I applied for a volunteer position at our local hospital in the NICU unit recently. Last night was my first night! The nurses were super appreciative and excited that I chose to volunteer for the 9-11pm shift. They said they haven't had a volunteer during those hours for a long time even though that's one of their most needed times for volunteers since that is usually around the time that parents go home for the night and they could just use the extra arms. Most of the babies were very tiny and of course super adorable, but I was most needed for a set of fussy twins whose parents had left for the night shortly before I arrived.
Now I have lots of nieces and nephews and have been around babies all of my life but this was different. I don't think I have held an infant since we decided to try to grow our family in December of 2012. We have suffered a lot of setbacks and heartache since then but when I picked up that little one from her bassinet and held her in my arms it was like I was struck by lightening and at that moment I knew that everything we have gone through and will grow through to grow our family will be worth it. It was reassurance that I was meant to be a mom. That baby wasn't ours and I don't know when we will find our little one but I know in my heart that I was meant to be a mom and I will be a mom!
Those two hours flew by and while I didn't want to leave, I couldn't wait to get home and tell Mary all about it. I wish Mary could have experienced this moment with me but her schedule isn't quite as flexible as mine but I know that we will both be awesomely amazing mommies to our little one!
Let's keep spreading the word about our adoption hopes and make this dream a reality.