Meeting the Social Worker

Today was a busy day. We had Galina's big social worker visit. Since it was over 60 miles away, and morning traffic can last for hours here in Southern California, we left really early. Really, really early.

And guess what.

There was hardly any traffic. So we got to the social worker's office almost an hour and a half early.

Of course they couldn't see us early because of prior appointments.

You should have seen us. At their suggestion, we hung out and walked around the building-- driving the security guard nuts.

"Don't let your kid walk there."
"I just don't want him to fall."
"They can't play there."

Is it bad to say that inside I was laughing at the poor guy? I was tempted to tell him to take a chill pill.
Finally, the social worker came outside to greet us. Part of me thinks the security guard called up to her office and pleaded her to come and get us.

Thankfully, she was very nice. Half way through she admitted that she had been dreading this visit knowing that so many kids would be occupying the waiting room and two small meeting rooms. But the kids were great! Enough so, that she felt it was safe to admit that she had expected them to be way more rambunctious.

"Good thing you had us run around outside first!" I thought to myself.

John and I were surprised to leave with a huge list of things that still need to be done. Galina's Russian Birth certificate doesn't have an authenticated translation so we have to have it translated by someone here. We also have to provide copies of our health insurance, car insurance, life insurance, DMV printouts, and 2010 tax documents.

Ugh. But Galina is worth it. Yes she is.

The one bummer is that this will be the longest adoption to complete... ever for us. Not that it is even remotely complicated, because it is not. Nope. They are just busy. So we were told to expect March of 2012.