Now that Most People Know...

Monday we were sent an email from CHOC that asked us to see how fast we could process travel visas because there was a feeling that there would be an offer soon, possibly for December 24th.  I was at work and I was completely floored!  NEVER did we expect to even 'possibly' hear this soon.  It has been five weeks since our papers were sent over to Russia!

I immediately jumped on to the visa applications and it turns out it takes 12 days to process.  I told CHOC and said I would await their call.  This is when CHOC tells me they won't be calling.  They have to offer a possible child to our provincial government first and then NS offers us the child.  Wheels started turning.  I asked if CHOC was able to tell me when they have forwarded an offer or even any of the details regarding the child.  CHOC tells me they are not able to tell me ANYTHING.  OK!  I start to buzz because how else would CHOC have a possible date and be encouraging us to fill out visas if there hasn't been an offer?  I now knew I wouldn't sleep...

Wednesday morning I'm at work on the phone with a food representative and my cell phone rings.  I see it is an unknown caller and know that Family Services always appears as unknown.  I immediately hung up on the rep and answered the cell.  It was the head of Family Services!!!

Lo and Behold!  We are being offered a boy!  He just turned two at the end of October.  The description we received is as follows:

The boy is active, emotional, sociable, he speaks by simple words, understands orders, can walk.

And the photo melted me. 

He has a name but if everything goes according to plan we will be Canadianizing it slightly when custody is official.  His name is Makerov Maxim.  Instantly I was enamoured with Makerov (I've always liked names with v's) and had shortened it to Mak.  I find out a few hours later that Russians often go by their middle names.  Too late.  He isn't a Max to us, he's a Mak.  We won't say the first name until we know we have custody but for now, Mak Miklos?  sounds awesome!

We have told people but still request no public postings until we have the date - which I now know will come on MONDAY!

This is so amazing and so wonderful.  It is hard to describe the emotions that I went through but I will give it a go -

I didn't react to the call the way I expected.  There was a not a blubbery mess of tears.  I was definitely and  obviously happy and excited but I am pretty sure I was in a state of shock for 36-ish hours.  I immediately called Mike and told him and then ran around the store telling everyone.  I even saw the teller from the bank who sold me the last bank draft for the Russian Consulate and I showed him the photo and hugged him (only to later think that might have been uncomfortable for him)!  I was told several times that I was visibly shaking and stayed that way all night and next day.  Mike and I were both pretty speechless sitting together that night.  We just kept asking 'are you alright' and then smiling.  Our minds were made up even though we had a doctor looking over the file we were pretty sure nothing was going to stop us from pursuing this boy.

Thursday started the same way Wednesday night ended - I was buzzing.  I started to tell friends and family (beyond the parents whom already knew now) and it wasn't until reading one response that the immense awesomeness of this situation hit me like a tonne of bricks!  There are two ways that I can best describe the feeling.  One is that it felt like I literally shed a second skin and that it was so heavy that the sudden lightness made me fall to the floor.  I had dropped to my knees and just started bawling and laughing.  The second way is that suddenly Mak became three dimensional.  Up to this moment he had been the picture and nothing more.  I had even stood in his room the previous night but couldn't see him there.  Now I could picture holding his hand, him coming down the stairs with me standing at the bottom, eating breakfast with him, him rocking in the chair with me... it was an endless flood of three-dimensional opportunity!

WOW!

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW!

More to come when I know more too.  Monday, as soon as I have the date, my status will be updated for the world to see my joy!