Adoption Timeline

So I have been reading all sorts of blogs this week about couples who have adopted domestically! I've decided since we are done with everything (Sending the profile fee check tomorrow!!), that I would take this time to outline our adoption timeline. This way we will always be able to look back at the dates and see how the process progressed. Our social worker emailed today and said she received the profile books and they look great!! I was so glad :) She said she was SO excited for us and that we really worked quickly compared to other couples. That was nice to hear since I felt like we would never get to this point. I'm only hoping that the whole process will move quickly as well!! As crazy as it sounds, we could get a phone call over Christmas that we are chosen!! How crazy would that be? I'm not getting my hopes up that it will work out that soon, but I know God has it under control and I can't wait to be amazed!!

I did decide to do an adoption announcement on the back of our Christmas card this year. I saw this on someone's blog and decided to steal it :) The front is just a normal Christmas card but the back has a picture of Allen and me and underneath it says, "We're Adopting." It asks for prayer as we pursue adoption and feel God is going to bless us with a miracle through the beautiful gift of adoption. I guess it's kind of like a birth announcement since we are technically "paper pregnant." :) Anyway I am going to document our timeline below and hopefully one day will be able to look back and remember how it felt when we were dreaming of our little miracle :)

June 22, 2008 : Allen agrees to start TTC
December 2008: 1st doctor visit
February 2009- HSG (made sure tubes were open)
April 2009- Changed doctor
June 2009- Started rounds of Clomid and IUI's (took several breaks during this time)
February 2010: First laparoscopy to check for Endometriosis (had mild case)
June 2010- 1st appt with an actual fertility specialist. They decide to try HMG shots
July 2010- Another round of HMG shots
August 2010-Jan 2011: Took a break from everything (This was the point where once a week I got a phone call announcing someone was pregnant.)
Jan 2011: Decided to try one last round of shots (Started getting curious about adoption.)
(took a break for a bit)
April 2011: 2nd laparoscopy (still had some Endometriosis. Removed and very hopeful!!)
June 2011: Poured out my heart to Allen about our childless family :( Prayed about and decided to pursue domestic infant adoption. Contacted a family friend who works for Lifeline Children's Services in Birmingham, AL.
June 24, 2011: Turned in application to Lifeline
July 2011: Approved and began home study paperwork
August 2011: Fingerprinted and went to open adoption seminar
September 2011: 1st home study visit (We traveled to Nashville)
October 2011: 2nd home study visit (She came to our house.)
November 2011: Started getting overwhelmed and felt we would never finish. Paid for home study and finished up all the necessary paperwork for both agencies...bi racial questionnaire, desire of child form, etc...
Started working on our profile. Found a really good deal on photo books on Shutterfly so worked diligently to finish before the deal ended!!
November 29: Amy looked over our profile, we made a few changes and ordered the next day!
November 30: Profile books ordered
December 7: Profile books arrive at Lifeline
December 8: Sent last profile fee check (When this arrives we will officially become a "waiting" family)
I have faith that the Lord is going to bring along a wonderful baby in 2012. I pray for patience and understanding if it doesn't happen quickly. Our family and friends are so encouraging and supportive, telling us we will be chosen right away, but even I know it's not that easy. There are bound to be other couples just as cute, sweet, and appealing as us, right? :) Regardless I know our story is going to be so exciting and amazing. I think I am going to paint the "nursery" in the next few weeks mainly so that it will have another color besides boring white. Once we bring a baby home it will be hard to paint so it will be best to do it now in case it does happen quickly. As far as everything else, we will be waiting. I am not one to go get an entire nursery ready when we have no idea what we are getting into!! I am so glad we are finished with everything before Christmas so that we can just relax and not stress. I will post when Amy contacts us and says our profiles are being shown!! Please pray that our little miracle will arrive soon!!!!!!!!!!!