…or so it feels.

We got a call from our agency last week that OPA (remember them?  WE almost didn’t) is requesting clarification on Fred’s and my child care plans for the additional children.  That is, they want to know specifically what Fred’s work hours are [suddenly, "full time," as stated in our Home Study Report is too vague... after the report has read that way for over a year and a half] and when he is available to spend time with his children. 

And, also, noting that the number of children with whom I would be “home full-time” would be doubling, was I planning on hiring a nanny?  (Haha, I WISH!  Pero, no.)  Or using daycare?  (<<No saben ustedes que significa “home full time with the children?”  En verdad?>>)  Ahem, also “no.”

I plan on taking care of the next two in much the same fashion as I did the first two.  And if that means sending the older boys to our local public school so that their education doesn’t take an unacceptable hit as I work with the next two in their transition here, then that’s what we’ll do.  I’m hoping to keep them all here together, though, so the siblings can bond even as the newer ones adjust to me and to Fred — and to life in these Estados Unidos.  (Also because the twins are thriving with the home schooling connections we have!)  But we’ll see.  At any rate, sí, por supuesto tenemos un plan.  We’ve had more than 2 1/2 years to come up with it, already! 

And now you, mi querido público, know it, too. 

Very specific questions.  Pretty sure they’re already implicitly covered in the report we sent one year and eight months ago. 

And we have 30 days to respond. 

I’m sure I could look on the bright side and say “What thoughtful questions, ensuring that we have considered just how these new kids will be adequately watched!”  I hope that’s the motivation.  [Though I would like to assert that physical proximity does not necessarily good-parenting make.  Ask us something more indicative of actual loving, supporting, preserving culture and identity!!!  No wait, don't... 'cause we'd have to get that apostilled, too...]

And on the other hand, the fact that the question is coming from OPA 8+ months after we had already supposedly completed the OPA screening process doesn’t engender a great deal of confidence that the process is actually moving forward.  Seems more like we’ve somehow looped back around to where we were a year ago.  ???

But of course we’ll do whatever they ask.  And if it somehow creates more confidence in us as a family, well, ok.  And so our social worker is writing up an addendum to our Home Study that explicitly states these previously un-requested details, getting it notarized and county sealed for us (¡Muchas Gracias, Paula and Stephanie!), and the boys and I will head over to Annapolis to get it apostilled and then send it along to our agency to be forwarded to El Salvador.  Not a big deal, really.  And we’re used to it by now. 

But, man, we hope this means we’re being seriously considered and not just being nit-picked because El Salvador’s adoption authority doesn’t know what to do with us.  Or porque es divertido jugar con los gringos.

We shall see.  Of course, I can’t say when we shall see.   Weeks from now?   Months?

We appreciate prayers, for those of you who pray.  Not so much for us, ’cause as frustrating as it is to go nowhere in a process, we have a house, a family, great friends [some of whom are more fittingly described as "unos buenos amigos" - can't tell you what a blessing that is!], and all our physical needs are met. 

But assuming there are kids there in El Salvador who will be assigned to us because they need to be — well, they’re waiting, too.  But without all those things we already have.  Y merecen tenerlos.