Slogging Away

It's been a week of ups and downs. Our home study social worker was out sick for the entire week, which has put us more than a week behind in our schedule. I talked to her today, though, and she's been to the doctor, so I hope for her sake that she starts feeling better soon. She sounded really sick, poor girl. We're rescheduled for appointment #2 next Wednesday.

On the paperwork front, we've started receiving some documents back, like our birth certificates and marriage license. Last night we had our fingerprints taken at the local police station -- one set for an IL State Police check and one set for an FBI check. We'll have to have more done for USCIS -- we're waiting for them to let us know where to go to have them done. Our references started receiving their instruction letters. Tomorrow John and I will have our medical exams (again, two sets of forms: one for the HS and one for the placement agency).

Last night I was going through a binder full of recipes we've collected over the years and I found a recipe for Pho -- a very popular Vietnamese noodle soup. We had picked it up at Global Festival, a yearly event at MSU that celebrates cultures from all over the world and works to foster international understanding. One of our favorite parts of Global Fest was that people would make dishes from their native lands and serve them in the cafeteria. Yum! And they always set out the recipes. We'll have to make it soon.

I'm getting a grasp on the whole paperwork process, and I don't feel quite so muddled anymore. That makes me feel like the chase has slowed a little, and it's a good thing because Ethan took his first steps last night! It's nice to slow down and spend more time with Jack and Ethan. I'm looking forward to a nice family weekend.

Christine