Recertification Day ~ Oh Joy..

In my little blog's infancy, I did a post on our first final home check day. We had gone through months of home study and on that fine Saturday morning our certification weighed in the balance. I was on the verge of a full-scale freak out. That same morning (before the Big Event) I did a quickie follow-up post about my head almost exploding. It seems like only yesterday.

Good times..

We're back at it, 2 years wiser but I'm still totally on edge. The social worker that did our first home study will be here today (I won't even mention our gal from last year.. ugh). They know EV-ER-Y-THING about us from our first memories to current and that alone is unnerving, my friends. Then they pick through the house and do follow up, intensive interviews to make sure we're still "healthy" and a quality home.

I am fairly confident I'm good on my 20 hours of on-going training (DH is still working on his--he has a few weeks), our CPR classes are scheduled and we never made any drastic changes after JuneBug left (outlet plugs are still in place, blind cords are wrapped, etc), dogs vaccinations are up to date, car registrations/insurance current.. just need to make copies..

Need to remember to breathe..

YES, it's all done for the safety of the children and YES, it's an absolute must. I do not disagree with any part of the process but it still adds a few more grey hairs just the same. I thank the Good Lord for a rockin' stylist.. blond highlights do the trick..

Inhale.. Exhale..

Home Study, Take 2

So, I left a message for J's supervisor on Monday but didn't hear back. I left a message again today.. this time, she called back fairly quickly. I told her about Auntie moving in and what a God Send she will be. At first I think she thought I was just saying that Auntie would be helping us out and just watching the kiddo(s). That equates to a fairly painless 10 minutes at a sheriff station getting fingerprints done and having a back round check done by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

THEN, it dawned on her I said Auntie was moving in.

That boils down to a whole new home study done for her, the training courses and CPR. She took Auntie's name, address and phone number and said she was assigning "D" (our former home study worker) to her case. "D" was totally nice so that's good. HOPEFULLY this can be put on the FAST TRACK and done quickly and painlessly. AH HA! There is no such thing in this system.

I did get a name of our new worker ("E") that is taking "J's" place. They are going to call soon and set up a time for all of us waiting families to get together with her and get to know each other over dinner. Hopefully no alcohol will be served.. it could get ugly (I'm kidding.. er, kind of).

We're still listed on "The Board" (not the Black List, so they say~after my glass of wine at the big shin ding I actually asked) and are considered for each case as it comes in.

REPEATING OVER AND OVER.. all.in.His.time. (why is it never in sync with OUR time!?). LOL



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I'm A Murphy's Law Kinda Girl

Our Home Study Worker ("D") is "presenting us" to the Board for their vote on our certification this Wednesday (1 day, 17 hours, 44 minutes and a few seconds.. not that I'm counting..). Our lives are splayed open for them to pour over and scrutinize and they will quiz her on all kinds of things about us. We've read her final report to check for any errors and let me tell you what, that little girl must have taken shorthand because it looked like she was barely "jotting" stuff down as we spoke during our interviews. Boy, did I get that wrong! She got every last bit of what we said.. it's a tad unnerving to say the least. The good, the bad and the oh so ugly right there for a panel of strangers to pick apart. Lovely.I'm one of those plan-ahead types... I put out "fires" at work before they happen (or try to, anyway) and attempt to catch muff ups before the mistake ruins a decent work day (don't get me wrong, I overlook my fair share of things and boy does that peeve me off). Here is the potentially huge bonfire I see happening this Wednesday:Our HSW has been on vacation since around the 4th of July. She arrives home late tomorrow and will be running into her office in just enough time to grab the last bits of paperwork we need for certification (that I've faxed in since our final home check) before flying over to where ever the Board (the Great Oz) convenes. She is "confident" all the paperwork will be in her basket when she gets there.. Oh my gosh.. HELLO? Can anyone else see the potential for the major ball drop here or is it just me? I plan on having every last bit of the original paperwork on hand in my office in case something didn't make it to that basket..Now I get to wrack my pea brain for the next 1.5 days trying to think of other things that could potentially go awry. The smack-across-the-forehead/why-didn't-I-think-of-that stuff. Argh.Murphy has spoken (and I am listening!!).