the new list(s)

Well, we completely checked off our giant to-do list for our paperwork, but that just left us with another to-do list, this time for our homestudy/fire inspection/DHEC inspection. That's ok though, my lists make me feel like I have some sort of control over the whole situation. I know I don't. I know I haven't since the very beginning, that the whole thing has been God-ordained not EricandHeather-ordained. However, to keep myself from going insane from waiting/worrying I need to be busy. Busy doing things that seem productive, and that is where my lists come in.

Now, I don't have any specific guidelines from the DSS office about our homestudy. All I know is what others like me have been through. Thankfully God has placed an abundant amount of people directly into my life who have adopted (many who have adopted through the foster/adopt process with DSS) and they are a wealth of knowledge that I tap into on an almost daily basis.

God is good.

I do have specifics for the fire and DHEC inspections though. Here we go!

Fire Inspection
- smoke alarms installed:
          - on the ceiling or wall outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms
          - in each room used for sleeping purposes
          - in each story within a dwelling unit (We are one story, woohoo!)
- fire extinguisher shall be located in the cooking area mounted on a wall in an accessible location and not obscured from view
- each facility housing foster children shall have two independent means of escape
- a fire plan describing what actions are to be taken by the family in the even of a fire must be developed, posted, and copies made available to the local fire department noting the location of all crib infants
          - notation of two ways out, meeting place, locations of fire extinguishers, and smoke alarms to be noted on plan
- fire drill conducted every 3 months, save records
- resident bedrooms shall have emergency egress openings with:
          - window/door with minimum net clear opening of 5 square feet for ground level with dimensions 24"x20", bottom of opening is not to be greater than 44" measure from floor
- exit hallways/access/doors are not blocked
- no gasoline or gasoline appliances stored in or under home
- dryer vents not clogged or crushed
- electrical blanks kept in receptacles at all times
- keep 3 foot clearance from all electrical/mechanical equipment
- windows operational


*There are many, many specifics that I am leaving out, but you get the general idea.

DHEC Inspection (SC Department of Health and Environmental Control)
- all pets must have vaccinations up to date with a copy of shot record available
- refridgerator must have thermometer to ensure that temperature is 42 degrees or cooler
- hot water heater is set no higher than 120 degrees
- well water will be check for contamination (We don't have a well!)
- all chemicals, toxic substances, or medicines must be in a locked cabinet or out of reach of small children
- refuse storage and disposal will be check (city trash pick up, taking trash to county disposal center, burning, etc. ) (We have city!)
- disposal of waste water will be checked (city sewer or septic tank) (We have city!)
- microwaves will be checked for leakage
- lead paint testing

Alright well you get the idea? Yes, we still have our work cut out for us. We have actually tackled some of this stuff already, but I will do the updates in a separate post. Until next time, be in prayer for us!