We're here!

After 25 hours of traveling we made to our hotel last night around 10pm. Thanks for all your prayers. Our flight from The Springs to San Fransisco was HORRIBLE, but our iternational flights were awesome with no turbulence whatsoever. I much prefer flyin over the ocean to land now:) We found out last night we are sharing a guide with another family while we're in Shanghai. We just met them and they are very nice. They sre adopting a little boy from Sammy's orphanage. I'm sure it will be nice for him to have a familiar (maybe) face to see. We leave in one hour to go get him. I'm hoping I can figure out how to post pictures from my iPhone to my blog. Does anyone know? I hope to update with pictures next time.

Leaving for Shanghai

We leave at 7:30 tomorrow morning!!! I can't believe it is finally happening. Sammy will be ours Monday, October 10th at 9:30am (China time) YAY! I am hoping to access my blog from China so I can keep everyone updated. Please pray for safe travels, Sammy's transition, our very sad children we will be leaving home, and my wonderful mother taking care of them.

A Different Perspective

As we prepare to bring home our son next month I've been rereading a wonderful book, Adoption Parenting: Creating a Toolbox, Building Connections, our social worker recommended.  As I was reading I came across an adoption analogy by Cynthia Hockman-Chupp.  I feel the need to share it with you in hopes that you will better understand why we will be keeping things low key for a bit when Sammy comes home.  Our little guy's world is about to turn upside-down.  Please keep him, and all of us, in your prayers.

Imagine for a moment....

You have met the person you've dreamed about all your life. He has every quality that you desire in a spouse. You plan for the wedding, enjoying every free moment with your fiancée. You love his touch, his smell, the way he looks into your eyes. For the first time in your life, you understand what is meant by soul mate, for this person understands you in a way that no one else does. Your heart beats in rhythm with his. Your emotions are intimately tied to his every joy, his every sorrow.

The wedding comes. It is a happy celebration, but the best part is that you are finally the wife of this wonderful man. You fall asleep that night, exhausted from the day's events, but relaxed and joyful in the knowledge that you are next to the person who loves you more than anyone in the worldthe person who will be with you for the rest of your life. The next morning you wake up, nestled in your partner's arms. You open your eyes and immediately look for his face. But it's not him! You are in the arms of another man. You recoil in horror. Who is this man?

Where is your beloved? 
You ask questions of the new man, but it quickly becomes apparent that he doesn't understand you. You search every room in the house, calling and calling for your husband. The new guy follows you around, trying to hug you, pat you on the back. . .even trying to stroke your arm, acting like everything is okay. But you know that nothing is okay. Your beloved is gone. Where is he? Will he return? When? What has happened to him? Weeks pass. You cry and cry over the loss of your beloved. Sometimes you ache silently, in shock over what has happened. The new guy tries to comfort you. You appreciate his attempts, but he doesn't speak your language-either verbally or emotionally. He doesn't seem to realize the terrible thing that has happened...that your sweetheart is gone.

You find it difficult to sleep. The new guy tries to comfort you at bedtime with soft words and gentle touches, but you avoid him, preferring to sleep alone, away from him and any intimate words or contact. Months later, you still ache for your beloved, but gradually you are learning to trust this new guy. He's finally learned that you like your coffee black, not doctored up with cream and sugar. Although you still don't understand his bedtime songs, you like the lilt of his voice and take some comfort in it. More time passes. One morning, you wake up to find a full suitcase sitting next to the front door. You try to ask him about it, but he just takes you by the hand and leads you to the car. You drive and drive and drive. Nothing is familiar. Where are you? Where is he taking you?

