Home Study (aka 4 hour interview with our agency)

The final item before our paperwork is submitted to the licensing board is a 4 hour interview with our licensing specialist. After 5 hours of First Aid/CPR classes, 3 hours of state online portal forms, 15+ hours of paperwork, and over 30 hours of PS MAPPS courses, I didn't understand what else could be left to ask us. We've already talked about losses in our lives, how we were raised, how we met, detailed out our finances, and talked about how we plan to raise children, what else could be left? I had a slight gut feeling that numerous things were going to be repeated from earlier paperwork.

Unfortounately I was right. Luckily our licensing specialist is nice and down to earth so it wasn't awful and she was able to take the 4 hours down to 3 hours and 15 minutes. Here's a quick rundown of the questions we were asked:

Have you ever been convicted of a felony?
Have you ever filed for bankruptcy?
Do you think you can financially support a child?
Describe your parents.
How often do you talk to your parents?
How were you disciplined growing up?
Do you plan to parent the same as your parents did? Why or why not?
Describe each sibling's personality.
How was your relationship with each sibling growing up?
How is your relationship with each sibling now?
What is your biggest accomplishment/happiest moment in life?
How did you two meet?
How do you think you make a good wife/husband?
How do you think your wife/husband shows you love and affection?
Have you ever smoked cigarates or done drugs?
Do you drink? How often?
What is the biggest loss that's occured in your life?
Do you have a support system?
What discpline methods do you plan to use?
How many times will you try something with a child before you give up?

After all the questions, she did a quick walk through of our house. Then she had us sign paperwork stating she didn't see any concerns with us and that our paperwork is getting submitted for licensure. I'd say we passed with flying colors!

It'll probably be submitted within the next week and then it'll take 30-45 days to be fully licensed!

So now we just wait...until August. We have 3 more classes called Medically Fragile that are an agency specific requirement since we are taking in children under the age of 2. We'll keep you updated!

Foster/Adoption Shower

This past Saturday our families threw us a foster/adoption shower. Think baby shower but the woman isn't pregnant, otherwise pretty much the same idea. I was amazed to see that we had over 50 people show up (spouses & kids were invited)! 

The food was what else but NACHOS! Jon's family brought all the makings for nachos including beef AND chicken! There were chips, cheese, beans, jalapenos, tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream, salsa, and guacamole. Jon and I have a strange addiction to nachos, it all began when we were dating...there's a good story behind that one. Ask us about it sometime!

The theme was Dr. Seuss of course. My mom and sister did a superb job transforming the room into a Dr. Seuss wonderland. They had truffula trees hanging from the ceiling, Dr. Seuss activity pages for placemats, Dr. Seuss books for center pieces, green (deviled) eggs & ham, Cat in the Hat cake, Thing 1 & Thing 2 cake, Lorax punch and much much more!

Green (deviled) eggs & ham

One Fish, Two fish, Red fish, Blue fish,
Will you have a goldfish?

The Truffula trees

Table settings & Karl, Kari & Stephanie

The Lorax punch

CAKES: Thing 1, Thing 2 & 2 baby things, Cat in the Hat,
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish NEW fish! 

Lorax nutter butters

Welcome New Lyon Fish banner

After some socializing and eating we played our first game. Dr. Seuss quotes with missing words. Of course Jenna Cochran, first grade teacher, won! She got all of them but 1! The second game was guessing how many goldfish and worms were in a jar. Kris Lyons won the goldfish and Ron Lobitz won the worms. I'm not much of a baby shower game person so my mom kept it short and sweet at 2 games.

Then we opened presents so the kids could go out to the pool and swim. We received so many wonderful things. Bath toys, books, car seats, stroller, mattress, diapers, stuffed animals, crib, baby photo albums, baby learning videos, toys, gift cards, etc! We are so thankful for our wonderful friends and family that are helping us on our adventure!

The gift table

Diaper tricycle made by my mom

Barn my dad fixed up

I hope our child loves to read because we received piles of books! We didn't originally plan to buy a bookshelf but now we'll need one. I love reading so I'm excited to open each of these books when I have little ones to read to!

 After we opened gifts, we socialized a bit more and then headed down to the pool for some fun! It was an amazing evening and we are so very thankful for all the hard work our families put into it and for all our friends and family that came to celebrate with us!

The only thing I regret is not taking more pictures! I'm missing pictures of people, if anyone has any please e-mail them to me!