Wednesday, July 16, 2014

While We Waited, Part 2

Still waiting for adoption to happen, so the series continues...



Let's talk about waiting, 'cause...

I'm starting to see a pattern here.

When you start working with a NaPro doctor, things are a little crazy for a while. Do this test, now this one, ultrasounds, blood draws, try new meds, more blood draws, how about surgery?!

It's a lot to do and take in all at once, or even over the course of a few cycles. But after you've gone through that initial work-up, things settle down for a bit. You're still working with your doctor, still actively "trying," but as the unsuccessful cycles pass you by, follow-ups with your doctor and tweaks to your treatment happen less and less.

At this point, we're only meeting with our NaPro doc once every three cycles. And I'll tell you what that feels like. Lame. Definitely lame. It's no fault of anyone's, except my stupid uterus. But to be given a little tweak to your treatment and then given the instructions to "try it out" for three months before you come back, it's a bit of a bummer. It makes things feel like they're moving slowwwww as molasses. But I get it. That's just the nature of the beast. Getting pregnant doesn't happen overnight, at least from our perspective, so it's really just one big waiting game. And if that treatment didn't work, well, then it's on to the next one for three more cycles. Waiting, waiting waiting.

So, when our adoption adventure really took off, I thought, "Thank goodness, the waiting is finally over! We'll be matched in no time!"

Yep. I really thought that.

Doy.

Go ahead. You're allowed to call me crazy on this one. I just really thought I'd have more control.

Just like NaPro, when you first pursue adoption, it's busy busy busy. Fill out this form, now fill out a hundred more, get some background checks, find some references, let us inspect your home, now how about you make a profile that details exactly who you and your spouse are in 10 pages or less?

Another case of a lot to take in at once! I can remember looking at the checklist of what we had to do to be approved to adopt and just feeling way overwhelmed. But over time, piece by piece, of course you get through it. And then, just like the NaPro treatments, things suddenly really slowwww dowwwwn. You go from barely having time to breath between all the checks on the checklist to, "Wait, where did everyone go?"

After you hand in that big stack and you social worker says APPROVED, that's it. The lonnnnng silence, as I like to call it, begins. Days feel like weeks, weeks like YEARS. I'm serious. We'll go two weeks without hearing from the agency and it'll feel like an eeeeeternity!

Are catching the similarities here?

I'm pretty sure I've said it before, but it's worth repeating. In my opinion, the motto for adoption and, now that I think of it, NaPro treatments too, should be "Hurry Up and Wait!"

Sure, not everyone has had the same NaPro or adoption experience as us. Some folks get pregnant or adopt like that. But definitely in our case, it's all a big waiting game right now.

Or I suppose, if we want to call it what it really is... it's all about learning patience right now.

A friend of mine recently opened up to me about her struggles with infertility. She told me she just prayed and prayed and prayed for patience. And then, after quite some time of trying, she finally found herself pregnant. Though, as her little ones came along, she found that her prayers didn't change at all. Patience, patience, patience is still her number one petition to this day.

So, I suppose all this NaPro and adoption waiting has something to do with that. The "p" word. 'Cause God sure knows the need for patience won't go away once cute kiddos come along.

But still. First with NaPro, now with adoption... can't there be something happening in my life that doesn't also have to teach me a lesson in patience?

;)

And now, let's wrap up with a "While We Waited" tradition. At the end of each of her pregnancy update posts, blogger Mama Holi answers the same 17 pregnancy-related questions to log all the changes and ups and downs of her pregnancy. Well, that inspired me to do the same, but obviously not about pregnancy. So, I tweaked the questions quite a bit (for example, adoption doesn't change the innie- or outtie-ness of a belly button, so I probably don't need to answer a question about my bellybutton every time) and made myself a cute little way to keep track of the changes and ups and downs of our adoption journey! Let's give it a whirl...

