I finally watched the video of "The Call" and it is great! The only down side is that I can't figure out this freakin' software to edit the video! Grrrr. I have software that I am familiar with but the format of my new video camera is not supported by it! :( Grrr. Now I have to use a new software and READ! Again...GRRRR... I did, however, figure out how to capture photos from it. Here are some from "The Call"
(Panasonic SDR-H40P)
Don't think it shows but I was SOOOOOOO SICK this day! Thank GOD for adrenalin!!!!!
Wednesday, November 5, (EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO TODAY) I got "the call". It was a dreary day here and it was misting. Something told me that maybe this was the day and I took a photo of the trees across from my house as I jumped in the car. It was 6:30am and the darkness had just started moving away. My plan was to take photos every morning, never thinking that this was "the day". Unlike my fellow Precious Pandas, all waiting for "the call" I tried not to get to excited only to be let down another day. You see, all of our paperwork has been in China for over 32 months. Most of us started way before this and when we did, the process took only 6 months. So, for the past three years, every 6 months we were told/though, oh, just 6 more months.
The Rumor boards were quiet, all the yahoo groups were quiet...eerily so! How is it that the CCAA and the agencies have finally mastered the zip-lip technique when I'M expecting the call. My ECG girls & Precious Pandas are all speculating but nothing...all quiet.
At 2:00pm on the dot, my cell rings. Unkown area code??? No, My Agency area code?? Can't remember!! OMG!
I pick up the phone and
my FA says: Stephanie?
me: Phillip? Is this it? Is this the call? DON'T SAY ANYTHING!!! I'm on my way home!!! Can you call me back? BUT DON'T TELL ME ANYTHING YET!!!!
Phillip: (trying not to giggle) Yes, this IS IT, How long will it take you to get home?
me: 30 minutes
Phillip: Okay, no problem
me: You can call another family if you want so I don't hold you up, I'll understand and I'll be home waiting for your call. I hang up. Post to my group that I got the call, referrals are really here and that I hung up on Phillip and told him to call me later. Jump in my car and race home. Meanwhile, I'm getting all these texts saying "ARE YOU CRAZY, INSANE, STUPID...YOU HUNG UP ON THE CALL" I know, I know. But I wanted to be home and video tape it. Hey, I've waited for 3+ years, I think the least they can do is wait for me for 30 minutes!!!
So, I arrive home, oh did I tell you I'm sick as a dog with major resp. issues!! Thank God for adrenaline...I didn't feel a thing. I change my clothes, brush my hair, let Pirate outside, turn on the computer, turn on the video tape, review call sheet, look for lost "referral pen". (which I never did find) then wait... wait... and wait...
Finally Phillip calls me back. He waited for me to get home and didn't call anyone else. I was the first person he called...he didn't call anyone else yet. He said he sent the email with her photos and for me to open it up. I said no, I want you to tell me everything first because I won't pay any attention otherwise. I have no idea really what he said. I will have to reference the video.
The tidbits I got were:
It's a Girl
She's 10 months old.
Her birthdate is in January
Her name
She's from Guangdong
That's it!! He rambled for about 10 minutes but I have no idea what he said but I kept saying yes, okay, absolutely.
He then asks me to open the email and I say no.
I told him I wanted to do it by myself when I got off the phone but Thanked him for the call.
Then, I go to my computer and keep refreshing my email...
there is no email from Phillip.
Refresh, Refresh, Refresh... nothing
Then I decide to check my msn email...Then I see this...
This is it!!! And this is what I saw. Sorry that the video is so bad. I was trying to be cool because I had the video camera on me and my little camera taping my laptop as I opened the photo. Those of you that want to do this, might I suggest practicing. It didn't come out well but it's still memorable. The second I saw her I was in love and I kept saying that she looks like me. Something about her looks like me or it was her I saw in my dreams. She was so familiar. I must say Pirate was smitten too, you can hear him in the background. Stephe (yes, it's official, I'm a dork)
to be continued...
I will try to post referral video with the camcorder. At least it's clear video. Then more of that day!!!
K asks, "What was the reality like vs. what you anticipated? How do you feel now?"
Great question. Well, a part of me imagined the picture perfect day...you know, the sun is shining, the birds are singing and I would fall in love with her photo the split second I saw it. But, I've had 3+ years to read other families stories, research, and have all kinds of things that could go wrong swirling around in my head. All of the What ifs? Everyday led up to this one day, this one call, where China would say, YES, we want you to be a mom to one our Children! Then comes the worry that I will never get the call or they would decide to pass on me, a single mom, to a mom that also comes with a dad. So, even though my "anticipated" version of referral day had the sun shining and the birds singing...most of the anticipation was riddled with worry.
The reality!! I should have known. It was COLD. It was rainy. There was no sunshine and no birds singing. I was really, really sick still and a few days prior, there was almost an emergency room visit. (thank god the medical aid unit fixed me up). The boards were eerily quiet. Me and all my LID girls were trying to speculate and wondering where everyone was. Then BAM, I get that call...which I hang up on. My heart was literally pounding out of my chest!!! As I drive home I call some friends...I just needed some chatter to get me home. I had no details at all...not even "It's a GIRL". I was off the charts on the crazy meter with my chatter! I was all over the place. (sorry, I told half of this post in an earlier one)
Anyway, I knew that I would be unable to focus (true) and that I really wasn't paying any attention to what my family advisor was saying...I just kept agreeing. My respiratory issues were taken over by adrenaline (thank god) but my heart kept pounding sooo hard. I swore a couple of times the video mic picked up on it! LOL. I didn't cry. Big things I don't cry about but stupid Hallmark Commercials I'll need an entire box of tissues. This was a big thing. No tears but my insides almost burst when I saw her face. It was instant! China said YES and she was the most BEAUTIFUL child I've ever seen and she was MINE. Yup, it was way better than I ever thought it would be! In my heart, it WAS the MOST BEAUTIFUL DAY! I didn't need the sun or the birds, just her!
