Boys 1st Excursion!

Today the boys had to go to the Kremenchuk police station to be “scanned” for their passports.  This basically involved taking a photo of each boy in the police station, where they would create an electronic file for each boy that would be transferred to Kiev and Poltava to verify the passports for both boys. 

 

We took clothes to the orphanage for the boys to wear, along with snowsuits.  We brought clothes in size 18 months and 24 months.  The 18 month clothing was a little big for Conner, but snug on Cooper, so I think Conner will wear a 12-month and Cooper will wear 24-month.  The caregivers helped us dress them (Cooper wasn’t very patient with this!)…I’m not sure they’d ever had real clothes on (they have always been in pajama sleepers when we’ve visited).  We brought soft house-shoe booties for both boys since Cooper has club feet (and wont’ fit in regular shoes) and Conner isn’t walking yet.  Well, Cooper’s booties fell off within a few minutes, but Conner kept his on.  They were SO CUTE in their clothes and snowsuits, all bundled up.  They wore OshKosh overalls with plaid shirts underneath.  Of course the caregivers had them keep cotton shirts and tights on under their other layers.   Both boys were sweating by the time we reached the police station!

 

To our knowledge, the boys had never been outside the orphanage (most likely not even outside of their groupa/room)!  We were a little concerned about how they’d react to this new experience, but both boys did really well, especially considering they’d  never seen trees, snow, cars, strangers, nor had they ever felt the cold air, felt the bumps of potholes in the roads, sat in a vehicle.  So much to experience outside those orphanage walls!

First time outside the orphanage.

Neither boy got car sick, although Conner had lots of burping and tummy gurgling, he never vomited, praise God!!!  Cooper was quite vocal  most of the time, but he never acted fearful, so that was good. 

 

In the car/taxi, Cooper wanted to sit up tall on Matt’s lap so he could lick see outside the window. Conner was a calm little cuddle bug, perfectly content in my lap, relaxed as can be.

 

First time in a car/taxi!

 

At the police station, the boys waited patiently for their photos to be taken and paperwork to be completed.  Cooper loves to be played with (tossed in the air, tickled, etc.) while Conner prefers to sit calmly and observe everything going on around him.  Both boys LOVE to throw their hats on the ground.  Well, throw ANYTHING on the ground for that matter!   They just think it’s hilarious to grab ANYTHING and quickly toss it onto the ground and giggle.

Cooper giggling with Daddy at the police station.

 

The passports are supposed to be ready for pick up Tuesday, Tuesday, Feb. 28.  Please pray this happens on time!  Our awesome facilitator was able to get us an appointment at the US Embassy Feb. 29, with confirmation that the boys’ visas will be available the afternoon of March 1, IF AND ONLY IF everything goes according to schedule here in Kremenchuk/Poltava with the passports. 

Cooper wanted two hats.

Nope, just one hat, Daddy’s hat.

On second thought, maybe no hats would be best.

 

FYI, Conner’s hat is a 3-6 month, while Cooper’s is a 4T!

 

The boys’ appointments were smack dab in the middle of their groupa’s nap time, but both boys held up really well, even though Conner appeared to be quite sleepy. We were very proud of both boys. After all of the paperwork was finished, we returned the boys to their groupa, where the caregivers immediately undressed the boys and put their orphanage clothes back on. They totally knew what they were doing. I had been wondering if we’d just leave the boys in their new clothes, but apparently not. We hugged and kissed the boys goodbye, then went back to our hotel for the night.

Because our dinner last night consisted of this (see video below)…loud music that kept us from being able to converse with one another, we opted for room service tonight. We didn’t realize they offered this for the same price as dinner at the restaurant. We enjoyed our room service (I had chicken Kiev and Matt had an omelette), and we’re looking forward to visiting the boys tomorrow.

 

Our very loud dinner at Hotel Kremin Restaurant. :-)

 

Ahhhhhh, room service!

 

Nighty-night!

First Visit in 23 Days!

This morning we went to the notary to sign the official petition to take the boys to America.

 

After signing the petition, we got to visit the boys!!!  We were so excited to get to see them again.  23 days is far too long to not visit or have any contact with them.  Here’s the video from our first steps into the boys’ groupa/room:

Footage from our first steps into the boys’ groupa after 23 days of not visiting.

 

The boys remembered us!!!  Cooper immediately crawled to us, and Conner began making noises in the play crib.  (Conner doesn’t usually make sounds!)  Both boys hugged us tightly.  Having their fingers wrapped around our necks melted our hearts.  Oh how we love these precious boys!!!

