Wednesday March 3, 2010: The day we got the call. While we didn't know it at the time, this call would be the pivotal beginning of our lives together. Mommy was at school student teaching when the "Bat Phone" rang. I thought it would be another newspaper wanting us to advertise with them, but it wasn't. Instead, it was Annette. She was acting as the surrogate mother for Melissa who's biological mother asked her to leave the house upon learning of her pregnancy. Annette, Melissa's new boyfriend's mother, graciously brought Melissa into her home and guided her through the process of creating an adoption plan. Daddy & I were skeptical at first. We had only just begun advertising - it was maybe the first or second run of the ad - and our first birth mother call. And, there were some red flags. But we pursued the situation and we are overjoyed that we did!!!
Annette informed me in that very first call that she & Melissa had already reviewed our website over the weekend (we did see hits from that area!) and that she had already placed a call to our attorney. I spoke to Melissa as well. The call lasted about 30 minutes. They wanted to meet us and because her due date was April 27 and because Daddy & I were going to Florida in mid-March, our attorney, Jeanine, advised us that a meeting was acceptable. So, that very weekend, we drove up to New Paltz and met at a diner. Melissa came with Annette & Billy, her boyfriend's parents. It was awkward and lots of questions were asked but we really liked Melissa and she seemed sincere and genuine.
So, we went home and we figured we'd see where it went. The same day we had received a call from another birth mother but didn't have a good feeling about that one. In any case, we went off to Florida a week later and continued to call Melissa about once a week to check in. During one of our calls, I asked Melissa if she had email which she did which made it a lot easier to communicate. Especially in the last few weeks before your arrival, Mommy would call Melissa and she would respond by email. This way we could also communicate more detail thoroughly and we would easily be able to keep this gmail account open indefinitely (as opposed to the costly 800 number and separate cell phone line).
Daddy & I wanted to make sure we could get as much information as possible so we had Melissa fill out self-reported medical forms, received copies of pre-natal records that were available and used our attorney as a liason to help. We also decided to do cord blood banking for you. This was a big process because we were between a public bank and a private bank, but in the end public banking was not available at the hospital were you were born so we went private. We also tried to find out as much as we could about what it would be like in the hospital (what rights we did or didn't have, how the discharge would work, etc...) but as many other people had told us what's "on paper" is not necessarily what actually happens. Finally, we had wanted to get information on the birth father's medical records but learned that he too was adopted and therefore didn't have much information to share.
As we approached the "due date", an estimated guess of your arrival, we grew more and more nervous and excited. We tried to prepare for your arrival as much as we could without going overboard. We painted your room (and the guest room) and we bought your car seat and some other miscellaneous items and registered for the rest. We were reluctant to buy too much because we still might not have come home with you although we were certainly hoping and praying that we would. Mommy was also finishing up schoolwork for her Masters so she was working fast and furiously to make sure as much as possible was completed before you arrived. You cooperated by your late arrival. The other big question was would we be able to attend the dedication and memorial for Papa Lloyd (which we did). When you are old enough, we'll take you to see it.
April 27, 2010: The due date came and went. Still no Lucy (or Levi). In fact, you were over a week late. Melissa was told us that she would be induced on May 5th if you had not decided to enter the world before that. This gave us plenty of time to get to Poughkeepsie. We had had our bags packed for weeks ready and waiting for that inevitable "middle of the night" call. Now, we were just waiting for the "OK" from the doctor that a room was ready. The call came about 3pm and Melissa would be admitted around 5pm. Off we went!
The start of our adventure and life together is upon us!
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