Shopping, Pizza Hut and Bath Time

Wow - where to begin. Thank goodness Sydney is here. She is the main attraction. Lucas and Eli didn't go 10 feet without checking where Ate' Sydney was. Good thing as shopping in the mall was wall to wall people. We did manage, shorts, jeans, 2 shirts, socks and the big hit of the night - tennis shoes. Eli is big into Hot Wheels and "cringe" Lucas really wanted Nike's sorry kiddo they didn't have them. Then we went onto Pizza Hut Bistro. Chicken, rice and vegi's for the boys and me, Syd had caesar salad and Mike had fish and chips. By half way through the meal Eli was yawning and Lucas was ready to go back to the room - the big draw was the tub apparently bath time is a big deal as was apparent by the volume of water on the floor. It's a huge tub as you can see and I think they thought it was a mini pool. I can only compare the two of them in the tub as fish swimming in a fishbowl that was two small and then there was the whole whirpool factor. These two boys definately know how to swim. Lucas just came up and asked if they can take a shower in the a.m. Huh? I thought boys were adverse to being clean? I'm sure they'll grow out of that.
As far as language we think Lucas does fairly well in English. He understands more than he says and repeats in English as long as we give him the correction. Eli on the otherhand has little conversational English and I'm not sure how much he's understanding. Amazingly is that Syd and I can actually understand some of the Tagalog words.

Got Em!!

Here you go everybody. What a rush! Will write more but now we're off to the mall as we've got only the clothes on their backs. Thought I brought the small stuff but wrong again. Shoes a definate must. Enjoy the pictures cause we're enjoying the boys.

Let Me Explain My Traveling Companion - "Parker the Chipmunk"

Throughout our travels you may view a small stuffed animal near me in pictures. We figured I have to stay sane somehow on this vacation, and since that was Parker's job at home, we thought why not have him with us? It will be a "Where's Waldo?" situation. So there you have it, Parker the Chipmunk. I have him with me at all times, strapped down inside my purse, ready for any emergency picture taking situations; such as those that fallow. In the Tokyo airport we stopped for a quick pose by the 'toilets' sign, this way Parker knows we let him go potty on occasions. We most of the time will be taking pictures by interesting, fun, or frightening events. In my opinion, the bathroom situation was extremely frightening! There will probably be many more pictures of Parker and I to come, just look for him in the pictures and you'll know something eventful went on there. Please note there are some places we can not take pictures for fear of death; such as the scary S.W.A.T. team and their AK-47's. Or even more frightening; near the bidea. :) Sydney

From the Sisterly View

As we're sitting in the Minneapolis airport, we decided to eat a quick breakfast before we took off for Japan. "Oh, Chilis Too looks like a good choice," we all agreed. So there we are eating a nice greasy American meal when out of nowhere I hear a gasp and get smacked in the arm by mom. She whispered, very loudly might I add, "LOOK! LOOK! LOOK WHO IT IS!!!!" I look up to see Bob from the T.V. show 'The Biggest Loser'. I swear mom and dad never miss an episode. My first thought was is that really him? It is him! Then I thought, "Oh, man, I'm not eating to his standards!" Next I wondered if I had time to snap a picture...or if that'd be rude. I decided against taking a picture but was very impressed with his amazing sense of fashion. He wore boarder-line skinny jeans that were tucked neatly into his very nice black high top converse shoes. What did we learn from this? Well, I learned how to better my wardrobe and I believe mom learned how American we really are as we watch our famous role model walk away as we continue our nice grease-filled meal. :) Sydney

Breakfast at the Hotel

Well we've taken the tour of the hotel and ate breakfast as we wait for the day to pass so we can finally meet the boys. We've viewed the pool, saw the entrance to the mall (opens at 10:00). Any more convenient and it would be right outside our door. Sydney tried mango juice, said she's glad she tried but won't touch it again. The coffee is so much better than the stuff in Paris. This you can drink not have to eat it with a spoon. Temperature is 75-80 degrees and very comfortable but you can tell the humidity is building. Mike asked where the ocean was located from our hotel and Sydney very quickly explained we're on an island it's in every direction! Perhaps they need to go to separate rooms for awhile. Sydney will explain who her friend is by her shoulder in a little while.

