These are the words & phrases that have been heavy on my mind for the past few days. I've been thinking a lot about our second adoption lately. It's been almost 3 months now since we hit the pause button, almost immediately after starting the process at the end of December. A lot has transpired in those 3 months. Georgea has entered the Early Intervention program due to her developmental delays. She has had every assessment and test known to man including speech, hearing, OT, multiple blood tests, genetic studies and the list goes on. Georgea now has a whole new group of doctors and therapists that care for and work with her on a fairly consistent basis. All these tests, assessments and therapies have meant a crazy full schedule for a new Mom and Dad both of whom have busy careers. The great news is that we've gotten in our groove. Georgea goes to her therapies each week and we are seeing progress. She's walking all over, wearing her new glasses and her fine motor skills have showed obvious improvement. Things feel pretty good around our house.
All that said, I've started to have the tug to dive back into the paper chase for our second adoption and so has James. But on Sunday I started looking around and thinking..."things are manageable. Life is good. Why would we want to rock the boat? Why would we want to make things crazier when things just got back to feeling manageable?" Then I started thinking..."why is manageable so attractive; so important to me?" Seriously, is that what I want my legacy to be? "My house was clean & my life was manageable??" I don't think so. I want my legacy to be a legacy of love, of care giving of building a family. I truly believe that is my calling. So, bring on the craziness, the challenges, the things that make us stronger and better (and more tired), as we work through it all.
James and I have been blessed in so many ways. We've had a lifetime, almost 20 years, of sweet love and lots of freedom. This past year has been a new experience for us and one that we have relished. There have been many challenges and lots of tears, but more joy than either of us could have imagined. It hasn't been easy, but it's been sweet. Georgea gives us new purpose. We are so honored to be her parents.
So, yesterday morning the phone rang. It was Georgea's developmental pediatrician. She was calling to tell us that Georgea's genetic testing results were in and that she has an "abnormal cell line." Oh boy. Georgea is considered a "mosaic female." That means she has one normal cell line and one that is abnormal. What does that mean? Who knows? We will now add a Genetecist to our long list of fancy Docs that we get to encounter as we prepare to sit down & delve into more testing to try to see what this all means with regard to Georgea and her everyday life.
Georgea is special. I haven't written about Georgea's special need and wasn't sure if I ever would, although I'm sure it is obvious in some of her photos. Georgea has polydactyly; extra fingers and toes. She has one extra on each hand and foot which makes her super special actually because having this many extra digits is rare. I share this to say that we may find, via more genetic testing, that Georgea's polydactyly is a result of her mosaic status. The abnormal cell line could have caused her polydactyly. And, it could be as simple as that. There may be nothing else that ever comes as a result of Georgea being a "mosaic female." That is our hope and our prayer.
So, we're moving on. That phone call is another thing that happened in our day yesterday, but it is not the decision maker of how we live life around here. We are moving forward with our second adoption paper chase. It may be a long road with all that we are juggling, but that's ok. We're fine with that. We're pretty good jugglers.
We are anxious to get back to China. I have such a yearning and I know it's because there is another little girl there that needs a family. She needs a Mama and a Dada...and a sweet, beautiful sister. She needs love and care, hugs and kisses, affection, a hand to hold. We have all of that to give. Those things are plentiful around here so why shouldn't we? Why wouldn't we?
Sometimes it feels good to spill my heart, to just get it out there. This morning I feel better for having spilled. Now I'm going inside to drink some more coffee and watch my husband chase my baby girl around. Thank you Lord for this life of abundance.
Georgea has really bonded with my Dad since he's been here in Arizona this winter. He's getting ready to head back to MD, and I just know my girl is going to be sad once her Grandpa is gone. My Dad can make Georgea crack up laughing & full on squeal & scream with excitement like no one else she knows. It really is a riot to observe the silliness between the two of them. And the lack of their special, giddy interaction is going to create a stillness & a quiet in our home and our hearts starting next week. We're all so thankful to have had this special time together.
