The last of the trip, home and thanks

We are home now. I didn't get to post much as it was so hard to type on that little computer but I will fill in the blanks!
The last few days in Taiwan were spent.. yes, eating!! LOL... I made Jeb bring us back to that great restaurant we went the second night.. I am sitting here drooling thinking how can I cook that food here at home??
Anyways we did make it to Taipei 101 and a Jade market on Saturday. And we did see some really cook fireworks on Saturday night.. but we were in a hurry to get to the restaurant so we didn't see all of them!!
Then on Sunday Jeb, LiLing and Mia came to get us at the hotel.. final check out and then to lunch with Mia's friend Tina (she was an exchange student last year also but didn't stay the whole year.. but I have been emailing with her so I wanted to meet her finally!!) We did lunch and then headed to the airport.
Kara's mom and dad met us there and we said our good byes.. I really started to cry because I was so upset about not seeing Mia for so long!! We have made a promise between families that Mia will come to the US for her 21st birthday in 2011 and then I am going to start saving and saving so we can go over there in 2012 for the winter time to go to Harbin to see the ice city!!
So away we went for the LONGEST ride home ever. I don't get the whole thing.. going there to Asia takes 22 hours.. but coming home only take 16?? BUT we had a 10 HOUR layover in LA! We were so tired! I finally told Jay that I didn't care what we looked like I needed to sleep.. so we went to a corner area and layed our blanket down and the baby and I fell asleep.. Jay stayed awake and stood guard ... but it wasn't a good sleep.. then on the plane.. they turn the heat up to make the passengers sleep.. I was so miserable! For whatever reason.. and in all the traveling I have done this has never happened.. but my ankles swelled up on the flight..
But then we arrived in Orlando.. Chris came to pick us up and Cooper gave him a big smile!! We got home and both big girls came outside to greet us.. then Chase and Ali came out still rubbing their eyes.. but within minutes we were in the house unpacking and playing and everything just seemed NORMAL!!
Cooper LOVES Chase!! Ali shows signs of jealousy! But Cooper seemed to love our house.. he just started running around to every room like he had been here before.. and then sat down and started to play with the toys.
We went to have Chicken Wings with Haseena last night so that Cooper could say hi..
And it is crazy.... having 5 kids!! (that includes Kara our exchange student!! )LOL!!!!
Many thanks to all the adoption families that helped us out, to Mia and her mom and dad for being WONDERFUL host and tour guides and to Bethany and the girls in Kansas that helped us out with our adoption!!

Spent the day eating.. AGAIN!

We had a wonderful day.. again! Started out getting to Skype with all our kids back home (excpet Amanda) and then getting ready to hit the road. We headed out to find a bank to exchange the last of our US currency only to find out we needed our passport. So Jay headed back to the hotel while Cooper and I found the little bakery.. the man there kept talking to Cooper and then gave him some chocolate cakes.. we bought this really neat "sandwich" and another little roll. Total amount was $1.00. When Jay got back we went to the bank did the exchange and then headed out to explore while we were waiting on Jeb to come and get us. We found a place that was really clean and nice for eggs and coffee. It was so good.
Then Jeb called and said he would be there in a few minutes so we headed back to the meeting spot.
First stop was this mall where a ferris wheel sits on top ( I will have to find out from Jay what it was called) but it didn't open for about half an hour so we went for lunch!! LOL.. Really Jeb ate, I tried a bit of everything, Cooper tried a bit of everything and Jay just watched!! Cooper loves Cola!! .. I know .. shame on me.. but I bribe him with the soda for kisses!
Then we headed to the ferris wheel.. both guys, Jeb and Jay said.. Oh, I am afraid of heights.. I said TOUGH, you are going!! So I got the three tickets and we got in line.. your choice was a glass bottom car or not a glass bottom. I voted for glass bottom but both of them said NO GLASS BOTTOM..
It was beautiful up there. The mountains all around.
Then we were heading to Taipei 101 but it was getting later so we headed over towards Mia's school. We were early so we stopped at McDonalds for coffee, a soda and french fries for Cooper.
Then we went to visit the University that Mia will attend next year and then on to Mia's school. While we were waiting all the kids were coming out.. they would say "Hi" and then start to laugh... we were having so much fun with the little kids.
Some would ask us where we were from and some would say.. Look at the foriegner's!!
When Mia came out we headed over to the night market so we could EAT AGAIN!! LOL
It is only 8:30 and we are showered and back in our pj's.. it was such a busy day and so tiring!!
Cooper is snuggled up on daddy right now.. he is still bonding to Jay a whole bunch.. even though I am the one feeding him!! LOL

AIT Appointment

Wednesday was our AIT appointment. Again nothing that I was expecting. A building like a courthouse with teller windows like a bank. We get called up and sign a few things, the wait, then get called up and sign a few things, answer a few questions, then wait, then get called up again to talk to an American lady and answer a few more questions.. none that I would have expected her to ask... but that was it! Then we filled out a form for a courier to bring his papers to us and out we went.
I guess he was ours on Monday... I am not really sure when the official "Adoption" day was??
Then LiLing and Mia picked us up at the park right down the road and off we went to eat again!! It was a neat place. A pot of broth in the middle of the table and they would bring all this meat to cook at the table. We ate like piggy poos. Then we went on the MRT to a far corner of Taipei to a shopping area. I liked this place as it was more Asian stuff.. more of a tourist spot!!
We got our feet done again at a place where the workers were all blind.. but it was awful.. Jay's feet have black and blue marks on the bottom from the massager person pushing and squeezing so hard!!
Then back on the MRT to go meet Jeb and LiLing for more food!! We went to a restaurant that was more like a Kobe's Steak house.. Japanese style. The food was so good but Jay didn't eat.. he has been eating so much all week that it finally caught up with him. I felt bad for Jeb as he was so excited about this restaurant. But we don't eat like this at home and it has been too much on the system!!
Mia said that they eat so much all the time.. so how is it that they weight NOTHING and I am so fat???
Anyways it was an early night.
Then on Thursday I got up and got Cooper dressed, Jay stayed in bed and we waited for the courier to show up with the passport and papers. As soon as we got the stuff Cooper and I set out on an adventure.. alone.
First stop was McDonalds! He loves the fries! Then we went to get his hair cut. And then we started to walk, and walk and walk... after about 3 hours I finally called Jeb and told him that I was lost!! The roads don't run north and south but in every direction and everything looks the same and I was confused!! But then while I was on the phone with Jeb I saw a building that said FE21.. which is where I was going. After looking around and having ice cream we went out front and took a taxi back to the hotel.. only took ten minutes!! LOL
Then we got cleaned up and Jeb came to pick us up so that we could go to Mia's school and get her and then out to dinner with Kara's mom and dad!!!
It was a wonderful dinner!! We were so happy to meet Kara's parents and they were very outgoing and wonderful.. not quite and shy like their kid!! I have to talk to her when we get back!! Just a perfect night!

