it's a girl!

this was turning into a ridiculously long post, so I'll be submitting it in stages so not to bore anyone. it's still pretty long - but don't say I didn't warn you…

 
it all started last Monday when I was frustrated out of my MIND. for some reason, it was taking an absurd amount of time for our Korea home study to be finalized. it was no one's fault in particular, just the "way it was". but it sure seemed to be M.I.A. and I was starting to get M.I.F.F.E.D.

fast forward 24 hours… 



tuesday, may 10, 4:52…

I was feverishly working at my computer on some project when I was interrupted by the familiar "ding" of the new email message alert. it was from our agency's waiting child program manager asking if I would be interested in reviewing the file of a LITTLE GIRL they had not been able to match with a family yet. they were getting ready to post her on the shared online photo listing. (side note: the shared list is something that I checked every day - multiple times a day, but had no desire to really pursue a child through that process since it involves the possibility of loosing the child to a "better equipped family". too much stress for katie.) so, yes, I was in TOTAL SHOCK (our home study wasn't even finalized yet, how can we have a referral already? that's not the way it works!) but I managed to email her back immediately with a "yes, please" (as if I would have said NO)

15 minutes later… 

I received baby girl's files and photos. my jaw hit the keyboard when I saw her and I think I squeaked something out like "my baby!". I knew right away she was supposed to be our baby…she is totally A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E. (not sure why I keep spelling words out like this, it just seems more emphatic) I scanned quickly through her health records, googled her medical condition (I'll save that topic for a future post) and as I researched, I thought, "this child could not be any more perfect for us". W.O.W. {insert wild emotions here} 

soon after that… 

Brad was not home from work yet so my brain started racing…how could I surprise him with this HUGE news? I began dashing around the house searching for ideas. he could be home ANY MINUTE! then it came to me…I hadn't picked up the mail yet. so, I printed out her referral pics, stuffed them in an envelope labeled "daddy", high-tailed it down to our box and buried it within the other mail, and dashed back into the house…just in time. 

like a deranged stalker, I spied on him from my office window as he pulled into the driveway, parked the car and made his way up the walk to the house - mail in hand. I quickly sat down at the computer pretending to "work" as he opened the front door. I cranked up my iPhone just before he walked into my office - I had to (secretly) get this on video. with mail still in hand, he proceeded to tell me this story about his mom calling him earlier that day asking him "where he was" (apparently this is not unusual behavior for her - if she sees something on the news about a plane wreck, etc., she'll feel the need to check on Brad) so, he continued to talk for what seemed like ages. finally, he held up THE ENVELOPE and says, "I found this in the mail and I'm curious if MOM put it in there this afternoon". (seriously, Brad, enough about your mom already) then, trying to stay composed I asked, "well, did you open it?!?!" that was apparently the cue he needed and the rest is history. there were a lot of emotions and "squeaking" heard from me as Brad later referred to it. we had a long laugh about that video later. we called a "meeting" at coffee underground and secured a corner booth to review her files in detail and stare at her amazing pictures some more...like a couple undercover agents on some secret mission.