How far along? 1 month of waiting so far.
Best moment of this week? Connecting with a bunch of really great future-adoptive mamas online through a google hangout chat! It's so lovely to talk to ladies who really get what I'm going through.
Worst moment of this week? Sorry to be vague, I may post more about it later this week, but having to make a really tough decision regarding a potential adoption.
Mood? Pretty at peace right now. Trying to embrace the one-on-one time with John while it still lasts. But I also still have a little case of "hurry up already!" Normal.
Any word from the agency? Yes! The special ringtone on my phone went off and my heart JUMPED out of my chest!! We were presented with a birthmom and baby situation, but ultimately nothing panned out.
Boy or girl? We're open to either! But husband not-so-secretly hopes it's a boy.
Most excited about? Meeting our forever baby, duh!
Biggest fear? Not bonding like we're supposed to with our little kiddo. I'm reading up on it now! For sure, I want to do this right! I talked to John about it earlier this week and he said he's super excited to wear our baby around in one of those "masculine baby carriers." That made me smile lots! And made me a little less worried about bonding. Skin-to-skin contact with the baby is huge! We'll be pros, right? (Anyone have attachment advice for us?)
Distractions? Lots of good ones coming up! A hands-on Moroccan cooking class with John at Whole Foods and his 31st birthday party in the works. Distraction is my middle name right now. Let's keep piling the fun stuff on while we wait! And also, that way we'll get it out of our systems before baby arrives.
Looking forward to? Hearing from the agency again! I pray it happens soon!

(PS - All "waiting" future adoptive moms or dads have my complete permission (and encouragement!) to use this on their blog or facebook or whatevs. :) Steal away!)

22 comments:

  1. Such a cute idea! Waiting seriously stinks! Sounds like you two have had some great ways to get distracted, especially with all those wonderful trips you have taken this summer. Don't worry too much about the bonding. I'm sure it's different for every child, but we never had a problem at all. We were fortunate to be with him immediately and I'm sure that helped, but I think when you are placed with an infant you have a lot going for you with regards to attachment. We just held him a lot but also took breaks letting him sleep in his bouncy chair. I seriously just can't wait for you to get THE call!

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    1. Thanks, Lisa! It's reassuring to hear that attachment with newborns is usually easy peasy. I imagine there will be lots of cuddling and eye contact and baby holding in our future... totally looking forward to it! With any luck, we'll be with our little one almost immediately too. Thanks for all the encouragement and support!!

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  2. That's exciting that your agency is calling with potential situations...I thought we would have more action considering how much money we had to put forward....and nothing. We've been officially licensed almost four months...and nothing. You'll be parents soon....I just have that feeling for you and that "feeling" has yet to be wrong.

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    1. I think of you guys often and pray for you bunches. I really really want you guys to meet your forever baby soon! Perhaps I should storm Heaven even more! I'm sorry you haven't heard much from your agency. I hope that means when the time comes, it'll be perfect, even if it means waiting a little bit longer. For us, it was definitely not the perfect situation presented, so while we were excited to hear from our agency, that excitement went away pretty quickly when we heard the details. Praying for that birthfamily and baby, though!! And prayers for you guys!! I have a "feeling" about you too!! Let's hope we're both right!

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    2. Sorry to hear that you are experiencing that long silent wait right now, prayerful journey. We sometimes went over 6 months without any action, so I know how hard that wait can be. I will keep you in my prayers. I hope your wait is over soon!

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  3. I can totally relate to both parts of this! I have been thinking about the NaPro thing lately too since I had my surgery in April I was just hoping we would get somewhere with all the IF but instead it's just more waiting....bleh annoying. With the adoption too, I sorta thought we'd be chosen really fast too... haha maybe it's because I had SO many people tell us we would! That was not helpful! I like your "While We Waited" tradition....adorable idea!

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    1. YES! So many people said, "How could they NOT want to choose you?" While it was really encouraging to hear that, now it's like, "Wait, is there something wrong with us?!" I know, kind of dramatic, but when you have so many people telling you it'll happen fast and then it doesn't... it's a bad case of getting our hopes up. So, I feel ya! Praying our waits are short and if not, our patience gets better!

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    2. Yes exactly! At least now we know what NOT to say to other hopeful adoptive couples. Praying for you two as well!

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  4. Patience, ,something we all could use some improvements in.. Love your 10 adoption questions at the end.

