Jodi Speaks Her Mind

Adoption Process - 10 Weeks to go 5/13/2005

Week 40

We now have ten weeks to count down to our departure, so I’m changing my blog titles to reflect a count-down towards travel and adoption rather than an upward count. Woohoo!!

I had my bloodwork drawn this week so I can get re-tested for my medical forms, which have to be redone because of the mere chance that the current ones might expire while we are in Ukraine. Sad, but true. Steve will also have to be re-tested and do a new medical form. Argh. We also have to get another certified copy of our marriage license for the same reason. That’s what happens when the whole process takes a full year. Still, we are hopeful, excited, and keeping busy with plans and preparations.

I have been watching selected epidoses of Adoption Stories on the Discovery Health Channel and the moment when the adoptive parents meet their child(ren) in person for the first time (or for the final time to adopt them) is so incredible! I keep thinking that soon we will be having that moment for ourselves, and the thought is overwhelming. Yep, I almost always cry. I can’t help it. If anyone wants to observe the beauty and wonder of adoption I highly recommend this series. Although you do have to tolerate the condescending sing-songy voice of the narrator. Other than that, it’s a very genuine look at the people who choose adoption and the process that each family goes through. And it really effectively shows how every adoption is truly unique!!

I’ve also made an observation about myself that seems rather odd and unexpected to me. I would have thought now that we have an actual date that I would finally want to hit the baby stores and all of that, but I actually have had no desire whatsoever to go to any of them. The reason for this is a mystery to me. Some of it I think has to do with finally accepting the reality that we truly don’t know what age child we will be bringing home. I mean he or she could be well beyond being a “baby” anymore, but I think it is more than that. But what? I know some of you will probably suspect that it has something to do with all the years of uncertainty with regard to our fertility, but I don’t think that is the root of it either. We actually hit the baby stores early on in the adoption process and had a ball with it at the time. We registered for all kinds of “baby stuff” and started to familiarize ourselves with all the accompanying necessities. Despite the difficulties of the past, I have not struggled with thoughts along the lines of “I won’t believe it until I see it” and the like. I have peace and a sense of assurance that we will in fact come home with a child. Anyhow, it is just weird. I would have thought I would finally feel free to peruse the baby store aisles, and I do feel free to do this, but I have no desire to whatsoever. What the heck is that all about!? Anyone????

Also, the topic of names has come up several times and is probably the most-often-asked question by others. Our standard answer is pretty much that we have a few names we like and may use, but we also want to honor our child’s given name if appropriate. Most likely we will incorporate his or her current first name into the new name either as a first or middle name. The other factor at play here is age because the older the child the more used to his name he will be and changing it could have a negative emotional impact. By the way, we are really interested in hearing name suggestions. We probably won’t comment on them simply because we don’t want to announce our favorites yet and we also wouldn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings if we don’t like a name they suggest, but offer the suggestions anyway, especially since we don’t have any Baby Names books to look through. Thanks!!