well 2 weeks ago after getting appointment for RE - I decided to contact my insurance to find out what was covered in my plan- I was told I did not need get pre approval that my dr's office would - they told me unlimited coverage. So I was out shopping today with Dh when get a call from RE office - they said I needed a preauth # to contact my insurance - so again I called this time they enrolled me into a "fertility managament plan" asked me a whole lotta questions to finally tell me the pre auth # but to also tell me that IVF is not covered only unlimited IUI - "WTF?" - we have MFI IUI is not going to help us... ok ranting we will still go see RE and see what he says

Homestudy

So I finally was able to scan over Ny'Lee's medical reference sheet to Just Babies and i got a Call from Beth - she wanted to set up our homestudy for either 7/19 or 7/25 I had to decline both since we are leaving for Orlando - so we are scheduled for 8/2/09 @ 4 pm - I am very excited - she hopes to have Isaac's waivers to them and back before then- Lord if this is your will....

I'm Back

So It's a month since surgery - I am down only 15 lbs but I am a bit ok with it - revision loose slower - at least I didn't gain 15 lbs. Isaac should have his lapband surgery soon - he got a call from the dr office stating his 6 months diet was sent over - he only needs 1 more nutrition appt and it will be sent of to the insurance for approval. We are planning a trip to Disney thanks to my mom - she was finally awarded a settlement from her personal injury case and therefore is treating us to Disney. Today I will pick up the last form for Pat @ just babies and hopefully we will be finally lisenced to foster/adopt. This time I feel good about it - I just let things happen on their own time - or shall I say God's Time. Last time I was just willing it so bad that just maybe it wasn't the right time. We all ask God for signs but if we are not open to listening for those signs asking is in vain. I cannot stress what I have no control over. Hopefully this time things go well

It's been a long time

so long that I have a lot of updating to do - first went thry the ringer with DYFS so much that the lied about ever sending our second application. We proceeded to go thru a private agency to approve our home study. we are in the early stages of this but looks very promising. I just had revision to my 2005 gastric bypass on 5/13 so 5 days post op and I am down 11 lbs go me!

no call back left message this morning and also got a call from ,Resource Family Advocate from FAFS and told her evrything that we had been thru - she gave me the OOL # to find out if our papers were submitted buI didn't get to call she told me that if I don't get thru for me to call her back and she would call for me personally - I left the supervisor a message this morning - he said he would call me yesterday after meeting with RFW - will send him an email tomorrow

ok so I was super busy in the office today and DH calls me at lunchtime to ask if I had called the RFW- I figured she was out for lunch so I left a message. She called me back a little after 2 to reshedule for next week Tuesday. she seemed super happy as if nothing had happened, didn't even mention the fact that she came and did not call us to tell us she was here.I decide to call the supervisor to see if he had gotten my email - he was happy to hear from me and mentioned that he was supposed to have a meeting with our RFW regarding her cases. I procede to tell him that I had sent an email and that I needed his assistance with our case. He then advises me that his email isn't like everyone elses and gives me the correct email - now I am at work and since I had deleted the email - the only one I had a copy of was my first draft - ( I know I know - it wasn't pretty) I them tell him that I had deleted my sent email but that I had my rough draft and for him to please forgive my spelling and my agitated tone - again he was so very nice letting me know that he could understand and that technically they have 125 days to sumit to licensing - that at least calmed my nerves of us not making the deadline again. He told me that he will read my email and have a meeting with our RFW and that he will give me a call tomorrow with a gameplan - I just want to get this done -

Random Quotes

If you greatly desire something, have the guts to stake everything on obtaining it. -Brendan Francis

What one has not experienced, one will never understand in print. -Isadora Duncan

Do not waste your time on Social Questions. What is the matter with the poor is Poverty; what is the matter with the rich is Uselessness. -George Bernard Shaw

Letter to supervisor

Dear Mr. Supervisor,

We are writing to you to request your advice as to how to bring this situation to a timely conclusion. We understand that the workload that you and your staff face. As per the conversation I had with resource family worker, our waivers were completed as of January 7, 2009. resource family worker advised that your signature was needed for final processing. It was our understanding that both the waivers and our home study would have been submitted and that all we would be waiting for is the final inspection from the Licensing office. We have done everything possible to show out intention, and the commitment that we are willing to give children in foster care.

Both my husband and I have experienced living in poverty as children. There may have been many a day that either of us could have been one of the many children in the care of the State. Our past does not dictate our future, but it creates in us the desire to provide our child with the opportunities that we did not experience during our childhood. We moved out of Newark in order to provide our child with a home and give back to our community. We would like to believe, and need to know if you still believe in us becoming foster parents.



Below you will find a timeline of events since our first meeting in December, 2008.

