Home Study

Yesterday we had our Home Study visit. I was able to hand her Seth and Alex's Physician Physical forms. They had doctor appointments on Monday. That appointment included a PPD (or a tuberculosis test). They shoot a small amount of the TB virus under the skin of their forearm and then we go back 48 hours later and if there is a rash, they have been exposed to TB, and then they probably wouldn't be able to travel to Ethiopia. We were safe, no rash.

Alex is deathly afraid of needles. The poor boy was shaking and turning white for the ppd. Then they had to draw blood. Thank goodness he got to go first. He then watched Seth's draw. I should tell you Alex's reason for his needle-phobia. He had to have a rather large wart removed from his big toe. It was a very stubborn wart and it got down to having to laser it off. It had to be frozen which consisted of sticking a needle under the wart. Alex was sweating it hurt so bad. He had beads of sweat on his little nose. I think he is damaged for life!

Back to the home study. The visit included a walk through our house with Diane and Monica. They said we have plenty of room for two more boys. They loved the remodeled bedroom for the boys. They loved our view out all our windows. They loved the colors in my bedroom (I do to!). They loved my kitchen. Whew, I guess we passed. Diane was supposed to check all the smoke detectors but never did. The family got interviewed next. They had to make sure we knew what we were getting into. Especially the boys seeing that they will have to share all they have with strangers. Seth and Alex are really excited to have two more brothers.

We are using Lutheran Family and Counseling Services out of Wauwatosa. Diane, the Social Worker, has all of our paperwork now. She had done most of her report from the paperwork we sent her. She will only need to add the home visit part. Our Agency, Celebrate Children International, out of Florida, will then get that report. CCI will prepare a Home Study Approval Letter , notarize it, and mail it to us for inclusion in our dossier.

We are getting closer!