How do you feel now? LUCKY, LUCKY, and oh, did I say LUCKY!!!!!!
Wednesday, November 5, I got "the call". It was a dreary day here and it was misting. Something told me that maybe this was the day and I took a photo of the trees across from my house as I jumped in the car. It was 6:30am and the darkness had just started moving away. My plan was to take photos every morning, never thinking that this was "the day". Unlike my fellow Precious Pandas, all waiting for "the call" I tried not to get to excited only to be let down another day. You see, all of our paperwork has been in China for over 32 months. Most of us started way before this and when we did, the process took only 6 months. So, for the past three years, every 6 months we were told/though, oh, just 6 more months.
The Rumor boards were quiet, all the yahoo groups were quiet...eerily so! How is it that the CCAA and the agencies have finally mastered the zip-lip technique when I'M expecting the call. My ECG girls & Precious Pandas are all speculating but nothing...all quiet.
At 2:00pm on the dot, my cell rings. Unkown area code??? No, My Agency area code!! OMG!
I pick up the phone and
my FA says: Stephanie?
me: Phillip? Is this it? Is this the call? DON'T SAY ANYTHING!!! I'm on my way home!!! Can you call me back? BUT DON'T TELL ME ANYTHING YET!!!!
Phillip: (trying not to giggle) Yes, this IS IT, How long will it take you to get home?
me: 30 minutes
Phillip: Okay, no problem
me: You can call another family if you want so I don't hold you up, I'll understand and I'll be home waiting for your call. I hang up. Post to my group that I got the call, referrals are really here and that I hung up on Phillip and told him to call me later. Jump in my car and race home. Meanwhile, I'm getting all these texts saying "ARE YOU CRAZY, INSANE, STUPID...YOU HUNG UP ON THE CALL" I know, I know. But I wanted to be home and video tape it. Hey, I've waited for 3+ years, I think the least they can do is wait for me for 30 minutes!!!
So, I arrive home, oh did I tell you I'm sick as a dog with major resp. issues!! Thank God for adrenaline...I didn't feel a thing. I change my clothes, brush my hair, let Pirate outside, turn on the computer, turn on the video tape, review call sheet, look for lost "referral pen". (which I never did find) then wait... wait... and wait...
Finally Phillip calls me back. He waited for me to get home and didn't call anyone else. I was the first. He said he sent the email with her photos and for me to open it up. I said no, I want you to tell me everything first because I won't pay any attention otherwise. I have no idea really what he said. I will have to reference the video.
The tidbits I got were:
It's a Girl
She's 10 months old.
Her birthdate is in January
Her name
She's from Guangdong
That's it!! He rambled for about 10 minutes but I have no idea what he said but I kept saying yes, okay, absolutely.
He then asks me to open the email and I say no.
I told him I wanted to do it by myself when I got off the phone but Thanked him for the call.
Then, I go to my computer and keep refreshing my email...
there is no email from Phillip.
Refresh, Refresh, Refresh... nothing
Then I decide to check my msn email...Then I see this...
This is it!!! And this is what I saw. Sorry that the video is so bad. I was trying to be cool because I had the video camera on me and my little camera taping my laptop as I opened the photo. Those of you that want to do this, might I suggest practicing. It didn't come out well but it's still memorable. The second I saw her I was in love and I kept saying that she looks like me. Something about her looks like me or it was her I saw in my dreams. She was so familiar. I must say Pirate was smitten too, you can hear him in the background. Stephe (yes, it's official, I'm a dork)
to be continued...
I will try to post referral video with the camcorder. At least it's clear video. Then more of that day!!!
Calling all BTDTers On Referral Day, what else do I need to do???…
Everyday this week and next… Have camcorder ready Have camera ready My call sheet ready Print out Asian Growth Charts (thanks Sharon)
Make cue cards (thanks timandkim) I only have them for the "southern girls" anyone have them for the northern girls? Pen
Have nails done.(thanks timandkim) Make sure hair looks good. LOL.
Get the call… Breathe (thanks Deb)
Call immediate Friends & Family Email immediate Friends & Family Call daycare asap with birthdate Call more Friends Post to blog Crack open some Pink Champagne (Panda Punch) Join orphanage group Copy Photos (thanks Susan) Make all kinds of stuff with photo/logo Post to all groups about orphanage Have Care package ready to send Make announcement for referral Have decided on IA dr and get stuff ready to be emailed and email it. Call ped for consult Get name properly translated/meaning Install carseat..oops don't have one...note to self: buy carseat. Contact people about Finding Ad! Taking Suggestions.
Scan in character name for labels(thanks timandkim)
make sure you have right size clothes (thanks agmoma) finish photos for care package album
I'm a single mom with an amazing daughter! It all started when I decided I was tired of waiting to be a mom. In my search to find a little girl who needed a mommy I was led to the China International Adoption program. I actually started the process in 2005, got my paperwork to China on 1/13/06. China accepted my paperwork and gave an LID of 2/18/06. After waiting 33 months, I finally received my referral on 11/5/08 for the most beautiful baby in the world. She spent her first 11 months in Southern China just above the South China Sea and now she is home with her mama!! I hope you enjoy reading & looking at my blog as much as I enjoyed creating it. During the wait I was a research junkie for all thing IA so please check out all the links in the sidebar under "Find it Here"...it will show you the posts pertaining to that category. Best wishes to all. Stephe