12/5-resubmit Application
resource family worker advised us that she will begin work immediately on the waivers needed so that they can be sent to the Licensing Dept. for processing. She also advised us that we will not need to retake any classes or a new home study since they are valid for six months.

· 12/15-resource family worker advised us that the waiver is not ready. We understand the holidays are approaching and will contact her in the New Year.

30-day mark
· 1/7-resource family worker advised us the waivers are complete and will be submitted for your approval on January 19 (which is a Federal holiday and offices are closed).
· 1/20- I leave a voicemail message in the morning for resource family worker – no return phone call that day.
· 1/23- I again call resource family worker who exhibits a tone of annoyance. She advises me that she is just leaving the office to handle a real crisis and states “ it would be appreciated if I would not call her for an update that she’ll call me"

60-day mark
· 2/9 –I leave a voicemail message requesting an update and advise her that I will be calling on a bi-weekly basis for updates - no return phone call from resource family worker
· 2/17- resource family worker calls to advise that she will need to come back out to visit us again for final home study. She schedules it for 3/6/09 between 4:30 – 4:45 p.m. I advise her that I do not get into town from Livingston till 4:45 or so. She assures me it’s ok because she will wait until I get there.

· 2/18 I call her back to get clarification on what is needed before we can have licensing out to inspect. We expressed our disappointment that it took an additional 90 days since everything was done (classes, fingerprints and all that was need for the waiver that she was working on since December 5, 2008) and also that on February 6, 2009 it will be the 90 day mark. I express my concern of being penalized for the time line. resource family worker advises me that she hasn’t seen us since December and needs to submit the final home study and that the timeline is fine.

90-day mark
Final home study scheduled for 3/6/09.
· 3/4/09 - resource family worker calls to advise us that she needs copies of cards, certificates and id’s as well as a completed financial statement. resource family worker faxes a list of what is needed.

· 3/6/09 On the day of the Final Home Study I leave work on time to ensure that I am home by 4:45. Isaac returns home at 4:42 pm. and finds a note from resource family worker stating that she arrived at our home at 4:30 and waited till 4:45 and no one was home. She further stated that we are to call her on Tuesday to reschedule. Neither Isaac nor I were contacted by resource family worker to advise us that she would not wait for us. When Isaac advised me of the note she left, I attempted to reach her on her cell phone as well as her office phone. She did not answer her cell phone or her office phone so I left messages on both her cell and office phones.

Mr. supervisor , I’m sure you can appreciate our frustration and request your assistance in resolving this situation . We feel we have been patient and have provided all documents and fulfilled other requests as required. Our desire is to provide a loving, nurturing home environment for the foster child that will be placed in our care. Please help us make this dream become a reality. We can be reached on either of our cell phones. I have also faxed a hard copy of this over to your attention along with the necessary copies.

just writing ...

So the countdown begin - our last home study will be on Friday - I am getting the last min things that I can think of -batteries for carbon monoxide det, getting our fire extinguisher checked, need safety lock for cabinet - I am just a bundle of nerves -

Random rantings

So I am tring to do my homework - sorry AADD kicked in and now I am just surfing on the Fostercare message board - I am seriously thinking about contacting my RSF supervisor - it's ridicoulus that we still haven't been licensed - but I guess it's in God's time and not ours - kinda glad Isaac is finally looking forward to this and also stepping up the search for an apartment for Mark- I really want to set up the spare room. I have an idea to put in a toddler and convertable crib - cant wait cant wait. Hopefully I can get my supervisor to finaaly give me a review and raise - I really need it.

Random Quotes

“Faith is not simply a patience that passively suffers until the storm is past. Rather, it is a spirit that bears things - with resignations, yes, but above all, with blazing, serene hope.” Corazon Aquino

A lil update - Finally

Ok so I was web surfing last night and got the number to the Licensing Dept in Trenton ( ya know making sure I had the number just in case ) I also found my RFW's Supervisors number - I was going to call him today because I hadn't heard anything from RFw since 1/29 when she pretty much told me "dont call me I'll call you" and her also not returning my call since 2/9 - well low and behold I get a call today - she wants to schedule our last homestudy before sending it to Licensing - WHAT - ok she sets a date and hangs up - I just sit there dumbfounded - I call her back and casually ask her to give me the steps to finally becoming licensed since we have been going at this since July. She says since she hasn't seen us since December she has to send a new one ( back story - since they had to withdrawl our application because they dragged their feet ; we had to reapply with the date of 12/6/08 ) that all we need now is to submit our final homestudy to Trenton to be approve - so that they can in return send out the inspector for licensing.... I am just spent

Random Quotes

"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." -Dale Carnegie

"It is the Law that any difficulties that can come to you at any time, no matter what they are, must be exactly what you need most at the moment, to enable you to take the next step forward by overcoming them. The only real misfortune, the only real tragedy, comes when we suffer without learning the lesson." -Emmet Fox

Nope...