You pull up to a large building. He leads you to an elevator and up to a room filled with people. Many are crying. Some are ecstatic with joy. You are confused. And worried. The man leads you over to the corner. Another man opens his arms and sweeps you up in an embrace. He rubs your back and kisses your cheeks, obviously thrilled to see you. You are anything but thrilled to see him. Who in the world is he? Where is your beloved? You reach for the man who brought you, but he just smiles (although he seems to be tearing up, which concerns you), pats you on the back, and puts your hand in the hands of the new guy. The new guy picks up your suitcase and leads you to the door. The familiar face starts openly crying, waving and waving as the elevator doors close on you and the new guy. The new guy drives you to an airport and you follow him, not knowing what else to do. Sometimes you cry, but then the new guy tries to make you smile, so you grin back, wanting to get along. You board a plane. The flight is long. You sleep a lot, wanting to mentally escape from the situation.

Hours later, the plane touches down. The new guy is very excited and leads you into the airport where dozens of people are there to greet you. Light bulbs flash as your photo is taken again and again. The new guy takes you to another guy who hugs you. Who is this one? You smile at him. Then you are taken to another man who pats your back and kisses your cheek. Then yet another fellow gives you a big hug and messes your hair. Finally, someone (which guy is this?) pulls you into his arms with the biggest hug you've ever had. He kisses you all over your cheeks and croons to you in some language you've never heard before.

He leads you to a car and drives you to another location. Everything here looks different. The climate is not what you're used to. The smells are strange. Nothing tastes familiar, except for the black coffee. You wonder if someone told him that you like your coffee black. You find it nearly impossible to sleep. Sometimes you lie in bed for hours, staring into the blackness, furious with your husband for leaving you, yet aching from the loss. The new guy checks on you. He seems concerned and tries to comfort you with soft words and a mug of warm milk. You turn away, pretending to go to asleep.

People come to the house. You can feel the anxiety start to bubble over as you look into the faces of all the new people. You tightly grasp the new guy's hand. He pulls you closer. People smile and nudge one other, marveling at how quickly you've fallen in love. Strangers reach for you, wanting to be a part of the happiness. Each time a man hugs you, you wonder if he will be the one to take you away. Just in case, you keep your suitcase packed and ready. Although the man at this house is nice and you're hanging on for dear life, you've learned from experience that men come and go, so you just wait in expectation for the next one to come along.

Each morning, the new guy hands you a cup of coffee and looks at you expectantly. A couple of times the pain and anger for your husband is so great that you lash out, sending hot coffee across the room, causing the new guy to yelp in pain. He just looks at you, bewildered. But most of the time you calmly take the cup. You give him a smile. And wait. And wait. And wait. 

Update

We received an update this week!

It looks like he's waving.

Sammy has grown so much since his last update.  He definitely looks more like a toddler now.  He weighs 20lbs and is 33inches tall.  He and Malachi are almost the same size, both itty bitty guys.  He looks so skinny, but I suppose it's because this is the first time we've seen him without 6 layers of clothes on.  I particularly like his pink shoes, although Danny was not quite as impressed.

We found out that Sammy started language training for deaf children in January.  He goes for 30 minutes, two time a week.  It doesn't say if they are teaching him Chinese Sign Language, it just says he understands simple gestures.  He wears hearing aides only during his training.  They won't allow deaf children to wear them full time until the children are old enough to care for the aides unassisted.

The update also said Sammy is a happy boy and very easy going.  He has a bad habit of biting blocks.  He apparently does this all the time.  Let's hope he only likes to bite blocks and will not use this habit on his siblings.  He is also not potty trained. The thought of going through another round of potty training is daunting.  Let's hope he's a quick learner.

We are on track to travel in October and have Sammy in our arms when he turns 3.  Our Article 5 will be picked up on the 29th then we wait for TA.  Wow, we can finally see the light at the end of tunnel.  Hopefully next time I blog it will be our itinerary.

Please continue to pray for our family.  As excited as we are to go to China, I am very nervous about leaving 3 of my babies behind. Addie is already struggling with the idea of us being gone.  Emma is just mad that she doesn't get to go.  Just so you don't think I'm a big meany, she was given the opportunity to go in January, she chose to stay home.  Malachi is fine and will be fine.  He probably won't even notice we're gone and that makes me happy and sad at the same time.  Andrew is nervous to fly for the first time and to be so far away from home.  Pray for Sammy, his world is about to be turned upside down and he hasn't a clue it's coming.  I also ask for prayers for my Mom and Aunt Cyndy.  They will be taking care of the 3 at home while we are gone.

