The Process Continues......

Friday we met,via phone with the Pediatrician. Dr Mason is a doctor who specializes in International Adoption in Fairfax, Virginia. He reviewed all the medical paperwork and pictures we sent him and can not find any medical reason why we should not accept this referral (like we would even consider not accepting it after seeing his pictures). Our little guy ranks in the 95th percentile for weight and height and the 75th percentile for head circumference.

We would really like to be able to post more information about him (sorry, we haven't landed on a name yet) and pictures; however we have been ask not post information on the blog or Facebook from our Agency. We hope that everyone understands this; one of our neighbors said it best; she and her husband have 3 beautiful children from Korea and have been "in our shoes". She told us "this is his story and someday when he is 8 or 9 or older, he will come to understand it is his information, and the only information he has on his birth family. Please consider who you share his information with, or whether to share it at all. Anyone you share it with will know your son's story before he knows his own, so keep it close."

Hearing this from someone who has been thru this process not once, but three times really drove the point home; we now have to consider the feelings of someone other than ourselves, I suppose this is something that comes with parenthood. Thank you for the words of advice; you really helped us to understand the possible long term effects to a short term objective.

We are so gratefully for everyones well wishes and your excitement for us in our new adventure; we will certainly post whatever info we feel is appropriate as we continue our journey.

A Big Step Closer - Referral is in!

So I just so happened to be home early this afternoon because I had a doctors appointment and at 4:53 the phone rang and the caller ID flashed a number that was simply listed as North Carolina. My heart skipped a beat, I took a deep breathe and answered the phone. From the other end I heard "John? Do you have a minute?" I heard our social worker say "we have a referral for you". As she went over the particulars she pretty much sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher to me. I did manage to remember the important things like, it's a boy, he's 5 months old and his birthday is 5 days before mine in July. As it turns out our Social Worker had tried to call Paige at work but she was not at her desk and she missed the call. When she saw the missed call on her phone she didn't know what to do. Within minutes I was on the phone to her; she said "Did they call you? What did they want" Oh not much really.... just wanted to chat..... WE HAVE A REFERRAL!!!

We were immediately sent an "E-Packet" with some family history, medical history of our little guy and of course PICTURES. He is adorable, a chubby little guy, just so cute!! We are very early in the referral process; until things are more definite they really don't want us to post too many details or to share too many personal details of the child and his birth family. All of this is so new it just doesn't feel real yet. As the reality of us actually being parents sinks in we will of course share more info as we learn more. We want thank everyone for all of their well wishes over the past 8 months and 27 days that was our referral wait!