One Family

It has been 5 weeks since Chad arrived in America and came into our home with his new brothers and sisters.  The transition was a little tougher than imagined for the first two weeks.  Poor Ashlyn had missed her Mommy so much and couldn't wait to hold me.  Chad thought after visiting with him for 2  weeks that he was an only child, so the jealousy and melt downs began for both of them.  Ashlyn didn't eat for about 10 days, only drinking protein Boost.  She was quiet and extremely withdrawn for the exception of the melt downs.  My heart was broken.  My how life changed so much in a week.  The boys did great from day one.  Madison became aggravated with him.  He is so sweet and full of energy, but he sure did need to learn the boundaries.  Precious boy had so many firsts.  He had never been in a house before, a bathtub with standing water, a car, a pool...  So, if it could be opened, closed, taken apart, banged on, dropped - he did it.  As a family, we couldn't make it out of our driveway in the van without Chad trying to talk over anyone for our attention.  Once we had 3 trying to yell over each other and the next day we were supposed to head out for 7 hours to make it to Atlanta. It's so easy to look back now and laugh, then I was exhausted and looked forward to the next step when he understood us better and knew the rules of our family.  Praise God for my wonderful husband who was quick to pick up where I left off in the emotional side of things.

Chad had his top teeth removed due to the extreme decay and infection June 27th.  July 1st we headed off for Stone Mountain GA.  Poor guy came down with fever while we were still driving.  We started him on his Amoxicillin for fear of infection after surgery.  Atlanta was so hot, he is not accustomed to our heat and humidity, so when he broke out in a rash and the pictures online of prickly heat matched - Mama gave him cool baths.  By the time we got home - he was covered from head to toe in a rash.  That was when friends told us that he must be allergic to the medicine.  New experiences him, and for me.  

Fast forward to today.  We flew out to Salt Lake City on July 11.  We are doing the western tour.  Park City Utah - Jackson Hole Wyoming (Yellowstone) - Big Sky Montana - Seattle Washington - Vancouver Canada - Portland Oregon.  Such a wonderful 3 week adventure for this family of 7.  Chad is doing wonderfully!  Still testing us, but no more than our others.  Ashlyn actually seems to like him now, they play and she laughs and laughs at his goofiness.  He is picking up English well.  Except that he says "lalo" for water - he's doing great.  He is understanding us and that makes all the difference.  He is enjoying the sights, sounds and animals of the west right along with the rest of us.  We are enjoying each other and growing together.  Praise God - Finally - we feel like one family.

On our way home

I sit here and wonder where to begin. Our journey in Bulgria is ending, but our life with Chad is just beginning. What a week it's been. We arrived at the orphanage at 7:45am on Monday after 6 long months of waiting to finally hold him again. As we signed this paper and that- the time seemed to crawl by. We kept listening for the sound of running feet all the while hearing lots of little voices. His caregiver came out holding him and was not wanting to let him go. Everyone was hugging and kissing him. It was clear to see that he was well taken care of and loved there. I can see why- to meet him is to love him. He did well on the 5+ hour trip to Sophia. We made it just in time for the visa picture before 2. On our own with him for the first time, we decided to walk around the beautiful city of Sophia. After our walk, we were ready to head back to Florida. Mission accomplished. Let's hit the road. Ahhh- the waiting. Our next four days consisted of more walking than I've ever done in one city or even on 5 consecutive days, one bus tour and several delicious Bulgarian meals. We have truly enjoyed our time bonding with our new son. He is so precious! Sweet, loving and oh such a ham. Other people who became familiar to him- our translator Didi and her father, others in the hotel, a girl from a local cafe who spoke English and anyone else who could and would talk to him in Bulgarian. He has already picked up several English words such as "okay, I love you, thank you, cool, sit down". He loves to laugh and joke around. It's amazing how he can speak right to our hearts. I love him so. Thursday we met back up with Didi to have his physical done for his visa. ENT=perfect, eyes=perfect, speech and language=perfect! Amazing for a sweet little boy who was delayed for so long. Anyone feel God,s greatness here?After a quick lunch we went to the US Embassy for our interview appointment. There was another family there from Florida also adopting. Their translator recognized Chad right away. Her agency had previously had Chad's file and was trying to find him a family for some time. Later as I commented on how crazy that was, Stuart reminded me that God wouldn't give our child to anyone else. :) Friday was another walking tour day. We managed in our five days to always take differnt routes. The city is huge, full of communist history and just gorgeous. We visited at least 5 different parks. Chad rode his first electric rid today. The minute the car started going he was ready to jump off. Just like his first bath on Monday, he was scared to death. But with a little encouragement, just like his bath, the ride soon became something he loved and couldn't get enough of. He's very bright, independent and funny. I know he will fit in quite perfectly with our crew. He hasn't been sad about leaving the orphanage once. I get the feeling he likes us. :) This afternoon, shortly after our final day of adventure in Sophia, our attorney Toni came to the hotel to have dinner with us and two other families adopting. She gave us Chad's visa, passport and immigration papers. We're official. I think I've used that term several other times at different steps in the process. Now we have the birth certificate, court decree and visa to prove it. God is so amazing. He knew when he made this precious little boy that he was meant for our family. We only know what we see. Trusting Him and just saying yes to get out of our bubble is the hardest part. We have been so truly blessed throughout this entire experience. We an awesome God we serve! Our family and friends are pretty outstanding too! Thank you! Sorry this took so long to post. This mama is tired, but so ready to be home. Check back with more updates on Chad's transition into family life. Come on little man- let's go home.