Birth Mother

Today was draining. We went to Cathwel at 9:30 to meet the birth mom. She was coming in from an area south of Taipei so she was about an hour plus late. Cooper was happy on daddy's lap and I didn't try to get in the way.. I wanted them to walk in and see him happy.
LiLing and a family friend took us there this morning and stayed to translate. When the time arrived it was the birth mom, the sister and the grandmother. At first it was just smiling and nodding.. a few things were translated but I don't think anyone really knew what to say.. small talk.
Then the grandmother told the translators to explain to us about why they were letting Cooper go to America. We had read their profile and knew the story but out of the three woman I know this was the hardest on the grandmother... after all she had raised two children.
She asked us "WHY HIM??" Why would we take a child that has a heart problem where there are so many other children that need homes.. and we told her because he is the one that stole our hearts.
We were there for an hour and I feel that it helped them, meeting us. They did want to know if we would adopt again.. which I answered, "No, Cooper will be the last" but that wasn't a fair answer because no on knows what tomorrow will bring and someday there might be another.. but maybe my answer wasn't a lie because at this moment we have no plans for more. We have a great family and Cooper was the icing on the cake!!
So the worker for the orphanage finally said the meeting was over and that we should be on our way.. and I think that there was nothing more to say.. it was just time. And we left the building first.
So now the two boys are asleep on the bed.. both needed this sleep! One was really crabby and the other... well they both needed this nap!! LOL

He is ours!

I have to say it was not anything I expected. I was so excited I could not sleep and even with the long flight and all the walking we did Sunday I was up by 4:30 AM Monday morning. Jay had to get up also because the hotel lights are so confusing... if I need a light.. ALL the lights go on...not sure what we are doing wrong!! LOL
So after getting my paper done for my psychology class we got in the shower and dressed and then headed out to explore this area.
Mia was meeting us at 9 AM and she had arranged a car to take us to Cathwel. Jay and I spent our few hours walking around, trying to order breakfast and talking to a cute young boy that I tried to hook up for Mia!! LOL
At 9 Mia and our taxi showed up.
It was about a 20 minute drive to Cathwel where we were greeted at the door by ... my head was spinning but I think it was one of the directors..she said something about one of the babies having the flu so we would meet Cooper...that is all I remember... so we went upstairs, took off our shoes in the hallway and a woman was holding the hand of a little boy... it was him!!!
The woman holding his hand was his Nannie that cared for him all the time.. I could tell she was very upset. She did not speak English but another woman, who told us she was our helper (she did all our paperwork, went to the court, will meet us at AIT on Wednesday..etc)said that the Nannie was sad. I can understand the mixed emotions a caregiver for a child goes through. The Nannie had a bag packed for him with all his stuff and they included this beautiful book about Taiwan so that he could see where he came from when he gets older. They also returned all the toys that we had sent him and his clothes. The kept telling Cooper, that is your mommy and your daddy and he kept telling them no!! LOL
He warmed up to Jay right away, after Jay bribed him with a toy car that had a button that made noise! But he really didn't want anything to do with me at first.
After talking to our helper lady for about 20 minutes I asked if we needed to fill out any paperwork.. she said no so we packed up and left.
We had sent the taxi driver away as we thought we would be there for a few hours, like our adoption in China, so we found another taxi and headed to the zoo.
The Taiwan zoo was given two panda bears as a gift from China and I was told by Jeb, Mia's dad, that these panda bears came from the county that Ali came from... which made me think that when we were in China at the zoo they had two baby pandas... they could be the same!!
Well the zoo was wonderful and beautiful and I bribed Cooper with a panda ice cream!! He drank from a straw (he was still on a bottle but I did not give it to him but had him drinking from cups!) which was cute as he didn't quite understand it but within a few tries he had it completely figured out!!
Then we took the subway back to our hotel!! It was such a neat experience!!
We came up to the room and changed his pants, put all the stuff from Cathwel and then headed out to McDonald's for our first meal together! This is when Cooper decided I wasn't so bad.. I had to bribe him with a cheeseburger and fries!!
After this Li Ling picked us up and took us to some shops so we could buy the baby some stuff. Li Ling had already bought him a jacket and a hat (it is a bit cold here right now)so we just walked and looked around at the many items and shops.
We had Cooper in his stroller, which is low to the ground and many shop owners have dogs in their stores.. COOPER HATES DOGS!! He is so scared of them, screaming when they are within ten feet! So Mia and I had to keep on the lookout for animals while Jay would steer him away!! It was a game!!
After HOURS of walking and looking, Li Ling and Jeb came back to get us and took us to the most unique place for dinner. I will have to have Jeb tell me the name and address so that families that come after us can go to this place... it was great food. For those of you that live in Florida we have a restaurant called The Melting Pot were you cook your fondue at the table. This place was along that line only you "BBQ'd" at the table. They had small fire pits and they cooked all the meat you could eat, pork, beef, shrimp, fish... right there. I am not sure if the "waiter" usually stayed to help but our guy stood at the table the whole time talking to us and helping us cook our food!! IT WAS SOOOOO GOOD! Cooper ate like a champ. He favors his right arm very much and does not try to use it at all. I put a plate in front of him to see if he would feed himself but he didn't. So between Jay, LiLing and I we filled his little belly full!! He ate everything we gave him except Li Ling gave him a bit of her fish jaws and that stayed in his mouth for long time.. in fact I had to use my finger to pull it out.. he didn't want to swallow!! LOL
By now it was 9:30 PM and every one's eyes were so heavy.. but our tour guides had one last wonderful plan for us.. another foot massage!! These foot massages are very cheap here and they have cards for certain places around their home.. so Jeb dropped Mia, Jay, Cooper and I off and we sat in chairs while our feet were brought back to life. Cooper sat on my lap and started to snuggle- I know he was tired but I felt like he was starting to trust me also!!
Then back to our hotel where we put on PJ's and hit the bed. We laid him between us where we don't have a crib.. and he held my hand for comfort.. I think I fell asleep first as the last I looked at him his big brown eyes were still very big!!
So now it is almost 4:30 AM again and here I sit watching him sleep!

