Time Flies
Countdown. T minus five days and counting before we leave.
I haven't packed but I'm a good sprinter and I think we have everything we need. The paperwork is what keeps me on my toes, making sure we have all the necessary documents, hard copies of the necessary documents, scanned copies, and giving copies to people here for safekeeping, keeping documents secured. Our sitter Gigi who has been with us since Luke was 9 months old and is really family now, will be with the kids so that is such a huge relief. Luke and Annabel can maintain their routines, finish out the school year and we'll be home before you know it.
Next year, Annabel's school uniform changes from a plaid jumper to a blouse and skirt. I think, this is the last time I'll see her in her jumper, before I leave. Last night was the school dance and Luke had his first dance with a girl. Today is my birthday - I'm 47 and taking on two twins. That question comes up a lot from others - why do this NOW? Things just got easier! (Harder in other ways, for you parents out there.) It's so expensive! Two more college tuitions! Two proms, two weddings! But, it's exactly that, too. Life speeds by. That is neither good nor bad. It is, in my case, a clarifying agent for a Reason Why. Mark and I have had to work hard and be independent from early ages to get to where we are now, and Mark has worked extra hard to give us a good life, so that I can stay home with these two girls when them come. We've given this a lot of thought and time and time again, our hearts never let this idea go. It's risky financially and doesn't make a lot of sense to some who keep up with this story. We get it. It's scary.
Did we expect twins? God no. When our coordinator mentioned them, before we got their actual files, both Mark and I were very guarded for the reasons I just listed above, the main one being expense. Does that sound cold? It's just, how do you not take that into consideration? We have to. We can't just jump in. If we'd won the lottery and had financial reserves that allowed us the freedom to make choices based purely on desire then that's easy, yeah, twins, bring it. We already have two other children to provide for, protect.
Then their files came and you can see what decision we made. They came to us for a reason, it's not just chance, it's not random since there's no such thing. Now our children will welcome in two sisters from China soon and that is a gift to them too, a real life opportunity find out about the connectedness of this world, how everyone is tied to you even though you don't know them. Yet. (So, first and foremost: Be Kind.) We will welcome two daughters. Yes. It's worth the risk.
It's a gorgeous day and so for my 47th birthday, I want to spend it with Mark and Luke and Annabel, going downtown into this fantastic city. Art Institute, Millennium Park and dinner somewhere and home early sounds perfect. Lets enjoy the day before it hits the fan and I'm not going anywhere good for awhile til the little ones get acclimated.