Diapers needed . . .

On Thursday, May 3, 2012 we were going about life as normal.  I had just written my blog about being at peace with the wait and giving all control up to God on Wednesday evening.

On Thursday evenings we bowl in a league.  We love bowling because it gets us out of the house and is exciting.  Last Thursday I had an extremely emotional day at work.  The day was laden with medical emergencies, protecting students from themselves, everyone person having to pitch in, etc.  I had to deliver some devastating news to one of my students that is already emotionally fragile.  I was sitting at bowling thinking about her and hoping that I did not get a phone call from her dad saying she had given up.  A couple of hours into bowling I missed a call.  It was from an unknown 719 number.  I immediately called the number back hoping that something had not happened to my mom or Gary.  When the person on the other line picked up she said that she is a case worker with Hope's Promise.  I turned around and yelled at Derek that it was "the call."  I started jogging to get outside of the building so we could talk to her.  From my view Derek was walking slowly!

Once we got outside she told us that we had been chosen by a birth family that evening.  She told us about the birth family and wanted to know when we could meet.  The birth mother had two requests, she wanted to meet as soon as possible and wanted to meet at Mimi's Cafe so she could have the turkey dinner.  As any good waiting couple would do, we agreed!  We decided that Sunday evening Derek, myself, the case worker, the birth mother, the birth father, the birth father's mom and step-father and the birth mother's parents would meet for the first time.  At the conclusion of the conversation the case worker said that the birth parents wanted to know if we were excited.  I said that we were ecstatic and could not believe that it was our time!  Derek and I were both in such shock that our bowling went down the tubes for the night!

When bowling was over I had to tell someone that we had been picked.  Since we have entered the pool my mom has had the same reaction as I have had to the phone ringing, a jump.  We never knew when our call might come so in the back of our minds we always wondered if this caller was the one.  I told my mom a couple of months ago that she would not be getting the news over the phone so that excluded her from the first conversation.  I sent a text to my brother Todd at 11:00 PM on the east coast telling him to call me ASAP.  He called right away.  I shared the news and the excitement with him.  While I was on the phone with him my other brother, Mark called.  I told him as well.  I gave both of them very strict instructions that they were not allowed to tell mom anything.  I wanted to come up with something special to give her the news.

On Friday we had a professional development day at work.  My department attended the first part of the day that included announcements, celebrations, etc.  While we sat there I was trying to determine whether I should tell them or not.  When we left the meeting we were gathered chatting about all of the things that had been so difficult all week.  I got to a point that something positive had to be said so I asked "can I tell you some good news?"  Both of my coworkers turned to me and said sure.  I followed with "Derek and I have to plan our Baby Moon."  Both of them burst out in tears because they have been on the rollercoaster with me every day.  They could not believe the news either.  It was the news that we all needed to get through the day and finish off the week on a positive note.

On Sunday we went to our match meeting with the whole group.  There was a lot of nervous energy at first as we didn't know what we were going to be talking about.  The number of things in common with each person around the table was amazing.  It even got down to the birth father's best friend having the same name that we plan to name a boy, Taden.  It is not a common name so Derek and I were shocked when he said it.

At the conclusion of the meeting the caseworker said she was going to talk with us on Tuesday to see if we felt that this was a match.  I knew from the moment we started talking that it was.  Every detail was meeting every expectation we have had from the beginning.  Derek and I sat there so thankful because we were getting the best possible scenario, but we had to wait to make sure the feeling was mutual.

First thing this morning I left a message with our caseworker that as far as Derek and I were concerned it was a match.  She said she would share it with the birth family's caseworker and she would be letting us know.  We were expecting the call to come tomorrow, but I just got off the phone with her.  We are officially matched!  Phone numbers will be exchanged and we can start to build our relationship over the next 19 weeks as we await the birth of our baby.  Our next meeting will be over frozen yogurt and Derek and I cannot wait!

Now that we are at this point we can be thankful for every struggle that we have endured and thought was unfair.  I can say that we have prepared a home and will continue to prepare a home for the homecoming of our child in September!

P.S. Diapers are needed because those things are expensive!!!!!