Here's a picture of Andrew, Emma, Addie, and Malachi for those who asked.

LOA

We just got the call...LOA!!!!!  I can't tell you how exciting it was to hear it was finally here.  It took 44 days from LID to LOA.  We are praying for a quick TA.

We haven't gotten a new update on Sammy.  His orphanage is being very stubborn on releasing updates, and it is so frustrating.  The good news is now that we have LOA we can send him a package.  His orphanage is very good about giving the kids photos of their families.  Hopefully they will allow Sammy to keep his so he we might be familiar to him at gotcha.

Hopefully I will update this again soon with new pictures of our boy!

DTC

I'm hoping we will get an update next month with some new photos. We received an update in April.  Here is the latest picture of our sweet guy.  We are so happy to see him standing/walking unassisted.

Our dossier went to China on May 13th, and our LID was June 1st.   Progress, finally!  It feels like we waited so long to get to this point when, in reality, it has only been 5 months.  I just want to jump on a plane and go get him.  He has a home, a family who loves him.  The wait just plain stinks.  I hate that he will have to wait another 5 months to come home.

Waiting is hard, especially for me, since patience really isn't my strong suit.  I'm more of an instant gratification type of girl, but God is working on me.  He is using the adoption process to teach me  patience.

 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Control also seems to be an issue for me.  I like to be in control, I love to be in control, and the lack of control over the timeline to China is really a struggle for me.  We have done everything we can on our end.  We now wait on China.  At least that's how I feel most of the time.  How quickly I seem to forget who is really in control, who we are really waiting on, God.  My God who loves me, must be working on something through this wait.  I have to constantly remind myself that it is not all about me, it is about Him.  His timing is always perfect.  I may not understand why, but I do trust that He is doing what is in everyones' best interests.

     Trust in the LORD with all your heart, 

      And lean not on your own understanding; 

        In all your ways acknowledge Him, 

      And He shall direct your paths. 

Proverbs 3:5-6

Please continue to pray for our Sammy, especially his health.  May God bless him with good health.    Our 2 year old, Malachi, has been sick with strep this week.  He has been miserable and in my arms 24-7 just wanting to be held.  As I comfort one son my arms also ache for another. When Sammy is sick, burning up with fever, does anyone comfort him?  Is he held? Loved?  I can't seem to wrap my mind around a world where babies are left to comfort themselves all.the.time. I lose sleep at night thinking of him alone, lacking in love and affection.  May the Lord make these next few months fly so we can finally be together.

Hurry Up and Wait

We are waiting, have been waiting for about a month, to get an update from Sammy's orphanage.  We received an update in December with pictures.  Here is a picture from that update.

We have also been blessed by another family with a child in Sammy's orphanage.  When she received an update of her daughter, our Sammy was in the background!  The internet is amazing.

Several people have asked for an update on our adoption and what the process actually looks like.   The past few months haven't been all that exciting.  We have been crazy busy with lots and lots of paperwork, training classes, meetings with social workers, and rushing to get all our documents notarized and turned into the agency.  Whew!  I am happy to say it is all done!  We had our USCIS fingerprints done yesterday, and now we wait for the approval.  Once we get our approval we will be DTC!

DTC, in the adoption world, means dossier to China.  We are hoping to be DTC by the end of April.  At that point our dossier (all our notarized and translated documents) will be off to China and we will be logged in.  After we get our LID (log in date) we wait for our LOA.  The LOA (letter of acceptance) is the approval we need to make Sammy ours.  Right now China has pre-approved us as his family, but they won't give acceptance until they have reviewed our dossier.  After we receive LOA we wait for our TA.  TA (travel approval) gives us permission to travel to China to get Sammy.  We have 90 days to travel from the date of TA.   Our agency told us that it usually takes about 5 months from LID to travel.  We are hoping to travel October 1-14 2011.