Early Morning in Manila (Tuesday)

View out one of the hotel rooms windows. It really was sunny but apparently the tinted windows darkened it.

Day 1 in Manila

After a certain point of exhaustion you no longer are too phased by a lot of things...that's what we've decided this a.m. Talk about overload. Sights, sounds, smells. So far our hotel is great we all slept well, now it's a little after 7 a.m. and we've discovered a college is located across the street. We're on the 4th floor and it's not the honking horns (which goes on constantly) that is a little noisy it's the whistles being blown by the 8 police/security/crossing guards? I'm not sure who they are exactly. There are 3 different uniforms and they are helping people cross from one side of the street to the other. Let me tell you when they blow their whistles and gesture you better believe drivers do what they're supposed to...if not there is much yelling...which has to be loud since I can hear it up here on the 4th floor. Well we are off to see about breakfast and hang out until we hear from Eva. Thanks for letting us hear from you it makes us feel a lot closer to home. Internet is great when it's working!

We've Made It To Manila!!!

Yes we have finally landed. Today's travels went very well. 20 minute delay leaving Minneapolis, 30 minute delay at Tokyo. But somehow we managed to make it into Manila 25 minutes early. Flights were pretty smooth for the most part. Looking down on Alaska and the Northern Territories of Canada was awsome. After we left the coast line we didn't see land til we hit the runway in Tokyo. Really tired so I'll have to tell you about the Tokyo airport in a later entry. Sydney has crashed into bed, I'm too wired and Mike looks like a freight train ran over him. (I probably do too but I refuse to look in the mirror). I'm going to put this little tidbit into the middle of this post as to not freak some people out. As we were a block from the hotel our van was stopped and checked by armed SWAT teams. As we cleared the check point our driver says "All ok, have bump here today" I'm like "Excuse me?" He repeated it and this time bump turned out to be bomb. I'm not even sure what that building is down the street. Sydney's eyes were like saucers and Mike who was in the back of the van didn't understand until we made it into the hotel lobby. Sometimes maybe it pays to be deaf.
It sounds like Holt and Chris were able to contact KBF and reschedule our appointment to meet the boys for mid afternoon Tuesday. We're so excited and now I need to go to bed. Yes we did actually take pictures but will have to figure out the posting tomorrow. Thanks for everyone's prayers they mean a lot.

Part 2 of Day 1 Travel (I Can't Think of a Better Title)

Ok it's Sunday a.m. and praises to the Apple Tree Square Holiday Inn in Minneapolis. After yesterday it was nice to see friendly, helpful and non NWA employees. The hotel has been great and we're ready to tackle another day. My blood pressure is much better too. Although I did wake up during the night to count how many NWA airlines employees were oh so happy to point out, in the very same words, "But think you can visit Mall of America" ---7 to be exact and that's if you don't count the flight attendant who said it 3 times during our 40 minute flight. OK I'm done thinking about that! Except to say that when we called Alison and Rachel, Alison too had to point out how close we were to Mall of America but more importantly her favorite QVC store. Sorry Allison no can do.

NO I DON'T WANT TO GO TO MALL OF AMERICA I WANT TO GO TO MANILA!

That's right ...we are not on that dreaded 13 hour flight to Tokyo we are (through the incompetency of Northwest/Delta Airlines) sitting in a motel in Minneapolis. There was a "mechanical" issue and we didn't leave Omaha til 3 hours late and missed the connection to Tokyo. So here we sit until tomorrow when we can catch tomorrow's flight (barring anymore of the airlines idiocy) Can you tell we're not happy? Got that right. After a whole lot of pushing and even more demanding we finally got them to book us on the flight and then you should have seen us try to get a room comped to us. They finally called a Days Inn but Surprise! the shuttle didn't show, they didn't answer the phone at the hotel and NW would help no more. Needless to say after 4 hours trying to escape the Minneapolis Airport we booked our own room at Holiday Inn and Mike and Sydney have passed out on the beds. I need to lower my blood pressure so that I can try to figure out how to call Manila to rebook hotel rooms, reschedule appointments and tours and shuttles. Did I ever think I liked to travel? I wonder what the boys are going to think when we don't show up on time. I can't even contemplate that right now. Say a prayer or twenty.

