More Details About Our Little Girl (Part 3)

**We cannot post our sweet girl's picture until our acceptance paperwork has been turned into our agency. Believe me, we would have turned it in by now except that we haven't received it yet. As soon as we get it, we will turn it in so you can see her picture! I also have not mentioned her name yet...because we haven't decided yet. We were completely thrown for a loop not thinking we'd have to name a baby for about 6 more months and definitely not thinking we would need a girl name! So, we are in discussions and negotiations ;) and we'll let you all know as soon as we know!!**

Here are the previous stories if you're just now joining us!
Part 1
Part 2

First of all, let me tell you that the doctor we talked to gets paid nothing for conferencing with us because we were in a waiting program. So, she takes time out of her FRIDAY night to conference with us. I cannot tell you how impressed we were with her thoroughness and her compassion...knowing that we would be anxiously waiting to talk to her.

Anyway, we talk to her and get all of our questions answered...she gives our girl a clean bill of health and says that everything looks great and she sees no reason not to proceed! I am ELATED and giddy with joy!!! The doctor was very realistic that there are always risks when adopting because we don't know every single detail of her birth mother's life but based on the information we do know we felt very comfortable and at peace with moving forward.

Michael and I were so happy and so excited! It's just a feeling that you cannot even describe because things change so quickly. One day you think that you're in for another long extended wait with no end in sight, and the next day your whole world changes when the child you have longed for and prayed for is finally within your reach.

I had already planned out how we wanted to tell our parents, and it was too late at night to execute the plan I'd had in my mind for 19 months...but I had to tell someone! So, I called my friend Jen and told her that I had had a really long day and I really needed to talk to her so I was on my way to her house. She said they were still up so to definitely come on over.

As soon as she walked out of her garage to meet me, I just started screaming "I HAVE A BABY!!!" She started screaming, too, and we just cried and screamed and cried! It was so fun!! Then, I said, "And, IT'S A GIRL!!!!!" Again, more tears and more joy!

The next morning we were getting together with some friends who we've done breakfast with every once in a while for several years now. I had bought Riley a "I'm A Big Brother" t-shirt the day before, just in case, so we brought him into the kitchen where we were gathering and our friends picked up on it right away. Again, more surprise, shared joy and excitement!

We had been given tickets to a State basketball game by my sister Karoline, and we really did want to go to the game. So we went to the game and planned to go tell our parents when we got back into town. I was SO EXCITED I could barely stand it! Of course, the game had to go into overtime and while I really enjoyed my time at the game all I could think about was the surprise our parents were about to get!

After the game was over, we headed to my parents' house because we knew they weren't going to be there much longer since they had plans for the evening. Riley had fallen asleep so when we came into my parents' house he was snuggled up against Michael and no one could see what was on his shirt. Everyone kept commenting on how his shirt was the wrong color for the game because it was Carolina blue (the ONLY color the store had or I definitely wouldn't have bought it) and our colors are red. Michael and I just kept laughing when they said that! Finally, Riley woke up and faced out so that you could read his t-shirt and my sister Susannah said, "No, really? Are you serious?" My dad didn't have his glasses on so he walked closer to Riley and said, "Are you serious?" He then yelled for my mom who was in another room to come in there because we had been matched.

It was SO much fun to see everyone get so excited and be so surprised that we'd been matched! It was a moment I had dreamed about for so long! Then, when the excitement had somewhat calmed I told them that it was a GIRL! More screaming and excitement!! We showed everyone her beautiful picture and just enjoyed every moment!

Next, we headed to Michael's parents. We came in and Michael's dad was holding Riley for a few minutes and then said, "Let's see what your t-shirt says." Then, he read it out loud and said "Why are you wearing this shirt?" Then, he said, "REALLY?" And, Michael's mom also said, "REALLY?" We just started saying "Yes!! Can you believe it?!?!" It was so much fun! Then, Michael said, "Well, do you want to see her picture?" And, Michael's mom said, "Her? Is it a GIRL?" More excitement and we showed them her picture! It was so thrilling!!

It was an amazing weekend...the beginning of the fulfillment of so many dreams. The beginning of the joy that comes after mourning...after intense longing...the overwhelming joy and renewed faith that God does answer prayers. Maybe not in the exact way I would have planned but EVEN BETTER. Even beyond more than my wildest dreams!