Class B

So it's been quiet around here... real quiet.
I've almost posted a few times a debby downer post about how I'm SO OVER WAITING and WANT SOME NEWS, but I haven't.

I have been calling DC EVERYDAY to check and see if there is any update. Everyday, same thing... no news. It's SO frustrating. I gave them Thursday off and called this morning, guess what.... no news! Ugh, what a way to start the weekend.

-please note the below is a window into my brain
(and what happens to adoptive parents), considered yourself warned-

This afternoon on the way home from work my phone rang- HOLT!
AHHHHH. My heart literally stopped beating, then it was POUNDING. Like running a marathon, if one were to actually run, which we all know, I don't.

I thought, there is NO WAY this is my travel call, freak out, is this my travel call, DC has no news, I can't go- I'm not packed! FREAK OUT He hasn't has a Visa Physical yet... he hasn't been to the embassy... it CAN'T be my travel call, is it my travel call, no way can't be... FREAK OUT...get myself together.... answer on the second ring and calmly say

"Hello"

"Hey Mary Leigh, it's Lisa from Holt"
DUH! I have your number programmed in my phone! I'm freaking out here, why are you calling, can i go to Korea, no way.... it's not time, why are you calling

"Oh, Hi Lisa." think of some small talk, keep it together "How are you?"

"I'm good. I hate to call families so close to the end like this, but"... ok, not travel call... why is she calling, please don't be bad news, I'm SO ready to travel, I mean minus all the packing and stuff...

"your son had his Visa Physical"... YES! Visa Physical, DC was wrong, this is progress, whoohooo! Oh no, don't be bad news, I hope he is ok. Oh please, don't be sick....

"He is going to need a class B waiver. " YES! this is good, we are so close. Class B means close to the end! YES YES YES Wonder what special need they picked for the Class B?

"Oh, Lisa, that is great news!!!" YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

"I tried to call your husband and left him a message that I was calling you" WHAT?!!?!?! You called Nick FIRST!?! YOU BETTER CALL ME FIRST WITH THE TRAVEL CALL!!!! What, he didn't answer, um, it's HOLT, this is like the single most important phone call in the world, why didn't he answer, UGH, I'm gonna kill him.

"Oh that's fine Lisa, I'm about to pick him up." I'm gonna KILL HIM!

So Lisa continues to fill me in on what the next steps are and all that and I calm down and start acting like a normal person again, not some crazed maniac.

Here's the rundown.
Bates has to have a class B waiver issued. Basically this is a waiver that the doctor who did his Visa Physical has requested to make sure we are aware of a certain medical condition. The medical condition, get this.... is the fact that he is post- op from a heart surgery he had at a few weeks old to close a hole in his heart. Seriously, out of all the things the kid has overcome, they picked a surgery and a condition that is resolved and should be a non-issue for him. Funny.

We got the Class B in an email late this evening. We will print off 4 copies and have them notarized first thing Monday morning and then overnight then to Holt. As soon as Lisa gets them, she will FedEx them to Korea. Once Korea get them, the phone can ring any day with the news that HE IS READY!!!

Ahhh, we are so so so close, like a couple of weeks and we will be in Seoul.
It's so surreal! Tonight in the car, I looked at Nick and said, this time in two weeks, we could be in South Korea with our SON!

I can't believe it. We are almost there. Almost a family of three. Almost seeing the face of the photos I've memorized in person. Almost kissing those sweet cheeks. Almost hearing his laugh. Almost changing dirty diapers. Almost no sleep. Almost all nighters. Almost living my dream.

Bates,
Our journey to you is almost over. You are the son we have been dreaming about for years. We can't wait to have the honor to parent you. Sweet boy, you are my joy. I love you and can't wait to board the plane to come for you. Soon, little one.... soon!