We made it!

We fially got here! After a turbulant 14 hour flight from LA, we made it to Taiwan. Mia and her dad were waiting for us and we were all very happy and excited to see each other, it was easy to find them, they were the only Taiwanese people wearing Florida Gator shirts!! They took us to our hotel, which is absolutely awesome! We are staying at The Grand Forward Hotel, which from the outside didn't look like anything spectacular, but once inside, we were thrilled to be staying here. The room is huge! We have 2 queen beds in a very spacious room, a big walk-in closet, marble bathroom with a tub and seperate shower built for 3, we couldn't be more thrilled, Jeb and Li Ling did great, plus we are only a few minutes from their home and shopping! After getting settled in and taking a much needed, refreshing shower, we were off to sightsee with our Taiwan family. We went to Mia's house for a Taiwan breakfast and then traveling around town. We went to a temple, a concert hall, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, shopping in Taipei which included a massage and lunch, and more sightseeing, and finally hanging out at he night market. We'll be going back to the night market a time or two before we leave. If you've never heard of it, in a nutshell it is people, lots of food, shopping, and more people. We had a great day! Thank you Jeb, Li Ling, and Mia! Right now we are getting our last minutes things ready, so we can go get Cooper. The moment we have been waiting for is only a few hours away! Talk to you later, next update will have pictures of Cooper!

THANK YOU!!!

I am just AMAZED at what the adoption community has done for us!!! I was so stressed out on Sunday night and wasn't sure what I was going to do!! Thank you so much Patty and Judy for posting for us on Loving Chinas Children! I promise to all of you that I will pay it forward as soon as everything is back to normal around here!
God Bless All of YOU!!!!
Ginnie and Jay

UPDATE

We are to have Cooper in our arms at 10:00 AM on Monday!!
I did get a bit more of a medical update on him today. I am sure I will learn more when I take him to the doctor but the way this paper stated his heart condition was that when he originally had his surgery there were complications that caused the next problem and that is why he now has the pace maker.
I know they have wonderful doctors in Taiwan, but it will be so much better to get him home and have him checked out here... this way all our questions can be answered.
We also get to meet the birth mother the next day! I am excited, I am nervous!
I will put together my list of questions for her while I am on the plane.

Things happen for a reason

I know this is crazy, but our flight leaves Friday night and we are still a bit shy of what we need for this adoption. I am going to have a garage sale on Friday morning to try to get some last minute money together. We had everything situated financially and then the unexpected. So we are still a bit shy of what we need to cover our expense.
I just don't understand why the governments have to make adoption so expensive. I understand we have to pay for our travel, but to put so many demands on adoption families financially is wrong.
The whole family has been sick for the last four weeks with that terrible virus that is going around, so both Jay and I haven't worked and now four days before flight we are concerned and know there will not be enough to cover the hotel and expenses in Taiwan.
I could say I don't know how we got into this situation but I do know. I left the workforce to go back to school, things happen, the economy stuck.. just name it and that is what has happened around here!
I did go train today at my new job.. I don't get paid to train as I will be working for a public school.. the government again.. and they can not pay for two nurses on at the same time.. so in order for me to learn how to do my job I have to go in on my time but I do have to say.. I LOVE IT!!!
I can not believe that I have been so blessed and lucky to get this job at the school with the kids!! The clinic was full of kids, in and out, all day long and they were all WONDERFUL...
Well I will keep everyone posted.. I am taking it one day at a time. I don't know what else to do.

One week to go!!

Today is my husband's 40th birthday! My oldest daughter called to ask what we were doing tonight.. it was a haunted trail at Gatorland and then on to the homecoming football game.. I think this is a sign we have finally grown up, or is that grown old??!! Anyways, Happy Birthday, Jay!!
So tonight we will finish our packing for Taiwan. The baby's suitcase is packed, I hope the clothes I am bringing fit him. He looks so small in his photos. The last update I got he was only around 25 lbs.. which is around an 18 month size. I am bringing a pack of diapers and wipes, a toothbrush and sippy cups.. I am sure there are a million other things I should be packing.. but that is all I can think of.
The gift giving is the hardest thing. I think of things I should bring for the nannies and then I read people's posts and think that my ideas are not good.. I am very confused. I think maybe we should just donate some money to the orphanage...
A family update for tonight.. I got a new job!! Yep!! I am going to be a school nurse.. NEVER in my wildest dreams did I see myself as a school nurse.. but I start the day after we get home. I will train all next week before we leave. I have a little office with four little cots and some chairs.. it is so cute!! And I will work 4 minutes from my house AND, the best part, I will be home nights and weekends and holidays with my children!!! God is good!!
Thank you to everyone that leave me comments.. I can't figure out how to write back.. so I am just posting a big thank you for all the support I get from my family and friends!!
I will be updating the blog while we are in Taiwan. I was told by many other families that have traveled to Taiwan that they have had no problems with blogspot while in Taiwan.. so watch here for pictures and posts.
Mia and her mom and dad are picking us up.. I have promised Mia to bring her some of her favorite cupcakes. So we are allowed two carry on pieces for the plane.. one will have my school books and computer and the other will be FULL of cupcakes and pumpkin cookies for my Mia!!!!
She said the first night we are there she is taking us to the night market to eat!! She said there are many different foods and shopping at the night market... she said they have one favorite food .. it is Chicken butts!! I told her NO Chicken Butts!!!
But we are going to try everything!!
More to come.....

Decisions have finally been made!!

Okay, so I got up this morning to head to the USCIS office, I had fire in my eyes. I stopped to check my email before running out the door to see that they had finally gotten back to me! They had taken care of what needed doing and sent it on to the National Visa Center. So I emailed Lisa at our agency and she said.. BOOK THOSE TICKETS!!!! So I spent the next five hours on the phone and internet trying to find the best rate possible. That was tough. Each time I check the prices changed... and you can't book a round trip for a baby that is only going one way and you can't book two round trip and one one way trip and I was ready to scream!! But FINALLY!!
I got a great guy at Delta and then I booked our tickets via Expedia and then called Delta and gave them the info and they got Cooper on the same flight home!!
So we leave in 16 days!!!
I can honestly say.. I Just don't know how I am feeling.. scared, nervous, excited, relieved!! My head is spinning!!
So Mia, Jeb and Li-Ling will pick us up at the airport. We have a hotel only three minutes from their home.. we met and keep Cooper on November 2!!!! He is ours FOREVER!!! I can't beleive this!!!
I am posting the last photos they sent me of him.. they are dated since way back in March.. but we just got them in September!!

