Week One- Meeting Stephen

Our week with Stephen went by so fast. We enjoyed every minute of it. Monday morning at 7:30 we drove from our hotel in the capital city to Stephen's city. It was about a two hour drive. We quickly checked into our new hotel and rushed out to some sort of government building where we met him. He was a few minutes late and we were getting anxious. When he came up, we couldn't believe it was him. He was walking! We quickly said hello and then were rushed into a room. We spent the next hour and a half getting to know him while our attorney talked and figured out our schedule for the week. Initially, this time was tough, he didn't want to have much to do with us, but by the end of the first visit, we were able to laugh and play with him and were getting good hugs!

Following this visit, Nina , his foster mom, allowed us to play with him at the park. We were allowed to do this throughout the week at his visits, so we really got to learn some good information about him. First of all, he loves rocks. He loves to dig them, shovel them, and especially throw them. He really likes to play alone, hopefully that will change with time. He walks well, but will need some type of orthotics and therapy. He specks, but we really don't have a clue what is words and what is just sounds.

Stephen loves the carousel, he loves to swing and also bubbles. He lets you know when he does not like something, but is easily consoled. He is pretty strong-he has a death grip on the carousel! He loves to wear hats!
We grew pretty attached to this little guy. It was very hard to leave him. He is in a foster home where he is loved, so that did make it easier. We know that he will be well cared for. We are even going to get to Skype with him!

During our week, we were also able to have a little fun! We visited the Rila monastery which was built in 1432. It was beautiful



On the way there, we had a great lunch of trout and potatoes at a neat restaurant on the mountainside. They had great creme brûlée, but I didn't order one. I will not fail to order dessert again on this trip.
We were also able to visit the orphanage that Stephen lived in for about three years.

We enjoyed our time and were able to make some great friends during the week!




We can't wait to go back for this boy!

Visiting Stephen

Wow, what a surprise it was when we saw Stephen for the first time on Monday!  He has been living in a foster home for 8 months and has experienced significant improvement in his ability to walk on his own and has gained significant weight.  He has also shown some clear signs of ability to communicate. This is not what we expected, in fact, it was almost opposite what we thought we would find.  We have enjoyed two long visits with him each of the last three days. We play with him at the playground and we have taken several walks in the area near the American University.


 He has warmed up to us quite well and is a great hugger and he gave Tiffany a kiss today.  His two favorite things to do are riding a small carousel in the area and enjoying a swing we have done with all of our kids when they were young while walking and holding our hands.  We also were able to visit the orphanage today where he spent most of his little life to this point.  While we were there, we met a Therapist who had worked with him to teach him to walk.
We are very optimistic about his future and believe he can be strong one day both physically and mentally.

We are here!

It is 4:47 am, we are working on very little sleep.  Our 18 hour journey to our boys country actually took about 27 hours.  I believe that was all God's timing.  Several wonderful things happened on our trip.
Right now I am very sleepy, but can't sleep.  I am too excited, my heart is pounding. We have worked for 7 months for this day.  The day we get to meet our son Stephen.  I am nervous, anxious, scared, but mostly just excited.  I can't wait to hug him and tell him that we love him.  We don't have to be ready until 7:30, but there is no way I can sleep!  I have slept about 6 hours out of the last 40, so I am hoping tomorrow night will bring needed rest.
The first interesting part of our trip was we met a orthopedic surgeon who said he would see Colton.  He could already tell me some of the things that Colton needed. God's perfect timing, Colton had just told me hours before how he could no longer straighten his leg in he morning,
There was a book I had been wanting to read for months, but had been too busy.  The Boy From Baby House Ten- I was able to read this book and Troy also started it.  If anyone questions why we choose international adoption, you should read this book.  It was perfect timing to really remind me why we started this journey and also to show me some of the situations that Stephen might have been exposed to.  I believe that adoption is God's plan.  We are adopted children of him and he commands us to care for the orphans.  There are many ways this can be done, but our journey here was the way God called Troy and I to follow him.  I do not believe our journey to care for the orphans will end after this adoption.  I do not know what this will look like, but I am feeling that this is only the beginning of our journey to follow him.
The last neat part of our trip happened in Frankfurt.  We sat there for about 8 hours. During this time we were able to meet a couple who was here to pick up their little girl!
Tiffany just passed her iPad to me to read this blog entry...and now I need to pipe in...she is dead on with the way God has already worked in his own timing on this trip.  The travel over was already grueling enough without hearing the news that after a night on an airplane, our two hour layover in Germany was now eight.  Our worst fear was falling asleep and missing the new flight.  We made it though and what little brain power I had yesterday was spent reading the book she mentioned above and listening to God confirm what Tiffany mentioned above..we are just getting started on our main purpose as a team in this life....what it will look like in the end, God only knows but he has put us on a mission and the additional 6 hours to our trip was well worth it for the "eye-opening" heart preparation he gave us both.
We are now two hours from starting the drive to meet Stephen.  I haven't been this exited/nervous since Caitlin was born.  I don't know what to expect but I know that I have high hopes for the life our family can give to two boys who currently have little hope.
To understand our hearts, please read the book Tiffany mentioned above, written by Alan Phillips and John Lahutsky.  We are all called to pure religion in the book of James...to care for the widows and orphans.  In our own culture in America, kids are many times viewed as a curse...even Christians don't acknowledge the blessing they can be in our lives...but they are our future, and we need to learn to love them and raise them up to live Godly lives.
I thank God for the courage he has given Tiffany in all this....most women might be looking for a life of leisure following the raising of five children...somehow I don't see either of us going down that road.  It's obvious after yesterday that we are being prepared for more.
So where is God taking us on this journey? Stay tuned....

