Wednesday, October 22, 2008

I hate mornings

I've had a very busy morning. Just minutes after I wake up from another drug-induced dream where I wake up completely flustered like someone was on my last freaking nerve with a sore jaw and headache cause I was clenching my teeth so hard AND BEFORE MY MORNING COFFEE, I get a phone call and email from our adoption agency about a baby girl born on Monday(!) in Texas in need of biracial parents! And the birthmother wants to relinquish and sign today. Yep. And then I was told of the fees. Ahem. Let's just say - yikes! Long and short of it was that I got the impression that all I had to do was show up in Texas with a bagful of American dollars. I considered having a freak out. There's a hitch though.

We haven't been able to apply for an immigration ID number because our taxes haven't been filed and cleared yet. We are not prepared. As you may recall, several months ago, we had other things on our plate - like working on our marriage so thinking about paperwork was not our top priority. We have since remedied our dramatic marriage issues and the tax returns, but due to our European adventure where we were attempting to deal with the loss of our pet and actually have FUN, we didn't get our taxes back from the accountant. I was jetlagged when I returned so I told them to mail them and they mailed it to our old address instead, so by the time I figured out what was going on, weeks had passed and - well, our timeline is messed up. Hence, no immigration number. Yep. The agency encouraged me to call immigration with a hope and a prayer for said number, but of course, all miracles considered, we are not prepared with a bagful of American currency.

After a brief call to a friend and scouring my shower with lemon scented Vim and vaccuming the lint out of my bathroom fan vent, I sat down and drafted an action plan. A missed opportunity like this is a perfect wake up call to us. Nothing other than a bagful of money is going to solve this one in the next 5 minutes, so before I go out and buy a lottery ticket, we are going to sit down and talk about what we need to do to prepare ourselves to bring home a baby one day real soon. Before I have to wax grey hairs out of my chin.

Thank you for your kind words of support. I am eternally grateful.

7 comments:

Guera! said...

Oh my gosh. Good luck to you. How exciting and unnerving at the same time. I hope you can bring your baby, this one or another, home very soon and I will be here to read all about it!!

loribeth said...

Oh, wow. Talk about short notice!! I hope you get another such call soon (but after you get your paperwork in order!).

Which reminds me... dh & I STILL have to get our passports before the new border rules go into effect in the new year. I can't believe I'm going to need a passport to drive 20 miles across the line to visit my grandparents' graves in the cemetery. But that's the world we live in these days...

Pamela T. said...

Whoa! That's some phone call, girlfriend. Damn that paperwork and money...I mean really, we're talking child in need and a perfectly matched couple ready to do what needs to be done. Will be on the edge of my seat until your next post!

Anonymous said...

Wow! That's wonderful news. I hope that you can work this out.

Wordgirl said...

I read this and blinked and reread it -- no kidding about the short notice -- but exciting too -- the universe is tricky isn't it -- I have to believe it sends things our way at a particular time. I hope that the outcome of this call -- whatever it may be -- is a good one and that it is a reminder of the hope and possibility that exists out there!

Xo

Pam

Anonymous said...

Just a note to say we got a call like that 4 years ago- a biracial boy left in a hospital in inner city Houston, and did we want to come get him? I called our credit card company, increased every limit we had, and was on the 5am flight the next day. Marcus just turned 4, and we just paid off the credit card. People like us can always make money, but we can't make babies... at least that is how my DH and I justified it. If your paperwork miracle comes through, I say go for it. I've not regretted our choice for a second. Miracles happen... they just aren't always free. :)

If you need help with where to stay in Houston send a note and I'll do what I can to help!

-Joanna (Our Chosen Child)

Anonymous said...

Wow! What a morning! Hope the day goes better as you work through a plan and figure out where to go from here. And against all reason, I'm hoping for a giant bag of American money to come your way.