Chapter 44

                                    

                                          
Maya and Carina had talked all New Year's Day about how their lives would significantly change if they decided to go through with the adoption process. There were a few arguments, but nothing major they could not agree on. At the end of the day, the girlfriends had decided that adopting her was everything they could ever want in life.
                          
Dr. DeLuca invited the social worker into her office and offered her the seat across from her. It was early in Carina's shift and just a few days after they laid eyes on Josie for the first time. Maya desperately wanted to be here, but she got called out to a multi car pileup on the freeway moments before she was set to leave.
                          
"Come in, Ms. Trowbridge, please have a seat," Carina said, confidently.
                          
The pleasant woman smiled at the doctor. She was short and wide in stature with a cheeky smile. Carina could tell she was extremely passionate about her job and the children who were on her caseload. 
                          
"Thank you for reaching out, Dr. DeLuca," the social worker said.
                          
The Italian cut her off, "Please, call me Carina." She crossed her legs and pushed herself back just slightly from her desk so she could get comfortable. The doctor situated herself and set her hands in her lap and tried her best to sit up tall. "I'm so sorry that Maya is unable to join us, she was called out to an accident."
                          
"Carina," she smiled again. She scanned her folder of paperwork and said, "I see that you and your wife are interested in Josie."
                          
Carina frowned slightly and corrected her, "Actually, Maya is my girlfriend."
                          
"Ahh, I see. Sorry about that mixup." The social worker scribbled some notes down on her stack of papers. 
                          
The doctor adjusted herself slightly and asked, "Is it going to be a problem that we aren't married?"
                          
"Uh, no it shouldn't be, but adopting a newborn can be competitive depending on the number of applicants. We try not to show favoritism to married couples, but sometimes it falls that way."
                          
"Understood," Carina said with tight lips. 
                          
"Josie is a special case. Her medical complexities are still unknown but it is likely that she will require special therapies and medications during the first few years of her life. Is that something you and Maya have discussed?"
                          
This question was one that Carina could answer confidently, "Absolutely. Both of us are positive that we could provide Josie with the best medical care possible. We would be completely dedicated to her emotional and physical well-being."
                          
"That's great to hear," Ms. Trowbridge said. She jotted additional notes down on her stack of papers and flipped to the middle of her folder. She continued, "Now, I see here that you two do not own your home and have not completed a home study."
                          
"No, we live in an apartment. We have not completed a home study. This has all come about very quickly. I am sure we could be ready by the end of the week," the Italian stated. Carina did not know that it often took months to get ready for a home study.
                          
"We can get you scheduled for one early next month, here is the number to call to set up an appointment. There is a lot that must be accomplished before the home study. There are several training classes you will have to attend over the next few weeks." She reached across the table and handed Carina a business card with the information for the home study.
                          
"Thank you," the doctor said. 
                          
"Now looking through Josie's medical records, it looks like she will be ready to be released from the hospital within a few weeks. Do you have an update?"
                          
Carina had spoken to Dr. Robbins and Dr. Montgomery yesterday about Josie and her status. "Josie will need to remain in the NICU for about six more weeks. That would put her at 40 gestational weeks. If she continues to grow at her current rate, she would be around eight pounds. She has been eating well, but she is still requiring oxygen to aid her breathing."