I, I, I think I have gin in my eye, let me just wipe that up and put that in a shot glass for later. Fishslaps to you all, my loves!
Well, in March 2010 not long after my last test tube trial, petri dish, fanjo squirt (ahhh it's so good to be back!) I fell quite ill to necrotizing pancreatitis. They put me into a coma for 3 weeks and in hospital for 5 weeks. I also had a common complication which put me at home for about 8 months. Soooo - that was pretty much one of the two years.
At one point they only gave me a 20% chance to make it, because I was in multi-system organ failure. When I woke up I was just glad to be alive, and glad I wasn't diffed at the time.
Frankly I was also glad to give the fertility riddle a break, during my recovery. To me it was as frustrating as a rubik's cube. So it was good to take a breath from it. After I recovered I went back to my fertility doc once, but soon after she moved and I just didn't have the same passion for the updiff that I once did. So we started looking into adoption.
We went to see a local agency, who suggested that we "dual track" with another mainland agency because the local one only does 2-3 local adoptions each year. (the mainland one they recommended does about 300-350/yr) So we did, started the loads of paperwork, (what is your favorite fish, what fish will you give the child, what fish education will you give the child, how much fish money do you make... etc.) We were taking classes when an opportunity came up. They asked us to submit a letter (dear b-parents) and 2 pages of photos, so we hurried and got it all done in one evening! A week later they pulled us aside in class and told us that it was good news we were selected or "matched" as they say, but all is not final until after the birth when papers are signed. This couple was looking for a caucasian couple from another island, so we fit the bill (oh and we're totally wonderful in other ways too, of course).
Both hubs and I have adopted siblings, so that helped. And we have similar backgrounds to the b-parents, so they felt comfortable with us. They are expecting a little boy very soon, and after the paperwork is signed we'll be called to go over and pick him up!!!! If he's not shown his face by Tuesday, they will induce... so the latest is probably Wednesday!!!
My disclaimer is that they could still decide to parent, this is not a forced adoption, it is voluntary - which I understand basically doesn't exist in the UK. But for a variety of reasons they are not in the place they want to be when they plan to have a family. So we are providing an option for them. It's a mixed bag of guts and chocolate, it is... because I know they will suffer a great loss in this, but we plan for an open adoption so they can see him once or twice a year and know that he's happy and doing well.
I'm looking forward to getting the call, and bursting out of my skn!!! It's been nearly 7 years since we started this climb, I'll be so glad to get onto the next mountain!