One Week Left

It is early Saturday morning...our house is quiet (which is very unusual).  This time next Saturday I will be on my way to meet our boys!  I am so excited.  It has taken about 6 months for us to reach this point.  Six long months of paperwork and frustration!

My trip will be two weeks long.  I get to spend the first week with Steven.  I will be at his orphanage with another adoptive mom who has become a dear friend during this process.  I am looking forward to spending time with her!  Over the weekend, I will stay in the capital city.  The next week I will be with Brayden.  I think I will be alone that week.  I am hoping that there will be someone there, because a week alone with no one that speaks English could be rough on me!

We have been totally overwhelmed by the love from some sweet friends!  We have received all kinds of offers for help with our kids while I am gone.  It has brought me to tears.  I am so thankful for these sweet friends.

Now, to get through this next week!

Travel Dates

We got travel dates!!  I will be in country from May 26-June8.  I can not wait to meet our little guys.  We have worked for about 6 months...I am ready to hold them!

Of course this is all happening during the busiest weeks possible.  Between now and the time I leave, 2 kids are in a play, which I have to be at all week and next weekend.  Caitlin then has finals, we have end of year stuff for school, I have to get 2 kids ready for camp.  Plus, our renovation on our house will finally begin...so we will be relocating lots of stuff.  Tonight we moved Troy's office.

I had a great Mother's Day.  We had a great day together!  I am blessed to have 5 great kids and 2 more on the way!

2 Three Year Olds!

Yesterday, little Bradyn turned 3.  There was no party, no cake or balloons.  No presents.  That will be his last birthday that he is alone! 

Today, our sweet baby, Aubryn, turned 3.  We have enjoyed a fun family weekend of celebration and she has a new pink bicycle.  She is a precious gift from God.  We are so blessed to have such a joyful little one.

We are waiting on a signature from the minister of justice and travel dates.  There is no way that we will be going when originally hoped.  But we are praying for the week of May 18.

I still have not heard back from Colton's dr...imagine that!

Time away...now paying for it!

Last weekend, I was blessed to be able to go away with a crazy group of girls for the weekend.  Everything about it was wonderful.  We went to Round Top, TX during Antiques Weekend.  I left Houston Thursday morning and got to spend the whole weekend away.

On Thursday Night, we had fun getting dressed up for the Junk Gypsy prom....there is really no way to explain it...just Google it if you are interested.  The best part of that was our dinner at Royers under the tent! 

There was lots of shopping and fun!  I was blessed so much by the time I was able to spend with friends and also a much needed break from everyday.

 

Well, now I am having to do the payback.  As soon as I got home Sunday, Troy left for a week in Nigeria.  I was expecting him home over the weekend, but his trip was extended and he won't be home until Tuesday...I can deal with that, but things got a little difficult on Friday.

 

We got word that we were verbally approved by IAC for adoption, but some of the paperwork may have to be redone because we added Bradyn in at the last minute. I got word of all this (which will be ok) during a doctors appointment for Colton at Shriners.  The appointment was supposed to be a follow up, which I really almost cancelled.  When we get there, we waited forever, which is not normal at Shriners.  Then a different Dr. walks in, I explained Colton was Dr. Mancias patient and we would like to see him.. no problem, she was great about it.  A few minutes later, Dr. Mancias comes in and says he is trying to pull up mri results from a different hospital, it may take a few more minutes.  Everything is still good.  Then dr. Mancias returns with the whole staff ( 3 other dr. and 4 other therapist/nurses).  A few months ago, they determined the cause of Colton's leg problems was nerve damage that was due to a cyst, but it was most likely not malignant.  Now, after reviewing the mri further, there are some red flags that went up and they are now referring him to a dr. at md Anderson Cancer Center.  I am trying not worry, I don't really think that it is malignant, but I am anxious to hear from this new doctor.  Please pray for my sweet boy.

 

Anyway, this all happening at the same time left me feeling overwhelmed.  I am very ready for Troy to come home and I think I will need some more time away to recover.LOL

 

Quick add on- after I wrote this 3 of us got an awful stomach virus during the night, now I really am ready for Troy to get home!