Where does the time go???

Has it seriously been over 2 weeks since I last blogged? Yikes! Where does the time go? Let's see....it goes to a very active 2 1/2 year old, as well as a husband, a house, a job, mounds of laundry, caseworker visits, doctor visits, play dates, completing more forms, having a garage sale, being sick....just to name a few :)

Last Tuesday, Maggie's CPS caseworker and our agency caseworker both stopped by for their monthly visit. It was great to have them both here at the same time, because they were able to meet each other and talk with each other face to face on what they needed from each other, etc. Basically, the 90 day waiting period is up on July 20th. On July 21st, CPS will submit our subsidy paperwork to the state, even though we know we will be denied. Maggie does not qualify for any benefits, since she is white, under the age of 6 and doesn't have any major issues. Don't even get me started on how I feel that this is completely ridiculous and reverse discrimination. I firmly believe that all children in foster care should be given the same benefits, despite their age/race/situation. Some many need more assistance than others, but I think they should all receive some basic assistance. But I digress...and I will pick up that soap box in another post! They want us to apply for the subsidy benefits, even though we know we'll denied, in case something should ever change in the future. If you've been denied, you can always appeal. But if you never submit the paperwork and the adoption is finalized, you can't ever apply again. So, we have the paperwork filled out and ready to be submitted.

Once the paperwork has been submitted and a decision has been rendered, then CPS will provide us with a copy of Maggie's complete CPS file. They used to give people a copy to keep, but now they're not allowed to do that (huh?!?!) They will bring the file to our home and allow us to read it. We will then sign off that we've read it, and CPS will have us sign the adoption placement papers. Once the adoption placement papers are signed, they are given to our attorney to file for our court date. It has been our understanding that the waiting time for court dates is rather long, but E (CPS caseworker) said that it usually doesn't take more than a few weeks. Her best case scenario is that we should be completely done by the end of August! She said that was great timing, being that it would've been just over a year since bringing Maggie home. We couldn't be happier! Can't believe it'll be a year next month on bringing Maggie home....wow...what a difference a year makes!

Ba-ba update....we are officially a household free of ba-bas....she doesn't even ask for them anymore. Yay! HOWEVER, going to bed, whether for a nap or a night time, has been horrific the past week or so. I seriously hope that the neighbors can't hear her screaming, as it sounds like she's being tortured! We can't figure out what's going on. We've tried all sorts of things. She just seems so terrified to be left alone in her room. The past 2 nights I have sat on the floor in her room for almost 2 hours, waiting for her to fall asleep. Just when I think, oh yeah, she's out...nope. Last night, I decided to let her fall asleep in our bed and then move her (like we did when we first brought her home) but that didn't work. She didn't fall asleep until 11:00pm! Michael & I just don't know what to do. She finally falls asleep out of pure exhaustion but she's waking up every morning between 6 and 7am.

One (of many) things we've learned through our journey, is that every situation is different. Every child is different. What works for one, won't work for another. You just have to keep trying different things, new techniques, until you find something that works. And when it stops working, try something else. It's hard....it's exhausting....but she's ours, and she's worth it.