One month later

Well it has been quite a month. Just when I think the ride is coming to an end there is always another hill to climb.
Let me start at the beginning. We had our day in court on 9/9. We were told that we had to wait until between the 22-29th of Sept, which gave the birth mom one last chance to change her mind. So on Sept 23 we got our official email from our agency that said TRAVEL DATE! We were giving our AIT appointment for October 28, which meant we needed to be in Taiwan on October 25 to get Cooper on October 26. But we asked our agency to move the date back one week. I can't remember why at this moment that we moved it back this extra week but I am sure there was a reason.
First, I had won a free cruise for October 12- 16, then it is Jay's 40th b-day on the 23rd, plus we have Halloween and so much goes on in this area for the kids.. so maybe it was just that I was thinking about the family on this end and knew that we needed that extra week. Plus it gave me an extra week of work for travel money, which was a big set back for us.
I called A Child's Waits Foundation as they had told me that they would get back to me in September as to helping with our final adoption expense. I knew we didn't have that last hunk of money to go if I didn't get help from someone. And Thank you Lord, they came through for us!!! I am so thankful to them for this!! They were so great about everything when I explained to them that I had been out of work because of going to school this past year.. and that I don't plan on being financially strapped EVER AGAIN!!
So now we thought we were set to book our flights. I found great prices for the tickets, Mia and her family have found us a GREAT hotel.. but because of all the "NEW RULES" Cooper had to have his last physical.. his final physical for his adoption and the doctor stated some things that were not spelt out in full details in our home study on his report.. so guess where we are today.......
The USCIS office in Orlando has been so crappy at helping me. The person that finally did send an email back to me did not answer a single question that I sent her. We have proof that our updated addendum to our home study got to their office via Fed Ex and was signed for at 10:23 AM on October 2.. yet they could not find the package until the 5th.. and as of this minute... I HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY HAVE EVEN OPENED THE ENVELOPE! They don't answer their phone and they don't respond to the emails I have sent.. so at 3 PM today.. if I don't hear back from them.. I am contacting my local rep.
Also for the last two weeks we have been fighing sickness. Jay got sick. Yep!! Sick. Then Ali got sick, then Chase, then Mallory, then me... it has been a rough two weeks. Now Jay is sick again and Mallory is still home in bed. We got checked for the swine flu but they told us it was a virus.. and sent us home with NO MEDICATION!!! My throat felt like it was on fire and someone was using sandpaper to coat the sides!! I was in tears. I have only been at work three days in the last three weeks. I went back last Monday and worked one day, had my scheduled day off and then on Wednesday work with a slight fever. But I could not call in again. So I went to work and went to my boss. She said I should have stayed home.. but I felt like I wanted them to see I was sick.. I just could not ask for more days off. But by 7 PM that night my fever was over 102 and they sent me home. Today is the first I have felt better.
So now back to the cruise.. that was to leave today. I really worked hard for this cruise and was so looking forward to a few days with my husband alone.. but I guess that was not in our stars. Jay got sick again this weekend and ended up in the hospital. He got home yesterday and is feeling better but this virus is just kicking butt and we want to make sure we are both healthy in two weeks.. so we felt is was best to not go on the cruise.
I called my boss for the exchange students and asked if I could send my mom and sister in our place. I worked hard to win this trip and was really hoping he said yes... which he did. So mom and Deb got their bags packed and got in the car to head to Orlando.. to be told by Royal Caribbean that they could not change the passenger list 28 hours prior to the ship leaving. BULL CRAP!! So someone that wanted to book a cruise yesterday would not be allowed to go.. I think that was horse Manure! So I had to call my sis and mom and tell them to turn around. My mom had never been on a cruise.
So to end my post.. nothing has gone as planned. We still do not have an answer from USCIS as to their update of our 171-H for immigrations, we have the money in the bank for the air tickets- THANK YOU AGAIN TO A CHILD'S WAITS Foundation!! I have my clothes sitting in a pile on Cooper's bed waiting to go into the suitcase but we are still up in the air as to when we are leaving!!!

Finally some good news!!

It has been an incredible month! I passed my NCLEX test for nursing last week, thank you to the Lord above for that one! I started my new job, for which my husband is so glad as he wasn't holding it together financially with me not having a job any longer. It is a really nice nursing and rehab facility not far from home.. the hours stink but then so did the hours in all the other careers I have had in my life. (At least this one has paid holidays, vacations and benefits!)
And then today I got an email from our agency that we had our day in court today!!! I am not sure what this means exactly but it is a good thing!! She said that the director of the orphanage said it went very good and now we are just waiting on the final paper. One of my adoption dad's told me that this comes around 10 - 14 days later!! And then we would get our travel invite. Jay figured it out to be around the end of Oct. I am pushing for the first of November.. which would work perfect with all the events going on with the kids!! It would be PERFECT!!
So after a long hard year, that I would never relive! It is finally coming to a close and good things are now happening! I am very grateful that I have such a wonderful family and a great support group of friends!
We are doing a fund raising garage sale this weekend towards our travel to get Cooper so this will help. I have also been in contact with one of the adoption grant programs and I will call them tomorrow to see if we have been accepted for help with our travel expense. Besides this everything else is completely in place!!

August Update

We were told that Cooper is doing well. His chewing functions have improved and he is now chewing with his back teeth.. they were worried.. but maybe it was just his signature chew!! They still have him on a bottle.. which is ODD.. but it will be okay! His speech development is doing great and he imitates the last sentences from the caregivers talking! So he is a comedian!! He can also name objects that he sees! Poor kid is now going to have to learn English!
They said he is a stubborn child emotionally!! He cries and scream when he doesn't get his way.. so I say.. WATCH OUT ALI YOUR BROTHER IS COMING HOME AND YOU MIGHT LOSE YOUR CROWN!! (She went to bed at 7 PM tonight cause I could not take her tantrum any more today!!) And last Cooper puts on his best show (cries and screams) when he gets punished for not cooperating with his physical training staff!! Oh he will fit in so well with this couch potato family!!
I want to get this boy home!!
August Photos:

New Pictures and Update!

