I mean, how many things can be thrown in your path when all you want to do is legally adopt the precious child who has been placed with you for over two years? Come on... it feels like for every one step forward there has to be two more back!

I just talked with Olivia's cw. She is the one who is doing the subsidy paperwork for Braeden's adoption. She had switched not long ago to working part time and primarily doing subsidies. She just told me that when she got to work this morning she was told that today was her last day!!! What??!!

Now, in a way, that's good news. She is an awesome person, who, while single had six children: biological, adoptive, and one foster. She was recently married and went to part time work with the agency. We've wanted to be "friends" and hang out, etc. for some time, but weren't able to due to our working relationship. So, now we'll be able to see each other outside the "job."

BUT - she doesn't know who will now be doing Braeden's subsidy paperwork. She also told me that a cw of Braeden's, 2 cws ago, was supposed to give me a questionnaire to fill out to begin my adoptive homestudy, but never did. So, I have paperwork to fill out that could have been done months ago, and once they figure out WHO is doing the subsidy work, that will have to get started, and completed, and sent in, etc. AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Seriously, how many tests in patience does one person need?????

To answer a question - the "wagon" I was talking about was a kids pull along wagon! :) Not a car. :0) It's a Radio Flyer, LOVE it!!! It's a "regular" wagon, but then you can pull up each side of the bottom to make two "seats" with seat belts, cup holders, the works. Gotta love the seat belts. :)

Whew... What a weekend! Crazy, but fun, was the theme of the day. With such high temperatures all of a sudden, we had a lot of fun playing outside each day.

Friday night we ended up able to pick up Olivia's brother, J2, earlier than we had planned. He did well. There were a couple times he "shut down," but all in all it went really well.

Sat morning, with J2 still here, my friend T came over with Braeden's brother and sister. What a crew! We all went to lunch together and then drove the 1 1/2 hours up to drop off J2 with the transporter. Turning around in the parking lot, we drove straight back and picked up a friend of mine to attend an anniversary party. After returning home and showing my friend around the new place, the kids and I went for a walk in our new wagon! It even has seatbelts so Braeden won't be able to take off on us! :)

Sunday brought church and a day of playing outside in the little pool.

Monday we went up to Lincoln Park Zoo (free entrance fee, but do you think we found a free parking spot - oh no!). Of course Braeden's favorite part was the farm!!! I was surprised though that on such a hot day they didn't have the little jets of water going for the kids to play in. Maybe next time. After leaving the zoo we drove south a ways toward my friend T's. We were invited for BBQ! We spent a little time tooling around Toys R Us before we had to be at T's. We then got to their house and had major amounts of food while the kids played like crazy.

So much fun in such a short time!!!

We are now looking ahead excitedly to Saturday - when we pick up Grandma from the airport. My mom and dad live in Florida, where they retired after teaching. She'll be with us until June 23rd, when Grandpa will fly in to join us. We will be going to a family reunion out of town for the weekend. Then they will fly back the 27th. My mom and I will be spending lots of time peeling wallpaper border and painting!!!

I am so sick and tired of the lack of, or mis-, communication within this lovely system. I am with Julie on that! I have had too many instances to name of miscommunication, or no communication! Right now I'm frustrated that the caseworker who is supposed to visit our home once a week and has a set day and time, has completely missed the last two without calling and I have been the one to have to call the agency and get it reset. Right now I could really have used that extra hour or so I could have kept them at day care those days in order to unpack and move things into the house. In addition, we are "supposed" to be driving an hour and a half tonight to pick up J's brother for an overnight visit. His caseworker, with a different agency, said the transporters would be calling me to set up times and meeting places. Yeah, right. I have heard from no one. I know we're supposed to pick him up around 5, but have no idea where. I know that tomorrow will probably be a drop off time of around 1, but no idea where or for sure when. I called their agency yesterday and left a message, no response. I told Braeden's caseworker yesterday who didn't seem real concerned. I called and left a message for Olivia's caseworker this morning but she isn't in yet (It's still early) and don't know what she can really do anyway. Unreal! I am not driving an hour and a half to a suburb of Chicago without knowing a time and place to meet!!!!!! So frustrating! Sorry - had to vent! :0)