This waiting process is so interesting. It doesn't equate to a pregnancy, believe it or not, it is much more difficult. One reason--you don't have the comfort of the child physically growning in you. And, just as important, you don't have a "due date." Your child grows in your heart, your mind races and wonders of the possibilities, and you have NO EARTHLY idea how long it is gonna take.
I remember before I had WB, I would see friends "meltdown" in late pregnancy. I could almost see it coming. I'd say things like, "I'll never do that. How hard can it be? It is just a couple more weeks. Why are they crying?" Funny how you end up "eating words." Two weeks before delivery, I vividly remember sitting in my doctor's office, bawling, and asking to be induced. It is embarrassing to admit, but when my doctor said "no" to the induction, I actually begged for antidrepessants because I just "could note take one more second" of pregnancy!
I'm not making the same mistake with adoption. While I don't fully understand of the stress at the end. I have a healthy appreciation for it. Just as I know a referral will eventually come, I know the waiting "stress" will also come. I truly feel for those in all stages of the process--it is so different for everyone. For me, for now, I'm dealing...but then, I've got WB.
And, today is a good day--two little boys and one baby girl were referred, travel and G&R schedules were finalized, and heart warming pictures of families spending their first few days together flew across the internet! It gives me hope...life is good.
Peace--
My kid cracks me up. When I hear him bound down the stairs and head for the front door, I can never tell what manner of dress (or undress) he is in. Among his notable combinations: a long-sleeved camo t-shirt paired with white and red striped basketball shorts, brown socks and royal blue crocs. He's 7 1/2...he knows better...how many times have we had the "matching" discussion!
It is a balancing act...allowing individual expression and decision-making without total parental embarrassment and fear of social service intervention. (And, they tell me girls are worse!)
JB had drill this weekend, so it was just me and my little man. I was largely engrossed in homework when I began to hear the drawers open and close and the clomping down the stairs. He was making a break for the outside. I yelled, "WB, what are you wearing?" I hear him stop-dead in his tracks. "What?" This is generally the response that reflects that he's been BUSTED! I repeat my question, "What are you wearing?" And he says, "Don't worry Mom, I'm occasionable."
What the ??? Occasionable? "Occasionable?" I ask. "Yeah, I'm OK to go outside." "WB, what does occasionable mean? Let me see" I say. "You know, acceptable...I am ready to go", he says as he appears at my bedroom door. He's wearing a long-sleeved white t-shirt, gray wind pants with a white stripe and white tennis shoes.
He's very proud to show that he matches. He sports a devilish grin and the most beautiful blue eyes. He's left the brown socks in the drawer and he is, without a doubt, the most occasionable boy I've ever seen.
I can't wait for the Can Tho moms to get their little boys and begin to feel these joys! Happy Travels to you all!!
Someone that knows me very well read my 10 oddities and was very, very vocal about the fact that I left off the strangest thing about me. (Actually, I don't find it strange but it really seems to bother others.)
11. I call my husband by his first AND last names...ALWAYS. Whether talking about him, or to him, he is NEVER "honey", "dear", or even John, but ALWAYS John Booth. I say things like "John Booth, will you please bring me a glass of water?" Or, "John Booth and I went to dinner at Hideaway Pizza last night." If we are in a public place, like a mall or amusement park, I don't hesitate to yell, "John Booth" across the crowd to get his attention. It would never even cross my mind to just yell John.
What is even funnier? Now everyone in his life (outside of coworkers) calls him by both names. Everyone.
What is even worst? I don't know how it happened, but I do the same thing to my kid. And, all his friends, neighbors and teachers call him by both names and he doesn't even catch on that it's strange...in fact, if he is trying to get someone else's attention (a friend or classmate), he'll call them by their first and last names.
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And buried in the adoption blog is the adoption news of the day....We have our LID! Our paperwork was logged-in (in Vietnam) on March 28th. Woo Hoo!
Here's my response to Tricia's Tag...
1. I have an irrational fear of people wearing masks. I don’t know where it came from, it is unexplainable, but very real. Seriously, even my husband and son freak me out if they wear masks! I can't watch children trick-or-treating...they scare me.
2. I still have my calendar from the year my husband and I met. (1986) My calendar entry shows that after knowing each other for three whole days, we had our first discussion about picking our wedding date.
3. I am a craft-a-holic! I have a craft closet with over $3K in paper, ink, scrapbook and cardmaking supplies and yet, I NEVER have cards ready for any occasion.
4. I am a reality TV addict! You name it, I watch it! I love Idol, the Amazing Race, Survivor, and all the crazy Bravo stuff. I am WAY too old for MTV but I love Run’s House! I DVR hours of shows a day and (even though I have to be at work at 7 am) I stay up to 12:30ish every night watching the shows I’ve recorded!
5. I don't really have feet "issues" but I can't stand it if my toenails get long enough to touch the inside of my shoes. They can't rise above my toe at all...it grosses me out!
6. I can’t sleep unless there is total darkness, white noise and air circulation. I sleep with the ceiling fan, an escalating fan, and two humidifiers running most of the time. I have to travel with earplugs, run the a/c constantly in hotel rooms, and shove towels under the door so the light doesn’t shine in. I don’t really have to have the best bed, but I HAVE to have darkness and noise control!!
7. I bite my nails…can’t quit…tried a thousand times. I stopped smoking years ago, but I can’t stop biting the nails! I generally wear artificial nails, but I bite those and pull them off too. (It is my greatest embarrassment!) I go to the salon every Wednesday just to try and keep my hands looking decently.
8. I love Water…love to drink it…love to look at it….love to swim in it….love showers, baths, rain…love the feel…love the taste…love the smell…. To me, besides LOVE, WATER is God’s greatest gift!
9. My home is clean and well-kept, except for my bedroom. It is a disaster area! (Not dirty dish or animal poop dirty…just clothes…books…kid’s toys, etc…still, it is pretty bad!)
10. It is physically impossible for me to empty a laundry basket. I can’t do it! I’ll fold the clothes and just pull them out as I need them. (Could this be a clue to the messy room?)
Way too much information about me! It is fun trying to think of what is unusual about me...unusual enough to be a little interesting but not totally embarrassing for the world to know. I look forward to following this game on, so I TAG my fellow Dillonite, Laura, at Three-Times-a-Mom!
Someone asked today, "How is your adoption going?" It was an innocent, well-intended question but I hated it. I hate telling people...month after month..."we're still waiting." That response makes people uncomfortable...they don't know what to say. Neither do I.
Part of me wishes that we would have kept our adoption process a secret until we had our referral. I think it would have been easier. Guess we'll know better next time!
