One week

It's been a week since The Call came. We are still in shock. His photo is all around the house and work. Right now I feel like I am able to breathe a sigh of relief. I don't have to check the forum every 45 seconds to see if we have moved up on the list.

But my heart breaks for his loss. His story crushes me. I'm not sure how I will explain to him why Joel and I get to be the lucky ones to raise him. We will figure it out. We have no choice.

Some very wise woman said recently that when your heart breaks it gives it room to expand. If this is the case my heart has grown immensely and will continue to do so.

The Call: finally came

Sorry this is so long I just don't want to forget a second of it.

The Call: 5/20/10

Joel and I had spent half the day Thursday preparing for our home study update. We went to the BMV for driving records, got our BCI & FBI fingerprints done. We had a late lunch and remarked on how nice it would have been to have gotten The Call while we were out together. When we got home we realized we needed to take photos and get them printed for the baby book we would be sending to Ethiopia. I started getting very grumpy. We finished the photos and I had to leave to go to CPR training for work. Joel was going to get the photos printed for peanut’s book and then had to meet someone about a banner. I left for a CPR class feeling quite down.

I got to CPR and director introduced me to his wife and told her we were adopting from Ethiopia. I told her how excited we were and that we were expecting the call any time now. The class started at 6p.m. at 6:50 I got a call from my brother. He was out of town for work so I wanted to make sure everything was ok. I sent him a text. He doesn’t text and was unsure how to reply. So my SIL, Belynda, sent a text saying everything’s fine he just wanted to talk. About 2 minutes later Joel calls. I got up and went to the lobby. I was worried that something was wrong because why else would Joel be calling me when he knows I can’t talk? I asked what was going on and he said, “We got The Call. It’s a boy!” I asked if he was serious and told him it wasn’t funny if he was joking. He said he had just received The Call and was on his way home. I told him I loved him and I was on my way home. He asked if I was leaving the class and I said I didn’t have much choice. I hung up the phone and began sobbing and shaking. I stood there for a few minutes trying to calm down enough so I could go grab my things and go. I counted to ten, went in the room, grabbed my stuff and told the second instructor (who was standing in the hall) it was an emergency and I needed to leave.

I got to the car and called Joel again. I wanted to make sure he was serious. I just couldn’t believe it. It was 7p.m. in the evening. I asked what his name was and Joel said he didn’t know. He didn’t get any info because he wanted us to be together. I called him again a few minutes later and asked if it was ok if I called a dear friend of mine. She really needed some good news. He said it was ok. I called her and told her. She asked his age and I told her I hadn’t even seen the paperwork yet. I hung up with her and called the IAC. I left a message and told them we needed to see them asap.

About thirty minutes after getting The Call I got home, still shaking and still crying. Joel had the computer ready to go and we clicked on the email. We saw his name and age. I scanned down to see his face. I saw my little boy’s face for the first time at 7:30p.m. on Thursday, 5-20-10. We had officially waited 20 months and 10 days for this moment.

I called my mom and couldn’t reach her. I called my dad and then my brother and told them. I called my mom again and there was no answer. I called my SIL again no answer. Called my best friend and again she wasn’t home. In the meantime Joel had called his parents and sister. I finally reached my mom, SIL, and Betsy. We called The Tribe and let them know.

Joel had to go back into work. I stayed up until 1:30-2a.m. Joel got home around 3:30a.m. I got up at 5:20 a.m. for work. We both had to pretend nothing had happened. We weren’t ready to tell everyone just yet. I got texts and calls all morning. At 9:30am the IAC called to schedule an appt. I gave them my info and then they asked for the babies name and age. I said his name and got teary. They asked his birth date and I lost it (again). I told people at work that I needed to leave. We were expecting news any minute. I called CHSFS with some questions and got us scheduled for an IAC appt. When we left the IAC with a glowing report I called work and told them, It’s a BOY. I called the agency and told them we wanted to accept the referral.

We had dinner with the Fabulous Fergs to celebrate. Saturday The Tribe had a wonderful gathering in honor of OUR SON! .

IT"S A BOY!!!

After 20 months and 10 days of officially waiting we got THE CALL. He is beautiful. He was born on Easter!!!

SOST

#2 Boy

#3 Girl

News of possible news makes people happy

It's been great having hopeful news to share. I'm not quite used to it. It's been 20 months & 1 week since we began the official wait. I am hoping by 21 months we have our referral. I can hardly believe.

When I called my mom for Mother's Day I told her we expected to know something in a matter of weeks. When Belynda (my sil) told her we were #4 the other day I guess she lost it. I saw her this weekend and she said "I'm sorry. When I heard that I cried and called a couple of people. I just had to tell someone." I told her I could probably "forgive" her for being excited about her grandchild.

Most of my friends could make a list pages long of great memories with their mom. Mine is shorter. We haven't had the best relationship for a number of reasons. I will add this to the top of my short list and hope for more things to add when the baby is finally home.

Everyone (ok not everyone but a few people) seems to be dreaming of Our Call: The Call. My SIL, Kristen, emailed today to say she had a dream we got The Call and it was a girl. Jen had a dream we got The Call also. On Saturday I had a dream we got The Call.

My heart races everytime the phone rings now. It's nerve wracking but a spot I am happy to finally be in.

#5

Could be a few days or a few weeks.

We might actually have something to celebrate fairly soon!! Can you believe it? The thought of calling family and friends and posting the big announcement makes my heart race and my eyes water.

Our case worker said Our Call: THE CALL could be a few more weeks but that it could be sooner.

I want so badly to see his/her face and to know peanut's name.

Disclaimer: obviously wait times haven't exactly been predictable for us, so I'm not sure how accurate a few weeks is... BUT I'll take it.

Happy Mother's Day

I hope all you wonderful mommies had a great day. I hope that those of us waiting for our children managed to get through the day with a little bit of hope for what next year might bring. I hope that one more deadline will not pass you by while still waiting.

Yesterday I received a Mother's Day card from my SIL, Kristen. She also included a wonderful book called Me and My Mom. I received several notes from dear friends letting me know that they are thinking of me today.

Last year was a really hard mother's day. This year I am trying not to think about it as much. Next year I hope to write a beautiful post on how wonderful it is to finally be a mother. I hope that this wait will have a happy ending.

Today makes 2 YEARS since we began the adoption process for Ethiopia and tomorrow marks our 20th month officially waiting. How can that be?

Today is Birthmother's Day

"A Birthmother puts the needs of her child above the wants of her heart". --Skye Hardwick

The List

This puts us at #3 Boy & #5 Girl since one family is requesting siblings.

20 months quickly approaching

Lots of crappy anniversaries ( I mean wonderful milestones) are approaching. On the 9th it will be TWO YEARS since we were approved to adopt from Ethiopia ( oh yeah and mother's day).

The 10th will be our 20th month of waiting. Unpredictable was the word most used to describe IA when we started. I think that is a gross understatement.

Honestly I'm so preoccupied with my friends referral that I haven't thought as much about our referral. When my phone rings I hope to see Emily's name not our case workers or social workers. Don't get me wrong I still would love to see their name it just doesn't seem as likely.