My Dh aunt just called - "S" CW just called her - she says she has 3 possible homes that will take both "S" & "C" - says she wants to keep them together

a lil update

just wanted to give you all a lil update - we may be picked to do kinship care for my DH's cousins' grand daughter "C" (mom "S" is 15 years old) so "S" ran away last year ended in in GA with moms' family (mom is deceased) don't really know how she ended up being put in the system - guessing when cousin tried to get assistance for her - but now has a 6 month old "C" . On Thursday they were seperated into 2 homes - "S" went to a friends house with "C" and left her there foster mom had to call police because the friend wouldn't give baby up - "S" didn't tell anyone till Saturday when she called faternal grandmother (DH'S aunt) for money. She is supposed to be going to a "Mommy & Me" program but there is no room there so we may take care of "C" until she is moved there. I spoke with her SW's Supervisor who asked if we were willing to take them both and I told her no because "S" doesn't like rules and my house has them - she said she understood - DH's aunt said she'll keep "S" until she is moved and really wants us to keep "C" until then -Hopefully it'll only be for a month or so we are ok with it - we know "S" is young but she was grown enough to get in this situation and unfortunately she will have to grow up fast- the program is a really good one that will teach her the parenting sklls that she will need... Pray for us -
__________________

Random Quotes

Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb -Sir Winston Churchill

Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.-Lou Holtz

We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them-Kahlil Gibran

HOW Rude... Ranting here warning
I left my RFW a message on Tuesday, no call back on Wednesday - Left her a message this morning and called again right before I left work - so I clearly see how i can be a pain but give me a break after all we have been thru a little communication helps here - She picks up - sounds as if she is annoyed - apologizes for not calling me back and even before i get to ask her my single question "Has our waiver been submitted" she proceeds to tell me that she is actually heading out - lots of crisis to tend to and that it would be appreciated if I could wait until she gets a response and that she will call me tomorrow and hangs up - I know she will not get an answer right away but my question was just to ask if our paperwork was submitted - When we last saw her on Dec 5 , she said she was going to start on them on the same day - ( a family member of DH - had needed a waiver as well and it only took a week )called her 12/15 claimed still working on it - left her along during the holidays and even gave her till 1/7 - she then tells me that the waivers will be submitted on 1/19 - like come on already - you either submitted it or not - got a call from the guy about the toddler bed and crib - left him a message - but I don't want to take the furniture if in fact this is not going to go thru - I don't want someone who could really use it miss out because of me ....... ok sorry just needed to vent- on a happier note DH cousin has been asked to adopt the baby she has - tpr is set for next month .....

Tick tick tick

So here I am just waiting for some type of info from our RFW- Last I spoke to her she said she would submit on 1/19 -- I didn't have a calendar in front of me as I was driving and on the cell phone - to come to find out the 19th was MLK Bday and everything was closed so I called and left her a voicemail yesterday and still no word. I did find a toddler bed and crib on Craig's List for free and only 2 towns away so hopefully I will be the lucky recepient.... Class starts next week when I officially become a collge student - like London Tipton says "Yeah Me!"

Countdown- 11 days

I spoke with our RFW - and she said she will be submitting our waiver to licensing on the 18th - the 18th I asked - she advised that supervisor would be in to sign off on it - so like I said the countdown begins. I am just to the point where something needs to happen ((({big sighs}))) hopefully I will be signing up for classes tomorrow - I decided to major in education and specialize with special needs P-3 - guess I am just finally ready to go back to school.

Random Quotes

Men talk of killing time, while time quietly kills them. -Dion Boucicault

Did you know America ranks the lowest in education but the highest in drug use? It's nice to be number one, but we can fix that. All we need to do is start the war on education. If it's anywhere near as successful as our war on drugs, in no time we'll all be hooked on phonics. -Leighann Lord

Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live. -Dorothy Thompson

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do. -Eleanor Roosevelt

I love my past. I love my present. I'm not ashamed of what I've had, and I'm not sad because I have it no longer. - Colette

Been a while

So glad that he holidays are over - just turned 31 and finally have decided on what my major will be when I sign up for classes - I want to go into education P-3 and work with special needs children. I thanked my sister ( half sister on my dad's side- she's a teacher) I will give our RFW a call tomorrow to see where we are in the process of her submitting our waiver. Nothing else major is happening - just want to get things going ...

Random Quotes

A mind troubled by doubt cannot focus on the course to victory. Arthur Golden

The great art of giving consists in this: the gift should cost very little and yet be greatly coveted, so that it may be the more highly appreciated. Baltasar Gracian