Mama

Mom.   Mommy.  Mama. 

Maddie's first day of middle school

Maddie and Audrey have called me Mama since they were little.  Not sure why, but it's the name that's stuck.  And to be honest, I think it's one of the most endearing names of them all!  I'm truly honored to be Mama to these 2 great  kiddos!

Audrey's first day of 3rd grade

Growing up, I remember calling her "Mommy" when I was little, and to this day I call her "Mom". Three of us have been blessed to call her by that name.   All my years, she was the glue that held our family together.  She was my best friend.  She was the one person I could always count on and NEVER, ever failed me.  I called her twice a day.    It's hard to believe she was once as young I am with a son (or two) of her own.
 

Mom with one of my brothers

 I still find myself wanting to call her everyday.   I want to tell her all about Maddie's first day of middle school and ask her for advice on how to raise a hormonally-challenged-preteen-girl (she's obviously had experience with that!)  I want to send her photos of Audrey's new smile with colorful braces.  I want to call and ask her how many times she thinks I should call stalk the National Visa center each day until I get the document I need.   But I can't.  She's in a nursing home and has an unique form of dementia.  Mom is completely bed-ridden and cannot speak at all.  She has no idea who I am.

Audrey feeding her Grandma

Dave (my oldest brother) and I visiting Mom a few years ago

Mom would be so excited about our little boy!  She'd be THRILLED to add a grandson to her resume and would spoil him like crazy.  I know Mom would rock him to sleep while singing "You are my Sunshine" over and over, just like she did with me and Maddie.  She'd give her life for him, just like she would any of her "biological" grandbabies.   She would be proud of the woman I've become and be unconditionally supportive of our growing family.

That wonderful woman is a Mom of 3.   Now, I will be Mom of 3. Never thought that was going to happen, but God had it in the plans all along.   I hope I can do 1/2 as good of a job as she did.   Now I want to ask her..how did she do it?  How did she survive being a mom of 3?  How did she balance it all?    Sometimes, I feel like now is the time I need her the most.   I miss her terribly.

Mom and I at my brother Phil's wedding (about the time we noticed she wasn't "herself")

Sheesh,  pass the tissues.  This is HARD stuff, people!

Oh, and on a happy note and back to the adoption.  In case you were curious about an update, our I800 has been approved!  That means the U.S. government has approved our petition to classify Liam as an immediate relative. (Mom would be so happy!) We are now waiting for the National Visa Center to cable (email) that approval to the U.S. Embassy in China.   Then, we can proceed in obtaining Liam's Article 5, which will be the final step before we obtain approval to TRAVEL! 

By the way,  Chinese kiddos call their fathers "Baba" and call their mother a special name:  " Mama "