it's official

mcweix · #1 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 05:55 PM

Well, after about 6 weeks of trying out adoption options and looking at everything 100 times, DH and I are on a waiting list for both and agency infant and a domestic program through Catholic Charities. Sadly the waiting list to start the home study is 1.5-2 years. I know that is worst case scenario but wow. We will be receiving our application packet in the mail and were told to start working on the referral letters and getting together letters from our Dr's and RE about our health and IF status. Anything else I should be doing right now? I hate to get too started on this when it may very well be quite a while. The domestic program has a 6-12 month wait list to start the home study, so I guess either way we should get started huh?

Yeay! If all goes well, which I'm seeing from all your posts is never the case, Kirsten should become a big sister before her 6th birthday. Cool thing is, I was 5 years and 10 months old when my brother was born!

theluvof2moms · #2 (**permalink**) 10-11-2007, 07:03 AM

Chrissy that sounds great.

It is amazing how once you start the paperwork time flies and then comes to a slow crawl in the wait.

I was wondering- Will Catholic Charities let you use an outside social worker to do you homestudy? it may make it so you don't have to wait so long for the homestudy.

Good Luck and keep us posted. I can't wait to hear all about your journey.

mildlydelirious · #3 (**permalink**) 10-11-2007, 10:02 AM

Wow, that is a really long wait! It's hard to get started on too many things when you don't know if they will expire before you need them. But, things like referral letters don't expire! And sometimes those are the things that take the longest.

I swear, some times you just have to get out the cattle prod to get the paperwork in.

Congratulations on making your decision! Getting started is sometimes the hardest part for people.

~m

mcweix · #4 (**permalink**) 10-11-2007, 10:47 AM

Thanks ladies, No, they will only use their home study for their agency infant pool but yes if you do the domestic interstate. I guess I am okay with the wait as they do have a very small ratio of bmoms that change their minds and that alone makes me feel better. I keep thinking that in two years (let's hope less) we can get a jump start on saving up some cash. Does anyone know how many grants you can apply for once you start your home study? Do you have to wait until after finalization to use the tax credit or can you use it all the way along? I'd ask our SW but she is traveling this week and is hard to get in touch with while overseas.

theluvof2moms · #5 (**permalink**) 10-11-2007, 01:09 PM

I'm not sure about the grant money but the tax credit can only be claimed once the adoption goes through. I know---Bummer---

Good Luck and Keep us Posted!! You're gonna be bringing a baby home!!!

amberl10 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-12-2007, 08:05 AM

1 1/2- 2 years just for a homestudy? That is just crazy. Our homestudy process was only about 4 weeks. Wow they say the average wait is 1-2 years so waiting for the homestudy pretty much doubles your wait time. I would seriously look into someone else, but that's just me.

mcweix · #7 (**permalink**) 10-12-2007, 02:47 PM

Sorry, I think I didn't explain well....you wait to do the homestudy which takes 3-5 weeks to complete. Then as soon as the homestudy is aproved you go into the pool of 8 familes waiting to be chosen from. Wait time in the pool is usually less than 6 months. They wait to do the homestudy till you are farther up the list as so many drop off the list while waiting. And 1.5-2 years is about average around here as we checked into every state approved agency in Wisconsin. If we choose to go with only the domestic interstate program then the wait will be 12-18 months before the homestudy. We did receive word today that we are #14 on the list and they are placing about 8 infants a year in their agency pool so on that timeline we should be starting our homestudy in about 16 months if everyone stays on the waiting list. Does that still sound weird to anyone, I thought it sounded great!!

mildlydelirious · #8 (**permalink**) 10-12-2007, 04:31 PM

Doesn't sound weird to me!

Woohoo!

~m