Medicals, volunteering and NFS get-together

On Friday Glen and I filled in the forms to have our medicals done. We have read about people getting a bit worried about their medicals and indeed as I filled it in I kept wondering if anything in there would not be to the liking of the medical advisor. I think it’s unlikely, but of course it’s natural to wonder. I took the forms to our surgery and it turns out that one of their secretaries is on leave and the other off sick, so who knows when they’ll actually do anything with our forms. They really need to be done by January, so let’s hope there aren’t any delays. I do think it’s a bit strange that our local authority leave the medicals until so late. On the one hand I understand they don’t want you to spend the money (£73.86 each) until they are sure that they want to take you to panel, but on the other hand it leaves little room in case of delays. I know other local authorities ask prospective adopters to get them done earlier on in the process.

Also on Friday I went to the school where we volunteer and I was asked to help out with Class 3 (where the kids are either just 3 or still 2 coming up to 3). It was great to have the opportunity to work with younger children as I am usually with the 4 or 5-year-olds. I played games and read stories to them and worked mostly with J, who has CHARGE Syndrome. His face is somewhat deformed, he can’t walk or stand that well unaided, has a hearing aid and has to wear a bib as he drools constantly. His speech is quite hard to understand, but he is so lovely and so bright. It’s misleading, because when you first see him you feel pity for him and assume (mostly because of his facial deformity) that he will not be fully developing cognitively, but he is really on the ball, and clever. I really enjoyed spending time with him, but I have to admit that I wouldn’t want to care for him 24/7. In that sense, the fact that adoptive parents can (to a certain extent) choose what physical limitations they are prepared to cope with is really an advantage, as I’m sure J’s parents did not intend to bring up a child with CHARGE Syndrome.

Yesterday we went to the New Family Social gathering. It was a bit of a Christmas do as well and the kids and parents seemed to have a good time. We caught up with some of the people we had met last time we went, people whose messages we have read online, and also the couple that we visited last month. We also met another couple of guys who have adopted, live near us, and were really nice, which was great. Once again we came out of the meeting feeling really inspired by all these people who have successfully adopted and are getting on with their lives. It’s a really welcome shot of optimism about the process.

Had a call from one of our friends whom we named as a referee. Miranda is going to visit them this afternoon! Fingers crossed that all will go well.