Since August had arrived we were optimistic that this would be the month of our call. Last Wednesday we saw through the Internet that a new batch of special needs children had been posted to the shared agency list. The day came and went and there was no call. I was still hopeful because the last few months the CCAA had posted shared referrals over 2-3 days. Then Thursday came and went with no phone call. I was feeling a bit discouraged that evening wondering when it would ever come. I was sitting at the computer typing email and Ami came part way down the stairs and said, “Mommy something happened. I tell you secret.” So I went over to her, bent over to put my ear close to hear and she said, “Elijah coming my house. Two brothers, Elijah and Benjamin.” Yes, I cried! That was just the encouragement I needed. Thank you God for speaking to and through my children! There have been other instances similar to this that have spoken profoundly of the connection that Ami feels with Elijah. It’s uncanny and I can’t explain it other than to say that she knows and feels something deeper, way deeper.
So Friday morning the phone rang just after 9 am. Our agency is in Virginia (an hour ahead of us) and I thought that it could possibly be them calling. The updated list would have been there when they arrived to work that morning since China would have posted them during Asia’s daytime hours. I looked at Michaela with a big smile and answered to hear a voice say, “This is Melissa…..” The first thought that went through my mind was that our social worker (Melissa) was just calling to let us know that China had updated the special needs list this week, but that Elijah’s file still wasn’t on it. Maybe it would come later. Instead she said, “I have some good news!” I don’t even remember what I said, but there was suddenly lots of screaming coming from my four kids at home!! They were shouting, “WE GOT IT! WE GOT IT!” What a precious, precious moment in our lives together. A beautiful moment that we had waited for for so long. I did try to get the video camera going, but of course it was out of tape. I do remember Melissa saying a couple of times, “That’s okay, I’ll wait, enjoy the moment.” I tried to regain some composure and let the screams subside so that I could hear the rest of the news. Elijah’s file had been placed on the shared agency list, but AWAA had been able to lock it in for our family right away. No one else had been able to touch it, we were matched! She said she would be sending us an email right away with Elijah’s full file and photos and to call with any questions. I knew I would be calling fairly soon because I could hardly remember half of what she told me!
We used the speaker phone and tried calling Chris at work right away, but his phone kept going right to voice mail. Finally after the fourth attempt he answered the phone. He had been in a meeting and wondered why we were so persistent and figured he better answer the call. Good figuring Daddy of Elijah!!! We opened the email from work and home at the same time. The photos were all from last fall when his file was first started, so of course we already had much better and more recent photos. But it was a joy to see his file and photos, just for us!
We enjoyed making other phone calls to share the good news, but also had to get to work on some more paperwork. An agency is only able to “lock in” a file for 48 hours before it is released to the whole list again. Because of the weekend ahead, we had to have our Letter of Intent in by 3pm EST. We had previously drafted this letter in preparation and had also sent the other necessary documents to AWAA, but we now had to have a physician review Elijah’s file and give us a brief plan of action that we could include in the letter. I will write more about Elijah’s special need later, but in short he has had congenital heart disease, but has had heart surgery to repair it. At this point he should only need yearly follow-ups. We had previously contacted a pediatric cardiologist that was willing to look at Elijah’s file on short notice, so we emailed the information to him and got the reply we needed. We got everything faxed to AWAA and they sent our Electronic Acceptance to China before the close of business on Friday.
Phew, what a day! It finally came. I feel like we are now in the next chapter of the journey. There is more to prepare for, more to research, more to look forward to!
Right after the phone call
Celebrating with Chinese food
These referral photos were likely taken last November when Elijah’s file was being put together.
Passport photo
Referral photo
Referral photo