In the last post I got off on a tangent and veered off my idea. So that raised some questions and I thought I would give some background.
My daughter commented that I was wrong that both of them were picked up on the same day two years apart. So she is right but neither one of knows the exact date which is in files. We agree that they were two or three days apart.
There was much more behind the last post that would explain some things.
I mentioned that the application process was long and detailed. We also had a long interview. We were also told that it may be two years before a placement might be made. Okay if that's the situation we'll live with it. I told the Micro Manager not to buy any baby stuff because if for some reason we were turned down she would be extremely disappointed .
This was September. Life went merrily on. I was teaching and she was nursing.
So Dec. 21 the Micro Manager received a call at 2:30 PM to say that we had been accepted into the program but that they couldn't say when a placement would be made. At 3:30 PM , one hour later she received a call to say that a pending placement had been made. They wanted us to come up the next day and pick up the baby. This was a Thursday afternoon and Friday would be the last day of school. Remember now we had absolutely no baby stuff! So the Micro Manager is pretty fast so told them of the situation and asked for a delay until the Monday.
So Friday and Saturday the Micro Manager did what she is good at...shop. She had a list and madly dashed around to pick stuff up. Every once in a while I would get a phone call to come down town and pick up a load of stuff. By Saturday closing time we had everything we needed.
So it was a big surprise and very exciting. Basically it took one hour for us to become parents.
Monday when we picked our son up was a very exciting and stressful day. We went through more interviews. We were given backgrounds and asked many times if we still wanted to adopt. Finally our son was brought in to us. They left us alone with him and than came back and asked us if we still wanted to adopt. The answer was a quick yes . Then the paper started flying.
You are on probation for 6 months. If you mess up the child will be taken back. It is STRESSFUL.
So off on the two hour drive to home. It was late but we were ready to feed and look after our son and put him to bed.
What I remember about both kids is that when we first held them they were stiff and tense. They knew that something was going on. They were not relaxed like most babies. In a couple of days with us they relaxed.
This whole procedure was a shock to us but it was also a big surprise for our family and friends.
Thanks for sharing your adoption process. So wonderful that the process worked out for you:) Merry Christmas Red!
ReplyDeleteWe had no idea that the process was so challenging.
DeleteThe best possible Christmas gift for all of you! I loved hearing about the adoptions. What a blessing for each of you. A very Merry Christmas to you and your lovely wife Red!
ReplyDeleteIt's been one of our Christmas stories.
DeleteThat happened pretty fast. So overnight you became parents without all the usual way one goes about it. I'm glad you were able to handle it all and get not one but two babies.
ReplyDeleteThey were one at time. They were two years apart. I didn't make myself very clear.
DeleteThanks for sharing that. I'd never really thought about what the first days of adopting a child would be like for the parents! I used to be a social worker but I always specialised in working with adults, so it's not something I had a lot to do with.
ReplyDeleteEach adoption will be different but that's my story and I'm stickin to it.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteChildren can be stressful, but they are worth it. I think it is awesome you adopting two children at the same time. Merry Christmas to you and your family! I wish you all the best in 2021. Have a Happy and Healthy New Year!
What a sweet memories of those times. Have a nice Christmas!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas
DeleteA lot of emotions, no doubt about that. But lots of excitement and joy, too!
ReplyDeleteYes, mixed emotions .
DeleteAnd a blessed Christmas was had.
ReplyDeleteThankyou. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
DeleteLOL. I imagined a woman dashing about town calling you from time to time to come pick up a load. The question begs an answer: After picking up your son, did she discover that she'd forgotten anything?
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to all of you!
We had all the necessities. Merry Christmas to you.
DeleteAnd I'm so glad for you that in the end it all worked out well. May you and yours all have a wonderful Christmas.
ReplyDeleteNot all adoptions work that way. Happy Christmas to you.
DeleteWow! I can't believe you wound up with a baby so quickly after being accepted! I've heard of people waiting ages for a baby, but maybe it was different in Canada, especially back then.
ReplyDeletePeople waited ages here too.
DeleteHave a wonderful Christmas! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMy parents adopted my elder siblings before I came along.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Red.
I'm sure there were good stories around your place.
DeleteHi Red, Happy it has all turned out so well. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, the Micro Manager, and the rest of the family. John
ReplyDeleteThanks and a Merry Christmas to you.
DeleteThat is such a wonderful story of the best Christmas gift. Really lovely, Red.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good gift and still is.
DeleteWhat a wonderful memory and story. Have a happy and safe Christmas.
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas to you and your family.
DeleteMerry Christmas, Red!
ReplyDeleteMy mom tells a similar story. Did your wife know what to buy?
My mom was the youngest of 3 kids, and my gramma fostered kids, so I KNOW she got advice from her mother!
No advice from anybody. The Micro Manager is a very competent shopper.
DeleteGood for you! Merry Christmas to all of you.
ReplyDeleteand a Merry Christmas to you.
DeleteIt's a good story around our house. Merry Christmas to you.
ReplyDelete