 

 

 

We only got to visit for about 10-15 minutes, but it was so worth it, no matter how short the visit.  The boys felt so light after being home and lifting Selah and Kiefer.  They literally felt like we were lifting play dolls, not 6-year-olds.  I’m so curious to see how much they weigh.

 

Here’s another short video I took as we sat with the boys in their groupa for our short visit.  We had an appointment with the orphanage director, so we had to hurry with our visit, but it was just so good to hug and love on Cooper and Conner.  So blessed by these sweeties!

Cooper and Daddy reuniting after 23 days of not visiting, sitting on the couch in the boys’ groupa.

 

We spent the afternoon completing more paperwork.  Many of you have asked when we’ll get to take the boys out of the orphanage for good.  The answer would normally be right NOW, but our boys are in a little different situation due to their high risk of refeeding syndrome.

 

Refeeding syndrome is best explained HERE, but, in a nutshell, our boys can die in a matter of 3-5 days if we introduce different foods/nutrients/calories into their diet without close monitoring with blood tests and the assistance of medical personnel trained in refeeding syndrome.

 

We don’t know the exact weights of the boys, but they’re both severely malnourished.  They are both 6-years-old, but the size of 12-18 month olds.  Conner is the smaller of the two boys, and he probably weighs between 12-14 pounds.  Cooper probably weighs around 20-24 pounds.

 

Because both boys are at such high risk of developing refeeding symdrome, our pediatrician recommended we keep the boys at the orphanage until the very last minute to reduce the risk of refeeding syndrome.  Any change in the boys’ diet can cause refeeding syndrome, and death can occur rapidly (as well as seizures and other issues), so the less change in their diets before we get to the US (where we have medical care to deal with this) is best.  Our pediatrician is working with our local children’s hospital  and nutritionist to develop a care plan for both boys once they’re in the US, but for now, the safest place for the boys to remain is in the orphanage where their diet will remain the same and be consistent with what they’ve known for 6 years.

 

As hard as it is for us to leave the boys in the orphanage when they could be with us, we know this decision is in their best interest.  Of course it’s in our nature to want to feed the boys healthy food and do what we feel would nurse them back to health, but in reality, what we want to do would most likely end up killing them!!!  Isn’t that crazy?!?!  To think that feeding them healthy food could give them seizures and heart failure boggles my mind, but knowing this is truth helps me feel peace in leaving the boys in the orphanage until it’s time to go back to Kiev to get the required medical exam and visit with the US Embassy to receive approval and visas to travel.

 

So, for now, we will continue to visit the boys twice/day at the orphanage while we wait for their passports to be processed and available for pick-up.  We’re told the date we’ll be able to pick up the passports is Tuesday, Feb. 29, the day we’ll spring the boys from the orphanage, pick up the passports, and head to Kiev.  We’ll have to spend 3 days in Kiev, then the boys should have visas to head back to Texas!  We can see the light at the end of the tunnel, praise the Lord!!!

 

Please keep the boys in your prayers that they would not have issues with refeeding syndrome, that their transition would be smooth, and that we will be united in Texas as a family SOON!!!

 

Thanks for your prayers, support, and encouragement!

Final Trip, Day 2

We slept well last night, our first night in Kremenchuk.  We’re staying at hotel for this final trip, which has a restaurant (and breakfast is included in the stay), so we woke groggily at 8:30AM (Kremenchuk time…8 hours ahead of Texas time) and got ready for the first day of the final paper chase.

 

Our hotel is directly across from Lenin Square in Kremenchuk.

We went to the hotel café for breakfast, and were surprised to see how much food came with the various options.  We could select from three options, each with a variety of items we would not normally find on a breakfast menu in the US.  Things like caviar and cabbage salad (cole slaw).  We opted for option 1, which included fried eggs and bacon, among other things.  I don’t care for eggs much, so I gave mine to Matt (who said they were superb).  I like my bacon crispy, and this bacon was pretty much raw.  I asked them to cook it more (using Google translate), and the waitress seemed really confused.  Either they don’t eat crispy bacon here or Google translate told her something other than what I intended.  Needless to say, the cook attempted to cook the bacon again, but it still wasn’t really cooked when the waitress delivered it.  Oh well.  I purchased a Snickers bar on our way out instead.

 

That’s bread, butter, cheese, and red caviar that came with breakfast Option 1. 

 

At 10:15, our favorite driver, Sasha, came to pick us up, along with our translator (our facilitator’s husband), Denis, so we could start on the required first steps on the final journey toward bringing our boys home.

 

 

The first step was to get both boys new birth certificates, listing us as their parents.  We stopped at the Kremenchuk City Hall to get Cooper’s birth certificate (he was born in Kremenchuk), but had to wait a few hours because the chief was gone (and only the chief is authorized to make these changes). 

