This and that

Our dossier is in Washington, D.C. It should be sitting on someone's desk at the Chinese consulate. On October 27, it will be sitting on someone's desk at the adoption agency... and sometime after that we will be DTC!

Todd says I'm nesting. I dunno. I think I am simply allowing cute girl stuff into our home. Our little Ava (that's her name, Ava) has some cute little dolls, stuffed animals, and clothes. Her room will have various shades of pink and orange. There will be elephants and panda bears... I am so excited... I'm just like a mom of two boys who finally gets to shop for a girl.

I am celebrating each little milestone as it happens, but I still carry with me the weight of knowing how many more children still need families.

There is "Jesse" who has been bouncing around the shared list and other agency lists for years. Jesse recently turned 6 years old and appears healthy. Jesse's special need is a need that doesn't get talked about much. It doesn't get talked about because it makes people uncomfortable. Jesse, at this time, is not clearly defined as a girl or a boy.

Not to mention: "Janie" with scoliosis, "Doug" with a sensitive need, and "Lucas" with limb differences.

It is easy to sit back and say, "someone will adopt them." "They are receiving good care." BUT, could you begin to imagine one of your babies in an orphanage? I think of all the times that Adam had ear infections. Adam would not have had tubes in his ears if he had been an orphan. He would not have had loving arms to hold him when he had a fever or when he woke up from a nightmare.

We do not know if our Ava had someone to comfort her in the middle of the night or if she has ever gone hungry. We do not know if she gets to play outside, has her boo-boos kissed, or is told that she is loved.

I have read that the baby rooms in an orphanage are typically strangely quiet because the babies know that no one will come when they cry.