Final paper chase begins....

....well I think the reality is setting in that I am a mom and that a little boy is waiting for me...it has been a busy week in many ways...in addition to the news sinking in and the smile that was on my face and in my heart all week, it has been busy for other reasons too.....the demolition of the old veranda began this week and I look forward to a new veranda soon......also mid term grades were due yesterday so lots of marking....also a dear childhood friend of mine is dealing with the illness of her father and some sad news as to how much the cancer has spread...When I told her the news of Matteo during what she was going through, she was happy for me and said that this is the circle of life, we deal with death and birth every day.....and while she too wished that her dad wasn't ill, she was still very happy about Matteo...she too is a single mom of a little boy and when she showed her son a photograph of Matteo he was unimpressed until she told him it was a boy and then he got excited....!! He hopes a future playmate for him and I hope that too. Additionally there are other playmates waiting for Matteo here in the neighbourhool. Samantha shared some lovely comments by her little boys, Max and Vanh that are quite precious and sweet!!..I am reposting that here....when she showed them his photo they said "Teo, Teo, baby Teo" and when Samantha tried to close the book, Max said, "More Teo" so she opened it up again. They also added Teo to their goodnight list. Thanks Samantha and look forward to our boys' becoming lifelong friends...

Anyhow as for an update on Matteo coming home. I have been making phonecalls to line up a doctor to be able to review the medicals with me, once they come in. In Ontario this is a requirement before the proposal can be officially accepted. My family doctor who will be Matteo's doctor too, would have done this but she is about to head out on holidays in 10 days and I probably won't have the medicals by then, so have contacted an adoption doctor in Edmonton and one in Toronto, who do this consultation first by email and then with a phone call consultation. The Doctor in Edmonton is away now and will be back on August 3....so hopefully when I get the medicals either the Edmonton or Toronto can help. This is not covered by OHIP so will be an additional fee. Then I will have a home visit with my social worker for the letter of acceptance which will be sent to the ministry for them to issue that letter of no objection to the adoption. Anyhow while I was doing that, I did get cc'd on a message from the agency to my social worker and they asked her to write and request an extension to my homestudy that expires at the end of September. I was a bit surprised as I thought once a referral is received the homestudy is fine. While this is not an update to the homestudy, that is more complicated, it is different than requesting an extension...I hope it just means that when I'm in Vietnam, I need my homestudy to still be active, date wise???....Anyhow so that is where we're at. My social worker has been in touch and she wants to conference with me by phone on Saturday afternoon so that she can then send the request for an extension.........so more paperwork as I expected but did not expect the extension being necessary....so that is where I am at with my journey to Matteo.....what is wonderful about this stage though is that there is not an abstract idea of a baby but instead a real baby Matteo waiting....

On a positive note, there are two socials this weekend, one on Saturday which is an adoption gathering and the second one on Sunday, a birthday party for Max and Vanh who turn two but also for Van and Ben who are also turning two....and I think there are other birthdays being celebrated too....all were adopted from Vietnam...looking forward to both of those!! and pray that next year Matteo will be with me at these events too!!