He's home!

It took longer than it was supposed to, thanks to a canceled flight at the very last minute (seriously, I was loading the other kids into the car, after having woken them up at 11 pm when Mike called to tell me the news).

After some negotiations, the airline put him and the boys up in a hotel and rebooked them for a flight for this morning out of New York and into Maine.    I think, even though it was frustrating and anti-climactic and stressful last night, that it really worked out for the best.   All three travelers were able to get a great night of sleep and show up in Maine rested, bathed/showered, and feeling a bit more "human" overall instead of stumbling in after 40 hours of traveling around the world.

And now, I have a toddler sleeping in the crib that we've had waiting for him for over two years now. 

He seems to be responding well to all of us - he's interacting, eating/drinking, and playing.  He's very much in love with his big brothers, not too sure about what exactly his little sister IS (today's her one month birthday, so she's still pretty tiny!), and seems very comfortable in his new home.

Over the next little bit, we're going to be "cocooning" our family - laying low and spending time bonding and getting to know each other.  I probably won't be updating all that often here or on FB, but will try to come back and let everyone know how we are doing at least occasionally!!

I'm currently uploading pictures and video from today's homecoming!  Check them out!!

Getting ready!

The first leg of the long trek home is over  - according to Flight Aware, Mike and the boys have landed for their first layover (I know they were on the plane before it took off, because Mike texted me, haha!).  

Three more layovers and about 32 hours to go before they'll be climbing into our car to head back home.   Keep those prayers coming!

In the meantime, the other rascals and I are cleaning, building cribs, making posters, and stocking the pantry with Theo's favourite foods.  Our little guy is almost home!!

Sightseeing with Theo

From Mike:

The last 2 days have been spent getting to know each other a little bit more.  Yesterday we went to "The Big Buddha" - the world's largest sitting Buddha.  It was a very impressive sight.  To get there we took a shuttle from the hotel, to a subway line, to a cable car.  The cable car was truly amazing.  We were in the cable car for about 25 mins soaring high over trees, and bodies of water etc.  We paid a little extra to have a car with a glass bottom, it was beautiful!  Then we ventured through a small village designed to look like a traditional Chinese village, and then hiked up to the buddha.  Theo fell asleep along the walk, so I carried him up the many stairs in incredibly hot conditions - the things we do for our kids!  The "real feel temp" was 112....  but it was worth the climb!

Today we ventured out to the science museum.  The museum was very cool, all three of us had a great time.  We also met with G. (social worker) to get all of our travel documents, and we are officially done with all of our adoption steps until finalization in Maine (in about 6 months).

Time has flown, and tomorrow we depart for home!!  It is quite the trip, but we will be working our way there starting tomorrow night at 10 pm !!

This trip has been very special, one that I will most definitely remember forever, and I'm sure Joseph will remember forever as well.  Definitely a once in a lifetime trip.

The day is finally here....

From Mike:

Today Theo officially became ours!  I signed the paperwork that is required, and he came back to the hotel with us!!  It is so hard to believe, after all of this time - he is now under our care!

It was a day filled with joy and celebration - Theo's foster family planned a beautiful going away party complete with decorations, food, entertainment and fun!  His classmates all came, as did the teachers.  They had a dance that they performed for us as well, it was quite special to see.  In addition they sent him home with many gifts to remember his time with them, and to wish him well.

It was also a day of mixed emotions, as we were celebrating the joy of him joining our family, his foster family had to watch him leave.  They lavished us with gifts and memories that we will cherish forever.  We will continue to keep in touch with them after we bring him home, for sure!

His birth family also left a gift for the family that would ultimately adopt him.  We will never be able to have contact with them, but we now have a token of appreciation from them.  I was moved to tears by this gesture.

This day was a very special day, our "gotcha day".  It is very hard to believe, but after this long process he is finally here.  Praise God!

A few pictures from the day:

Heidi again.  ;)

They still have a couple of days in-country before they head back to the States - days to sightsee and get to know each other better in a familiar location for Theo.   Please continue to cover them in prayers during this time, and as they head back around the world on Saturday.  Homecoming is REALLY late on Sunday night, and I'll make sure to keep everyone updated on how that goes!

