Revocation Period

I really wanted to wait until this evening to do my post, but I just finished reading Production, Not Reproduction's post on the waiting period - and I could no longer wait. First of all, if you are adopting, please go read her post, it is very insightful. Also read the comments, there are some very good ones.

Where we live, our revocation period is ten days from the date the revocation papers are signed. I know that will be the longest ten days of my life up to that point. Just typing this is making my heart race and my eyes sting with tears. You see, that ten-day-wait is the part that scares me the most. Although Ukulele has not been born yet, I already love her. And I have been trying SO HARD to not get attached to that baby because I know Juno can change her mind, and it would be her right to do that, to which we would have no recourse whatsoever. (I just now got up and closed my office door because I am crying thinking of that scenario.) A potential adoptive parent cannot help but become attached to the child that they hope to parent - and face it, before the revocation period ends, *hope to parent* is all we get to have. While the ten-day-wait will be wrought with anxiety, stress, and (most likely) worse-case-scenario nightmares -- it will also be filled with excitement, joy, love, and learning. It really is the proverbial double-edged sword. There is no way we - or any other adoptive parent(s) - would hold back even an ounce of love for that child on the fear that the child could be ripped from their arms (and their hearts) at any moment. But yet, as a *hope to* parent, how do you prepare for that child? How do you get through each day of the revocation period - relishing in every minute detail of your child from physical traits to emotional traits to even just the smell - without losing your mind in the "what if" abyss?

Okay, I need to stop focusing on that aspect.... although it is always the ugly dirtball in the back of my hope-filled mind....

We did get an update on Juno and Ukulele today. Nothing new! Which is fantastic news! We are still 100% a "go" and everyone is healthy.

Now, a practical question (because I refuse to believe the worst despite all I wrote above).... how do I keep Molly-cat out of Ukulele's crib once she is here? We are going to go ahead and get Ukulele some proper sleeping quarters (since she would most likely grow out of the dresser drawer in about a week) prior to her arrival. But that's it - nothing else is going to be bought. The reasoning is that we need to teach the cat to stay out of the crib. I have read that you can put double-sided tape on cardboard and stick that in the crib before the baby arrives. The cat will jump in, freak out on the tape, jump out, and then repeat the process until it learns that the crib is an undesirable place. If anyone else has any suggestions, we would really appreciate them!

Anonymously trying.

First of all, I would like to thank GatorMan for putting a graphic in my title bar. I rather like it, and am very grateful that he understands the whole html thing because I surely don't.

Question for my fellow bloggers: How many of you do this anonymously? Meaning most of your family and friends do not know that you have a blog? Right now, very few people in my immediate circle know of my nefarious blogging activities. Probably good since I tend to "vent" about some of them. Makes me feel kind of sneaky - and I rather like it.

I just want to say that I have really enjoyed getting to know many of you - although it feels very voyeuristic at times as I am not a "comment poster." But I am very pleased that people are reading my blog (thanks, Stirrup Queen of Lost and Found Connections for exposing my little corner to the blogging world - I love it!).

This particular post is also an attempt to learn how to use blogger. So, I am making a valiant attempt at doing links and pictures.

And for pictures, here is my dog, Matthew. He's a low-rider beagle-basset. And quite adorable.

And so she doesn't feel left out and then puke in my shoes while I sleep, here is Molly, the mean-ole-kitty-cat. Fuzzy, pretty, and mad at the world most of the time. It could be the whole brother-is-a-dog thing. Not really sure. She's just mad. Always.

I suppose that is enough posting of non-anonymous pictures. Not sure how long I will continue this little "you-don't-know-me" charade of mine -- probably until the Ukulele arrives. Until then, I'll remain anonymous while we Wait for our Ukulele.