On Our Way

As most of you read this we will probably be sitting in an airport, sitting on a plane but mainly sitting someplace along the way to Manila. Thank you to all who've been along on this journey up to this point. We'll try to post and put pictures up as we're able. Internet is not real reliable in Manila sometimes. We'll arrive in Manila 10:30 p.m. Sunday their time (9:30 a.m. Sunday Central time). We are to meet the boys at 10:00 a.m. Monday (9:30 p.m. Sunday Central Time). Thank you for your encouragement and please continue to pray for us as we travel and meet Lucas and Eli.

What Are YOU Going To Do About Santa?

Well as we were out finishing up the last minute shopping for the trip it was hard to ignore the Christmas season being hauled into the stores. We were finally headed home when Sydney pipes up from the back seat (she was quiet until then which in teenager means heavy thinking or sleeping) and says "Mom what are YOU going to do about Santa? The boys don't know about Santa. YOU better figure out something. We had Santa, the boys should have Santa. YOU better think of something to tell them. Their friends will know about Santa they have to know too. What are YOU going to tell them?"

#1 There were 2 parents in the car (the "other" one was mysteriously quiet.)

#2 Whoever said Mom had to have all the answers?

#3 Oh man, how on earth do you explain Santa?

I guess it boils down to that it doesn't matter if the kids are bio or adopted, a lot of parenting is done by the seat of your pants and you'd better be able to think on your feet and as Sydney found out - her parents don't have all the answers but we'll work on it.

Can You Say Typhoon Mirinae?

Yep - you've got it - another typhoon hit Luzon today (Saturday in the Philippines). It's on a path towards Manila moving quicker than the one that hit earlier. The reports are that it should move out to sea and towards Vietnam by nightfall Saturday (Saturday a.m. here). Typhoons are usually winding down in November but apparently Mirinae didn't get the message. I've been checking the weather this week, mainly just to see what the temperature highs have been to help with packing. They had been reporting chances of thunderstorms but I checked this afternoon and here comes Typhoon Mirinae. The boys will think our thunderstorms are spring showers - I wonder if it thunders and lightenings in a typhoon? I'm guessing maybe not.

How Come I Always Have the Most Stuff?

I'm not sure how but no matter how few items I set out to pack my suitcase is always overloaded. Sitting on the bed my stack of clothes looked no bigger than the piles for Mike and Sydney, yet when loaded into the 3 suitcases mine is level full while I was able to put items for the boys in both Mike's and Syd's. My good intentions of only taking the minimum amount of clothes always gets over-ruled by the part of me that hates not having an option in case of bad weather, bad mood, change of plans, change of mood...you kind of see where this is headed. As long as I keep it under 44 lbs my suitcase is ok right up until I'm at the end of 30 hours of no sleep trying to drag this suitcase through a foreign airport and that's if we're lucky and our suitcases aren't m.i.a. Anyway the suitcases are loaded (yes a week early but it won't matter cause by the time we reach Manila it's all a wadded up mess anyway). I do feel better about the preparations than I did last night. At least there is progress and now you can walk into the boys room - you just can't see the beds as that's where the suitcases are!

Packing and Planning...

"Two weeks should be plenty of time to pack 3 suitcases for 3 people."

"How much can suitcases weigh when you fly internationally?"

"Who's picking us up at the airport in Manila at 11:00 p.m.?"

"What time is our appointment to meet the boys?"

"Why is it taking me 3 days and counting to pack one suitcase?"

I really thought that once we reached this point that I'd have had this part down as I've had a lot of time to think about this. But these past two days trying to figure out what to pack for the 3 of us and what items to take with us for the boys has really jammed my brain. Could be that I'm also obsessing about finishing sub plans at work and trying to keep things on an even keel with day to day stuff until we leave. Let's see there's Halloween, Rachel traveling this week-end, Sydney in the high school play the night before we fly out and Alison and troups to install in the house for house sitting duty. Plus did I mention the PACKING which at the moment has exploded into the boys' room as it seemed to be the most out of traffic area. Good plan but now I can't stand that their room which was all set and cleaned is now ground zero. I know, I know it will come together and I won't remember this after they get home. Then I also have the reassurance of friends with sons that this is to become a permanent state of housekeeping --I'll strive for a happy medium. 12 days and counting......

