1/10/2007

5 years. 

Wow.

Five Years ago today I got an email from my social worker with Ella's pictures and information attached.

I was at home that day because Elizabeth was sick.  I happened to log in to my work computer because I had a meeting.  What I saw instead was 3 or 4 emails from Children's Home.  I had just submitted my paperwork to China for a 2nd child in December of 2006.  I also said I would be interested in a child on the "special needs" list.  The process has changed dramatically since then.  But, at that time, each agency would get a list of kids with special needs of various degrees.  I had thought that I could not handle the special need of Cleft Lip/Palate because I knew it would mean surgery and speech therapy.  It didn't seem possible that a single mom could do it. 

But, when I saw Ella's face I knew she was ours.  I went through the motions of checking with other resources to get more educated on Cleft Lip, but I went with my heart.  And I have never regretted it for one nanosecond. 

I do remember seeing the email, looking over my shoulder to check that Elizabeth was still on the couch and then opening the pictures.  I didn't want to show her until I knew this child was mine.  When Elizabeth took a nap, I called Beth our daycare provider, to see if she knew anyone that had kids with cleft lip... she did and I called the other parent and talked.  She was a single mom that had adopted 3 kids with varying degrees of cleft and told me the truth.  But by then I knew but wasn't admitting, this was my daughter.

The next day I faxed the paperwork to my pediatrician, she replied that Ella looked healthy on paper.

That day I signed the paperwork to accept the referral. 

On January 13th, I showed Ella's pictures to her new big sister Elizabeth. 

We ended up having to wait until May to go to China to bring Ella home but to put that in perspective, I would still be waiting with my original log in date of December 2006 date. 

Ella - I am so glad I followed my heart.  I could not imagine not having you in our family.  You have made all the difference in my life.  Elizabeth made me a mom, but you made us a complete family. 

I love your laugh

I love your smile

I love your sweet nature

I love your strong will

I love your funny sayings

I love you. 

I am sorry you don't like being the youngest, but your time will come for sleepovers and more play dates and all that fun stuff.

Thank you for being the best girl in the whole world.  Thank you for letting your heart love us all.  We are better for it.