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    1. Yes, absolutely! I know it now more than ever. Patience is magical. I admire people who have it built in, because I sure don't! Ha! Glad you like the 10 questions. You should use the questions Mama Holi uses for your little peanut! No pressure, just an idea. I think they're cute!

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  5. LOVE your take on this, it's just perfect. Waiting sucks--no matter what you're waiting for. But I must say, you wait with grace, humor, and patience (gulp, the dreaded word)...it's a great example for the rest of us. And like Prayerfuljourney, even though we are not supposed to say this, I have that feeling too...that you'll be holding your forever baby very soon. I can't wait to "meet" him/her!!!!

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    1. Well, that is a huge compliment! I really try to wait with grace, humor, and patience... it's certainly gotten a *little* bit easier over time. But really just a little bit. I'm no expert and there are definitely some ugly days behind the scenes. But I suppose that's true for all of us. It gives me tingles to read that you have that "feeling" too! I hope we're all right! And I can't wait to introduce him/her to you!! :D

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  6. Our visits to our NaPro doc have always been about 3 months apart. In between visits, I send in my charts and talk to the nurse, who goes over any changes and test results.

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    1. I wish our NaPro doc and his nurse would do that. We don't even do P+7 labs (because he's never recommended them). So it really is a long silence for us when he sends us off to try for three more months. I'm sure they'd support us if we called with questions or worries, but other than that... nada. Glad your three month stretches aren't as rough. :)

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    2. Infertility and adoption both involve tons of waiting. but then again, I think All of life involves some sort of waiting. seems like the challenge is enjoying each moment. I love your list at the end, that is awesome! thanks for the permission to copy. I hope the waiting isn't too long for you both.

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    3. You're absolutely right! Life is just lots and lots of patience and things happening slowly. But I suppose that's the best way for it to happen, otherwise it'd be over in a super flash. Thank you for pointing that out! And I would love if you used the list too! I'm curious to hear how you're feeling throughout your adoption journey. :)

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  7. Love it! "Hurry up and wait" captures it all so perfectly. Great idea to us Mama Holi's questions.

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    1. I mean, I wish "hurry up and wait" WASN'T the motto at all for any of us, but at least we have each other thru the long process. :)

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  8. I really admire you guys for working on your fertility and pursuing adoption at the same time. Last week, we met with our first adoption agency. Besides being overwhelmed by the process they described, the person mentioned, "After the home study, you will have absolutely no control over how this turns out." That scared me. We're not ready to jump into another process that we can't control. Maybe we'll be ready in a few months, but I know we can't handle it right. I am praying that your wait is short and void of hiccups.

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    1. Thank you, Chella! Your prayers are so cherished by us! I definitely wish our agency had said something like that to us, because at first I lovvvved the adoption process. The home study made me feel like I was finally in charge of things and getting closer and closer to becoming mom. But, after we were approved, the control completely went away again, and that was hard to face. I will say, there is more hope in adoption. Whereas we're not sure we'll ever have a biological child, we're pretty much certain we'll have an adopted kiddo, and within the next year. So there's, so to speak, a light at the end of the tunnel that isn't there with IF treatment. I completely support your decision to wait, though!! Especially now that I know adoption is a crazy roller coaster just like IF in many ways. I'll pray for you and KK as you guys continue to discern adoption!

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  9. Hurry Up And Wait is SO true!! And the waiting for the call and the match ... you are right ... it d.r.a.g.s...... I just LOVE your questions at the end ... such a perfect snapshot each month as time passes. I'm glad you are being presented with situations, even though they aren't working out for you. We had the same thing happen to us ... phone calls with situations every 2 weeks or 4 weeks, then nothing. It felt good that they were calling, but it felt bad to say no. But I'm glad we were honest about it. I hope time speeds up for you and there is a match in your future soon!!

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    1. I didn't realize you guys also said no to some potential adoption situations. It was really hard! Especially knowing that if we had said yes, the wait would have ended right then and there. But I keep telling myself, that's not a reason to say yes! And hopefully we'll meet our perfect forever baby as a result of our patience and willingness to turn down situations that just aren't right. Glad to know it was part of the process for you guys too! You did get the most perfect little boy out of it, so it gives me hope!

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