Monday, January 31, 2011

A moment's pause...

As it says over yonder, I'm a software engineer. That means I'm a technology guy. I've got computers out the yin-yang, and the whole house is wired for digital, baby. I have visions of raising a passel of tech-savvy kids who run circles around teachers who even dare try to teach them "programming".

But when I slow down to admit it to myself, there's an equal chance I might wind up with kids like this one.

We’d just returned from the pool and I expected to see Dylan futzing around with one of his plastic horses, content with the knowledge that his parents had provided him with a quality amount of entertainment this afternoon. Instead, I observed him standing on tiptoe in the office, carefully balancing my laptop on its side before allowing it to crash back down onto the desk.
Thunk.

Note to self: buy lock for office door.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Wow

Received the formal application packet today from Tonya.  There is much craziness to be had here.  

House description: number of rooms, square footage, number of bedrooms.

Medical history... kinda awkward, but OK.  I guess they want to make sure I haven't had the Bubonic Plague or something.  Note to self: schedule a physical with the doctor, remember to take the appropriate forms.

Criminal background check... to be expected.  I don't expect any problems here, since I've already had a check done by the same agency that will perform this one, and I don't recall robbing any convenience stores in the interim.

The part that really gets to me is the "shopping list".

"Will you accept a child who..."

followed by a 2 page list of physical, emotional, and psychological problems.  Everything from diabetes to fire-starting to the horrific combo of "sexually abused" and "sexually abuses others".

Please check "yes", "no", or "negotiable".

This was a real "gut-check" moment.  We had to evaluate and discuss what we thought we could handle and what we thought we couldn't.  Much as I have visions of being one of those saintly people who just say "yes" to anything that comes along, I had to get real here.  It was both humbling and humiliating in the extreme.  

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Finally!

Finally got a call back from Tonya. Apparently she's been off for a while taking care of a sick child. That's understandable, but it seems like we could have at least gotten a call, but whatever. Anyway, the application packet is on the way, so things are finally moving forward.

Spoke with Gisele and relayed the frustration, but largely agreed that it was an understandable delay. We are committed to keeping our attention on moving forward, not dwelling on the obstacles once we're past them.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Argh...

Received a voicemail from Gisele asking how it's going. Planning to call her back tomorrow and gripe just a little about how I've been leaving message after message for Tanya, and not getting any calls returned… been going on for a week now. This is kind of ridiculous.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Contact!

Received a call from a woman named Tonya, who may be our caseworker or caseworker's supervisor. Returned call, but playing phone tag at the moment. At least someone's finally called back… I was starting to get antsy.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Phone Tag

Tried some follow-up calls to DHS before lunch.  Voicemail.  Voicemail.  Voicemail.  In the afternoon, got a call back and had a nice little chat with a lady named Gisele who's going to try and get me to the right people so we can get a caseworker assigned and get the ball rolling.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Stuff to read

Packet arrived, watched DVD. Packet contains conflicting information about whether we're supposed to call them or they're going to call us. Have been browsing AdoptUsKids.org for days. Sometimes it's heartbreaking.



The DVD is a whirlwind of emotion... some of these stories make me wonder if I have what it takes to do this, but at the same time I wonder how I could not.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Starting up...

Made some calls to local DHS office.  Went to website and requested an info packet.