On our way! We are finally going to Bulgaria to get Chad! I am posting from the airplane while people board. A quick update- April 9th- the court date was postponed until April 23rd after the judge decided she wanted a new form. We contacted all of our friends as prayer warriors during that time as things were not looking good for the form to make it to the court on time. God is faithful, He is good and true! The form made it and we were named the parents of Chad! We spent most of the month of May at the beach. While there we got the excited news of when we got to go to Bulgaria to bring him back to the states. Super exciting!! It feels like Christmas morning. Thank you God for this amazing journey that you have chosen for our family.

We Have a Court Date

We have been given a court date!  April 9th (My Mom's Birthday) at 2:30 Bulgarian time.  That's 6:30am our time.  I'm so excited I cannot believe that we are finally this close.  We are of course praying for the most wonderful ruling and the email with a date to come bring Chad home.  Keep us in your prayers as the judge has requested some updated medical papers and time is short.  God is so good.  All in His glorious timing.  This Mama is ready. 

Help and waiting...

I haven't posted in a while as we are still playing the waiting game until we get to bring home our sweet Chad.  We have been able to Skype with him a total of 4 times now.  I cry each time.  Please keep us in prayer that our paperwork will be signed soon and we will be given a court date.

Here is a link I'm asking you to read.  These poor children need your help.  This is the result of non loving care givers in an orphanage.  This is rare, but never the less these kids need our help. 

http://www.only1mom.com/

We talked to him today!

Let me just say - GOD IS AMAZING!  I see His hand in this adoption every time something new happens.  On January 4 I recieved an email that we needed to update our local police background checks, medical and pshychological forms for when our case goes to court in Bulgaria.  Given that we just did all of this in May and it took a while considering all of the blood work, doctor's visits and notarizing of signatures.  I immediately started making calls.  The doctors and their nurses were amazing.  I had one set of papers signed and notartized within an hour!  We were able to send all 6 forms to Tallahassee for apostille at 4:45pm on the 5th!  Praise the Lord!  It was a little crazy running around and my dear friend left her job to notarize one of the signature (THANK YOU!) - but it is done!!  Woo hoo!

the next big thing was our surprise Skype today with Chad.  We went through all of the names we could think of and decided back on Chad.  We will call him Meete Chad for a while, unitl he gets it.  He's a bright one - shouldn't be too long.

It makes me cry to think of him sometimes and seeing his little face today really brought them out.  I'm sure it didn't help that he couldn't hear us.  Here's his crazy mama just a cryin'.  I'm not sure why the microphones wouldn't work, but it did this mommy's heart so good to see his smile.  He waved, played peek-a-boo, blew kisses, gave thumbs up and even figured out the sign language "I love you".  We are Skyping again next Wednesday morning.  God loves us so much and has a plan for us all.  I'm so glad that I chose to follow Him down this path of leading.  Our whole family will reap the benefits of adding Chad to our crew. 

I've never talked about the letter we got while in Bulgaria about Chad.  It disclosed information about his mom.  Her birthday is July 8 - same as Ashlyn's!  His mother is deemed unable to work by the government due to the severity of her epilepsy (somthing he has not shown signs of).  Her governemental funding is minimal and because she is a single mom - it all goes to providing for her other 2 children.  She tried to keep him, but after 3 weeks realized that the money was not enough to sustain 4 of them.  That is the reason for his "abandonment" the paper stated.  What a sad word...Abandon.  She wanted him, she loved him, but that wasn't enough.  It breaks my heart for her loss and for Chad's.  I am so blessed that God chose us to show Chad His love and His ways.  I love this little guy so much - as if he were always part of our family.  I don't understand God's plans for us, but I'm so honored that he thought me worthy of a calling so great.

Back in Sophia

Here we are, back in the capital city surrounded by 2 million people, but feeling so lonely.  At this moment we are away from all of our children.  As most of you are sleeping tonight, we will be flying back to the states.  I'm glad that people speak English in Sophia and don't smoke in the restaurants.  Breathe...

Our visit today was wonderful.  We gave Dimitar his picture book filled with family pictures and recordings on each page for English and Bulgarian.  Excitement filled his precious face with each new page.  The orphanage has agreed to Skype with us using our wonderful new friend and translator Didi.  We also have paid to have him enrolled in English lessons twice a week.  Great stuff for while we are apart.  We explained the process yesterday and again today about WANTING him, just not being able to take him yet.  The social worker there is wonderful...she explained everything so lovingly - in Bulgarian.  Her daughter goes to his kindergarten class in school and now they will be the only 2 that leave for English lessons.

A friend came down the stairs to say hello to all of us.  He went right over and showed that boy the way back upstairs, closing the door behind him.   As our week unfolded, we were blessed to get to see the real Meete (shortened for of Dimitar).  Smiling.  Laughing.  Hugging.  He is all boy - running all over, loves electronics, building, and throwing balls.  Quite a little ham he is - full of spunk and personality.  He will fit in with our kids perfectly!!  He is our son.   We put glow-in-the-dark stars on his bed so he would know that we are thinking of him every night.  He hugged us, told us"chow" and waved good bye holding his Lightening McQueen and Mater matchbox cars.  Obeechum te Meete - We love you Meete.  We will come for you soon.  God's comfort until that time.