My LOI has arrived

Yesterday I was at an all day conference on teaching disadvantaged children. After lunch I looked at my cell phone to see if I had received any calls. There was a call and voice message from my agency. (Tingles, stomach lurching, breath stalling)

I jumped up, nearly mowing a co-worker down, and went outside to listen to the message. It simply said "Hi Michele, I won't keep you waiting, I've received your Letter of Invitation." Now, there was more to the message, but I immediately stopped the message and called my agency. Krista answered the phone and I got to hear those wonderful words again. "We're received your LOI. It is for November 15, 2010 to February 15, 2011"

Krista and I talked for a few more minutes, she told me she was sending me an email and asked if I had any more questions. NO, I had no questions, I had a brain pretty much refusing to work. My LOI had arrived. I'm in LABOUR! After a 60 month pregnancy I was finally on my way to actually meeting my child.

I am proud to say that I didn't cry, scream, or throw up while I was on the phone with Krista, but I certainly felt like it. When we ended the call, then I began to cry. Luckily my friends Nadia, Catherine and Rosie had decided to spend the end of lunch outside for a little walk , so I stumbled over to them crying and they were all concerned until I started saying "I got the call, I got the call." They immediately knew I was referring to the adoption call and began hugging and crying with me.

Needless to say I really wasn't able to pay attention to much of the remainder of the presentation. I was so happy to have the call come during such a conference as the last time I got a significant update (learning my region) I was all alone in my office and that was very difficult. I was there alone and had no one to call or tell as everyone was in schools or doing presentations. This time, my entire department, all the Superintendents and 2 other departments were all together and I was able to go and tell everyone right away. I even let the person doing the presentation know what was up, and she gave me a big hug and thank me for sharing my exciting news.

I called Loretta and Diane to share my exciting news. I tried to call my best friend Anna, who 'til June was in the same job as me and would have been at this conference, but instead she was at work at a high school. So I left her a voice message and a text. I called Maureen, my forever friend, who I grew up with, but she was at lunch, for her I left a cryptic message saying "I got THE call." As soon as she read it she was calling me right back. It was so nice to have all these people around to share my news. I had to also call Robin, who until June was my work partner, she was doing her first major presentation for the Ministry of Education, so I left a message on her cell phone, and I was able to speak to her in the evening. There are still some friends, and a ton of family I need to call and tell, how fun is that?!

The funny thing is, my brother was the last to know as I couldn't get hold of him, even though I called his school while he was on lunch. I didn't want to leave a message for him as I didn't want anyone on his staff to learn the news before him, so I simple left a message saying I'd pick him up after work, as he'd had to take the bus to work that morning. I finally was able to tell him when I arrived at his school at 3:30.

Of course, I always think of my late mother first. I immediately, after hearing the news from Krista, wanted to call my mother and talk to her. Never is the instant thought of 'I'll call Mom' closer than now. I know how much my mother wanted to be a Granny. I'm sad that my child-to-be will never know my wonderful parents. But I know that the strength and patience that I needed to get through this journey to this point and my ability to open my heart and life to a child and all the people who have become family on this journey is their never ending gift to me.

The greatest gift my parents gave me was a sense of humour and the ability to laugh. It might be strange for people who know me to learn that I was a very sensitive and serious child. I had no sense of humour. If they hadn't taught me to see life through humour and laugh as easily as I do, oh this journey, and life in general, would have been miserable. My home rang with laughter growing up, and today, my brother and I still laugh a great deal. I always say that my brother makes me laugh, and that to me is a true gift.

Child to be, I will hopefully be meeting you in 65 days. I am looking forward to loving and laughing with you soon. Love you Mom!

OMG I'm going to be a MOM! Isn't that the greatest thing in the world!