It's all about us...

Originally written December 5, 2005

Well, today was our latest meeting with our caseworker, Michelle.

If you remember, today's meetings were individually.

So, I was first up. When we sat at the dining room table, the first question out of her mouth was "Kevin, let's talk about you. Who is Kevin McFatridge?" Ahhhh, my favorite subject.

So, she asked me how I was as a child: "an opinionated brat," I said. She asked what my parents were like. I said, "wonderful... to my brother." Seriously, I said "I was a spoiled brat. I wanted for nothing." Although I did bring up my baby book and how the only thing that was filled out was my name. My grandmother had to fill the rest of it. I told her that the hair that I had in my baby book was actually my dog's. But, my mother convinced me it was mine. I didn't know you were born with gray hair???

She asked a lot about my sperm donor (biological father) and a lot about my stepfather. She asked a lot about high school and what I was like. She asked about college. I gave her this look like, "I went to college?" Oh yeah, that was my year-long party, according to Larry. We spent a lot of time on religion. Oh, my absolute favorite subject. My response, of course, was "I think you can be spiritual without having to go to church every Sunday" -- organized religion is not for me. She also asked a lot about the golden child -- Mark. I told her that although he hated me when we were kids, he finally saw the light. Especially after Ryan and Emily were born.

She asked what I liked to do as a kid. How do I answer "I knew every episode of The Brady Bunch and The Golden Girls and Three's Company and Facts of Life and The Love Boat and many many more? Well, it wasn't easy. I had to dance around that one very delicately. But it ended up working out. "I like to work in the yard" [because my parents forced me to.] "I'm very good at scraping car windows" [because that's how I got my ride to school from the golden child -- my brother.] Skills, everybody needs them.

Enough about me, on to Jenn...

She answered every question.

That's about it.

No, seriously, she asked her a lot of the same questions, but spent a great deal on her family -- ie: her parents. She asked her how the separation of her parents has impacted her as an adult and what she has learned from it.

Talked about how Jennifer is a natural nurturer. That's who she is and always has been. Talked a lot about friendships and "how you don't have to have a lot of friends to be somebody. It's the ones that mean the most" to her "are the ones she works hard at maintaining." The friends that she can count on one hand are the ones she would do anything for -- and you know who you are.

She asked Jenn what are our plans for child care. And, at this point, it would be daycare. Although, who knows what will happen once that precious child is in our care???

Jenn had to describe herself as a child and her answer was "I followed the rules." Good God is that not the freaking truth. It's still amazing to me that we found each other: the rule breaker and the rule follower.

Lastly, we each had to give adjectives that described ourselves. Jenn's: loyal, disciplined, truthful, honest, and generous. Kevin's: creative, fun, responsible, trustworthy, and non-judgmental.

Our next visit is next Thursday, December 15, 2005. This is the last visit for our home study. We will be giving her a tour of our home so she can make sure it's "a safe place for a child to live."

It's still amazing the amount of paperwork that we had to do. For example, we've been fingerprinted for the second time -- because the stupid FBI, DCFS and Immigration can't communicate with each other -- where are our taxes going anyway? We got our employer letters that says we are in good standing with the company. And our criminal background check was done -- thank God, we passed.

Finally, on Monday we have our physicals to do. The doctor has to fill out three different forms for the three different agencies: Lifelink, DCFS and China. CRAZY!

For those of you that are references, you should have received forms. Please get those filled out ASAP and back. Oh, and be nice. Lie if you have to.

That's it. Sorry for the long email, but we really want you a part of our process. It's an amazing journey, and as our friend, Ann puts it "2006 is going to be an amazing year."

Peace