It has been 3 months since we were logged in (or basically put on a list) to be matched with our daughter. Thankfully, it has gone by faster than expected, no doubt because there has been a flurry of activity. Husband and I are pretty lucky to have found each other because we both are teachers + we both have summer vacations = we have the opportunity to create some pretty awesome family memories. Let me just stop here to step back and clarify what I just said because Husband will surely object and want me to say the REAL truth, which is that we actually met when I was a teacher and he was tennis pro and I "strongly encouraged the idea" of being a teacher with the "hint...hint...(wink)" that it would make a great relationship duo. Fast forward 10 years and he can't deny that he made the best choice in going the teacher route... and then marrying me, of course.
These last three months primarily fell over our summer vacation and we did anything but sit around (with the exception of my "three whole days!" which I delightfully shared in my prior post). We had playdates, swimming pools, camping, birthday parties, house guests, and painting of a room (which the Kid defiantly declared that we "RUINED HIS LIFE!" by changing his room color from Crocodile Dream Green to Honey Bear Yellow).
And then there was the traveling. We started out at a family condo near Dillon, Colorado for some some good 'ol Rocky Mountain high adventuring, then jetted off Maine for daily beach frolicking and sharing in Steve and Lindsey's beautiful wedding, and then wrapped it up with some quality family time at the grandparent's house in Massachusetts.
I started back to work 3 days after we returned from our jet setting. I feel so fortunate in that I made a very wise career move last year by making the brave, long leap from an elementary setting to high school. I never thought that I would use the words "enjoy" and "job" in the same sentence, but now I do frequently and am very happy with where I am at. This is the fist year that I have not dreaded going back to work and even looking forward to the fact that I will stay busy making the wait time likely go by even faster.
So, how much time do we have now to wait, you ask? Hahaha..haha..ha..ha.... good question. I feel the best comparison of waiting for a referral is the game Candy Land. You get so close to that glorious Gum Drop castle that you can almost lick it when you draw that bastard Gingerbread Man card that makes you slide back down that those colorful, gummy squares to the beginning. That is about how it can feel sometimes. This last month started with the dreaded rumors of a much longer wait, then went to giddiness of the thought of a much faster referral due to a brief spurt of infant referrals, and finally back to the message from our adoption case worker to not pop the cork yet because having numerous baby referrals at one time is a fluke and there is an expected likelihood to have more older children referrals in the upcoming months.
So, to get back to that question. We have jumped all over, but have averaged a 9 month wait from start to referral - meaning we are on the 6 month wait (give or take 3 months). For all that it is worth, if the math is correct, we are about #18 for the total number of families with our agency to be matched (give or take a few). These families on this list are open for either gender in ages infancy to young children and even specifically sibling groups. So, if a tiny baby girl becomes eligible for adoption (there are many already orphaned, though this is when there are determined eligible though birth parent relinquishment, etc), the family next on the list - even if they are open for a boy up to 5 year old - they will get the referral. We are more around #9 for an infant girl. Yes, this does seem close when you take in account that there were 6 referrals (that I know about) last month. But then again, if the case worker's predictions are right and there are will be older children referrals ready to go out in the upcoming months, then #18 can seem an eternity! Nobody really knows, therefore it is just a wait and see game. Just hoping we stick to those lollipop and licorice cards!
So, to get back to that question. We have jumped all over, but have averaged a 9 month wait from start to referral - meaning we are on the 6 month wait (give or take 3 months). For all that it is worth, if the math is correct, we are about #18 for the total number of families with our agency to be matched (give or take a few). These families on this list are open for either gender in ages infancy to young children and even specifically sibling groups. So, if a tiny baby girl becomes eligible for adoption (there are many already orphaned, though this is when there are determined eligible though birth parent relinquishment, etc), the family next on the list - even if they are open for a boy up to 5 year old - they will get the referral. We are more around #9 for an infant girl. Yes, this does seem close when you take in account that there were 6 referrals (that I know about) last month. But then again, if the case worker's predictions are right and there are will be older children referrals ready to go out in the upcoming months, then #18 can seem an eternity! Nobody really knows, therefore it is just a wait and see game. Just hoping we stick to those lollipop and licorice cards!
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