Hotel Is Reserved

Called Manila last night and reserved rooms at the Holiday Inn Galleria. It was actually easier than booking a room within the U.S. We didn't use the Holiday Inn website to book because the size of room we needed it just kept saying we exceeded the maximum people allowed per room. It was a whole lot less frustrating to talk with a live person and tell her what we were doing and what we needed. She gave us 3 options and we were all set. Still hate the fact that we are coming back early Sunday afternoon, Rachel will only have a couple hours at most before she has to head back. Can't be helped doesn't mean we have to like it.

Making Travel Plans!!!

Yes - we were expecting only to hear if Lucas passed his chest x-ray (which he did thank God) but we also got the best news so far... Eva said to go ahead and begin making travel plans. Many hours later we now have flights for November 7 and arriving home on the 15th. Not exactly the dates we hoped for (I wanted to leave now - guess that was overboard). We'll have to come back on a Sunday instead of Saturday. The thing we've learned tonight is that it's fairly easy to get to Manila but harder to get a flight out. Now for the fun time of calling hotels in Manila and seeing what we can get for a hotel reservation.

Bracing For Yet Another Storm!

Yes it's true...there is another typhoon headed for the eastern and northern portion of the island Manila is on. There are evacuations in the north and emergency measures being taken everywhere. The devastating pictures from the Philippines are heart rending. Everyone looks so exhausted from the soldiers, to relief workers, orphanage workers and everyday residents. Keep them in your prayers.

Physicals and Immunizations and X-Ray

Well here's what we know today. Eli and Lucas had their physicals on the 14th. Eli passed his and won the "lucky" opportunity to have 3 vaccinations (MMR, HepB and Chicken Pox) even though our doctor here will be repeating all their vaccinations. Welcome to our country! Lucas had to have a follow up chest x-ray which will be read Monday, the 19th and hopefully do his shots then too. Then both boys go on Friday, October 23 for their visa interview. Boy I sure hope that all goes off as planned. Another week-end of waiting, but possibly just a little closer than we were.

Psych! Not Yet

Well the appointments didn't happen last Friday due to ICAB not being able to release the funds yet. Today we recieved word that the funds are now available and Eva is trying to see if they can schedule the boys' physicals for the 14th and the embassy appointments for next week. Now it's looking like we may hit traveling right before Thanksgiving - don't want to jinx anything but international holiday travel doesn't sound like fun but if that's when they say go we're gone!

Visa Medical Appointment???

Not sure but after checking the Embassy in Manila website on Wednesday, it showed the boys' were scheduled for the visa medicals Friday, October 9 at St. Luke's. I was able to email Kristine at Holt to double check as we hadn't heard anything from them. She said they had not heard anything from Eva about it being scheduled and that the embassy website is not reliable. I'll take the positive (and uninformed) and say that the embassy didn't pull the boys' case numbers and randomly put them on the site for no reason...hopeful thinking I know but as we move into week 6 of waiting on ICAB to release the funds I'll take any ray of sunshine out there.

Thank God for High Ground

We heard around noon today from Holt. They were able to contact KBF in Manila and found out the boys' foster home is at one of the higher elevations in Manila and was spared the flooding. Soggy but in one piece. We hope they stay safe as there is a storm predicted to hit Friday and another earlier next week. If you've seen any of the video from the Philippines you know that there is nowhere for thousands of people to go and resources are extremely limited or non existent. We're so greatful the boys are safe and want desperately to get them out of Manila.

Flooding in Manila

As we've been waiting for word about picking up the boys I watch the current news and weather coming from the Philippines. Just makes me feel connected with Lucas and Eli's days. They have now been through 4 typhoons since moving to Manila and for the past 30 plus days it has rained everyday. Not unusual for this time of year but unfortunately Manila and Luzon have been hit by another typhoon this week-end. From the news and videos things in Manila are very bleak. Power is out and cars had to be abandoned in the streets. People are wading through water up to their necks in places and houses have been washed away. We are anxiously waiting to hear how the boys and the foster family are doing. At the best of times this takes days of communication because of the time difference, now with no power we just pray that they are safe.

No Words Can Explain.....

......but I'm going to try. We still cannot get a true grip on the generosity of so many people who have been a part of our adoption. The most important one being God who has been an ever constant support. Mike keeps saying that for every step of this journey God has opened doors when we felt them being slammed shut. No more so than when we have been struggling to meet the final set of costs to travel.

