Thank You Secret Pal!!! (the long version)

First of all, yes I finally did received this package but not without much ado. We were out of town. We got back on Sunday night and rarely use our front door. Monday I went out to the grocery store and when I came home I drove by the front of the house. I saw a sticky note on there and wondered what in the world had UPS tried to deliver. I hadn't ordered anything, Mike said that he hadn't either. I called the 800 number and it said that I could pick it up Monday thru Friday 9am-7pm. There was no more info on the web. So, Tuesday I got up and went to town to get the mystery package and the damn place is closed from 11-12 and of course it's like 11:10. Now, town is no where near where we live or where I was going and I had things to do and had to work so I needed to get home to sleep (I work 12 hour night shifts). I worked Tuesday night, UPS is not too far from where I work so I thought I would just go when I got off work. Wrong..They don't open until 9 and I get off of work usually between 7:30 and 8 am. There was no way I could stay up that long and still drive myself home because on Tuesday before I tried to sleep I had to check my email and found that the May In Touch was available. Needless to say, like most all of us waiting on our kiddos, the info in the In touch sent me into a deep dark depression and angry spiral of sleeplessness. By 7 am on Wednesday I had been awake for nearly 24 hours and busting butt taking care of those wonderful premie babies for 12 of those hours. Finally, yesterday evening I left early for work and went to UPS. They were open and they smiled and handed me my package. I saw that it was from ChinaSprout and was so excited and already started crying in my car. I had an idea that it might be from you guys because I couldn't think of anyone else it could be from. I opened the package and read the card and looked at my shirt and held it to my face and cried and cried. I was almost late for work.

Will I ever be a Ma Ma like my new shirt says?

I said all of that to say this...THANK YOU!!! Your gift was the only Mother's Day gift that I received because I'm not a mother, but yearn so badly to be able to celebrate that day. The tee shirt gives me hope. I wouldn't own a Ma Ma shirt if I was not a Ma Ma, right? One part of me wants to wear that shirt everyday to proclaim that I am a Mom. Another part of me wants to hide it for fear of embarrassment. I'm afraid someone will say, "why are you wearing that Ma Ma shirt? Your not a Mom".
I loved the puzzle too. It's really cool. Thank you so much for always being so thoughtful. And thank you for knowing that I will be a Ma Ma someday.
 

Happy Birthday George!!

Exactly 5 years and 1 day later, Mom gave birth to the youngest of my brothers. Happy Birthday to you George. We love and miss you and wish you a happy day!

*I'm having trouble getting a picture to post this morning. Maybe I'll try again later*

OBX

We spent our 8 month LID anniversary in North Carolina. We love the Outer Banks and had never stayed in the southern part. This time we stayed in Avon, which is about 50 miles south of Kitty Hawk. It was great. We had perfect weather and beautiful sunrises and sunsets. We could see the sound and the ocean from the hot tub on the top deck of our house. We never thought that we would get to 8 months without knowing our daughter. But, here we are still waiting to see her sweet face.
 

Happy Birthday Keith!!

We're sending a big 'ol Happy Birthday to the reigning patriarch of our family, my eldest brother Keith. Somehow, Miss Lilli is getting in on all of the birthday pictures. This one is from last summer She loves her Peepaw so this picture is certainly fitting for a Happy Birthday wish. We love you and hope you are having a great day!! 

Happy Birthday Becky!!

Becky gave me this little star pin a long, long time ago. I was probably 6 or 7 years old. It always reminded me of the Wizard of Oz because of the emerald in the center. It made me feel really special when she gave it to me because it belonged to her mother. Beck made me promise that I would never loose it and would take good care of it. Well here we are, nearly 30 years later and still in my sweaty grasp is this precious pin. I even will wear it on occasion. Now that I am older I understand how special this pin is and appreciate so much that Becky gave it to me and trusted that a child would care enough to keep it close.
Happy Birthday Becky!! You are such a strong woman and a very integral part of our family. We love you and wish you a wonderful day! Looks like it's starting out good already...it's beautiful outside!
 

Happy Birthday Bryce!!

Ahh, to be 4 years old. We wish you a wonderful and happy day! We'll see you soon. Love you lots you sweet stinker!!
 

JOY!?

This is a pic of my new bracelet. My wonderful neighbors, The Mahan's, brought this over and said that this baby girl is going to bring you so much joy! That is what the bracelet says, Joy. Thank you so much for my beautiful bracelet!
Well, I'm not feeling much joy lately. I can't really say how I feel other than sad and lonely without our girly and very, very weary of this wait. Mostly just kind of numb.
Referrals are out for April. They include LIDs May 31-June 6. Yeah, that's a whopping 7 days and virtually no closer to September. Congratulations to those 29 families with CCAI who now know their babies. The March referrals for CCAI included (I think) 114 babies. Only 29 for April is more than disappointing, it's down right scary.
On the flip side, and I think what is keeping me numb instead of angry, is the fact that the CCAA has posted that dossiers received by the end of September 05 (THAT'S US!!!) have been reviewed. What that means is that there are no more steps between us and our sweet baby girl. Someone in China has reviewed our dossier, found it acceptable, and sent it on to be matched with our daughter. That does not mean that anything will happen any faster. But it does show some (albeit miniscule) forward motion for us. Essentially we are in the match room! Our paperwork may be faded and dusty by the time we are matched but at least we are there. The CCAA is gonna have to build a bigger match room to accommodate all of the unmatched dossiers if they don't put a move on.