(Mis)Adventures at Babies R' Us

Thankfully Jon and I weren't the only people with the "deer in the headlights" look at Babies R' Us yesterday.  There were plenty of couples who looked equally as terrified, equally as overwhelmed, and had their mom's and sister's on speed dial equally as often as Jon and I. 

Why would we be at Babies R' Us if we don't have a baby?  Well, since statistically around upwards of 40% of the births done through our agency are done at the last minute (right before or after a mother gives birth at the hospital), we need to have an Emergency Last Minute Kit of baby items prepared.  Additionally, even if we aren't chosen at the last minute and have a few months to prepare, our baby's first days out of the hospital are going to be spent in a hotel room because of Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC).  The ICPC is all the legal mumbo-jumbo that happens between the state where the baby is born and our home state essentially "clearing" us to enter MN with the baby.  We legally cannot leave the state where the baby is born until this clearance happens. This could take a few days, but we have been told to prepare for up to two weeks. 

So, we were given a list of exactly what we need in our emergency kit that should be packed and ready to go at anytime.  That all sounds fine and dandy with one teensy weensy problem.....barely any of the stuff they ask you to pack fits quaintly inside of a suitcase. 

Here is the list of things we need to have in our emergency kit:

• Car Seat
• Slanted Sleeper/Travel Crib
• 1 Bottle Sterilizer
• 1 Bottle Drying Rack
• 6 - 4oz. Bottles
• 6 Burping Diapers/Clothes
• 1 Package Disposable Diapers
• 1 Package Baby Wipes
• 2 Changing Pads
• 4-6 One Piece Sleepers
• 4 T-Shirt Onsies
• 4 Waffle Blankets for Swaddling
• 2 Baby Caps
• 3 Pairs of Socks
• 1 Sleep Sack
• 6 Baby Washclothes
• Baby Shampoo
• Pacifiers

And then we bought a bottle warmer and a bottle "thermos" that keeps two bottles warm for up to a few hours (for when we travel on the plane back to MN). 

All in all, it took us 3 hours and 15 minutes to buy this entire list.  And I made four calls to my sister and one call to my mom.

Count Up Clock

Maybe it is a really bad idea, but I'll wait to see how badly it tortures us!  I added a count up clock on the right of the screen to show how long we have been in the pool and "available" to be selected as a adoptive parents.  Mainly because I am bad at math and this makes it easier to figure out, but mostly because I am just curious to see exactly how long this part of the process will take (if it takes at all).

WE'RE IN THE POOL!!!!

OMG, the moment we have been waiting for is finally here.  We are OFFICIALLY in the pool of available candidates that can be selected by the birth parents!!  It has been a long, tough road, but Jon and I couldn't be anymore excited for this day to arrive.  In the beginning of this process, this day seem like it would never come to fruition and yet, 8 months later......here we are. 

Regardless of whether we are picked or not, our lives are about to change in ways we could never imagine.  Every time the phone rings, I think we will be on high alert and wonder to ourselves and as we make a made dash to our phones, "is this the call that is going to change our lives permanently?"  I am not sure how any human being emotionally prepares for such a thing.  I guess we are about to find out.  Let's hope this doesn't end with one of us at the funny farm....ha ha!!

Any and all prays are welcome!