Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Nine months since ICAB approval!!

Yep, it's official...we've been waiting for nine months now!! Although the wait has actually gone pretty well so far and the time has flown by for the most part, I've been having a bit of a hard time the last few weeks. I could see the nine month mark looming, the equivalent of a full pregnancy, with nothing to show for it!! Since we received our ICAB approval, there hasn't really been any news to report on the adoption front. The realization that we will likely be waiting another nine months before we hear anything hit me kind of hard, and I find this thought pretty depressing. But, as Raph always reminds me when I talk like that, what does it help or change to worry and stress about the adoption?! It's not going to make the wait go faster, it's a waste of time and energy. It's much better to put that time and energy into something positive and useful. His attitude is to simply go with the flow, and trust that our turn will come. In the meantime, we should enjoy our time together as a couple, because everything will change soon enough. I know that he's right and that this is a healthy attitude to have towards the wait. I'm probably more emotional and open about showing my emotions and fears than Raph is, but I'm trying to take a page from his book. Now that we've reached the nine month mark, I'm feeling calmer and more at ease about waiting for another nine months. Last weekend, we were invited to breakfast with some local families in the process of adopting from the Philippines. It's always so nice to meet other people going through the same thing as us!! I feel very lucky to have that opportunity. We got a chance to catch up a little and exchange some information with Tangie and Michel as well, a couple whom we've already had the occasion to get togethet with a few times since this summer. It was super interesting and fun to hear about her adventures in Morocco :0) Also, we finally got to meet a family whom we've been in contact with through e-mail for the past few months. They're adopting their second child from the Philippines, and have a lot of experience and knowledge to share with us. It's so wonderful to get to know these different families, especially since they all live so close to us. It will be great for our children in the future :0) Who knows, our children might come from the same orphanage in the Philippines!! I really appreciate having been invited to this event.

Raph and I celebrated our nine month anniversary by getting our vaccination for hepatitis. It's a vaccination that's given in three parts 9or three shots!) to be protected for life, basically. So it looks like we'll be celebrating our ten month anniversary with a second shot :0) It's actually quite expensive to get the vaccine! I was quite surprised. We'll have to see if our health insurance will cover it, but I doubt it. Raph and I are flying to Cuba during the Christmas holidays, and we were told that we need to get vaccinated for hepatitis anyway when flying to the Philippines, so we decided to go ahead and get the first two shots before travelling. The vaccine is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended. We got a tetanus shot as well, which they also recommend for both Cuba and the Philippines. This shot is good for ten years, so I think we should be okay :0) Thank you Tangie, for telling us about the vaccine and giving us information on the travel clinic where you went!! The nurse was very kind and helpful, she was patient and understanding and took the time to explain all of the vaccines to us. We had good, rapid and efficient service!! We'll be going back in December for our second hepatitis shot, and then in May for the rest of the vaccines she recommends for the Philippines. It feels good to be doing something concrete towards the adoption process. I've been feeling like we have no control and that all we can do is sit by and wait patiently...so it's really nice to actually be doing something. Who knew I would feel happy about getting shots?!

6 comments:

  1. thanks for sharing you're emotions with us we feel less alone... It's not always easy to be neutral in our feeling... as you say guy's are better than us for it especialy my husband as yours as I can see ;-)

    Patricis (1 year of waiting)

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  2. Congrats on the nine month mark! It is so awesome that you live so close to others who are adopting from the Philippines. I know only one other couple and it is someone from my work who talked to me about our experience. I love the blog world because it helps me feel connected to others doing Filipino adoption. Keep as busy as you can...hope the next 9 months fly by. The waiting days are not easy. At least the pain in your arm reminds you that you are 9 months closer to your child!!! :)

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  3. Congratulations!
    I felt the same way about hitting the one year mark...I let myself feel a little down about it for a few days and then tried to look at the bigger picture and remind myself how far we've come. Just know that you're not alone...I find that the hardest part of the adoption process is the feeling of being alone in the process...Thank goodness for the fellow bloggers who help remind us that we're not alone!

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  4. Oh sweet Amber, I wish I had a magic Wand so I could fast-forward the next 9 months for you but you know what? I can't believe you guys are already at 9 months!!! That means we've know each other for 6 months :o). 6 months of dear Friendship with a sweet and amazing person like you is a blessing. Thanks for all your sharing and support, you are great!!
    xx
    Janice

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  5. Congrats on reaching the nine month mark. I can remember that shortly after Rachel posted that she had reached the nine month mark, she received her referral. Of course that was exceptionally fast, but it does make you feel that it could happen anytime here on out.

    You are so lucky to have the opportunity to meet up with other families from the Philippines. It will be wonderful for your child to have this connection with children from the Philippines as well.

    Enjoy the trip to Cuba. Some warm temperatures and a beautiful beach sounds great right now. I've decided that if we haven't heard anything by March or April we will book an all inclusive to Cuba just to pick up our spirits. Hopefully, I'll get to go to the Philippines instead!!

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  6. Congratulations on reaching 9 months!!!!!

    Enjoy your trip.

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