Thank you again for all of your support!!  We are so grateful for you all for helping to make this happen.  If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have just been sitting in front of a computer screen, watching my new son point to me and wave and say "Hi Mama" unprompted.   You all have made this possible.  Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Day 2 with Theo

From Mike:

Today was a very special day. It started with a bus/train ride to Theo's school. His school is a government run school for special needs children. What an amazing place, the children are very well cared for, and seem to really be thriving there! There was 1 main teacher and about 5 other helpers in the room, it was truly remarkable to see them in action! 

We then left with Theo after lunch and brought him back to our hotel. We spent the afternoon playing and getting to know him even more. We took him for his first ever swim, and he sure loved the water!! He even went down water slides with daddy and big brother! He kept putting his face in the water, and loved to be dunked under!! He is quite the daredevil! 

We brought him back to our room for a snack and to relax before bringing him back to the foster home. This is his last night at the foster home, tomorrow is "gotcha day", where we sign over all of the paperwork, and he will officially be in our care!!!! 

Huge going away party tomorrow for him though. It is clear that our little man has been well loved and cared for. I am so grateful for his foster family, his teachers and his nurses/doctors for their amazing care. He is truly special, and he has clearly been treated that way. God is GREAT!

Day 1 with Theo

Yesterday was Day 1 of meeting with and spending time with Theo!

A brief description of the day, from Mike:

What an amazing day, can't wait to tell you all about it!

We met "G" (Heidi's note: that's our social worker) at the hotel then we went to meet him at the mall in town. His foster mother met us at McDonald's and then we spent some time talking. She then left and we explored a park nearby. He was nervous I think at first, it took a bit to warm up to us, but then he bonded pretty quickly - especially to Rascal #1. He definitely knew who we were, he was calling me papa!

Then we ate some traditional food for lunch - he made quite the mess!! And then we took a cab out to his home and spent a couple of hours there with his foster mother. She gave us all kinds of stuff to take back: pictures, movies, slide shows. The nurses at the hospital he lived at made a collage. Seriously I was moved to tears so many times. It was so much better than I ever could have expected!

There are some pretty amazing pictures and video filtering in through my email.  I cannot wait until we can share all of them with you guys (that'll be after the adoption is finalized, just FYI).   They are heading back out in a few minutes to spend day #2 with Theo (it's tomorrow already where they are), and I'll try to make sure to get an update together for you all tomorrow!

If you have emailed me for the photo album and haven't gotten a response, please try again by emailing me here.    I found one email in my spam folder, and don't know if I've missed any others.   

Thank you again for the prayers and the support!  One day closer to bringing our little guy home!!

In just about 24 hours....

....Mike and Rascal #1 will be getting picked up by our in-country social worker to head to Theo's foster home to meet our little boy for the first time.

It's finally here!   We know he's excited about his family (he's been "practicing" his gymnastics moves like the ones his big brothers performed in the video we sent him) and they believe that he understands that he'll be heading to his forever home in about a week.   I'm hopeful that, because of this, their first meeting will go well and it will be a good experience.

They'll be getting picked up around 10 pm EST - if you're awake then, please send up a couple of prayers:  one of thanksgiving that this day has finally arrived, and one asking for a joyful experience for all involved.  Thank you for helping us cover them in prayers during this adventure!

As of that meeting, our pictures will have to switch to private and password-protected.  If you haven't yet emailed me about how to view those, please shoot me an email here.

Until then, though - here are some pictures from the past few days of Mike and Rascal #1's journey.   They left Dubai on Friday morning, and arrived in Theo's country late Friday night.   They've spent most of the weekend (so far - it's Sunday there already) sightseeing and exploring.   

The view from their hotel balcony

Taking in the city, from a distance

Daddy and his biggest rascal

This boy and his buildings, haha

Don't forget to say a prayer for our boys, all of them, on Sunday evening - keep checking back here for updates and a brief recap of how that first meeting goes.  Thank you again for your support!!  It means more to us than we could ever begin to express!