The last two and a half years I’ve dreamed of our finalization date. It would be the day Craig and Jimmy, Jay and I would be a forever family.

After two and a half years in an abnormal adoption process, last week I found out we had a date. It's September 8 at 8:15 a.m.

I used to watch Adoption Stories on the Discovery Health channel and cry during the scene when that family was signing the papers in front of the judge and then getting their pictures taken with him or her.

I know I’ll leak a tear or two (or ten thousand!) during our court date. However, I didn’t expect to be head-on-my-desk sobbing after I hung up the phone with our lawyer after hearing the good news.

With hiccups and tears dripping I tried to call my husband about to tell him. He wasn’t answering, so I called my mother-in-law.

At first I couldn’t talk clearly, so she asked, “What’s wrong?” Her voice sounded tight, I knew she was mentally churning through all possible ‘bad’ scenarios that might be happening at the moment.

I said, “Nothing is wrong mom. It’s good. It’s really good.”

“Well what? Tell me?” She still sounded worried so I quickly told her about the finalization date. She said, “Well, then why are you crying?”

I cried harder. Somewhere in there between gulps for air I said, “Their happy tears?”

She got a little quiet. I knew she was fighting back a few of her own 'happy' tears too.

“I don’t know why I’m crying like this mom – I think I’m just overwhelmed.” I was too. I was surprised that I was still carrying on to so much insecurity and worry. It was like I had held my breath for a very long time and didn't know it until I gasped for more.

The last year and a half had been about retrieving paperwork – it was a calm period and we were just waiting for the formality of the court. I wasn't expecting this kind of emotional upheaval.

A few minutes after I hung up the phone with my mother-in-law, Jimmy called. So I gave him the news. I also told him what a sob fest I was (and truth be told, I was still crying a bit).

He asked why? And I told him the same thing. Jimmy said he was saving his emotions for the court date. I think in his mind, its not real until it’s real. So fingers crossed that nothing else delays us.