Then we went to Babies R Us to pick up a few essentials. While we were there, I struck up conversation with another mother who had a one-month old baby. We exchanged our experiences of diapers, etc....and when I left the area, I said, "Congratulations!" and she said the same to me. The funny thing is, my first thought was, "I didn't go throught NEARLY as much as she did to become a mom".....then, later I came to my senses, and thought, "Likewise - she hasn't gone throught NEARLY as much as I did - in a COMPLETELY different manner!" So, today I finally started giving myself credit for the situation.
Speaking of "the situation", I can't begin to tell you the experience I had with a large medical center here in order to make an appointment for Levi's checkups with a pediatrician. I had hoped to use a doc that a friend referred. However, when I called them, they told me that they couldn't make an appointment for him, since he didn't have a legal name yet. They said - and I quote - "Call us back when you have his name and we'll make an appointment for you." I am certain they didn't realize what they were saying! I said, "Well, since he was considered abandoned at the hospital, the hospital named him 'Baby Boy.' We have a name for him, but we can't change his name until the adoption is final - which could take 6-9 months." She still didn't understand. She couldn't figure out how to process a patient that had the name Baby Boy. I was told by her supervisor that "All babies born at the medical center that do not have a name are given the name Baby Boy. So, it would be confusing." I couldn't see what was confusing, since there were clearly several babies with this name. What would adding one more to the mix do? Ho hum.
The bottom line is that this particular institution is SO HUGE that they could not deviate from the norm. And, since we all know this situation is not 'the norm', we decided to find another mom-and-pop operation that could take him in considering his unique circumstances, and wouldn't make a huge deal about his name, his history, or otherwise. We intend to treat him just as the UK doctors said to, "as a very normal child." So, we felt that a doctor's office that isn't treating him as a "normal child" isn't for us. Nonetheless, my phone rang off the hook today from that huge institution. They offered endless apologies, creative solutions (which, in my opinion, only complicated the matter even further) and begged me to consider coming on board with them. At one point, one lady said to me, "How about we call him Levi to you, but on record, he'll be Baby Boy?" I said, "I don't care if you call him Santa Claus - all that matters to me is that he is getting the care he needs!" Ugh! By the end of it, I was so disgusted. I finally said, "I'm going to hang up now. I'm not interested in the opportunity to move forward in a life-long relationship with your office. Please do not call me back." I received two more calls in the next 5 minutes. No kidding!
I called another doc office. I said, "I need to make an appointment for a new patient. He's one month old. We call him Levi, but the insurance and other paperwork reflects the name 'Baby Boy'." Her response, "OK. can you come in on Tuesday morning?" Seriously. That's how it should be. I'm looking forward to meeting this doc.
Anyway, we also stopped at Lowe's and picked up paint for the nursery. I know it seems like we are doing all of this backwards....but it is what it is. And, we are glad it is. Now that we've gotten a chance to meet him and learn his personality, we have completely changed every original plan we had for his nursery! haha. I can't wait to start weilding that paintbrush tomorrow.
Oh - and here's a pic. I must take a moment to explain. Mimi D bought him this activity gym. I was pretty excited about it - because we have very limited toys for him. We got it home, Mimi assembled it, and we put him on it. This is his initial reaction:
Apparently, it was very soothing!
Ok - but seriously, not long after that, he woke up, and played with all the gadgets. He stomped on the piano keys to create some music and batted on the toys hanging above him. He had a great time with it.
This is the sweetest pic! I can't believe how much he has grown. Love you guys.
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