On this past Sunday as the Fellowship Committee and Church Youth were preparing the pancake benefit (See Previous Post) Lynn received a call from her sister Janee. Janee has been involved in the lives of Lucas and Eli a long time, way before us. She began praying that the boys would be united with their parents (she even knows the date she began - September 25, 2008). Her own boys refer to them as their internet brothers.

Prior to last Sunday Janee and I had never spoken. Our only knowledge of each other was through Lynn. Lynn has shared stories of Janee's support for the boys and our adoption but we've never met. Last week Janee had been in prayer about a particular gift that she wanted to give our family. On Sunday Janee felt that she was led to make that gift.

Just prior to the end of the second church service Lynn, Tim and Sydney came up the church aisle. As they passed the pew we were sitting in Lynn handed Mike a kleenex box to pass to me. Now let me say that while I was contemplating why she thought I needed that right then (little slow on the uptake that I may be) as soon as I looked at her as she made her way to the front I remember thinking what is she up to - why are Tim and Sydney with her - what is she up to -ok now she's crying - why didn't she keep the kleenex box - what is she saying? What she shared was the generosity of spirit and love that her sister has for our boys and in turn for us. Janee had called Northwest Airlines to see if it was possible to donate her frequent flier miles to us for our travel. She explained to the Northwest customer service agent what she wanted to do, the agent then told her that she has 5 internationally adopted siblings and that she would be thrilled to help. When the dust and tears settled Janee was able to donate almost all of our 3 round trip airfares. Hallelujah! I know that I couldn't see the stage anymore and I had to keep thinking did I just really understand that? Oh by the way Rachel had the unfortunate experience to sit next to me and at some point I grabbed her hand and we have hopes that feeling will return soon - Ha!

After the ending of service I told Lynn that I felt like a huge stone was lifted from my chest and I can breath again. To Janee and her family who were willing to donate those tickets we can never express the depth of our gratitude. We can only say that the gift has made a life long change for Lucas and Eli and your example of Christian faith, prayer and commitment is a true testimony for Christ.

Eventful Week - Still No Gotcha Day In Sight

Well this past week has been a joyous lesson in faith, friendship and family. Last Sunday was very busy. Lynn (who I've talked about before) hosted a shower for the boys. We had around 40 family, friends and church family attend. I did make it through the shower without crying (unlike the church service earlier). Just before the shower the fellowship committee with the help of our youth held a "Pancakes with a Purpose" benefit for us to help in raising funds for our travel costs. It is so greatly appreciated and when we do finally get the travel call they have made it possible to have the funds available. There is another benefit pancake feed next Sunday, September 27 after 2nd service. Stress is a constant and ever building thing in our lives right now that to have such generosity to ease the stress is beyond description!

Eli & Lucas Hanging Out in Manila

I emailed Kristine at Holt in Oregon to see if we could possibly have an update on how the boys are doing in their foster home. She was just getting ready to email us an update that the Philippine's program director had received at the August conference. He actually met Lucas and Eli and was able to give us an update as well as some additional pictures from their meeting. Their foster home must agree as they look like they've both grown over the past 2 months.

Nope No Word.....

That's right we continue to wait. No word when ICAB will release the funds to pay for the visa/physicals. Guess this is the part where we have to wait. Others wait and are stuck at different spots in the process. We were lucky we came this far without major hold-ups. So we wait. There are two wonderful things happening this week. Lynn (a wonderful and honorary aunt to our boys - she brought them to our attention and is a constant support) is hosting a shower for the boys. She is more than aware that our girly household needs some boy items. Then our church family is hosting on two Sundays this month a pancake dinner to help raise funds for our travel expenses. More info is available on the right. This is truly a blessing as we are struggling to meet this expense. So those are my two positives for this week and who knows maybe we'll hear something this week. Everybody say a prayer.

Well it's been a little frustrating (a lie it's been alot of frustration this week). We heard from Holt this week that Eva from KBF (agency affiliated with Holt in the Philippines)has requested the money from ICAB (the governing adoption body in the Philippines) for the boys' visas and medical appointments. This is part of the fees paid by us to Holt to send to ICAB for this purpose. We did our part, Holt did their part and now we wait for whenever ICAB sees fit to release the funds.

