This past Saturday was National Adoption Day! I saw this saying somewhere, and I love it: "Adoption done right is a beautiful thing".
Last Thursday, I got a call from this adoption attorney's office that I had sent profile books to 2 years ago. They called me last August or September (before Cambria was born) to see if we wanted to be presented to 3 expectant mothers who were making an adoption plan. I said yes. The birth moms said no....to us. Sigh, more rejection. Then I got contacted a few more times around the same time to be shown to expectant mothers. Either we felt it wasn't a good fit, or we weren't chosen. I remember saying that even though these birth moms didn't choose us, that I felt like our time was coming...we were getting close. How right I was! Cambria was born on 9/23 and was placed in our arms on 9/26. Coincidentally, 9/26 was the same date of my bridal shower! (But in 1998!) I haven't heard another peep from that adoption attorney's office since...... and truth be told, I was so busy with a newborn and 4 kids and life in general that I forgot to call and tell them we adopted a daughter, and to take us off the list.
Fast forward to this past Thursday, I was walking out of the post office after mailing a package to Cambria's birthmom...it is her full biological brother's birthday this week. My phone rang and it was the adoption attorney's office calling to see if we wanted to be presented to an expectant mom who is having a girl and is due in March. She is due 3 days after Cambria's birthmom. Weird? Coincidence? I really wanted to say yes. My hubby said no. "Remember Vicki? We adopted our baby girl! We are done growing our family." Besides, our home study expired in July and we didn't even consider renewing it because our family felt complete. Also, if we were to adopt again, I would want to adopt the baby that Cambria's birth mom is pregnant with right now. I would want to keep the sisters together.
Still......I told her I'd talk to the hubs and call her back! Gah! I would LOVE to have 2 daughters! I would love for Cambria to have a little sister to play with....and they would be almost 18 months apart. I even called our home study agency to see how hard it would be to renew our home study now that it has expired. I got their voicemail. Was that a sign? (You know how I am a firm believer in signs!) OK so then there's the issue of cost. One reason I didn't even bring up to Cambria's birthmom adopting her new baby is because of the high cost of this adoption- more than Cambria's. This other case is a fraction of the typical adoption cost. My hubby's response to that? We just got Cambria off of bottles and formula and threw the bottles out and gave all of her baby stuff she has outgrown away! And 5 kids is a lot. Sigh.... yes, yes I know that. I think if I didn't, I would be pressing D a lot harder to let us be presented to this expectant mom. The case sounded pretty perfect for us, and she lives in my state! No ICPC or plane tickets or hotel rooms with a newborn!
But then the other part of me says "Then Cami wouldn't be my baby anymore." And I really want her to be my baby forever and not take that away from her.
Oh well, it was food for thought. If this whole adoption experience has taught me anything (besides patience!), it was this: all through the waiting period, I was worried nobody would pick us and we would never get to adopt a baby girl. Well, we were in fact chosen several times, and all the other cases didn't work out for one reason or another. Even after Cambria was in our home, I have been contacted multiple times about either being chosen already or being presented to another expectant mom. We would have eventually adopted our daughter. I wish I had believed that beforehand, and saved myself all the worry. So to anyone who is still in the waiting period: have faith. It will happen. The baby that was meant to be yours will find you.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Cami will be old enough this year to eat the yummy turkey and all the fixin's! :)
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