It was from Laurie at the S.C. County Adoption Unit. She had news for me... My biological mother's name was Sandra Waldrip. She died in 1996 of a heroin overdose. She did try to find me when she was alive apparently. She had a daughter before me in '64. She is my half sister. Her name is Tess (Teresa) and she and her husband live in Eureka, CA which is way north of where I live. Not sure right now how many miles away... I apparently also have 2 other 1/2 brothers from her other marriages. I believe she was married 3 times. I spoke to Tess's husband Garnett but Tess was working. He did give me a some info though. Like the fact that we are part Flathead Indian and my bio-mom was beautiful. Tess called me back to acknowledge my phone call and let me know that she was working and didn't want it to be rushed call. She actually sounded like me... She had been looking for me but I don't know for how long. Well, needless to say it will be interesting to see how this all pans out. I will still be getting the non-identifying information but it will be a month or so. It will be good to have all the details in writing.
Dave did not bring the scale to the hotel but obviously it has not been my number one priority lately. I am doing okay on food. Last night I had a great spinach salad and 2 glasses of Merlot. I had not had a good glass of wine in awhile so it was especially tasty. Sidenote: Sorry if things haven't been too WL related lately. All these life occurrences do have an impact on my overall eating/health though...
As for the weekend, I don't have a whole lot planned. Nothing for Saturday. Maybe I can go to Zumba. I start dog sitting on Sunday. It will be my cruise spending money. I have been wanting this perfume called Cashmere by DKNY but it is super spendy but they have it on the ship duty free so it's less expensive. :-D We leave in 3 weeks which is mind boggling. Kinda snuck up on me lol. Hope you have a safe and festive 4th of July! I may or may not post over the weekend and we have Monday off work. Thank goodness! Until next time...
Wow, that is some incredible news! I'm thinking about you as you start learning more about your biological family!
ReplyDeleteDiscovering a whole bunch of "new" family members! Wow! Sounds really interesting -- and, yes, "life altering."
ReplyDeleteJim
Hello Katie ! I recently found your blog and Iam trying to catch up with all your news.
ReplyDeleteCongrats your weight loss thus far ! I have found you very inspiring.
Wow, how exciting to find out information about your family. I can't wait to hear all it about it.
Holy cats, Batman! I can't imagine how you must be feeling, right now. I am sorry about your biological mother, but you must be thrilled to learn about siblings and that your sister has been looking for you, too.
ReplyDeleteJust... Wow! :D
That is such incredible news!! Congratulations on such a big step in discovering your family. I'm sure it's overwhelming emotionally, but hopefully it is overwhelming in a positive way to help counteract everything else that is stressful for you right now.
ReplyDeleteYou and Dave have a fantastic holiday weekend!!
xo
lacey
I can't even begin to imagine all the thoughts and feelings you are having right now Katie. I am glad you are finding some results though and I hope you are able to finally figure out "who" you are.
ReplyDeleteHope you and Dave have a wonderful long weekend!
Oh, my! What mixed emotions you must have!
ReplyDeleteDisappointment that you're birth mother has died, but there must be some comfort--for lack of a better word--in knowing that she had legitimate reasons for deciding on adoption (If she died of a heroin ovedose in middle age, odds are high drug abuse was happening earlier, too, and that's why she opted--or was forced--to choose adoption.)
The fact that she did try to find you tells you that you were not forgotten.
And a full sister! In the same state! So cool. Just far enough away to allow you to NOT meet until you're ready--but close enough for the meeting not to be a serious hardship or impossibility.
And getting real basic info is a blessing all in itself. Katie J, you must really feel like you're on your way to filling in some blank spaces about your personal history.
I'm happy for you. This distraction has come at a good time, too.
AND!!!!!!! I got the DVD today!!!! We'll watch it tonight! I'm sooo excited. :D
Thank you!
Deb
About 325 miles - a six hour drive (I used to do that drive a lot...ah, young love!). So happy for you, Katie - you have a new family!
ReplyDeleteWow- that is just amazing to find out all of that information! How nice to find out that you have a sister and can be in contact with her. SO happy for you! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy 4th of July! Have a great weekend!
Interesting on the family! It will be great to see how all that turns out! Keep us posted!
ReplyDeleteWow! Hope it turns out to be all you want it to be.
ReplyDeleteIt's like a whole door opened for you to go through. You may have heard that the big Abercrombie and Fitch store and their Hollister store in NYC was shut down recently. Reason? Bedbug infestation. It happens everywhere.
