At 9 a.m. on Monday I picked up the phone and called the adoption agency. I tell you...it is about as nerve-wracking as sticking a needle the size of your fist into your buttock (Some IVF humor for my IVF friends...sorry!). I didn't know how to start the conversation, but the phone rang and it was then or never!

Megan, a social worker at the agency, was wonderful. As I've explained to a few people, Megan made me comfortable in that I didn't have to wait for her to answer. She never once had to "search" for an answer. Never once had to think about what I was asking her.

I asked her:

1. How many couples were currently waiting. Typically have 30 to 40 active couples waiting at a time.

2. How many placements do they do a year? Average is 75.

3. How long is the wait? Typical wait is 12 to 18 months, but that obviously varies from case to case.

4. How frequently birthparents decide to parent after adoptive parents have been matched? Not frequently at all (can't remember the last time this happened)

5. How long does birthparents have to wait to sign the TPR (termination of parental rights)? 72 hours.

6. How long until finalization? 6 months.

7. What happens if a match fails/falls through? We'd be place back on the list, at the top.

I asked her a few more questions and felt great. She then explained to me that most of their profiles are done online, as approximately 95% of birthmoms are now on the internet looking for adoptive parents. The agency hires someone to do the profiles on the website. She also told me that when one looks at the website, the couple at the top has been waiting the longest. They update the website weekly. So when a couple is matched, off they go, and everybody moves up a slot. Of course, anyone on the site can be chosen, whether on the top, in the middle, or at the bottom of the list. She then told me that birthmoms choose adoptive parents for any number of reasons...because the adoptive parents have the same name for their dog as she does, or that they like the same t.v. shows as she does. She also explained the process further and made me comfortable for what the future holds for us.

So where does this take us? Well, we have to do two days of training before we can start the process to get our home study done. The next training session is in one week. Unfortunately we can't participate as it is just too close. So, we have to wait until August.

So now the wait begins again.

But we're ready.

I haven't written lately about our journey to baby. Gosh, it honestly seems like yesterday that we were gearing up for our first visit with Dr. S, back in 2006. And now we're approaching the summer of 2010. Where does the time go?

I dawned on me just a few days ago that we are almost hitting the one year anniversary of our surrogate cycle. Every once in a while I get weepy. Every once in a while I realize what my life would be like if ANY of our cycles had ever worked, but especially our surrogate cycle last year. I will forever remain grateful to my beautiful cousin for giving it a try for us. It is hard to believe that one year ago yesterday I blogged (on the "other" blog) about chomping at the bit as C and I were both taking our birth control, waiting for the green light to start our Lupron to get the cycle going. One year ago. Wow. So much has changed since then, and then again, so much is still the same.

I'm still infertile. That's still the same.

So, with that somber reminder out of the way, I'm happy to say that we've taken a small step forward. On Monday I'll have a phone consultation with a local adoption agency. Unfortunately, like it was with surrogacy, I don't have many people in my life who have blazed the trail before me when it comes to domestic adoption. But thankfully the people I DO have around me are helping me out. I got the name of the agency from a neighbor of my mom's. That same day another friend also recommended the same exact agency. So, I bit the bullet and sent out an e-mail, asking for the information packet. Before I knew it one of the director's had returned my e-mail, and also had one of the agency's social workers contact me. So we set up a phone call for Monday morning.

So let the gamut of feelings begin. I'm so scared and excited and nervous and happy I just don't know what to do. Of course it will feel like an eternity before Monday gets here, but I'm excited to see what the agency representative has to say and hope that the agency seems like a good fit for us.

I do want to thank Wendy, a wonderful friend (and fellow blogger) I've met on one of the infertility chat boards, as she was kind enough to send me a list of questions to ask the social worker when we talk on Monday. After struggling with infertility, Wendy and her husband completed a domestic adoption and are now the proud parents of a BEAUTIFUL six month old baby girl. So thank you Wendy!!!!

I promise I'll update on Monday!

When John and I purchased our home in October, we were told that building would not happen in Scotland Ridge (our development) for quite a few years, seeing as how the current housing market here in Ohio STINKS and that the economy pretty much STINKS. Our parents (all five of them!) were hestiant about us living "out in the country" with no neighbors, but that didn't faze John and I a bit. Don't get me wrong, we're not miles from civility. Rte. 310 isn't but a stone's throw from our house. The model home is at the entry of the development. We're just two lots to the right of the model. We do have a large home immediately behind our house. But as far as Scotland Ridge is concerned...we're the only house.



Well, today they dug both holes!

Here's the view of the property from the street in front of our yard. If you look beyond the two right trees in the foreground you'll see the piles of dirt. See, not very close.

Yes, we were dorks and walked up to take pictures of the holes. This is the lot closest to us.

And here is the view standing just behind the lot sign looking down to our house. Thankfully not right on top of us! :-)

And this is a shot from the lot closest to us looking down to the second lot. See where the large equipment is in the left picture...that's the second one.

So John figures that by fall time we'll have neighbors.

I hope they're nice!