Friday night, February 13 at about 10pm we finally, after three years of waiting, got THE call! The call we have been waiting for, hoping for, dreaming about and praying for for so so long! The call setting us on our way to becoming the family of 5 we have been waiting to become! Adding that last, perfect little addition to our lives.
So here is the story.
Lance and I were honestly not having a super awesome night. The girls were truly in rare form. Lance was trying to get something done on the computer that was frustrating him and I was refolding a gigantic pile of laundry the girls had dumped out of my neatly folded basket. Both girls had just fallen asleep about an hour late and the house was trashed. We were just not at the top of our game and spirits were feeling a little defeated on this particular night.
I had just finished saying "let me work on the computer it is clearly frustrating you" and as I sat down the phone rang. I looked at it and FROZE. Called Lance over and picked up the phone with a shaking hand. It was our case worker. She apologized for the late hour, but said she thought I would want the call right away! She told us that she had a referral and asked us if we wanted to move forward with her info. Duh! So she told us a little, sent a file and we waited, staring at the computer. No file. I called her back and said, "So sorry, I know it's 10:30pm but I see no file and my pinky fingers are going numb." Yes you read that right! I said those words and that was actually happening to me! What!? Odd response to excitement/shock huh!?
She resent and then the email appeared. We were both still in shock. Is this really happening? Can we even take another kid? The ones we already have about did us in tonight! I joked with Lance before we opened the email and said, "so still want another baby!?" We laughed in a nervous/excited kind of way. Still just reeling in the emotions of the last half hour.
And then there she was.
Our daughter.
No doubt about it.
Anxiety gone.
Fear gone.
Those crazy twins sleeping down the hall. Ah, they will be fine.
That was her.
The one we have been waiting for.
So adorable.
So darling.
So chubby even.
The perfect baby.
The most out of the box "birthing" experience. But that's what it was. In that moment, my third daughter was looking at me on a computer screen from across the ocean. I was a mommy to three now. I was sure of it. I was sure about her. We both were. In an instant.
I went into crazy excited mode! Called my mom about 23x but no answer. Then I called my sister and she picked up right away. I told her that we got THE call!! She got her husband on the phone right away and was literally at our house within minutes with her referral pictures printed on card stock and displayed on our mantle. I then called my cousins and one picked up. She answered with, "you got THE call didn't you!?" Ha! It was super late at this point so it was suspicious.
The next day we "surprised" my parents with the news. The word "surprise" being used loosely bc apparently my sister text my mom the night before saying "you are gonna be sooooooooooo sorry you turned off your phone!" So she pretty much knew. But we were able to surprise them none the less and show off her pics for the first time!
Lance's parents joined the group of "important people unable to be located" and we had to wait almost a full 24 hours to get them! They were in a conference all day and weren't available to talk! But we finally got them via FaceTime Saturday night and they were TRULY shocked!! It was funny because we were rushing to feed the girls dinner while trying to get out of the house for a Valentine's date as the girls clung to my legs because they have what I call "mascara anxiety". No joke, when the makeup comes out they know they are getting left and freak out! So when we popped the news, the chaos of our current life, mixed with the phrase "we got THE call for a beautiful baby girl!!!!" was kinda funny, but ohhhhhhh so exciting!!
So needless to say we are all thrilled. However, these last few weeks have been the hardest of my life. Having a child across the ocean with no real timeline as to when we will get her home or what she is doing daily is very very hard. It's on my mind CONSTANTLY. I pray a lot. A lot a lot a lot.
So now we just pray this girl home. That's all we can do.
Posts to come soon on the process as it unfolds!!
Thanks for sharing in our excitement!!
Love,
The happy family of 5!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Mimi seeing her 5th grandchild for the first time!
Girls rockin their new big sister shirts before the big reveal!
Sitting in the car outside Lances office after officially accepting our referral the following Monday afternoon!!
Valentine's Day date the night after. We were seated in the exact room and spot where our rehearsal dinner was 8 years ago. It was such a great night as we sat there counting our blessings and reflecting on the last 8 years of marriage and the fullness of our lives!
A picture I made us take before opening the email and seeing her face. See, don't we look worn out!?
Mimi and Grandpa seeing her for the first time!
Yep, I took a picture of the email before we opened it!
