Sweating Bullets!

An anecdotal explanation as to why I sometimes feel defeated . . . . . .

Adoptions are expensive. We are normal working, middle class people. No big deal. How are we to finance this adoption? Well . . . . we have equity in our home and that is a pretty smart move considering we can lower our interest rate and have little to no increase in our house payment. So far so good right?

WRONG! It appears as though the exact moment in time that we were to begin refinancing, the subprime lending market TANKS! The big players are dropping like flies and the prime lenders can't keep up with buyouts. The feds are tossing 38 Billion to offset market panics which doesn't seem to be working. The domino affect is that individual investors are selling en masse. EVERYONE'S IN A TIZZY! NO NO NO NO NO!!!!! Not right now! Please not now!!!!! My plan B was to supplement my savings with a draw on my retirement BUT THAT IS BEING HIT TOO BECAUSE OF THE MASS EXODUS FROM THE MORTGAGE SECURITIES VIA MUTUAL FUNDS.

I feel like I'm in Vegas already! I've been watching daily as my investments are taking significant hits. Now . . . . normally, I wouldn't be bothered because I know the market will correct itself. But that could take 6 months or more. I NEED MY MONEY NOW!!!!!!!

I am going to ride it out one more day for trading. I just got word through one of my attorneys that the market is starting to rally today because the feds, in an unprecedented move, dropped the interest rate by about 1/4 percent in between sessions to help ease the burden and panic. Hopefully this will at least stop the blood letting on my mutual funds.

This is only my newest Murphy's law experience. I am making an effort into "looking on the bright side" . . . . "making Lemonade out of lemons" . . . . . "seeing the glass half full" . . . . . Hmmmm . . . . . what twist could I put on this to help with the sting of plummeting investments and financial uncertainty? OH! I know . . . . . at least I sound like I know what I'm talking about when it comes to the economy!!!!!! At least I have some money to be worried about! OK . . . . I need input from the audience here. Not sure if I'm buying this!

MyMy . . . . . Mommy's panicking a tad, but it's gonna be ok. Breathe in . . . . . breathe out.

"Excuse me . . . Can I get a criminal background check and small order of fries?"

Well, after securing my money order to pay for our criminal history documentation, I shot my letter off to the SBI. The finger print cards were groovy. Daddy has MUCH bigger prints than Mommy. . . . . which is the ONLY thing I have that is smaller than his.

I have been told that this doesn't take very long so perhaps by next week I'll have access to our wicked past!!! OOOOOOOOOOO!

I'm in good shape . . . . . as long as they don't pay attention to those speeding tickets . . . . Which are a thing of the past officer! I swear! Wait . . . . . did I pay that last parking ticket? Would that show up? I'm getting nutz aren't I? Yes . . . . I do think I am. But not big nutz . . . just little nutz . . . neurotic like . . . or maybe not neurotic. . . . . no, that isn't the right word . . . . I'm going to collapse before we finally get approved I do reckon.

Where is my fainting smiley when I need it?

And do ya know what feels good?

Feeling good . . . . . for the first time in many years. Feeling hopeful . . . . for the first time in many years.

Bartender . . . . . A round of Happiness . . . . . for the house please!

Automated Doors . . . .

I was watching Adoption Stories last night. Yes . . . . I do watch those. Shut up! Yes, Daddy makes fun of me when I cry about those. Don't let him fool ya . . . . I've caught him crying too. We always get busted up at the same part in all the stories . . . . the part where mommy and daddy first receive their child. OK . . . enough of that!

So anyway . . . . . this couple adopted their child from India on the show yesterday and the mommy echoed my sentiments perfectly:

"When I was dealing with infertility, I had so many doors close on me on a regular and ongoing basis. With our adoption, it just felt like all the doors were always opening."

Yes Geeta . . . . . that is exactly what it feels like. Even the doors that appear to be closing a tad always have a window next to them. I'm really liking this so far. . . . . and many of my doors appear to be automated. *sigh*

"I've never seen these people before in my LIFE!"

August 4, 2007

I have asked a few people to provide reference letters for us that would cover the different life areas that are required. I am also asking more than 4 people as recommended by the agency since it is like pulling teeth to get these from what they said.

So far, I have asked 2 family members, a former boss, a current co-worker, and my very best friend in the whole world. I hope they will have theirs completed by August 15 but I’ll be asking others between now and then to be on the safe side. Everyone seems more than eager to be a part of this for us and that makes me feel great. I am honoured that they are willing to help us in this way as this is a vital part of us being approved to adopt our child. The wonderful thing about this group that I have initially chosen is that of the family members, one of them will be a huge part of our child’s life, the other, I hope to become a bigger part of our lives as a result. The older we get, the more critical family has become to us. My professional reference is also a dear friend who has adopted a child. My friend reference is adopted herself. And my poor co-worker has listened to daily updates on our conception process and now our adoption process. These folk are more than qualified to assess our parenting skills and I hope that comes across to the social worker.

Next task!

Daddy was fingerprinted too!

August 3, 2007

True to form, Daddy is one day behind Mommy in getting his prints done. It’s ok . . . . now Mommy has to complete the information on the print card and draft a letter to the SBI outlining the type of investigation we need. I’ll do that in a few days as I have to get started on reference letters.

More Fingerprints???

August 2, 2007

After receiving my letter from the State Bureau of Investigation with instructions, I head off to the sheriff’s department to get fingerprints for the SBI. This is a requirement in order for the SBI to process a criminal background check for our state. They are digital like the FBI prints, but for some reason (I’m sure being the US Gov’t they have a GREAT reason!), they cannot use the same prints; ergo we still must travel to another city for the FBI prints. The lady processing me is delightful and wishes me the best of luck. I make a mental note to bring MyMy by once she is home and introduce the two so this lady knows how much her job is appreciated and just how far her dedicated reaches. OK OK OK . . . . . I get how mushy this all sounds. I am taking that liberty because of all the doo doo I went through to get here. Leave me alone!

Cost of prints: $15.00 for each set (why does the FBI charge $70.00 per set!? Must be kinda like those hammers they purchased a few years ago that made the news that cost $80 each)

Walking in and asking to be investigated by the sheriff’s department: PRICELESS!