Thanks for your great replies!
I guess you could say we're more ready than we are sure!
We don't actually want to volunteer in Africa for six months; that was just an example of one of the many things I see or read that will set me off thinking, "If we have kids, we'll never be able to do X" (or won't be able to do it for years).
Angela, I am so ready for the 99% giving. I feel like there's something missing sometimes, and I really want to help or take care of someone else for a change instead of going through life thinking only about myself. I know that sounds weird, but there you have it.
There are so many adoption options through this agency we're with, especially because we're open to race and age. We'll be speaking with the agency about foster-to-adopt, infant adoption (which is what we had already put in motion before I became ill), and adopting from Ethiopia.
This time around, we're not telling anyone about our plans until they're very certain...last time, we started telling people and then had to explain to them all when we had put it on hold, and had to answer uncomfortable and sometimes prying questions (and comments like, "everybody gets a little nervous when they adopt"). The bad thing is, you need to get letters of reference from five people, so there are five people we need to keep informed, whereas I'd rather tell *nobody* until it's a done deal.
So I think we're in. I just need to get that letter from my psychiatrist saying that the panic disorder won't keep me from being a fit parent. He didn't return my call today, and I'm worried that he'll think I need more time to be sure.
Thanks again,
FW
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