We were so very happy that this day finally happened! 493 days - WHEW! When we calculated that, it made us feel incredibly grateful that the conclusion had happened!
We began the adoption celebration the night before by eating at Lulu's Cafe in downtown San Antonio - home of the 3 pound cinnamon roll! Lots of yummy chicken fried steak was to be had, and of course we grabbed a cinnamon roll for the road!
We were met by my mother- and father-in-
Our hotel (the former Bexar County Jail - really cool and built in 1879, supposedly haunted!) was right on the River Walk, so after checking in, we took a walk down to see the lights. It's always so pretty during the holidays!
In the morning, we crammed some breakfast down our throats to be at the courthouse at 7:30. The hotel was only three blocks away from the courthouse, so we enjoyed a brisk walk in the Texas sunshine.
Our adoption coordinator caseworker and our two lawyers (one for the girls, one for us) met us when we arrived. We had the quick work of signing the "day-of" paperwork to make the adoption officially official.
It was about time for us to be called in. Curly Sue had a funny look on her face, part frozen, part bewildered, and you could see something happening in her five-year-old brain. I pulled her into a hug and asked if she was doing okay. She said, "I'm feeling nervous about seeing the judge. I don't know what I'm going to say." I told her that the judge would probably just ask her name, and if she wanted to be adopted. Curly Sue nodded very seriously and took a deep breath. (Oh my goodness. To think of everything she'd been through and how resilient she had been.)
We were allowed to go inside the court room (after we threatened/begged the kids up and down with anything and everything to make them be quiet! It was a packed court room, and many other cases were waiting their turn.). It was only a few minutes before we were called up to the front. We made our way down the aisle to our spots in front of her desk.
The judge barely had time to take a breath to begin proceedings, before Curly Sue blurted out, "I have a new name and I want to be adopted." The whole room cracked up. The judge very kindly began chatting with our little one, asking her questions - you could tell soon after that Curly Sue felt back in her gregarious element.
The caseworker and lawyers gave quick testimony stating their filings for adoption, we stated that we were here to adopt, and it was over!
The judge let the kids go up to her seat and take a picture. They also got chocolate and an apple! Curly Sue asked and was allowed to wear the judge's reindeer antlers. What a good time, and great memories for them to carry!
We stalled about fifteen more minutes in a waiting room for the certified copies of the adoption decree, chowing down on the apples. We were soon ready to go and be DONE - with paperwork in hand. What a quick resolution to 493 days of fostering!
Of course, we had to stop and take some pictures on the courthouse steps! There also was a beautiful, gigantic Christmas tree in the yard around/near the courthouse, so we took some pictures there. Wonderful momentos of the experience!
We had a great rest of the day, walking around downtown San Antonio, seeing the Alamo, eating at our favorite Mexican food restaurant... We hope that this Adoption Day will be one that all four of our kids will look back on fondly.
It has been a wild ride, but we're so happy it's done! Welcome OFFICIALLY to the family, Curly Sue and Brown-Eyed-Girl! We love you to pieces! - Mama and Daddy
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