ReplyDeleteOMG - you're a SISTER....your siblings are so lucky to have you! WOW.
ReplyDeletewow what a lot of information! *huggles* at least now you know something. Looking forward to following that journey with you.
ReplyDeleteyour not just a weightloss blog. you're a person. we're here for it all. x <3
Oh my stars and stripes! Life altering INDEED! Congrats on being reconnected. That is so amazing. :)
ReplyDeleteOh Katie, I am so happy for you. What a life changing phone call. I am sorry about your bio mother's passing. But it is very exciting that you have a sister and 1/2 brothers. I hope this is all a very positive experience for you. It must have been exciting to talk to your sister and hear that she sounds like you. I was adopted and it is always exciting to me to hear of someone connecting with their birth family members.
ReplyDeleteWhat a COOL day! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteKatie, I am so sorry to hear about your bio Moms passing, it must give you some peace to know she had looked for you, I felt your words when you said your sister sounded like you. As for your posts being about wl....we are concerned about you and this is all part of getting to where you want to be. I am excited for you. I am sure you will have emotional ups and downs over this...we are here for you through it all. take care and a big hug for you.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about your biological mother... The bitter-sweet news you've received must be completely overwhelming... Thinking of you. x
ReplyDeleteHow exciting for you, Katie. I'm sorry you didn't get the chance to meet your bio-mom, but now that you know something must be wonderful. I'm adopted and only knew bits and pieces for most of my life. When I did decide to explore, I found out my bio-mom had died just the year before. I hope everything works out for you with your "new" family.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend.
Hello Katie J,
ReplyDeleteIf you can believe it, this is your niece commenting on your blog (which is pretty amazing, by the way). Just look at how many people are following you and genuinely care about your well being and happiness! I'm so glad to know that my long-lost aunt is such a beautiful person inside and out.
As I read your post about finding my family, it dawned to me that you have so much to learn about us! I'm glad my mother didn't talk to you in a rushed conversation because there are a lot of memories and emotions that obviously still need to surface for the both of you. Ever since I can remember, my mother has been searching and crying for you. Every year she would have me go online and search for you but we never knew your name was Katie! We only had your birth name which I believe was Renee so of course that's why we had such a hard time.
It's funny to see you say that you sound like my mother because I couldn't agree more! She let me hear message you left her on her cell phone and I seriously thought she was playing a joke on me as if she had called her own number and left a message herself.
It's interesting to see that you have a weight loss blog because my family has been struggling with weight gain/loss for our whole lives. At the age of 17, I was 295 lbs. With the help of my boyfriend (who's now my fiance), I was able to get a job, eat better, and exercise. I'm now at 255 at age 18 and maintaining there for a while.
I talked to my sister who apparently just talked to you and she said that you'd like pictures of Tess so I have her camera now and should have some recent pictures to show you soon!
Katie, please allow me to (hopefully) put your mind at ease. If you are worried in any way that we will not accept you for who you are, don't be. We love you and consider you a part of the family already. I can't wait to meet you someday! =)
P.S. I am SO proud of your weight loss. What an accomplishment!
Love, your niece,
Olivia
Wow... amazing news for you.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can connect with your siblings one day.
MY husband is adopted... we found his Bio mother and siblings about 18 years ago.. and met them all... and have kept in touch over the years.
Katie, I'm so glad that you're finally getting some answers. Good for you for pursuing them!
ReplyDeleteHugs!!!
I know the feeling of getting THAT phone call to tell you what your parents' names are. It is a life-changing event! And it is such a great feeling getting the truth. All those questions will get answers.
ReplyDeleteThis will help you understand who you are and where you fit in this world.
Congratulations,
Kristi
wow. So much going on in your life right now. I've been MIA for a while. Congrats on finding family. It sounds like good things to come. Sorry about your living situation and hope an atty will help. And...Alaska? I'm so SO jealous. It's something I've wanted to do for years. Can't wait to read about your experience.
ReplyDeleteKatie - I hope the call went well - I'm thinking of you as you know I have been through this same thing.
ReplyDeleteWow Katie, so much to catch up on here. I am so happy that you connected with your sister and her family. It sounds like it has been very positive and welcoming. Sorry to hear about your apartment situation. Good luck navigating the next few weeks until you find a new place. I will be thinking positive thoughts for you.
ReplyDelete*hugs and stuff*
ReplyDeleteWonderfully life-altering!
Wow-that sucks about your mom dying :( Glad your sister was searching for you-can't wait to hear more details~
ReplyDelete