nursery...either through email replies or by catching me in the hall. It's so nice. We have an army of well-wishers behind us in this effort.

I think I'm ready to head off into summer, without becoming a parent this year, but nearly recertified to become one...and knowing that we're ready, whenever FutureBaby decides to make his or her appearance.