::Blink, Blink::

Some days, it's all I can do.  Wide-eyed, open-mouthed blinking.  And, it isn't always in a good way!  My recovery time is pretty quick, thank goodness, but sometimes I just marvel at how very little control a person truly has no matter what she does.

Case in point:  our home study.  Ah, yes.  The ever important conglomeration of paperwork that opens the door to things like official referrals and adoption grant applications and completion of USCIS requirements.  It's a biggie.  And I have been OBSESSED by it since January.

Our final appointment with our social worker was in February.  There were a couple loose ends to tie up--namely, that pesky background check of mine that took FOREVER to be sent from the state.  I did the fingerprints February 5 and the check was completed the 10th (according to the date on it), but it was not mailed to me until the end of March...even after I called a bunch...and e-mailed...and sent out a search party.  Okay, maybe not a search party, but still I kind of hounded people.

In the meantime, I also hounded my home study agency.  I checked, double checked, and then checked some more.  I always asked the same questions, "Do you have everything you need from us?  Is the only thing remaining to complete this study my background check?"  And, always, the answer was "Yes."

So, phew! Right?

Wrong.

Apparently, there is another clearance--from the child abuse registry system--that needed to be done.  In the original e-mail attachment from my home study agency, the request form for this clearance was not attached.  No biggie.  It was to be mailed or faxed.  It wasn't and frankly, with all the other forms, appointments, paperwork, etc., it did not occur to me that I was missing something.  As I looked over the checklist with obsessive eagle eyes, it did not register that I was missing that report.  And, about two months ago, I did not refer to that checklist anymore because I had a running list of things I was doing and, when they were done, I thought we were done.

To say this is frustrating is an understatement.

I take full responsibility for my part of not pasting that checklist to my forehead and asking about every item individually.  However, if I inquire on countless occasions if I'm completely and totally 100% done and I'm assured I am, you can see where a girl might think she's, oh, how do I put this?  DONE?!

I need that request form to be on my fax machine when I arrive home today.  I, actually, would have expected to see it yesterday, but then again, I also thought I was finished with all this.  Shows what I know!

ARGH!  I've done some asking around and, apparently, this check can take a couple weeks.  Of course, the background clearance I waited over two and a half months on is also supposed to only take a couple weeks.  I'm trying not to think about that one, though!

Paperwork is wrought with snafus.  I know that.  It's just difficult when you want so much to be finished and you think you are, but you are not. 

Comments

[nell ann]

If you're having problems with paperwork taking forever, you should certainly contact your local state representative or senator! You just email them and send in a privacy act form (can be faxed) and they get things moving! We would still be waiting if we had not done that. I'm sure if you explained to them that you need all this paperwork to be back before your husband deploys (to make sure it's all done and correct before he's out of pocket) then you'll see things happen. It worked for us!!

[Guard Wife]

Thank you Nell Ann! I will definitely keep this information in my file in case I need it soon!

I was very impressed that I had e-mailed the person responsible for these child abuse checks yesterday afternoon at 3:30 and she had already replied this morning providing me with the information I needed. BIG thank you card going to her and her boss very soon. :) She seems on it & I'm hoping that means when our paperwork request goes to her, it will be back quickly.

I think your idea is awesome & I'm so glad it worked for you! I've really enjoyed reading about your adoption plans!!