Referral Day

Yesterday was probably one of the best days of our lives! It started early. I awoke at 5:00 and checked rumors - there was nothing. Back to bed until 7:00 and then the first rumor appeared; packages in Europe. Knowing packages were in Europe combined with another rumor made me about 95% sure referrals were coming! Pat cancelled a meeting and we hunkered down waiting for the call. The first part of the morning went well and we were able to keep ourselves busy but by 10:30 we were going crazy! I watched a little Olympics, I checked in with Kathy and Dave (2 other couples who will be traveling with us), I checked my e mail and RQ and Pat and I just stared at each other. The kitchen island was ready with every gadget: camera, laptop, voice recorder, "the call" sheet, pen, pencil, 2 phones, and 2 cell phones! Finally at 11:42 the phone rang and my social workers name appeared! OMG this is it! I answered the phone and Pat started the recording. I call the boys upstairs "This is the call!" and they ran up to share in this moment. Erin, my social worker, wanted to make sure I was ready, "Do you need a pen?", she asked. Are you kidding me! Of course I am ready! She tells us we have a baby girl and then she tells us her name; Yue Mei Chun. This was amazing and already I know this child was meant for us. When we started the process, 3+ years ago we called Lily "Mei Mei" meaning little sister. Mei Mei then turned into Lily Mei. I remember my g.mother calling her Lily Mei and I had to explain that was not her name! We would have her middle name be whatever her Chinese name was. Well 3+ years later we now have a Lily Mei Chun!! The social worker then gave us her DOB; 2/5/08. I really lost it here; OMG she is a baby at just 6 months old! I was prepared for a baby between 6 - 18 months but really thought she would be 10 months at referral. I was shocked again. She is a February baby just like her mom (2/10), her dad (2/27), her uncle (2/6), her cousin (2/15), her papa (2/25) and her nana (2/28). Another red thread! She was born just 10 days before her baby cousin Tommy! I have spent a lot of time with Tommy this summer and have watched him grow and change, I can't believe he is the same age as our little girl in China!! Finally, the social worker told us she was in the Jiangxi Province. This is the same province as 2 of the "99" (our close friends who came home in December) babies. The call ended and Pat and I both called our moms and then I spoke to Dave and Sandy. Wren was born 6 days before Lily and is in the same orphanage!! I spoke to Kathy and Emma is 18 months old and also in the same orphanage! This is truly a gift. The 6 of us have formed a nice friendship during this wait and it is so unbelievable our girls have spent their short lives together. They will be together forever!!

After the e - mails were sent and phone calls made we took the boys to Build a Bear. They both made bears for Lily. Shea made a Patriots cheerleader and Bryce made the Red Sox "green monster"! We can't "girly" up these boys!! I had to make a quick stop into Gymboree and buy a few small outfits. We headed home and by 4:15 the party began. Friends and family stopped by all evening and we enjoyed 3 visits from the Chinese food delivery man and 1 visit from the Pizza delivery! Lots of champagne was poured and drunk and a few beautiful toast were given. Patrick and I felt so blessed to be surrounded by our family and friends at such an exciting time for us.

We had taped "the call" on our I POD so we listened to that a few times during the day. I love hearing "the call", it brings the whole moment back and makes it feel all so real! By 10:00 I was exhausted, I can't believe how tiring the day was! It was an amazing emotional day and it couldn't have gone any better! I went to bed and just kept repeating her name "Lily Mei Chun". I couldn't wait to wake up this morning and start learning about her province and orphanage! I will save all that for another post!

I want you all to know that we have saved every message and comment that was left for us. They will be printed out and someday Lily will know how excited everybody was for her arrival. I have received some of the nicest comments from people I have never met, but then again the adoption community is made up of some of the most wonderful supportive people! For people still waiting, I can only say I hope you have the strength to continue with your journey. I pray for a speed up but I know that one day your pain from waiting will be replaced with pure joy and thankfulness!

I saved the BEST NEWS for last: We get Lily's picture tomorrow night at 5:00!! Check back and you will see Lily Mei Chun for the first time!!