An Elephant and Me

What does a pregnant elephant and me have in common...? We both have been waiting for our baby to arrive for over 21 months. An elephants' gestation is between 18-22 months long, and I now know how an elephant must feel...and with the way I have been comfort eating lately, we may soon have more in common then our gestation period...

Funny, when I first announced we were 'expecting' way back in June 2008, I made reference to an expecting elephant. Who knew that that naive post would come back to haunt me...

As we head into our 22nd month, I wonder who will see their baby first - me or the elephant? Maybe we should put bets on it...

Speaking of bets... in my last 20 month anniversary post, Jenny made the following comment: "...I know it will be March. I am telling you it will be March. If it is not, I will eat my socks. I will, I promise, and I will send you a photo of me eating them if I am wrong. That is how confident I am. Here is to a very exciting March! I have no doubts." So, as you may recall, Jenny and her family sent me flowers this month; however, with that gesture, I wonder whether she hoped I would forget about her bet or if she thinks she is now off the hook? Well, as much as I would LOVE to see Jenny eating her socks, and even more so, see our referral this month, I think we can call it even!!!

All I ask from everyone in the month ahead are prayers, thoughts, hopes, and wishes...

I wish...

...I had this much talent. Sara had her first sleepover last night with a friend from school. The family is from Kenya and her mom did Sara's hair this morning before she came home. What a great and beautiful surprise.

Can swearing be a hobby?

Or is it more of a bad habit?

Either way I have taken up swearing quite regularly lately - even more so then ever before. F-sharps, S-bombs, and every combination in between have become part of my everyday vocabulary. It is such a release for me.

Try it - just scream out (ensuring any children around are wearing 'earmuffs')...

"F#$K - F#$K - F#$K "
or
"F#$K this S%&T"
or
"Bloody F#$King HELL, will this S%&T ever end"

Doesn't that feel sooooo good...? Almost like you have accomplished something. Don't feel silly or bad - if you are on this adoption roller-coaster you have already been officially diagnosed as CRAZY, INSANE or LOONIE (you decide, whichever best describes your current state).

Don't fight it, it happens even to the best of us.

Speechless

Well, seriously, it takes a lot for me to not know what to say, but I am speechless...

The support we have received throughout this journey has been overwhelming...and just when I thought my heart could not take much more, I am blessed by friends who hold me up when I am having trouble standing.

I received these beautiful flowers today from my wonderful blogging friend in BC, Jenny and family (including her mom, who is always checking in and thinking of us too!!). They brought their perfect baby Kallie home from Ethiopia last year - she is the most precious little angel and seeing her pictures always makes me smile.



Thank you, Jenny and family - I have been having a tough couple weeks - how did you know I needed a boost right now??? Can't wait to thank you in person when we plan our cross-Canada Ethiopian Adoption vacation - there are sooooo many people I want to ((((hug)))) for real!!!!

And the poop piles - UPDATE #4

Well, today we got 'it' - the one thing I have been holding onto over the past month or so - we had not yet received our dreaded homestudy update reminder. But today I held in my hands the one thing I really didn't think we would ever have to look at again. I said to a friend only yesterday "If/when that homestudy update does come, my heart will fall deep into my stomach". My last blog post was titled 'My heart is hurting', and today, my heart is now being digested by my stomach.

Our homestudy update is due back to our agency by the end of May. So, I ask you this - if you were us, at what point would you start making all your crappy, time consuming appointments to start the paperwork for the update? Next week? Next month? How long would you hold out for?

And to top it off, the update is not just a simple one, it is THE BIG two year update, with doctors appointments, fingerprints, criminal checks, letters from employers, reference letters, notice of assessments, and the list goes on - and the $$$$$$ piles up for each little piece. I was saying to my mom and dad the other day that this whole process is so ironic - we get angry, frustrated, irritated, and let down throughout this entire process, yet we gladly open our cheque book to anyone (I just need to say, to ensure that it is VERY clear, that all payments related to this adoption are specifically for processing documents and required services, and nothing else).

So this evening consisted of a variety of treats to help take the bitter taste out of my mouth...

Sugar high...
Carb crash...
Sleep...

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UPDATE: To add even more SHIT to the pile, there has been an announcement (for USA families) that adoptive parents are now required to be present at the court hearings of their prospective children. We have yet to hear if and how this will affect Canadian families...stay tuned.

UPDATE #2: Most recent news is that this is an issue in the United States and does not have an effect on the Canadian process. PHEW.

UPDATE #3: NEVER MIND about update #2 - looks like we are not out of the woods yet. Continue to stay tuned...

UPDATE #4: According to CAFAC families, the new requirement WILL effect us. And although we have not heard from Imagine directly yet, I am fairly confident that we will hear from them imminently relaying the same message as CAFAC. At this point, I need to let this all sink in before I post about this any further.

My heart hurts today...

After the Imagine update this morning, I really don't know what to think anymore. We are now looking at more delays. Even though they are fairly confident that the issue is only temporary and will be sorted out, they don't know when - and when you are as close as we are, everyday, every hour, every minute counts.

My heart hurts today...

Can Tim Hortons really make you cry?

Oh yes they can...