On March 22, 2011 at just before 2pm, I was in my office at work, giving a yearly performance review to one of my team members, Lisa. My cell phone rang and I glanced down at it - feeling guilty because I know it must annoy Lisa that I'm such a chronic multi-tasker...especially during a review. I saw the area code was "503". Within 1/2 second the following went through my mind: "Hmm, that's the area code of the adoption agency." Hmmm. "Maybe it's a customer from Oregon, and not the agency?" Hmmmm! "Do I answer?" Hmmmmmm? "Good Lord, Anne - it's Lisa's review for crying out loud, Anne - focus! Just ignore the call, it has only been 2 and a half months since our paperwork was submitted. We'll be lucky if we get a referral by July." HMMMMMMMMMMM. "But wait - I really think it's the agency!! - I have to answer!"
(Background - we had worked out the "communication plan" prior to the call - keep in mind - this was back when referrals were coming much faster than they are today. The agency had a policy that they'd only call my cell phone if it was THE CALL. They didn't want to get parents all excited every time their cell phone rang with the agency's number. So the plan was that the agency would call mommy on my cell phone for "the call" when we got a match, and we'd conference Terry in.)
Back to the call, my phone has rung 3 times, I must make a decision! I said: "Lisa - I'm sorry - but I think this is the area code for the adoption agency. I have to answer this." She nodded.
Now. You have to know Lisa - she is a wonderful and caring person - and foremost an amazing mom. AND - she worked for me when we started the Nepal process, and was physically with me when I got the news that Nepal had shut down. She was already a part of our adoption story, and about to become more so...
(AND HERE'S THE GOOD PART!!)
So I answered. And I heard in a singsong voice: "Hi Anne, this is Tammi! We need to get Terry on the phone!". My jaw dropped. My body froze. I knew that instant that this was THE CALL. I looked at Lisa. I remember her face: hopeful. I teared up, and barely uttered "Are you telling me we have a referral?" (And I tear up writing this.) "Yes, she said, I am." (OMG. Emotions raced through me that I can't explain, but I remember vividly.) She continued: "I'm going to go on the other line and call Terry."
The following things all happened within 3 minutes: I started crying. Lisa started crying. Of course the agency disconnected me. I told Lisa - who was nearly as emotional and in shock as I was - that I needed a minute. Lisa left. I put my head down on the desk for a minute and cried. I picked up my cell and called Terry. No answer, of course. I called him again. No answer. I called a third time and he answered with a bit of concern in his voice: "Is everything ok?" I blurted out: "We got a referral!" I was sobbing and he couldn't understand. "What?" He said? "We got a referral", I tried to repeat - but I couldn't talk. I tried one more time: "Call Tammi, and call me back. We got a referral". His response "What??!! Oh my God. Really? Well what did she say..." Me: "TERRY CALL TAMMI AND CALL ME BACK!!!" I hang up on him for the first time in our relationship.
I crawled up on to my desk to be closer to my window since I don't have good cell reception in my office. FINALLY my phone rang - it was Tami. Terry was on the line. She said: "Well, what do you want to know?" "EVERYTHING!" I responded. So she told us that we were matched with a little boy, 5 & 1/2 months. And his name is Samuel. She told us pictures are on the way. OMG pictures - we get to see him, NOW? My hand was shaking as tears streamed down my face and I clicked on her email. And there he was. The most beautiful, tiny little guy. His eyes were, and still are, piercing - alert, aware and saying "I'm here, world. I'm here, Mama! Where are you?"
The rest of the conversation is mush to me now. I just stared at the baby boy on my screen. I remember, as Terry asked details, saying "I have to go!" and hanging up. (I laugh at this now. That is so me. Immediate action, I had to go prepare for this baby.)
I went to Lisa's office. I told her we had a referral. I didn't tell her that he was a he, or anything else, but I said that I had to go. She hugged me, we both cried more. I don't cry at the office as a rule - and in a miracle I saw no one else during this time. And I will always chuckle that Lisa knew about our baby before Terry by a few minutes. She'll forever have a place in our story.
I went to my car and called Terry back. He told me the additional information about where Samuel was from, etc. We agreed we'd call our families that day, but would wait to tell anyone else and wouldn't update my blog for a while. We called families.
I remember so clearly. I remember bursting with joy. I remember needing to get to Terry as soon as possible. I remember needing to make lists, organize and prepare. And I remember looking at Samuel's pictures every few minutes and reading the paperwork over and over. It was one of the most amazing moments of my life - that call.
7 comments:
So happy everything finally worked out for you guys.
Tears and goosebumps. Congrats.
Sitting here crying my eyes out reading this, remembering your call to us.
I will never forget the day you called and said - is Dad there, get him on the phone - quick - we just got the call - we have a son. And suddenly we were all laughing and crying and our new grandson was a world away - waiting to come home. Of course, we would learn that there was much waiting and anguish to endure before we could hold him and love on him, but for that one day, it was as if we had Christmas, New Year's, Easter and everyone's birthdays all wrapped into one wonderful package and it was Samuel.
That brings tears to my eyes all over again! That is exactly how I remember it too! And will ALWAYS remember it! I felt like I was waiting for that phone call just as much as you and Terry! :) Having been with you from the very beginning, I was sitting there half knowing and half imagining what must be going through your mind. And at the same time realizing just how much your lives just change before my eyes.
I didn't feel like I had the right words to say. But I also remember thinking, there are no words. This is something you feel and there are just no words to describe it! All I could do was hug you!
You instantly became a "mom". Seriously... that very second you realized whole-heartedly you had a son and the mom instinct kicked in full force. You fought just like a good mom would to get your son home! And now you have the cutest little family!
I can't believe that was a year ago! But on the other hand, being a parent myself, I realize just how fast it goes. Cherish these years and that sweet little boy! The rest of them go as fast as this last year!
Lots of love to you guys!
Lisa
It has been a year??? Holy cow! That has really flown by (though I am sure it felt a decade for you). And now you have your sweet boy... :) Thanks for the kind words on my blog. Barely holding on, but it is little guys like yours that inspires me to stick with it.
OK so I'm a little tardy, but would you expect otherwise?
I remember being at lunch with Mario that day. When we were leaving my phone rang with some Oregon area code and since he and I were parting ways I didn't answer. Duh. Then I remember this back and forth with calls between you and Dove till we finally all got on the same call - felt like an eternity, just like you said above. Tami and Evangelina were like giggling schoolgirls on the other end of the line: "His name is Samuel" and we were essentially speechless, saying oh-my-god over and over and over. Then they sent the email as I'm sitting in my car in a parking lot, and you could see it photos on your computer before I could on my iPhone… so unfair. You saw and heard about 15 seconds of the basics, and then were done. Off to start the process of bringing our boy home. I stayed on the line to hear more of the details. What shock and pure happiness.
Then I remember driving home to meet you there, and calling your folks. We couldn't get either of mine for what felt like the longest time. All the grandparents were ecstatic and laughing and crying. And then Whitney and Liz and Seth. I remember just standing in our living room hugging and laughing and still chanting oh-my-god oh-my-god. Still not believing that we got a name that we could pronounce, and that had such meaning for us.
And then I think we went shopping for a bed. Lol. I do not recall why it had to be that day but we finally got the kingsize bed - presumably to share with our boy!
My memory ain't great as you know, but I remember that afternoon vividly. Such joy. SAMUEL.
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