I finally got the scanner to work so I can post the photos from July and the photos from August! He is growing so quickly.. he has left that baby look and now looks to me like a little boy! I am so heart sick each day thinking of him not being with us.
I know that God has his plan and that our travel date will come, maybe we are just waiting on me and my state test and job first.. there is always a reason and our time to travel will come soon.
The other family with our agency is leaving Friday! I am so excited for them. I have prayed for their safe travel and to have a wonderful experience in Taiwan. Also I told the mom that she has to document everything so she could tell me every minute of everything that happens! They are also adopting a little boy!!
So just to update my school story for the girls.. Mallory's entire file for school was not found until Tuesday.. this is after I became a crazy woman and was on the phone with three schools and the school board! They finally tracked the file on Tuesday after the superintendent of the schools spent about five hours trying to locate it!! So poor Mallory ended up with weight lifting and PE and Spanish for her electives. It is a sad shame but they told us at the school that they had to cut out all Art classes along with auto mechanics and other things because of the school budgets! Our children don't get to live and learn in the same world we did!
Kara's first day of school in the US went well. She said no one talked to her. This was the same thing Mia said last year. I tried to explain that no one in Florida is from Florida and everyone thinks they are the new guy.. when in fact half the class is the new guy. I told her just to smile and say hi to one person in her class and that she would have friends soon.
Mallory and Kara have lunch at the same time.. but in a school with 1800 students mallory said she could not find Kara.. even after making a spot to wait!!
I think I will run for school board when the next elections come out.. someone has to make a change!! LOL
Okay.. so now for Cooper!! Here he is!!!!!
JULY PICTURES

171 Finally!

Okay we finally received our updated 171 last night. I feel it is now one more thing I can stop worring about with our adoption. I know things seem to be moving at a slower pace then we expected back in April but I do believe this is all for a reason.
I have my state board of nursing test on September 3 which I am very nervous about. I do the practice questions and I seem to know at least 80% but when it comes to the state test.. will they only give me the 20% of questions I don't know??!! That would be my worse nightmare!
So around the house here we are just taking each day as it comes until Cooper comes home. The kids go back to school on Monday. Mallory was very excited until yesterday when we found out that the woman at her middle school that had really given Mallory a problem and hard time about her changing her home address to her dad's house so that she could go to the same high school that her brother and sister graduated from, NEVER changed her papers back in April and as of today Mallory is not enrolled in any school. I have to say I was VERY upset and called the middle school with steam in my voice and told this woman to fix her problem.
Like so many things that our country has become the woman said it wasn't her problem and that we would have to fix it ourselves. Even though she admitted to doing this. This means running back and forth between schools trying to find out where her papers are and then enrolling her in the right school.
This is when I get upset with people. They don't do their job and then cause the next person ten times more work..and they just don't care.
Anyways, I vented! I am going to go back to my studying! and thinking about Cooper!

In the mail!

I finally got the stuff off to get sealed by the state that our agency requested. I had the envelope inside for return made directly to go to Kansas...
BUT then I get a letter from CIS today and I think it is going to be our updated 171 H and it is a request to prove stuff in our home study. They have had five home studies and never asked us to send them any additional information, but now they do??
I am so tired of the paperwork and the circles that adoption families have to run to make paperwork right for ????? Not even sure who gets all of this paperwork or do they really look at it?
So tomorrow Mallory and I with the two little ones are going to drive directly to the CIS office to bring this stuff. It is papers I don't want lost in the mail. I tried to email them to find out why they were asking but now I will just go directly there and find out..
I have also been working on getting my exchange students placed... again with the government workers.. you should have seen this woman looking over a students paperwork.. I mean I had everything she asked for, two copies that she asked for.. and yet she still gave me the run around. People just don't give a crap any more about other people, it is not about getting the job done, it is how much of a jerk can I be and to others!
Okay I am crabby tonight. I just feel that someone has to do something to change our world and make things right, especially for kids.
I did have one neat thing today.. I went for my first nursing job! Well actually I knew I could not get hired as I haven't taken the state boards yet, but I went to the place to talk to the person that hires and she said as soon as I sit and have a PASS on the screen I can go back and start the process.. she was happy to take me!
I can't wait!!!!!!!!
I still haven't gotten my scanner fixed so I can show you all the new pictures of my HANDSOME boy!! He is so cute! And he has such a gleam in his eyes! I can't wait to kiss that face!

New Photos

We did get new pictures of Cooper this week but with graduation and my computer having a bit of trouble I can't get them to scan at this time. I am going to work on it for a few days and try to get them into the site as soon as I can!! He is a doll baby!
Jay and I are working on our final papers to go out to get notarized tonight.. then we can sit back and wait for our travel invite.
That is about all the update on Cooper I have at this time.. cut and dry.. I need to get my paperwork done!
But I did have quite a week with the family. My family was all here for my graduation and it was a crazy busy week. I am posting a few pictures of the family on my big night... I had my husband in tears when my teacher read my thank you speech letting him know how much I love him and thank him for everything he did for me and the kids this year!
I have to say I am glad it is over and now I need a job!!

More Paperwork

Jay and I will finish up the paperwork tomorrow that they have asked us to send. We will still need to get it authenticated and sealed but that should only take about a week. We will have it sent straight on to our agency so they can get it over to Taiwan as soon as possible.
I am very excited to say that we are only about 8 days away from my graduation. I have to say that I can not wait. Standing here today I believe that I would never have gone through this year had I known what was coming! But then again I am excited to say that I have been invited to do a medical mission in China next summer with Annabelle's Wish group and I would not have been invited had I not gone to school! So I guess this is another blessing that has come out of this stressful year!
Today is my birthday and tomorrow is Chase's birthday! We are not doing much in the fashion of celebrating as I have four final tests... one being on Monday that I am going to have to spend my day today studying for! I told Jay that we are going to pick a day in August and call it all of our birthdays where I have had to miss so much this year with the kids. It might be fun doing it this way!
I have talked to Mia alot since she went back to Taiwan. We do really miss her around here. She is catching up with all her friends and is very excited for us to come to get Cooper. She has everything planned as to where we are going and what we will see once we get there!
That is about the only update I have for this week.. just the waiting and waiting!

