Newest Update!

I received an e-mail on Wednesday asking for our AIT case #, so that Jake could go for his adoption physical. Long story short, after many crazed phone calls and e-mails, Jake got his physical and I got the number and sent it to them. Another adoption crisis put to rest. What this means is......Jake is coming home SOON! The adoption physical is one of the last steps in the process. The next step is our AIT appointment! This is when we have to be in Taiwan to complete Jake's adoption. Talk about a difficult wait. I've gotten his crib ready, clothes all washed and put away, diapers bought, bottles ready, and diaper bag packed and re-packed. When we get the WORD, we can throw somethings in a bag for us and go. We could hear something any day!!!!!!!

Here are some new pics of our little man. He is up to 13.2 lbs, and is a real cut-up. You'll see what I mean......................

January 22nd Pictures and Update

Here is the update that we got with new pictures.


He is such a blanket guy. He really enjoys having his blanket laid loosely across him when he sleeps and anytime he is in a rocker or on the bed, he just likes to grab onto a blanket. I witnessed the sweetest moment yesterday when I had Owen (another baby) propped up on his stomach on the nursing pillow, next to Jake as I changed his diaper on the bed.( The kids are just now really discovering each other I think) Both their hands were in the same sort of vicinity, and whether on purpose or by accident they sort of held hands for a few minutes…too cute! He now weighs 5.5kg.

Here is Jake with his girlfriends - Leia (top) and Maren (bottom)

"Yes, I know. I look like a dork in this hat. But what can I do,
they make me wear it."

Jan. 10 Update

We got this e-mail from Jake's caregiver. I have been longing for an update - I want to hold Jake SO bad. It is so comforting to know that he is being given wonderful care and that he is cuddled and hugged.

Hello

Sorry for the delay. I have been gone a bit recently and had a friend from Canada here for the past two weeks. Jake seems to have gained a lot of weight since the last time I weighed him, relative to his past rate. He now weighs 5.5kg (12 lb. 12 oz.). Jake LOVES personal contact. He will cry and cry not from hunger or diaper issues, but because he can’t see the action in the room. I talk him out of a temper tantrum just from sitting him in my lap and getting some good eye to eye contact. Jake is a cuddler! Again I would not worry about sending anything; he is well taken care of and has no needs that we cannot meet from here. He is now a full blown thumb sucker, really it’s more like half his fist. I can barely get him to take pictures without his hands in his mouth. If they are not in his mouth they are sweetly folded together up by his chin…SO CUTE! Just a side note: my friend who came for a visit spent many hours with me in the nursery and instantly decided that Jake was her favorite. O just for fun I thought I would share with you the nicknames I have for him; I started off with Jakester, which quickly morphed into Jaters, sometimes he also gets Bugsy. I also assign vocations to all the babies based on their personalities and physical characteristics. Right now, he is going to be our singer because of his sweet sweet little voice and for the hours and hours that he graces us with his vocal stylings.

6 Months old and What happened at Court........

Happy 1/2 Birthday, Jakey! WE LOVE YOU!





This is a copy of the e-mail I received at about 10:30 this morning. I was standing in Meijers and wanted to yell, jump up and down, run around and then sit down and cry with Joy. Needless to say, I restrained myself but I sure was grinning like a fool.


We are so excited to tell you about this day. We worked in the nursery until it was time to go to court for Jake. His cooing and smiles are so heart-warming. He LOVES people. As people approach him he smiles with contentment. He is the friendliest baby in the nursery.

Before we went to court we went to our post office box and your documents were there!!!!! Your court hearing held no surprises. The judge asked the usual questions. Before she started the usual questioning she asked for your documents so PRAISE THE LORD we had the documents ready to hand in.

Jake's mom, sister, and grandmother were all present in court today. They seemed pleased with the compliments we gave them about Jake but they seemed more anxious to have the adoption just be completed. Even though they love Jake the adoption process is an inconvenience and they want it to be completed so they can 'move on'. They are waiting for their homestudy. They wanted us to do everything in our power to 'rush' the social workers in getting this homestudy completed.

Here is what still needs to happen in Taiwan (the blue is the time that lapses between each step):
- Birth mother/family homestudy visit
1 week
- His Hands homestudy visit (we speak on your behalf)
2-3 weeks
- Social worker writes a report summarizing her visit and sends it to the judge
2-3 weeks
- Judge makes a decision about your adoption petition based on all the evidence including the social worker's homestudy
2-3 weeks
- Judge sends out First Decree - this states that Jake is legally your son if neither party protests the decision within ten days - we have had Jake's mom sign a waiver of her right to protest
3-4 weeks
- Judge sends out Second Decree

The previous outline is a rough estimate. We have had experience where all of the previous steps have taken place within one month and other times these final steps have taken up to 4 months.

"The Lord bless you and keep you, The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you;The Lord turn His face toward youand give you peace." Number 6:24-26
Praying for His peace as you continue to wait,

Trena and Holly

Playing with his buddy Owen.



Listening to Bible stories with his buddies, Owen and Jasper.

Court Date in Just a Few Hours

Who says I'm keyed up?!? I didn't sleep much last night and now it's almost midnight and I'm so wound up I could POP! At 2:15am, our time, Jake, his birthmother, HisHands representatives and a judge will be discussing whether or not Jake will be joining our family. I can't even think about not having him in our lives. I know that this is just more of a I's dotted and T's crossed thing, but ...... "What Me Worry?" HELL Yeah!

SO to ease tension, I look at these............

The Great Thinker

Our Little Mr. Pouty Boy

Have Thumb, will be Happy now