If you missed part one of the Throckmorton’s adoption story, check it outHere!
But if you are ready to move on…get ready for the feels.
Japan! We had pursued domestic infant adoption and this baby was born in Japan. Another reason we were scared to say yes. Would this change our process? Would we have to start over on the international side? More money…more time…and don’t even get me started on the flight to Japan. Bryan and I both hate flying. Like panic attack, can’t function type of hate. The idea of having to fly halfway around the world was honestly more terrifying than adopting a baby with special needs. Yes. Honest truth. We decided whatever needed to happen would and we just tabled that fear for the moment.
We had to go say yes. As I was walking upstairs to send the typical email response I remembered that a friend of mine who was also adopting had mentioned that sending a personal note with the “yes” could be a great touch and one that would make your family stand out amongst the other “yesses”. So, I asked Bryan, “Would we send a letter too?” We both just sorta stopped and laughed at the irony of how moments ago the Yes was so terrifying because no one else would probably say yes, but now we were considering writing a letter to try and push us up and over those other, unlikely “yesses”. Of course we sent the letter. WE wanted this sweet family and baby to feel fought for, even if we were the only ones fighting.
Our hearts were scared and excited all in one. It felt too good to be true. She was ours. It just made too much sense at this point for her to not be, right? We had sent our yes, and our letter, and now we waited. And waited…and waited… 4 Long Days.
After waiting 4 long days, we finally got a call. Not exactly the call we were expecting. “So, the family has been looking through all the profile books and they have narrowed it down to 3 families. “Wait, ALL the profiles? 3 Families? This baby that no one had said yes to now had 3 families fighting for her? While we loved hearing she wasn’t ignored and rejected again, we also now had our hearts attached. We had done a complete 180. What if we don’t get picked? What if we don’t adopt a baby with Down syndrome? What was all of this rollercoaster for?
The birth family had a few questions for us. We were at a friends’ wedding when we received this call. WE stepped out and answered all the questions. We followed up with written responses to be sent on to the family. We were excited but also shaken by the quick turn of events. WE had felt like we were in the driver’s seat and now we felt no control at all.
June 18th was Father’s Day. We hadn’t heard anything for 3 days. It would have been so fitting and memorable to hear good news on Father’s Day, right? We were anxiously waiting and trying not to lose hope…watching my phone and email like a hawk. The day came and went. Nothing. Bryan went back to work Monday morning. I didn’t want to be bothersome, but I just couldn’t take the wait. The baby was already here, just waiting in a hospital. Why isn’t everyone moving faster? I texted our consultant. “I know it’s only been a few days, but have you heard anything?
Her response. “Call me when you can – I called you like five times yesterday.”
Check out Part III
For the bows the Throckmortons chose for their fundraiser and an explaination, plese click here: See the Bows!
Remember 100% of profits go to the Throckmortons in their continuing efforts to mitigate adoption expenses.