Always a set back in adoption

I sent an email asking for information but instead of my questions getting answered I get a form email back asking for more paperwork. Sending more paperwork is good if the judge is asking for it.. but this seems to be BUSY USELESS paperwork.
They are asking for new clearances, new physicals and new letters from employers. I don't have a problem with providing this stuff EXCEPT that we were told we didn't need it and it all has to be sent and authenticated and sealed.. MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!
Drives me insane how the world thinks adopted families have an unlimited bank account when most families are scrapping together what they have for the cost of the ADOPTION!
I am going to wait to see what I really need before wasting the time redoing stuff I just don't need!!
Anyways that is all the updates or info I have gotten. It really makes me upset when I see other families that know when they are in court, what the outcome was etc.. we know nothing.

Prayer from our Agency

I love these girls at our agency. I miss Stephanie, however, and feel that she was really a part of the kindness from the staff in the Kansas office. We got a letter in the mail signed by the whole office today that they said a prayer for Jay and I to get Cooper home!! It was so kind and thoughful!
They are really good people and anyone looking to adopt please email me so I can pass their number on to you!!
Thank you girls very very much for putting a prayer out for our family!!

Went and Saw!!

Mia and Li-Ling got back to their home around 2 AM our time.. and I was waiting up and Mia IM'd me to say that Cooper is SOOOOOOOOO CCCCUUUUTTTTTEEEEEEEEE and so Small!! And she loved him!! They brought him a Leap Frog radio that sings song, an I love you, Mickey- straight from Disney World, a Gator ball, a Gator Shirt, a really cute stuffed dog and Li-Ling made sure he had cake!! So I have more pictures to post!! And we have video that I will put the links at the bottom of the blog! She said the people at Cathwel were so nice and they had a great visit!! I cried when I saw these photos.. first because it made me really know Mia was home in Taiwan and second cause my two favorite Taiwan kids were together!

Mia to Orphanage

Mia IM'd me about an hour and a half ago that they were getting ready to leave out their door.. so as of about now.. she should be with Cooper! I am so excited to have her with him, to see him in person and to give him love and kisses!!
She promised to post the photos as soon as she got back home.. which will be about two in the morning for me.. so I will see them tomorrow. She is also going to check on another families little girl while she is there if they let her! I think she was excited about going and seeing the babies!!
I am so happy that I was so blessed to have Mia stay with me this past year and that we got our referral at the time we did. I think it all worked out so perfect for us!
I just had to write tonight so that I didn't explode with excitement!!!

Complete Homestudy

We got our completed home study back yesterday and I have to say Sallie did a WONDERFUL job. Not only of describing the problems with Jay's ex wife but also with the silly arrest I had a few centuries ago. As many of you know it was so silly, wrong place, wrong time.. I bit a guys hand! But our original home study was written in such a way that after the initial introduction to who we were and who the home study agency was.. the very first paragraph went straight into the arrest and was written in such way that our home study had actually gotten rejected from one of the orphanages in Taiwan stating that I was a rapist!! I had begged the original home study person to re-write this paragraph and as her statement was so bold and made things seem like it was some crazy crime I had gotten involved in. But Sallie wrote it so perfect!! It states the facts without making the incident seem important. I have to say, "Thank you, Sallie!"
I am very excited today and hope I can make it through the day but later tonight, our time, is morning in Taiwan and Mia and Li-Ling, Mia's mom, are going to Cathwel to bring the gifts for Cooper that we sent over! Mia is going to check out his size so we can get him some new tennis shoes also!!
I also ran into a friend from the past yesterday at the grocery store and told her that I was about done with school but needed a job, any job, right now so I could put the travel money together for getting to Taiwan. A few hours later she called me about the most perfect job for me!... I am waiting for her to get back to me today as she was calling her friend that is head of one of our elderly health care facilities very close to my house about a marketing position. I know, I know.. I went to nursing school.. but the thing is that the position requires background in nursing! And the woman that is giving up the position has none.. and they were fine with that.. so they might be fine with the fact that I am a new nurse! So please say a prayer for me that this position works out because is sounds like a job that I am already qualified for-marketing.. and I could continue my nursing education by having a set schedule job!

I just got off the yahoo chat with Mia... it is night there.. but she said they are not going to Cathwel until Tuesday. I guess her mom is having some pains in her hands and has a doctor appointment on Monday. So I will have to hold my excitement for another day!!

New Photos!

I am so excited to say we got new pictures and updates on our little bruiser today.
I guess he has himself a bit of a temper.. like a 2 year old!! LOL
He gets mad when someone takes his toys away... sounds just like a three and six year old I have at home!
But there they are!! There was only three but they are so precious!
I think his face says he will so fit into this family!! I was talking to another mom that is going to the same orphanage for her adoption, she said it was about three months from time papers got there to the time they were given their come and get her call! So that makes us get the call around the first of August to travel in September. Now I know I have to find a job!

Wiring Money

Jay and I got to meet the new social worker/ home study lady yesterday.. not sure how well that went because she asked about Jay's kids.. things went from bad to rotten with Jay's nasty ex-wife and we don't see the kids. That is the story. It is easier to avoid it all then to put up with that rude woman but when people ask it is a sore subject. So we are not sure what that is going to do to our home study update. Not sure how she is going to word this. We just were avoiding the whole subject but the SW was questioning the other kids before we got home.. and we aren't good liars. If we were we would not have needed to get a new home study person.
The reason the kids were here with her without us is that we had run to the bank to get the money wired to Cathwel. But the bank teller was an idiot. To the point I pulled the papers away from her and told her not to worry about it, then I sent Jay back later after the appointment with the SW to have our friend Krista take care of it. So we begged, borrowed and stole the money to get the fees over to Taiwan. We don't have the money and I have to find a job. It has been a very hard year.
I have only 17 actual days of school/clinics and I am done. It could not have come quick enough and my patience have about run out.
Our student leaves tomorrow. My heart is very sad. We have had a great year and she has been a great kid to host. Her mom and dad have been here for about a week and we even cooked Thanksgiving dinner yesterday. It was so strange because it really felt like Thanksgiving and I actally was a bit confused during the day when I went to make a few phone calls- thinking I was disturbing people on a holiday. Try it sometime!! LOL
So that is the update. Money wired, new updated homestudy almost done, school almost over and exchange student leaving!! That is a whole bunch!!

