Getting Started

In the days leading up to the orientation, we didn't talk about it much. Neither one of had much to say. I don't think we wanted to get our hopes up. We met with Simone on April 30th.

We talked about the risks of CPS adoption, the process, and asked questions about a "legal risk" adoption. Through Child Protective Services, this is the only want to get an infant. The risk comes in because the state gives the natural parents a year to get it together. If they don't get it together, the child is up for adoption at one year of age. With luck, he or she has been with their foster family, bonded and will be able to be adopted. The risk comes in if the parents actually get it together within a year. Scott and I could not handle losing a child in this way. We talked to Simone about that, and she totally understood. She said there are unique situations that come up within the system that do allow children to be legally adopted before a year, and she would not even offer a placement for us unless she was sure the child would come up as adoptable. She stated she would never offer a placement for us in our situation unless she was positive it would lead to adoption. She was so passionate as we talked about this, I knew she would look out for our interests.

So, we officially agreed to a child 0 months to 3 years, but we are really kind of hoping for 1-3 years. I figure, if we get to pick, why not skip all the waking up every 3-4 hours to feed stage? Plus, two of our good friends have one year olds and our neice's kids are ages 2, one that is less than a year, with one on the way. Our child may not have sibling in the traditional sense, but they will grow up with kids their age whom we love as if they were our own. Nothing about this has been traditional, so why start now, right?

So, we are starting our 30 hours of classes required by the state. Some of our staff developments we have taken for school may count, and Simone is looking into that. Our next class is May 21st. After classes, we will start the home study.

That is where we are now. Enough adoption talk. I have to get ready to go eat crawfish. :)