It's not really so much an "if" but a "when" all of a sudden

Today was the second appointment. The one where our social worker and Rosie's recruiter wanted to discuss last week's appointment with us. Today went really, really well. Our social worker said, and I quote: "this is the point where 'if' turns into more of a 'when'." Although, she then reassured us that we can still opt out at any time.

Good news...we passed last week's appointment! Rosie's slew of county and state assigned guardians loved us, down to my glasses. So now we sit home with the case file. We're reading a lot, discussing even more, but thus far, for the 1/4 of it we've read, nothing has made us change our minds even though it's saddened us, greatly.

Today the inner project manager in me was satisfied. I got a timeline, a tentative one dependant on a lot of bullshit red tape. Yet, assuming the remaining 3/4 of the case file continues to mimic what we've read--we could be meeting Rosie mid-December, and she would be moving in around Christmas...which is exactly what I didn't want, but I've learned to lose control completely.

I am not a control freak. I'm not. Yet not having a timeline has been challenging for me so this is a huge freaking relief. It makes it easier for us to plan out our work leave of absences and also give us a deadline for the work that needs to be done in the current guest room..more on that later.

So, what's next from a procedural perspective?

1. After we read the case file, we can decide if we want to move on to the interviews with the foster family and teachers.
2. If we interview with the foster family and teachers, we get to decide whether we want to parent Rosie.
3. That's really it, at least or so we think. You never know in this process.

A few more personal things we're starting to do:

1. Creating an album to give Rosie if after the interviews we decide to be her mom and dad
2. The great reorganization--getting all our clothes upstairs and out of her closet and dresser
3. Scheduling meetings with schools around the area to figure out where Rosie would go in January if she moves in with us.

So that's it. I know. It sounds as if I'm getting my hopes up, and I think at this point it's hard not to. Don't worry though, they're tethered to reality at least by one thin thread. If it doesn't pan out, it was our decision to not continue, which makes the 'no' a lot easier. I think.