Waiting...

After four months of filling out forms, taking classes, getting home inspections, getting approval from our doctors, being fingerprinted by the FBI, and filling out even more forms, we are finally licensed to foster a child under the age of 4. It was a long and sometimes tedious road, but now the truly hard part of this journey begins. Waiting.

The Decision
We made the decision to adopt last December (2013). We had been talking about it for years, and started seriously looking into it last summer, but the decision to stop trying for a biological child and start focusing on an adoptive child began about five months ago.

It's amazing how much has changed in such a short period of time. Our house has been reconfigured for the new arrival. We have a new room full of bright colors, fun toys, and a few critters. We are working towards solutions for balancing work and child care. Every night we pray for our two children, knowing that we have yet to meet the second. And, most decisions I make are based on a family of four instead of a family of three.

Preparing
Part of our preparation process was to identify what type of child we were able to care for. This includes physical and mental abilities as well as age, race, gender, and any drugs the child was exposed to while in utero. Due to our family's inability to care for a child with severe mental or physical problems, we are requesting a "basic needs" child.

Our biggest concern is drug exposure. Our case worker and home developer have told us that the vast majority of children who come through the foster-care system have been exposed to some kind of drug - legal or illegal - and that different drugs have different effects. For example, babies who were exposed to alcohol seem to have cognitive and behavioral issues, whereas those who were exposed to cocaine and meth are more likely to have behavioral issues without cognitive problems. (This is based on preliminary reading. I'm researching this topic and will post on it later.)


Waiting 
Every night, Shawn and I pray for this child. We pray that he's warm, that she doesn't feel alone or scared, and that he's safe. At this point, all we can do is pray. And wait.

The plans have been made. Everything is set up. Now we are ready. Well, ready logistically. I don't think our hearts have any idea what they are in store for.