Sunday, January 24, 2010

Proudly Presenting....






our little Princess..........

Saturday, January 23, 2010

She's Here!


The little princess has arrived.....no, she does not have a real name yet.....
12:06 pm. 6 lbs, 7 oz. 19 1/2 inches. Healthy and with a head full of dark hair!

There were a few tense, second-thoughts moments, but I am 98% sure we are bringing her home. Prayers needed for "T's" confidence and strength in this matter )and for our nerves as well!)

More pictures to follow!

Monday, January 18, 2010

Countdown..........to pink!

I've been horrible at updating the blog. All is well here in limbo-land. We are officially in the 2 week wait......There are new paperwork packets and fees and notarized papers and re-do stuff everyday, but I just breathe through it and pretend that when today’s is finished that there won’t be more tomorrow! I’m very Scarlett that way…..and if I think of it in small steps, I don't get as overwhelmed.

Anyway, "T" is due on Jan 31 and if she does not go before then, the Dr. has indicated that he will induce the week of the 25th. We do not know what day. It’s hard to believe that it will actually happen (given all of the other false starts, missed opportunities and negative tests…), though she’s given me no indication that it won’t, and she has no one in her life to help her or to tell her that she’s doing the wrong thing by placing the baby for adoption…..soooooooo....

I am cautiously optimistic. It seems that ICPC (the interstate compact people) have agreed to waive "T's" home state law since the adoption will be finalized in our state. That is a whooo hooo for us since it means that our stay in "T's" state will be significantly shorter. If the hospital has rooms available we should be able to room-in with the baby. That pleases me since "T" does not want to see her. I don't want the little bit to be left in the nursery "all alone" when we have to leave to sleep.

She still has no name…..My Daddy calls her Tinkerbell and my friend Carol calls her cupcake……we just call her “the baby we MIGHT get”….Although since our lawyer's assistant is Libby and our social worker here is Lucy and the hospital social worker there is Laura and then the discharge agency lady is Liz.....you'd think that an "L" name would be in the forecast!

I don’t know what my life will look like when I know our family is complete. For the last decade +, I have always had in the back (or front) of my mind…..”when will it happen? How will it happen? What insane procedure do I need to endure to get pregnant? Is that teenager going to keep that baby? Where is my baby coming from?”

I’m probably the only person who cheers when I read that the teen birth rate is going up…..sad, I know……It will be a relief to say, at ages 41 and 42 (today for The Big Prince) that it is OVER and we are DONE……Since April of 1997 we have either been pregnant, trying to get pregnant (on our own or with extreme medical intervention), or talking with someone about their person who is pregnant and does not know what to do…..It makes me tired to think about it, but I’d start all over tomorrow if I needed to, I’d just have to have a big cry and a half bottle of Vodka first…..

It’s going to be kind of nice…..except, I will need a new obsession…… Luckily, I have to renew my national Board Certification next year, so there’s that. It should be an experience with an almost 10 year old and a 9 month old……maybe I’ll go back to school…..and further traumatize The Big Prince…….. ha!

Maybe I'll be able to put away the what if's........and just enjoy......

After all, it will be the last time Princess......the very last time.....

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Have Bags....will travel.....

I have been living in a bit of the land of the overwhelmed....and I almost had a come-apart....but then I got it back together and trudged forward.

We are still "go for launch" although I have not personally talked to "T" since the visit. I have called and left messages, but have not talked to her. Libby (from the attorney's office) has talked to her though, and right now, it is more important to me that they get all of the legal mumbo-jumbo worked out. We are officially 28 days away from her due date. But I am a planner and I have had a lot of planning to do. Luckily, I have some time to get it done since I do not have to go to school until Tuesday morning, and then the children do not come until Thursday.

So, here's the list of what's been going on in my world....
1. Went to school and took down Christmas.
2. Transferred baby stuff to the small suitcase and put only a few outfits, blankets, burp cloths, etc....in the diaper bag.
3. Purchased a few new bottles and some pacifiers. (Don't judge, we are paci people)
4. Packed my suitcase with mixy-matchy clothes good for at least 10 days. Packed black shoes and new socks. All outfits will work with black shoes. The Big Prince will pack himself in about 5 minutes...
5. Put the newborn swaddler-thing in the carseat and remembered how to re thread the straps.
6. Put 2 emergency notes on the door (one reminding me to get the phone charger, camera/charger, and laptop/charger) and the other reminding me of what the Little Prince will need for school in case we schlep him off to my friend's house in the middle of the night....
7. Typed out a very extensive to do list for home, school, etc...(It is a pain having a job were you must not only replace yourself, but also your thought-process) but my good friend Carol will be my substitute and she is retired from our school. So that is a blessing and quite a relief. At least I don't have to leave a note telling her where the cafeteria is located! The to do list makes me happy. I love crossing off stuff.....
8. Have all bags, moses basket, carseat, etc.... on the guest room bed for easy pickup.
9. Wonder how Jennifer is remaining so calm? I just have one child to plan for. She has 5! Smooches to you sweetie! You deserve it!

Have bags- will travel Princess.....have bags- will travel..........