Home Study Visit 1

Yesterday we had our first home study visit with our social worker, Becky. Whew! We've been nesting, prepping and finishing projects around the house in preparation for the visit. I have to admit, I was working myself in a bit (read LOT) of panic, thinking about releasing all our private information to be combed through, our house to be judged and the possibility of failing something which we must pass to bring a child home. So, I emailed Becky and in a few short sentences, she calmed me down. I was able to breathe again and enjoy working on our home for Audrey. 

I painted our bedroom a few weeks ago, knowing we were setting up a nursery nook in there and planning to redecorate. This past week, I rearranged furniture, worked on a gallery wall and began setting up the nursery. I was hoping to have the dresser/changing table done, but didn't quite get it finished in time. For the past year, I've been collecting wall decor for the master and nursery. I've shopped craft shows and friends' stores for the perfect pieces and it makes my soul happy to see everything come together. I'd still love to get a new bed frame (we've had this one since we were married) and switch out the lamp shades, but I think most everything else is good to go. The crib  will go on the polka dot rug and the dresser/changing table will go where the blue tape is on the floor. I'll put a few more things on the wall above the dresser. For now, it's all stacked on the hope chest, along with Waddles the Traveling Penguin, who is ready for new adventures with Baby Shoe.

  

  

In the midst of working on the house, we gathered documents, made copies of birth certificates, marriage and drivers licenses and insurance cards. So now we're left with just a few more things to do: 

1. Physicals (his and hers)

2. First aid and CPR cards

3. Emergency disaster plan

4. Facility sketch of home and yard

5. Animal shot documentation (2nd vet visit scheduled)
6. References (his and hers)

7. Remainder of home study fee ($1750)

Our next visit is penciled in for the end of April. Becky suggested we finish all documents and get the house ready for inspection sooner rather than later. In the event we are matched with a birth mom, she can work with us to move up the second visit and have everything finalized without stress. If we are not matched before the end of April, we'll leave the visit as scheduled. The Home Study is good for 2 years, dated from the second visit, so that would give us a Home Study with a longer shelf life, in the event we adopt again. (After 2 years, I believe we can extend it for a fee, rather than starting from scratch).

So along with the documentation we're still working on, here's what we'll be working on for the house:

1. Working smoke detectors in all bedrooms 
2. Fire extinguisher, first aid kit and earthquake preparedness kit
3. Post emergency numbers in kitchen
4.  Medicines locked by child safety lock, no expired medicines
5. All poisons/chemicals/cleaning supplies locked by child safety lock
6. Safety covers on all electrical outlets
7. Get a crib (mom called dibs on this)
8. Mini blind cords tied up
9. Movable baby gate for top or bottom of stairs
10. Any tools, fertilizers, paints stored on shelf chest level or higher in garage
11. Be able to identify gas, water and electrical shutoffs
12. Ensure furnace/water heater has earthquake strap and water temp is set to medium setting

There are more items on the home inspection form, but some don't apply or are already fulfilled. We'll be double checking everything just to make sure we're good to go for the second visit. For tonight, I'll be checking prices on Amazon for the items we need to purchase and enjoying our organized, clean, happy home <3

If you would like to help us with our home study and agency fees, feel free to donate at adopttogether.org/weheartbabyshoe.