Okay, I'm home from work now, I can tell ya'll all about it.
Right now, we are in the middle of a huge trial in the civil court. Someone is suing the hospital. This trial has gone over it's allotted days, and one of my contacts at the clerk's office called me on friday and warned me that our case might not be heard. I was devestated!!
We got the final word early yesterday morning that the judge had cancelled all civil cases so that the trial could continue on today.
So, I got on the phone right then (at the urging of a coworker) and called the Judge's secretary. I made small talk and then just spilled out, "Trenena, I have a huge favor to ask. Our adoption was supposed to happen tomorrow, and we have all scheduled off of work and school." She asked me if it was contested, I told her that it wasn't. She told me to call my attorney and be there at 8:30 this morning and the judge would hear it.
So, off we head this morning. We only waited for just a minute or two before our attorney got there, then we went straight into the chambers. It happened SUPER fast. When we got in there, the judge asked me if how I was, I told him I was nervous. He thought that was funny, since I work with him. We sit down. He starts explaining everything to shelby. She is over the age of consent, so she had to sign to be adopted. He explained to her what that means. He then explained to Ken how his rights and responsibilities would change. The whole time, I am thinking, OMG, I'm gonna cry.. Dana, don't cry, you have to work with these people. Don't cry, don't, you better not.. stop, wait what is that, OMG it better not be a tear. I look down, it drips from my nose.. there is goes, can't stop it..
The judge tells me to quit crying, I am going to make him cry.
I try to quit, but it just won't stop. I whisper to him that this adoption was a long time in the making, and then I cry some more
He is all teary eyed, the attorney is teary eyed, Ken and shelby are teary eyed. So, being the good mom that I am, I cry enough for all of them
So, he signed the adoption without asking anymore questions, he snuck out of the room while shelby and Ken exchanged gifts. They both got a brand new pair of dogtags. They say:
Shelby Leigh
(Her new last name)
01/26/06
Where do we
go from here...
Then Ken gave her what is called a Poesy ring. It is a ring with a small poem written on it. It says Ot Dushi which is Russian for "From my Soul". It also has From my Soul etched on the inside of the band.
I finally stopped crying long enough to get some pictures
Thank you all for the well wishes and the congratulations! I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful family in real life and on the DIS!!!
I'm so happy for you all. I was that nervous when our adoption was finalized too.