Home Study Update

Our new social worker will be here a week from tomorrow. I think I have about everything done that she will need. We had to fill out another child abuse clearance and hopefully it won't take as long to get back as it did with the first social worker.. let me think.. that was three months!! I know it won't take that long.
Anyways Mia's mom and dad got here this morning. Her graduation will be on Saturday and then they will go to the beach for a few days. When they get back it will be the day that Sallie will be here and then they have to sign a paper stating they are taking Mia home with them... I don't believe in lying but I sure wish I hadn't told the whole truth.. they are even making Amanda bring a utility bill from Orlando to prove she doesn't live with us.. so silly!!!
But it is almost over. I have Ali's day care helping me do a garage sale and people are donating things to sell to help raise the orphange fees-which is what we are lacking at this moment!!
And then hopefully everything else will fall into place!!!
Also.. Congrats to my good friends Patty and Mark in Walla Walla!! We started this quest for our children together and even though you get to travel a month or two before us.. it all worked out!! LOVE YOU GUYS!!

Final papers to Taiwan!!

Our papers left for Taiwan today!! Can you believe this!?
Tomorrow morning.. or I guess it is this morning as it is after midnight..
we go for our fingerprint update.
We are not sure if we are going to need to have our stuff updated but we are getting most of it done right now so that we are ready if we do.
Mia's mom will go visit our boy this week. We are hoping to get some new pictures of him. Then her parents will be coming to get her in just a few weeks. I am very sad that she is leaving to go back to Taiwan but she will go to visit our boy and we will get to see her in a few months so all this is for a reason!
I need to give this child a name.. I only have a few votes as to his name.. please go put your input in!!
I have nine weeks of nursing school left... I am so excited to be finished!

Thoughts

It is Saturday night, our exchange student went to her prom this evening. We just got home from pizza and something just sparked me to say.. I am really excited about getting this boy home. I was sad awhile back to think that when we finally got a referral and got the child home.. it would be my last time of being a mom. But tonight, while eating pizza and laughing with Chase, Ali and Mallory I thought it will be so great to have all four kids together, living our lives and being a family... and some day not to far down the road watch them all grow and go off to their proms. And them maybe Jay and I will be able to take some time just to ourselves and travel and relax!.. that is a concept we have never gotten to do!!
But I am really excited for our papers to leave our agency this week and head over to Taiwan!
I am also waiting for word to see if our gift have gotten to our boy. Of course daddy sent a Florida Gator animal and outfit... plus a few toys and lots of clothes.
I think all this waiting is the hardest part!!

Still a crazy mess!!

We are having a bit of trouble with TECO for our papers.. I mean it isn't TECO.. they are being WONDERFUL.. but what it is is that we are confused as to where TECO is and where to send our papers!!
They called the other day to say we sent our papers wrong, they needed to go to Florida, but when they got back to Stephanie, they had the Florida Seal.. so she sent them back to TECO.. in Atlanta.. who again called her.. and this time the whole story unfolded.. They needed to go to TECO in FLorida! In Miami!!
So they are on their way BACK to Kansas and then on to Miami!!
Son we are coming to get you someday!! Mom promises!! LOL

I said this if for a reason.. maybe our Judge is in a bad mood and needs a vacation so if our papers don't get there until week after next he will be back from this well rested vacation and will sign our papers with a smile!!

A little set back

I got a call today from a very nice lady at TECO. Our agency sent our papers to get the "stamp" for us.. which I am so grateful because I just don't have time.. but I guess that they were sent to TECO first and needed to go to the gov. of Florida..but the nice woman at TECO is going to send them out from her office with a return envelope back to her as soon as they have the Florida seal!! VERY NICE!
And we are back to square one on a home study update. We still have to update but I guess the woman that took our money and papers was moonlighting for herself and then the agency she was suppose to be working for found out so she returned all of our papers along with our check.. so I need to now find a new person!
But we do have an appointment for our fingerprint update next Saturday.
So it is one step forward and two steps back, over and over!!
And I did sign up for another exchange student today!! YEAH! She will come in August and seems to be a nice girl. We are very excited. What a wonderful life!

Packages Out, Packages In

Our home study and papers to be authenticated and stamped for Taiwan left our agencies office on Wednesday. I am a bit confused as one went to TECO and one to the State of Florida.. so I am not sure what Stephanie had to have stamped and where.
I had to get a check to SoF for $60.00 and one to TECO for $120.00.. so we will see what happens. I just checked and the package to Florida has arrived and been signed for today.
As soon as they stamp the items, they will be shipped back to Stephanie and on to Taiwan!!
Not much of an update but all I have at this time...
10 weeks left of school!!!!! Praise the Lord!

SO EXCITED!

I got an email from Stephanie at our agency tonight..she has asked me to send her the home study that I have that doesn't expire until June 18, 2009- even though we are working on our update we are going to send this one over to Taiwan to see if we can get the court proceedings to start -knowing an update is on its way!!!
I was so depressed thinking that by waiting for Mia to leave to get our home visit done by the new social worker that would put us months down the line waiting to go get him. But if they will accept this, our papers should be in Taiwan by the first week of May, maybe in the hands of the Judges by June 1st and then, our new home study.. if the social worker will work with us.. could be in the judges hands by Mid June and maybe.. JUST MAYBE we can go get him as soon as I graduate!!!
It is going to be quite a summer!

Waiting!

Just to update real quick.. we have to do a new homestudy. No big thing except expense. I have a MD appointment on Tuesday and Jay on Wednesday so that will get us started. I have sent for background checks, police reports etc... And I mailed off the package to the social worker last week.. just in case... but hoping they could use what we have.
So now it is a game.. how fast can we get our package done?
Right now waiting on new fingerprints and an updated 171H... I will keep you up on what is happening.
The pictures that I have put on the website were sent to us with the package from the orphanage. I went to Walgreens and had them put on a disk.
Working on taxes tonight hoping enough comes back to fund the adoption but knowing I really do need to do a fundraiser!

REFERRAL HAS ARRIVED!!

This is so great! I opened an email today and there was our referral for our little guy! I have to find him a name! Anyways it was all his medical, his life story and then one really cute picture!
But tomorrow via Fed Ex will be all this again in an original that has to be signed, notarized, stamped, restamped (my head is spinning) and 23 pictures of him!!!
I am so excited!

