I am gearing up for the most important first/blind date imaginable
this week. So many people have asked
about how this whole adoption scenario works. When do we leave, when do we come
back etc. Many things are up in the air right now (which for me is incredibly
hard for me to deal with!) Here is what we do know. My mother-in-law is heading
down our way Wednesday after she gets off work. Jesse and I fly out super early
Thursday morning to head to Utah. Our social worker will meet us at the
airport. We will get our rental car, head to our hotel and try to get
settled. Thursday evening we will
finally get to meet face-to-face with our birthmother R. at dinner. She has
chosen to eat at Olive Garden. Both our social worker and her social worker
will be there as well. I am extremely nervous about this meeting and really
have no idea what will be discussed, how we will feel, etc. R. is being induced the next morning either
at 6 or 7 am. We will get a call to head to the hospital when she is dilated to
a six or a seven and is comfortable. That is all we know. We have no idea how
that day will look. We don’t know if she wants us in the room for the actual
delivery, if she wants to hold the baby, if she wants the baby to stay with her
etc. Those first twenty four hours are going to be very difficult. She cannot
sign the legal paperwork until 24.5 hours after the birth. Once she signs, the
baby will be considered ours. Jesse has
to fly back home Sunday morning to relieve his Mom. My sister will be flying up
on Tuesday so I am not totally alone.
The baby will more than likely be in the NICU. We will have a better idea after the first 2
to 5 days how long the baby will need to stay in the hospital, but it is not a
guaranteed timeframe. Hopefully after
the first week Jesse and the boys can come back up. If not, I will stay,
regardless, until she is released to come home. We have been told this could be
from one week to six months. We are praying it is a shorter stay. I haven’t
been away from the boys for more than a couple days, so even though I am
excited to meet Jillian, I am very sad and know I will miss them terribly. We
will keep everyone updated the best we can once we arrive! Thank you all so
much for the love and support and we cannot wait to have the best Valentine’s
Day gift ever!
