Countdown to matching panel

So, we've had confirmation that there is one more hurdle to leap before the pieces of the puzzle are put together. In a months time we will facing the panel yet again but this time to be matched with our little one.  It's hard to believe how close this is, how real this is becoming.

Next week we meet little one's foster carers.  I'm expecting it to be an emotional meeting, for them as much as us.  They have invested so much into little one, how will they feel about meeting the people who will potential be replacing them.  On the plus side they will be able to tell us so much about little one.  They are the ones who know her best.

Little one's bedroom is coming on very slowly although I'm sure that over the next few weeks the pace will pick up a bit.  Every now and then we pop out and come back with a few new pieces.  Today we finally collected the bed our friend gave us.  I imagine it won't actually be put together for a little while yet.  We also got some gorgeous material which D is going to make into curtains, he's a more versatile man than I.

So it 4 weeks and counting till the big decision and probably six weeks until little one is home IF all goes according to plan! Can you believe??

Yay! Finally approved!

Well, it's taken slightly more than 9 days to get the official word but we finally got it today and we are 100% approved!  Woo hoo!!!

The lead up to Approval panel was a daunting experience but the moment the recommendation was delivered we were flooded with joy and relief!  A massive thank you goes to our social worker, her team and our friends who got us through what was a stressful and nerve racking period.  We can't believe that the assessment period is over and we are now massively excited about what is to come.

You may have noticed that it's been a while since my last post.  Up until recently it has been very therapeutic to be able to write my feelings down but in the last month or so it has been hard to get them straight in my own head.  Not because they were bad, or because we were having second thoughts but because there we sooo many thoughts they were hard to untangle.  Although things were always 'looking good' there was always an element of doubt which really play with your head.

The good thing now is that the assessment and approval panel are behind us and we are extremely lucky to be considering one potential match which if all goes to plan 'could' be our child.  Little one is really becoming a reality.  We have one more panel to go, matching panel at the end of November, and then we are one step closer to meeting little one.  In the last few weeks we've been looking at pre-schools, playgroups, bed, toys and the list goes on.  It's all so close we can almost touch it.  Can't wait until the day we can hug it too.