Apparently this has been an area in the adoption process that is becoming slower and slower for no forseeable reason that ICAB shares. This slow down has been brought to their attention by several agencies and ICAB says it is a temporary problem they hope to solve soon - -- -huh? It just is frustrating to know the boys are waiting, we're waiting and we are waiting on something as goofy as this. The sceptic in me says "Why should this take so long? They've got their the money from the U.S., where is it?" More patience needed on our part definately!

Waiting, waiting, waiting......

Well it's mid week of the week where NOTHING happens - We're trying to keep busy which isn't hard since school started today for both Sydney and myself. Rachel leaves for college next week. I'll be glad when this week is over because of the international conference going on right now I know nothing is happening and even if we don't hear anything next week I can convince myself something is moving forward cause everyone will be back at work in the adoption arena. Aren't head games wonderful!

Having Trouble Leaving Comments?

Hi - We've heard from many people that they have been unable to leave comments. Here are the directions for posting them: Click on "Comments" under whichever post you want. A window will come up and you can type your comment. Then choose the profile "name/url" type in your name only, leave the url blank. Click continue, click post, a message appears saying your post could not be processed please try again, click post again. Then you will see "your post has been published." Actually it won't publish on the web page until we've read it and clear it for post. Hope this helps everyone to leave comments, we will be especially grateful to read them while we are in the Philippines.

Visa File Uploaded to Manila

I spoke with the National Visa Center and they forwarded the boys' information to Manila on August 13. Now we will wait to hear. The 10th Global Adoption Conference is being held next week (all week) and everyone who handles adoptions will be involved so it will probably be at least a week and a half before we hear anything. Still it's good to know things at least are to this point.

Boys Going For Passports

Received word this a.m. that the boys will be going to the Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday morning for their passport applications. The powers that be are estimating they should be ready by the end of August.

I800 APPROVAL!

It's HERE! What is the I800 - as far as I can tell it's a major hurdle in the U.S. portion of our paperwork. We sent in the application roughly 2 weeks ago and the approval arrived today in the mail. It's dated last Friday. I almost didn't get it today - Rachel and I got home late from college shopping and luckily she stopped by the mailbox. She came to the house with this cheesy grin and said "Mom you got some big envelope from some citizenship place". For those of you who know the story of Rachel losing a portion of her finger earlier this year...let me tell you she about lost the hand holding the envelope tonight! Now we wait for visa processing, medical and visa appointments in the Philippines. Yippee for this latest development.

I800 at NCIS

We received our "receipt" notice that the I800 has made it to the office in Chicago. Now hopefully they can review and approve it in the speedy fashion that happened with the I800A. There is a huge adoption conference in mid August in the Philippines that will involve a lot of the people involved in Philippine adoptions so probably not a whole lot will get done on the paperwork end of things during that week.

CLEARER MINDS PREVAIL!!!

Finally out of the medication haze and the I800, I864 and I864A plus all supporting documentation is done, copied, put into appropriate FedEx mailers and Mike will take into FedEx in the a.m. Little did I realize going into this (I defy anyone to think of all the possibilities at the beginning)that by adopting 2 we effectively doubled the amount of paperwork. Hardly anything is combined. Kristine and the rest of Holt have been very good about not duplicating if possible but no one has control of the paper hungry machine of governments. I am in awe of the parents adopting a larger sibling group! Now we wait for approval again....

Make a Smilebox photobook

Virus, Allergic Reaction and Filing I800

It's been an eventful week. I (Lori) came down with a virus on Monday that caused inflammation between my sternum and ribs. What? I don't know-just know that it put me out of commission a few days when I needed to be working on the I-800. Then I get a call saying that Sydney's had an allergic reaction to some unknown thing-she'd not be happy if I posted a picture of her lips let's just say "Angelina Jolie plus some". Anyway that was a trip to the emergency room and now she carries an epipen and will undergo allergy testing. Then we get the wonderful news that the I800A is approved and the boys legals have arrived and yes we can file the I800 now.....Great except I have to make final revisions, make copies and triple check all my work. Unfortunately I can even tell I'm not rowing with all oars in the water from the medication they've put me on. Think it best if I just wait for 2 days until I'm med free and functioning. No one should fill out the immigration paperwork without all brain pathways firing.....or maybe they should?

I800A Approval & Legals Too!

