Waiting turns to hope
The evening of January 3, 2008, will forever be etched into my memory. The phone rang rather late in the evening and it was the new agency’s area code. I picked up the call and I was told that I was accepted by them…and guess what? There was a situation they wanted to tell me about. The situation was very fluid with things changing rapidly. I kept the phone by my side constantly and over the course of the next week I rushed to get the pieces in place, started shopping for newborn gear and products, researching airfare and hotels in the area I might be heading to, trying to settle on baby names (I had opened up to either a boy or girl so I figured I’d better work on girl names!) and so on.
The following Friday, January 11th, I was simply waiting for an update from the agency, knowing that there would be new information for me. My social worker called, filled me in on a lot of new information, and told me that, by the way, the expectant mother was checked into the hospital and the baby would be delivered that day! By afternoon, I was told that I needed to be on a plane that evening.
Three hours later, I was on the way to the airport, an hour after that I got a call that the expectant mom was about ready to push, and then I had to board the plane and turn off my cell phone. A few hours later I landed and rec’d the message, “Call us!” I returned the call to hear, “It’s a girl!”
Meeting the birth mom and baby Delaney
That night I had the opportunity to meet this wonderful young lady who had just given birth to this baby. I got to hear from her about her life and about her choice to place for adoption, and we spent the next couple of hours getting to know one another.
The next afternoon I walked into the nursery area of the hospital, sat in a rocking chair, and held the tiny baby girl who would soon become my daughter. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the busy room, I sat gazing at this little bundle (5 lbs. 10 oz.) and cried tears of joy.
The next three days were spent snuggling this beautiful little girl for hours a day as I waited for the process to move along. On her fourth day of life, all of the paperwork was signed and I was officially the adoptive mama of a beautiful baby girl I named Delaney Annabelle. I drove to the hotel in a state of shock — the hospital actually just lets you buckle that little car seat into the base and drive off! I worried as she cried her tiny little cries in the seat, then I worried as she stopped crying.
I’m a mom!
Delaney and I flew home when she was nine days old and began our life together. I could not stop gazing at her in awe that she was my daughter then, and I cannot stop now. This little girl has been such an amazing gift in my life. She is spunky, smart, silly, loving, spirited and the love of my life. I have been more tired than I could have ever imagined, but have also never laughed with such pure love and joy.
Many say that adoption is not for the faint of heart and that is true. Adoption is a complicated, sometimes heart-breaking journey paved with many ups and downs. While the journey was challenging, I am grateful for the friendships I developed along the way and for the amazing little girl that I now get to call my daughter.
Special thanks to Stacy for sharing her touching story with us!
Want to share your adoption story?
Please contact [email protected] for more information.
Also check out:My adoption story: Jennifer and Kevin Gordon
Leave a Comment