The Doctor is in

Dearest Dema,

Ok, option #1 didn't work out so well from last blog. Everything sat out for a day or two, then got stuffed back into the closet. I did manage to clean out two boxes, which is a start. I got together a couple of boxes of craft stuff that is still good but that I won't ever use and loaded it in the back of my car to give away at the next Girl Scout Service Unit Meeting which was conveniently scheduled for the next day. But, alas, it was canceled. So my great closet clean out has netted me 2 boxes vomiting full of craft supplies to give away heaven knows when taking up room in the back of my car (spilling contents out every time I go around a corner), and a slightly less stuffed full closet. I really can't win!

So, onto the topic for today's letter - the post office again, or I guess to be more accurate, the doctor's office and then the post office. I am guessing the post office will be a prominent figure in this process; maybe I should get a job there….

Anyway, we have gotten most of the forms together for the home study. We have assembled birth certificates, driver's licenses, copies of tax returns, proof of medical insurance, fingerprint cards. You name it and I have copied it and put it in the mail. The last item on the list was the doctor's evaluation of our health. So, knowing that this was going to take a long time (our doctor usually has over a month wait for a physical) I called to make an appointment. I had to leave a message, so in the mean time, I realized that there were two sets of forms that had to be done by the doctor. There is one set from the local authorities for the home study and then there is another set for the Ukrainian government. Well, patting myself on the back for quick thinking and resourcefulness (I was only going to have to go to the doctor once instead of twice), I called to get these forms set to me, with the addendum, "Don't worry. No rush. Just please send them when convenient."

Thinking I was just the guru of organization, I sat down to congratulate myself when the phone rang. It was the doctor's office letting me know they had an opening for the NEXT DAY! This is unheard of, but probably was cosmically arranged to teach me a lesson about timeliness. So, after scrambling and apologizing, I finally was able to get the forms set to me by email. No problem I thought, I will just print them out and off we go. Well, 4 hours later, I am trying to reformat the forms to look pretty on my computer and cursing and swearing because nothing is working. Basically, I have to recreate the forms myself and then I look at the email again, which states the forms need to be printed out on the doctor's letterhead. ACK!!! I don't know if they have letterhead, how easy it will be to print the forms out on their letterhead, or if they will even do it for me. So, ever the problem solver, and because I was getting really cranky at this point, I decided to make up letterhead for the doctor myself. And if I do say so myself, it looked really good. So, I stumble off to bed, not looking forward to the next morning as we have to get up early as the appointments that were available we of course the first appointments of the morning - more evidence of cosmic punishment for being me.

At the doctors office the next morning, still wiping the sleep out of my eyes, I was valiantly trying to sort out the forms, as two were being sent to the state (simply physicals) directly by the doctor after signing and the two for Ukraine (requiring 17 vials of blood to be drawn and tested for every known disease) need to be signed in front of a notary. And of course after questioning, no, there is not a notary in their office, we will have to arrange for one to come out to the doctor's office and notarize the documents there. It was enough to reduce one to tears, especially when I do not handle blood-draws very well and hadn't had breakfast because it was so early in the morning. But everything was done, and thank goodness, all the tests were normal. And finally, we have been declared physically fit to adopt. Of course, mentally fit - that is another state that will have to be evaluated after this whole process…..

So off to the post office again (5th time in seven days) to mail more documents off. I am beginning to become known there - embarrassing - and can now help other people in line find appropriate documents, etc. Surprise, surprise, I walk into the post office and there is NOBODY in line. Unbelievable I know, but I was in and out of there in two minutes. I know that this will never happen again so I will bask in the glow of efficiency now.

But, Dema, I did send off your first package to you. Just some pictures and some small gifts. We will try to send you things every month or so. We are just anxiously awaiting the next steps. Can't wait!

Love,

Bethany, Amanda, G3, & G4