It was love at first sight. I didn’t believe in that until Scotty came. He laughed, he cooed, he ate, and he laughed some more. He was born on February 27, 1986 so he was 3 months and 1 week old when we got him. He was fat. He had at least five little fat rolls on each arm and sumo-type legs. But he was adorable and he was very happy. Scott had spent the first three months of his life with a foster family. You could tell they had loved him very much just because of his comfort level with the world. The agency had shared with us how the foster mothers would bring the babies to a bus on the day they were to be transported to their adoptive homes. The agency escorts would watch out the back of the bus as it pulled away from the foster mothers who would follow the bus, running in the road, waving hankerchiefs while tears streamed down their cheeks. I cry every time I think of this picture and I say a prayer of thanks for that wonderful woman and her family who loved my baby so much those important first months of his life.
I also thank God for Scotty’s biological mother who loved him enough to give him life. At that particular time in South Korea, if you were born out of wedlock, you were basically denied all rights—educational, political, and social rights. Scott’s biological mother chose to give him life by agreeing to let him be adopted. Every year on Scott’s birthday, I spend the day saying prayers of blessings on these two women who gave my son such a great start in life.
Because Scott had his days and nights mixed up, we spent a lot of that first week with him in our bed at night babbling on about his great experiences in his life. He blubbered on constantly and was especially partial to blowing raspberries with his sweet little mouth.
Our church had thrown us a beautiful baby shower, furnishing our nursery for two. So, even though Scott had his own baby bed, he preferred to be close to us and we preferred it too. It amazed me how quickly we felt bonded to him. I knew this was the feeling all mothers craved and clung to. We played and walked and visited and hosted a lot of visitors as well. However, there was one visit we were not necessarily looking forward to. Marcia was due for a home visit a week after we picked Scott up at the airport…and it was way too hot to wear a trench coat.
The day arrived. We had the house looking spotless and the nursery was perfect in every way. I was sitting on the couch holding Scott when she arrived. She immediately got down to business. We covered the questions she had for us (basic assurances that we had a doctor, plans for immunizations, etc.). She asked some questions about his sleeping habits and disposition.
“Here, come see the nursery,” Michael invited proudly. Marcia followed him to Scott’s room.
She looked at it carefully. “Very nice,” she commented, “but why do you have two cribs?”
My heart fell. She really had no idea. Even though my belly was as big as a barn, she had no idea.
“Well, Lori is expecting a baby any day now. She actually isn’t due until July but the doctor thinks it may be much earlier.”
It was like watching a dark sky give way to thunder and lightning.
“No, way. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Well, we really didn’t think she would carry it full term and we didn’t want to have to stop the adoption process again.”
“There is no way the agency is going to allow this. They will take Scott back and give him to another couple.”
My world disappeared.
“NO!” I cried. “They can’t do that!! He is our baby! We love him so much already!”
“I’m sorry,” she said, “but you have deceived us and there is no way they are going to allow you to have two children so close in age. I will check with them, but I’m sure they will not allow you to keep him.”
“Please, Marcia,” I begged “we just wanted a baby, but now he is ours. Please don’t let them take him away.”
“I’ll talk to them and let them know what is going on. You should hear from me within a week.” Then she turned to walk out the door and ended with “Be prepared.”
I held Scotty close. There was no way I was going to allow anyone to take him from us now. I would flee the country, change my name, go into hiding, and disguise us all. How could I lose him now when it was love at first sight?
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