The Meeting

This morning we got the news that "Marsha" wanted again to keep the baby. After a flurry of phone calls, the plan became that we were to go to the agency with Xavier Joaquín and meet "Marsha" and "Martin."We'd wanted to meet them since initially adopting Avery Javier, but today was the first time that the four of us were together in one room.

Julia and Marsha immediately embraced and cried together. The next hour and a half was a blur, but we talked about our lives, about the boys, about how complicated these decisions can be. Marsha and Martin were incredibly open with us and shared freely about their relationship and their decisions. We shared about how Avery Javier was growing up, and how Xavier Joaquín has been developing so far. There were also long moments of silence. Not uncomfortable, though. Just sitting together and feeling love for the baby and compassion for each other. We liked them very much, and they said they felt the same for us. And we agreed that however this may turn out for Xavier Joaquín, we would love to stay in touch with them, and for Avery Javier to know them as well.

Xavier Joaquín is still with us this afternoon. Marsha and Martin said that it was too difficult to give a final decision there in the office. They wanted to take a few more days to let us know. At this point we just wait. We are glad to have met them, and it has helped us be more at peace with the waiting. We know in our hearts that we all want what is best for Xavier Joaquín. What a lucky kid to have four parents wanting to love him.