On Thursday evening our local social worker stopped by to pick up the massive amounts of forms we needed to turn over so she could start writing the home study.  We also turned in our 10 hours of adoption learning, which we actually did 11.5, but decided to switch one of our classes at last minute.  It was a good one, so I'm glad we did.  I'm SO excited for the day that the SD CPS clearances come in the mail, it feels like these will be the last to arrive before sending in the home study for approval.
On Friday I f.i.n.a.l.l.y finished our photo book, it took FOREVER!!!  I'd say probably a month at best because I kept changing things and wondering if it was the right picture to put in or if I should switch pictures around.  Man...this was a task, but it is SO much fun to see the final product.  I have to say that I love it and hope that an expectant parent will see a small glimpse in our lives and want us to be parents to their baby. 
We also met with our chaplain on Friday evening, it was a great meeting and he'd be honored to be our reference for the adoption. 
Yesterday was fun, we went to our friends new home, had lunch and chatted for 5 hours.  Came back to base to go trick or treating with their 15 month old son, he was a monkey and a very cute monkey!  It was nice outside so that was nice for a change.   Over here in Germany they do things a bit different, celebrating earlier and it was massive people everywhere!  Nonetheless, it was fun, and now I know what to expect for next year and hopefully we'll have our baby along for the enjoyment. 

Well I need to go make hubby some breakfast!  Have a great day!

Finally

Today was so exciting, I received an email from both social workers first thing this morning.  Our agency in VA sent the form so she and the agency here can communicate, and also mentioned that our FBI clearances and ND CPS clearances were in, she is still waiting on the VA CPS clearances.  That's so exciting because we were told from our local agency that it would take 3-4 months for the FBI clearances to get back, it was only 2 weeks!  The email from the agency here said we could meet up tomorrow afternoon to hand over the paperwork we've collected so far for the home study.  It's a lot of paperwork!  Here's the list of everything we are handing over:

~copy of marriage certificate
~copy of hubby's birth certificate
~copy of hubby's passport
~hubby's life story
~Notarized financial statement
~copy of past 3 years tax returns
~letter from employer
~statement of service letter
~bank statements
~my SS statement
~copy of my medical exam
~copy of my medical insurance coverage
~copy of hubby's medical insurance coverage
~official military background clearance for me
~official military background clearance for hubby
~official local child abuse clearance for both on same letter
~PA record check clearance for me
~PA record check clearance for hubby
~2 letters of reference (so far, hoping to get one tomorrow before the appt.)

I also mailed out the following to our agency in VA:

~PA record check for both
~military background check for both
~military CPS check for both
~shaken baby syndrome form
~hubby's birth certificate
~my birth certificate
~marriage certificate
~my medical exam report
~release of information form

Today was so busy getting all this put together, plus we did 5 hours of adoption education!  We're ready!  I'm trying not to get too excited to begin to think that it's going to happen sooner than expected, but it's hard!  I guess I never expected us to get this far in the blessing to become a family with a child.  After all our loss and grief over IVF's and the fertility treatments, we are finally seeing our light shine on! 
On Friday morning we are meeting with a local chaplain since we haven't yet settled into a church.  Things just seem to be moving along for us, it's hard not to get excited.  I wonder if since things are moving now, does that mean we'll have a longer wait or a lot of bumps during the waiting and referrals?  I pray not, but it's all so unpredictable. 
Well I'm going to bed, need to get off this computer!

Nite Nite!

Miserable!

Oh my gosh!  Oh my gosh!  I'm in such pain today with killer cramps!  FYI...this might be to disgusting for some readers, but this is my blog and I'm writing!  I've already exceeded the daily limit of Aleve by 14 pills and I need more pain reliever!  I think I will try something else before going to sleep in a few.  I need something stronger, give me some percocet or something.  I've had this pain a few years ago when all i did was curl up and cry, that time it happened while i was out shopping and I was in Macy's.  Its a horrible pain, almost like I'm miscarrying but don't think I was pregnant since my cycle came on schedule.  I typically like to take pain without taking pills, but this is TOO much!  I've been taking the pills every 3-4 hours and they are just not helping...UGH...I'm in such misery!  I also used a heating pad, much to no help!
Other than my misery with cramps, today went alright.  Hubby was off work today so it was nice to have him home.  I went to the store to get a few things, bad idea since the cramps were talking the whole time and I bought SO much JUNK! 
I'm talking to my lil sister on web cam right now, its about time that she hooked up with a service so we can...i miss her baby girl!  I loved living only 3 hours from them and miss them all SO much!  I can't wait until they come visit and when I go back in May for my sisters college graduation.  I'm so proud of her and all her accomplishments throughout the past few years!
Well I'm about to talk to my niece so I'm outta here!

Nite Nite!