Friday, October 15, 2010

A Couple of Dangling Carrots


I’ve always been a chronic email checker, but when awaiting news that another step in the adoption process has been approved, this obsession takes on a new life. At least for awhile, after weeks and months go by, the urge to check one more time sort of fades. Those ads to encourage purchasing life insurance, or refill my ink cartridges for a bargain, or sell me the latest and greatest coffee maker can wait.


Then one day “ping” you see a message sent from your adoption representative and your heart flutters up into your throat. The scene is always the same. Open it and skim it looking for the highlights —good news or bad news. Then starting over and drinking in every word, read it again. Then you read it a third time, this time trying to read between the lines and figure out how the new information fits into the sliding time line you have going on in your head about how this adoption is going to play out. Close the email, wait a few minutes and then go through the same procedure again. This time, you conclude by hitting the forward button and type out all of your unorganized thoughts of euphoria and panic about this email and send it to your husband—your voice of reason—and wait for his reply.


What a Tuesday morning this week. The message was that CARA will not grant our NOC without 7 more documents. On the third reading of the email, I realize that by asking for more, they are considering a YES, and are not giving us an outright NO. Wonderful!


Then it sets in....7 more documents ASAP. Really? It happens they are all ones that have been sent before. This is good news, as I can reprint most of them easily and have them notarized but, there is still a doctor’s note from Devi’s pediatrician required and Pat and I have to be tested, yet again, for HIV. These items require planning, appointments, all taking up valuable minutes, when all I can think of is getting these papers in the mail immediately. Coming to my senses, Pat and I devise a plan to tick each task off the list. These are merely hoops and I am willing to jump as high as they want at this point.



Devi's updated letter to her sister.

It is a picture of Shir Khan Lake (round blue lake surrounded by lions and one monkey), because the Jungle Book took place in India. Her personal sentiment is her name beside two hearts, a smiley face and the word Love. I think that says it all!


Today we will complete their final request - the HIV test. Rather than going through our doctor’s office which requires a copay and takes a week to get results, we are going to a clinic where I plan on bringing my own stash of sanitary wipes to clean any surface I may come in contact with. Guaranteed printed out results in 20 minutes is really all I care about at this point.


Much to my surprise during my email exchange with our representative we received this news about our sugar plum from the representative who is in India now....


She is doing well. She is still very shy—when you talk to her, she closes her eyes and pretends you’re not there.:) She is walking really well and doesn’t cry anymore. She plays ball with her caretaker and smiles while she does that. Her fingers and toes look a lot better than last time since she has had her surgery. She seems to be using them well.


With a full heart and a head in the clouds, we will hopefully hit the post office tomorrow to send off this set of papers. The final set? We hope so. With these latest dangling carrots still hanging fresh in front of our noses, I begin my email obsession....awaiting photos from this latest visit :)

9 comments:

The Pfeiffer Family said...

Oh, Julie, once again your words capture the insantity of the adoption roller coaster and the email play by play was spot on! So happy to see a great report on your little girl. Great news that you have copies of all the required papers and got your HIV test done quickly...how many wipes did you have to use? :-)
It is so exciting to read about forward movement in your process to bring baby girl home. Waiting with you to see some more pics of your princess.

April :-)

The Labontes said...

So glad you found a way to get things done quickly. Every extra day of waiting is painful at this point! Can't wait to see some new pics of your babe. LOVE Devi's letter. This seemed like such a silly request to us, especially when Max wasn't even 2! Fun to put together though :)

jasonliberty said...

So happy that you have an uplifted spirit and seem to be keeping it through the topsy turvy of adoption. Thank goodness the papers were easily gotten and you could send them quickly.

Liberty

Peter and Nancy said...

We had a tendency to react like maniacs, trying to get everything done as quickly as possible! :o) I'm glad these documents were relatively easy to provide -- and it will be fun for Devi and Treya to look back on her sweet letter.

So glad to see the great report on Treya. We are cheering for you as you wait for NOC.
Nancy

Cindy said...

Awesome Julie! So happy you are finding a way to make this news good.....things are moving at least. I'm so happy for you. And I LOVE Devi's note to her sister....that is precious!

Anonymous said...

Julie:
I am sorry you are having to jump through hoops again but know that there is at least something you can do to get things moving.Love your update as always and Devi's picture is precious.Praying that is the last of the "dangling carrots" and your girlie can get home asap.
Leveta

Not By Chance said...

still. praying. hard.

Huge HUG from me to you...and Treya..and the NOC coordinator..come on now!

Love,
Susie

Emily said...

I'm right there with you Julie, frantic email reading and all. I do believe this CARA request is hopeful. I just keep praying for march, not a waltz!! Emily :)

Jennifer said...

So glad to hear you were able to get the documents taken care of quickly. Hopefully they'll process them just as quickly! What a sweet update on your baby girl.

We just started the process (with JOH) and I've been lurking on your blog for about two months now. I love it! We finally announced our news to our family and friends yesterday, which means I feel like I can finally stop lurking and start leaving comments! Yay! I've been wanting to reach out to you for awhile now, but couldn't find an email address on your blog.

Best,
Jennifer
www.ConvergentPaths.com/india