City Hall décor. 

 

Shortly before 2PM, Cooper’s new birth certificate was ready, so we headed off to Poltava, Conner’s birth city, to get his new birth certificate.

 

Matt and I snoozed during the 1.5 hour drive to Poltava.  Our bodies don’t yet know what time it is!  The process was much faster in Poltava, and after waiting in the car for about an hour, Conner had a new birth certificate, too.  Yippee.

 

Then it was off to the tax office in Poltava to apply for passports for both boys, which only took another hour or so.  Then back to Kremenchuk where we ate yummy brick oven pizza for dinner.

 

Now we’re back in our hotel room.  We didn’t get to see the boys today since we were gone all day, but we’re hoping tomorrow will allow us time to visit them.  (We are only allowed to stop by the orphanage during set visiting hours.)  Our translator needs us to do more paperwork at 9:30AM, which we’re not sure how long will take, but we’re sure hoping to head over to the orphanage after that.  We’ll keep you posted!

 

PS  Selah slept through the night last night and Sawyer no longer has fever.  Hallelujah!  Thanks so much for praying for all of us and supporting and encouraging us.  We’re so grateful for you!

We're Back!!!

After 30 hours of travel, Matt and I are finally back in Kremenchuk, Ukraine. It's almost midnight here, but I wanted to let you all know we made it here safely.

We had some crazy turbulence on one of our flights that made Matt and I both nauseated for the rest of our trip, and we usually don't get plane sick. But that same flight (Washington Dulles to Munich) was such an empty flight that almost every passenger was able to stretch out across 2-3 seats, which made the 8 hour flight more comfortable (minus the turbulence).

We had a 4 hour layover in Munich, so we decided to rent this really cool nap cab! It had a bed inside with relaxing music. We only rented it for an hour, but it was so worth it (although I still felt like I was bouncing around on a turbulent plane!). :-)

The 4-hour car ride from Kiev to Kremenchuk always feels risky. We are far too familiar with brief escapes from head-on collisions with 18-wheelers while our tiny car tries to pass other 18-wheelers in the ice and snow. We bottom out a lot hitting pot holes at 60mph, and we often slide on the ice, sometimes swerving off the road. It's alway a relief to arrive safely and step out of the Ukrainian NASCAR race!

Tomorrow will be a day of paperwork as we begin the final steps to bringing our boys home. We don't think we'll be able to visit the boys because we'll be completing required tasks all day, but if we get done in time, we'll definitely head over to the orphanage to hug on our lil men whom we miss dearly!

Please keep all of us in your prayers. Sawyer (our 11yo) developed 102F fever shortly after we left Sunday, and Selah decided to party all night Sunday night (which means Mattie and Meribeth are exhausted). Ella melts down regularly when we're away, and Asher really needs the consistency of our normal routine. Oh, and I strained a muscle in my shoulder. No doubt Satan continues to throw fiery darts the closer we get to rescuing our boys, but we cling to our Hero, as this battle is His, and He is mighty to save, our Protector and Provider. Praise Him!!!

Counting the Days

Just two more days until we head to Ukraine to begin the last part of the process to get these two cuties home!  We’ll be leaving Sunday, Feb. 19, for Ukraine, and we can hardly wait to wrap our arms around Cooper and Conner.

 

Please pray that our judge really does return to Kremenchuk Feb. 20, and that he corrects the error on the adoption decree the same day.  This must happen Feb. 20 in order for us to begin the necessary steps Feb. 21 toward bringing these boys home.  There are a number of things that must be done in Kremenchuk, and the very first step can only be done on Tuesdays, so that’s why it’s vital that the adoption decree get corrected and completed Monday, Feb. 20.

 

Based upon the timelines of the last two American families who adopted from Kremenchuk, we will be in Ukraine a total of 14 days for this final trip.  Of course, we’re praying it will go faster, but both of the two prior families spent two weeks there on the final trip, so we’re expecting the same timeline.  Praying that it’s not any longer than two weeks, that’s for sure!!!

 

I need to do a post about refeeding syndrome and the risks for our boys, but I don’t have time right now.  If you’re interested in learning about this, just google it.    Our boys are at high risk of refeeding syndrome, particularly Conner (the smaller boy), so please keep them in prayer that they’ll be just fine without any refeeding issues.  I’ll share more about it when I have more time.

 

Thank you all for praying and supporting us.  We’re so blessed by you!

147 Million ANSWERS

God woke me up yesterday morning very early, way before my eyes were ready to open.  Even though I really wanted to, I just couldn’t go back to sleep.  The words, “147 million answers” kept scrolling through my mind, as I tried to drift back off to sleep.

