Home Study: Continued & Complete

Although we've been a bit quiet lately on the blog, I wanted to throw an update up about how adoption details have been progressing for us over the past month or two.

In short, we've been keeping ourselves busy getting our home study completed (a major 'woo hoo' moment) and all the related paperwork turned in for that.  For those of you not familiar with what a home study is, it's basically a series of approx. five different sessions with our case worker who seeks to get to know us, our history (both individual and as a family), parenting styles, and how we deal with different situations and decisions on a regular basis.  We're also asked to submit a lot of paperwork, health records, and even get fingerprinted and background checked at the state/federal level (and they all came back clear....I think? haha)  She even comes to visit our home, so she can see our living space and how "life at the Groezinger's" is like.  Surprisingly, that day we were pretty normal!  = )

Our case worker then pulls together all her notes and thoughts from our sessions and writes up a summary report about us that is submitted to the State of Illinois for their approval of us becoming adoptive parents.  This report is also viewed by others in the adoption process (including the S. Korean agency we are adopting from, S. Korean government, etc)  And, oh yea, we're not even able to see this report until after it's approved by the state.  A little weird to think about, eh?

The good news is, though, we have finished all of our sessions, turned in all our necessary paperwork, and are now waiting for our case worker to submit the report to the state.  Rumor is that it could take 4-6 weeks to get it back, at which point we'll be notified and can continue moving forward on our next preparation plans.  In many ways, acceptance of our home study by the State is a huge step and goes a long way in moving us closer to getting our referral, so we are really excited about getting past this point.

Meanwhile (back at the ranch), we've been working through some online adoption training courses we are required to take by our agency (and pass.....yes, there is a short quiz at the end of each course).  The trainings have been pretty insightful and helpful.  They have focused on some of the unique situations involving international adoption, cultural issues we need to be aware of, common medical issues, and insight into how we can build attachment with our new child.  Some of them are a bit overwhelming, but they've given us some good insight and help into preparing us for our newest addition to the family.

So, in short - more paperwork being filled out, meetings, discussions, learning, and the waiting is now beginning......but the day is getting closer....and our anticipation is building for when we'll meet our little guy/girl for the first time and bring them home.....

More updates to come!