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A few more questions were asked, our home study that is now outdated was sent, a few letters to the director of Cathwel went out and then a phone call from Stephanie came in...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!!