I wondered why that phrase was in my head.  Then I realized what God was trying to tell me.

There’s a current ministry, 147 Million Orphans, that helps raise orphan awareness.  Suddenly the words, “147 Million Answers” meant something to me.

There should not be 147 million orphans, there should be 147 million ANSWERS.  With 147 million answers, there would BE NO ORPHAN CRISIS.

A friend asked me the other day what we can do to help the orphan crisis.  The answer is SO EASY, yet not enough families are willing to make this choice…ADOPT.

If every Christian family adopted just ONE orphan, we would not have an orphan crisis.  Do you understand that?  The answer to the orphan crisis is right before us.  147 MILLION ANSWERS.  ADOPT.  We should become a part of the solution.  Answers to the question of how to solve the orphan crisis.  Our answer should be YES, I will adopt.

Many people say not everyone is called to adopt.  You know, I’d like to beg to differ on that one.  Sure, there are people who are simply not eligible to adopt, but how many people hide behind the excuse that they’re just not called to adopt?  What about James 1:27?  What about all the verses about caring for  orphans?  What about all the injustice scriptures?

How many wonderful, ELIGIBLE Christian families are out there making excuses when they could actually become a part of the solution by answering with a YES, I will adopt?!?!  I believe there are AT LEAST 147 million answers out there…147 million ELIGIBLE Christian families who could simply say yes to adoption, yet they’re choosing to take the easy way out by ignoring the orphan crisis, believing that adopting just one child won’t make a difference. 

YES IT CAN!!!  If every eligible Christian family adopted just ONE child, we truly wouldn’t have an orphan crisis.  Yes, there would still be orphans in countries that are closed to adoption, but even then, if the Christian families within those countries would step up and adopt, even those closed countries would have fewer orphans.

The answer to the orphan crisis seems so easy.  It’s right before our eyes.  147 million orphans ANSWERS.

Won’t you join the movement?  Become an ANSWER to the problem by saying YES to adoption!!!

And if you don’t know why I’m begging you to become a part of the 147 million ANSWERS, just click HERE to read my friend, Adeye’s, post.  A massive awakening is what is needed to open the world’s eyes to the way orphans are living day in and day out.  Help spread the word.  Open our eyes, Lord.

Let’s start a revolution.  147 million ANSWERS.  Join us.  Adopt a child.  Step out of your comfortable life, open your heart, your home, your family.  Your heart will never be the same, and that’s a good thing.  Click HERE if you don’t know where to start. 

An orphan is waiting for you to say YES today.  147 million answers.  Join the movement.  Be the solution.  Yes, adopting just ONE child really can make a difference.  Imagine 147 million Christian families saying YES.  147 million orphans ANSWERS.  Amen!!!

EDIT (2/16/12 at 9:35AM):  This post has been up only a few hours and I'm already hearing complaints about how expensive adoption is, how people can't afford it, etc.  First, let me say, aren't you glad Jesus didn't make excuses when God commanded Him to hang on the cross for us?  Aren't you glad He didn't say it would cost Him too much?  He was willing to give His very life for you and for me, no excuses. 

Second, let me say, yes, I know first-hand how expensive adoption is.  No one likes the expense.  All of us wish it were more affordable.  There's nothing we can do to change the expense related to adoption, BUT there are solutions to this excuse, and that's literally all that is...an excuse to not pursue adoption.  If you really want to live out what Jesus has called all of us to do (in James 1:27, along with a host of other scriptures), you will commit to being a part of the solution without any excuses.  Adoption via the US foster system is usually free or very low-cost, so there goes the excuse that adoption is too expensive.  Also, if God steers you in the direction of international adoption or private domestic adoption (via an agency, not via foster system), yes, there will be expenses that seem impossible to meet on our own, and, on our own, we won't be able to come up with the required ransom.  BUT GOD!!!  He WILL meet the need.  He is our Jehovah Jireh, our provider.  Even when the task seems impossible, we have to remember that everything is possible with our Father.  He has no problem raising the ransom.  Most of the time, it doesn't come in one simple gift, but through prayer and perserverance, commitment and hard work, you will see God provide in unfathomable ways.  I've experienced it first-hand, and most adoptive families will share the same thing.  Jehovah Jireh always provides.  That's just who He is.

So, please don't make excuses.  Just say YES, the same as Jesus said YES to us.  Be one of the 147 million ANSWERS, not excuses.  YES!  YES!  YES!!!

Unfailing Love

Praise Jesus for being our One and Only True Valentine!  Praise Him for His unfailing love!

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 8:37-39 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

1 John 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.