Another little mini-miracle....

So after completing our mini-study we got the packet for our "major" study. That's not the name of it (It's called a home study) but it's MAJOR paper work. Here is my check list:

*A picture of the adoptive family
*A picture of your home
*Financial statements to include
*Tax returns from previous two years
*A notarized letter from your bank describing your account(s)
*Notarized letter(s) from your employer(s) confirming position, salary and length of employment.
*Certified birth certificates (you can make a photo copy of these and show me the original or certified copies).
*Marriage certificate/divorce certificates (as with above, you can make copies)
Current resume including a history of employment and education.
*If you have children, please have them write a statement or draw a picture about their thoughts and feelings regarding adoption.
*A criminal background check for the state of Utah for each person over 18 in the home. Most families find it easiest to go to the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification at 3888 West 5400 South, Salt Lake City. If you hosted, I should already have this in your file.
*A child abuse and neglect registry check for each person over 18 (form will be included in an e-mail attachment). If you hosted, I should already have this in your file.
*Proof of current health insurance and coverage for adopted children.
*Adoption home study assessment questionnaire (enclosed).
*Autobiography for each adoptive parent (detailed historical information)
*Please send out three more referent letters. One of the referents should be a family member and the others should be unrelated. I will add these to the two reference letters gathered for the hosting program for a total of five references. The form is attached and differs slightly from the one used for the host program.
*Medical Clearance form completed by your physician (form included). If you have seen your doctor in the recent past they usually will fill out the form without the need for an appointment since no physical is required. Check with your physician about this.

So, I start with all the third party things like notarized letters and medical clearance forms and I start faxing and emailing and going to town. My doctor's office calls and says I have to be seen to get my paper filled out. Are you kidding? It's like check three boxes and sign your name. But I go. My appointment was this morning and I was pretty cranky about it. But as I'm talking to my doctor it dawn's on me that she is from some European country and wouldn't you know, she's from Lithuanian. No, not Ukraine BUT she speaks Russian and can communicate with Alexy and said she would see him as his pediatrician. Cool hu? Apparently Russia is the language that TV is on over there so despite speaking a different language they all understand Russian. So that was my mini-miracle.
I think in order to get all the paper work complete I'm going to need a few more. If ever you want to do some soul searching and really dig deep into who you are, just try filling out the autobiography of the home study. Here are just the mothers autobiographical information questions: (There are a ton more question than this!)
1. Childhood
a. Describe your relationship with your parents as a child.
b. Describe your experiences in school (academics, peer relations, activities, graduation dates etc.)
c. Which individual had the most influence on your life? Explain.
d. Describe the most difficult part of your childhood?
e. What was the best part of your childhood?
f. Was there any physical, emotional, or sexual abuse? If so, who was involved and how was it dealt with?
g. Was there any alcohol or substance abuse in your childhood home? If so, who was involved and how was it dealt with?
h. How was love expressed in your family?
i. How was anger expressed in your family?
J. How were you disciplined?
2. Mother’s adult life
a. Give a description of yourself including physical appearance (height, weight etc.), personality, likes/dislikes etc.
b. Describe your spouse including strengths and weaknesses.
c. What strengths do you see in your marriage? Discuss any marital problems, counseling, or separations you have encountered and how they were dealt with.
d. What kind of relationship do you have with your parents as an adult?
e. What is your current relationship with your siblings?
f. Describe any history of health problems/concerns.
g. Describe any history of mental health problems or concerns, including counseling, medication, or in-patient treatment.
h. Describe your work/volunteer history and current occupation.
I've spent hours and still have hours to go but I'm going to start a tag that I think will be fun. (Or maybe it's just that misery loves company?) I tag Michelle, Amy, Sara & Corbie to answer section 2 question A. I'll post my answer. (Don't post the weight part, that's the rudest question ever don't you think?) Anyway, I'll be watching for your answers. Good luck!
Here is mine:


I have blue eyes, sometimes with dark circle underneath. I currently longish dark brown hair with silvery roots that magically turn brown every 6-8 weeks. I would like to weigh less but reality is that I’m not willing to stop putting yummy food in my mouth so I should just thank my lucky stars that my 5 am gym workouts counter act my gaining weight! I’m a neat freak, I love to clean out closets, drawers and organize. I love to act in live theater productions and occasionally audition and even less occasionally get a part in a TV movie or commercial but film/tv is nothing like live stage and not nearly as fun and rewarding. My friends think I’m a health nut. I have one friend that call’s me a granola girl and comments that I only eat twigs and berries but that’s not true. I am very conscience’s of what we eat and believe in eating whole grains, fruits and veggies and lean meat but I indulge in pastries of every sort and make a mean chocolate chip cookie. Although this is not an all inclusive list here is a little bit of my likes and dislikes. I like good smells like clean babies, popping pop corn, bread baking and clean husbands. (Well, my clean husband that is!) I love spring and fall, holidays that don’t require huge meal & present preparation, vacations when we have money to spend, eating sushi with my hubby, shopping with my daughters, laughing until I cry, working up a good sweat, sore muscles, hearing spiritual stories that make my neck tingle, bubble baths in my claw foot tub, clean kitchens, wearing costumes, obedient children, listening to Austin tell funny jokes, watching my daughters dance or sing, hanging out with my sister, having a good heart to heart with my mom, kittens, GOOD BOOKS, clean sheets, scrap booking with my friends, lady lunches, dates with my handsome hubby, and a day with nothing to do! I don’t like dirty bathrooms, reptiles, bad smells, whiny children, (especially when their mine!) hypocrites, two faced people, politics, disappointment, delivering bad news, sick or hurt children, (especially mine), dumb movies, hot cereal of any sort, Lima beans, dents in my car, road kill, computer problems, long boring lectures/classes/church talks, sickness, the smell of bacon in my hair, people that never listen but love to hear themselves speak, that time of the month, freezing cold winters, being left out, cellulite, wrinkles, ironing, sewing scout patch’s on scout shirts, trying to pretend I’m interested in how a car works or anything too mechanical or complicated, replacing expensive boring things like tires, water heaters, furnaces etc. and being sticky. I could go on but in the interest of time, I won't.