I am very confused on getting the papers together. With Ali's adoption it seemed so easy but this time because I had many things done, we don't need to do, but other things that have expired have to be redone. So I am just sitting in limbo not knowing what to do!

I did talk to the doctor's office today to find out the first appointment they have for re-doing our physicals is not until MAY!!!!!

Also we have two weeks off at the end of June, first of July.. and I would love, LOVE to travel through those two weeks to bring him home!! But that really seems too quick! (especially where I can't figure out this paper work.)

Adoption Agreement

The adoption agreement has now arrived in Taiwan and is in the hands of Cathwel!
They have asked for photos of Jay and I, which I sent, asap, through email to Stephanie and she has already, within minutes, sent to Cathwel!!

I am so excited!!

I worked last night as long as my eyes would stay open on getting our home study update papers done.. it is like re-doing the entire homestudy!

My head is completely spinning.

The one thing I just don't remember doing for Ali's adoption was getting fingerprinted for the home study, but I guess onces the papers are back from the state police we have to get the FBI background including finger prints!! Different.

Anyway.. the ball is rolling!!

Package Arrive

I received a quick email from Stephanie this morning that our contract and birth mom agreement is in her hands.
So we are one step closer!

I have changed my blog to have this new look. I hope everyone likes it. I thought it fit!

Package sent

I just put our contract, fees for agency and our birth mom agreement into the Fed Ex box. It is on it's way to Stephanie!
I also found a home study lady that will get all our papers ready to sign the day Mia leaves so that everything is on the up and up!!
I think I found a part time job so I can put away some money before "he" (we need a name!) comes home.
Chase our six year old won student of the month today.
And I had lunch with one of my clinic instructors...
So it has been a GREAT day!!

I am going to see if my son, Christopher, can help me post my video for you guys to see... that child.. little son is so cute!!

Please send me some name ideas... our children's names.. not on purpose but the initial are C, A, M, C, A... so we think the baby needs a M name...

Contract Signed

Jay made it up to our bank today to get his part of the contract signed for the agency. This is good.
I talked to a woman that said she can help us with our home study, this is GREAT!

So much stuff is going to have to be redone.. not as easy as I had hoped. I need to order a new appointment to get our fingerprints updated. Then as soon as we have all our back grounds and such done and the updated home study we will still need to do an extention on our 171 H.. so it isn't going to be as cut and dry as I had hoped.

I have a video of him that I will be sharing as soon as I figure out how!! I have been so out of all of this for so long it is learning everything over again.. this is why the blog page changed daily!

I can't think of anything else to say other than we have the agency money to go out tomorrow along with the contract. All I need to fund raise is for the orphange fees. So this is all great news!

The Journey has a happy ending

I am starting this new site so that I can concentrate only on the adoption of our new little one and share it with my friends out there.
We have had quite a journey and we still have many barriers to over come before we get our boy home.
First let me explain what has occurred.

I quit looking. We were to be matched with a little boy that I found independently in Taiwan back in May of 2008. It was a long journey, including hiring an attorney in Taiwan to try to get this to come together. There were interference with other people who didn't feel we were the right family and even though the birth mom did find us to be a good match, she just wasn't ready to let go. She felt her hours a month that the social worker brought him to the jail to see her was more important then having the little one in a good stable home. And because I wasn't willing to make unkept promises that I would bring him back to Taiwan each year for her she decided that it was best if he stayed in Foster Care in Taiwan.
This decision was made somewhere in October 2008. I had started school in August and was putting all my energy into my school. I just didn't have time or energy or even the heart to try any more.
Then in February I received an email from Shiloh and Stephanie, who had been a blessing to me over another matter about our home study getting mis-translated by someone in Taiwan and Chung Yi. Stephanie had a list of little ones from Ukraine that needed a family. I went to the website, just for a peek... I know I shouldn't!!
Anyways, there he was. He turned two on March 2, 2009 so at the time I saw his photo he was a month away from his 2nd birthday.
I emailed Stephanie half-heartily, not really expecting him to still be available. But she got right back to me to say he didn't have a family. He is at Cathwel in Taiwan and they would get back to us.
A few more questions were asked, our home study that is now outdated was sent, a few letters to the director of Cathwel went out and then a phone call from Stephanie came in... A PHONE CALL!
She said that Cathwel had approved us and they were trying to get the birth mom to come to sign the paper.. so we were a step closer, but this is where it had gone wrong last time.
Then I was at the hospital doing my clinics for school and my cell phone rang. We are not allowed to be on the phone but I looked down and saw it was Stephanie- this was about a week after the first call.
I wait, having nothing on my mind but the message Stephanie left me.. was it good, was it bad?? Finally I couldn't take it any longer and ran into the ladies room so I could listen!!!
CONGRATULATIONS MOM AND DAD, YOU ARE GETTING A SON!!!!

I called Jay right away. "Guess what?" He said, "You are out of work already?" and I tell him no, guess again. Then I said, "HE IS OURS!"
I don't think it sunk into Jay until that night when we actually signed the birth mothers request sheet. Then Jay asked to see the picture of him again.
I could see the sparkles in his eyes!!

Through the next week some of the staff from Shiloh went to Taiwan so we were so blessed to get new pictures of him and a video. HE IS JUST BEAUTIFUL!

So now I am at the point where most of my stuff is out dated and has to be redone. So I called our home study woman.. who is now making things difficult AGAIN.
She is stating that we must include our exchange student on our homestudy.. and Mia is 18... which means a full background check, medical..etc..
Well Mia leaves on June 8 to go back to Taiwan. I am beyond myself thinking about adding extra running, stress and cost to adding her when she will not even be here when the baby comes home.
Also the HS said that we have to add my daughter because she spends the night every now and then when she works at the hospital that is near our home. Amanda DOES NOT LIVE HERE, DOES NOT EVEN HAVE A BED in our home... nor a dresser or clothes and has a lease on a place in Orlando.. but she wants me to also go through the extra run-around adding her.
I am very angry with all of this. This woman has known us for almost five years now and there is really no need for this.

I understand that things have to be right for the children, but isn't there enough "crap" in our world to have to pile more on when it is getting a child home to a family and better medical attention???

Anyways as of this minute, Jay will go get our agreement notarized, we are sending our dear birthmom letter out along with a check for our agency fees. We need to have a few fund raisers to help us bring our boy home!! But we are setting our goal for July as I graduate from school on July 21 and want to have him in our arms a few days later!!