What a very busy day. We got a call that the boys' legals have arrived from the Philippines (2 weeks). We need those so we can file the I800. Then Mike went out to pick up the mail and surprise! we recieved the I800A approval just 9 days after our biometric fingerprints were completed. Now we move onto the I800. Seems like everytime I talk with Kristine at Holt we both end up saying wow a whole lot during the conversation. The last 6 weeks have been sooooo crammed with approvals I have to admit we are having trouble keeping up with the next step. We're definately not complaining as it will hopefully bring the boys home that much quicker. We could definately use some extra prayers that the last major hurdles are met and our family can be together. Stress is a major factor in our lives right now.

Blip -

Heard from Holt Thursday that USCIS is requesting an addendum to the I800A. They just want a "canned" paragraph in there on Rachel that hadn't been included. Not a big deal and Holt in Omaha is handling it and should send it to USCIS on Monday. I guess if this is the only paperwork glitch we will be lucky. It hopefully will clear the way for I800A approval and we can move on the I800 as soon as the boys' legals arrive.

Touchdown in Manila

We have word today from Holt in Oregon that the boys arrived in Manila at the KBF office to meet Eva on 7/16. Right on schedule. Lucas got airsick and Eli had a blast on the flight. I'd say Lucas is going to have a miserable 15+ hour trip home. He won't be alone, he and I will just have to stake out the restroom on the plane...bonding the hard way!
They will start school on Tuesday of this next week. They're new foster mother will start calling them by their new names. The boys were asked how they felt about the new names Lucas smiled and said he liked them. Eli didn't express his view either way (bet he let's us know down the road).
When looking at the photos we sent over they are very enamored with the big screen t.v. in the livingroom (sorry boys no satellite or cable) and also with Mike's aunt Teddie's horse (Aunt Teddie was in the picture too but the horse won). Don't know how we break the news that she lives 900 miles from us and so does her horse.

Our Handsome Sons

Our handsome boys, Lucas Alan Lowie and Eli Stephen Towie. These were taken on their way to school the first week of June 2009. The boys will be moving to the Manila foster home on July 16. We hear they are very excited - we are too!

I Have How Many Kids?

Ha! Here's an epiphany for you I just figured out I'm the mother of 5 - I'm a little surprised that I've defined myself (in my own head) as a mother of 3 that it's a little hard to think that I've got 5 kids now! Ya I know it's late as I write this and should now go to bed. Thanks for humoring me :)

ICAB APPROVAL!

We recieved a call late Thursday afternoon, July 2 from Holt. Kristine said she had good news for us - we had officially been approved by ICAB. Seems like we've waited a long time to hear those words. What's even more surprising was that Kristine estimates we're looking at 6-12 weeks until we bring them home. That made me take a seat. We've been working on a time frame of months and then to have it reduced to week format was great, scary, amazing, surprising and did I mention great! We will give them our verbal acceptance on Monday, they are closed for the holiday, then they will send for the boys' legals usually these are taking 3 weeks and then they will be able to go in with the I800 which she says is taking 3 weeks to process. 3weeks for legals, 3weeks for I800 then however long it takes to get the medicals and visa processed. Lucas and Eli have also been told that they have a dad and mom. Lucas said "God answered my prayers - when do we get to fly on the airplane?" Got to love that!

I800A Fingerprints Scheduled

Stopped and picked up the mail on my way home tonight. Usually someone has done that before I get home. We recieved 4 letters from USCIS. One to tell us they recieved our application and one for each of us (Mike, Lori and Rachel) with our appointments for the biometric scans. We will go into the Omaha USCIS office on July 13.

Moving to Manilla?

The word coming from Manilla is that as soon as they have ICAB approval of our dossier they will move the boys to Manilla. They will not allow us to go to Zamboanga City due to the travel advisories against foreign travel. We knew this was likely. They are tentatively making plans to take them into a KBF foster home in Manilla. It will be hard for Lucas & Eli to leave the orphanage after having lived there the past 5 years but it will hopefully help them to understand living within a family setting and possibly to begin learning English. Even a few words will help us poor non-Tagalog speaking parents - although we are getting a few words learned! They plan to have them moved in July.

ICAB Meeting Soon!

ICAB (Inter Country Adoption Board) has our dossier and should be acting on it either this week or next. Eva says that they want to review it before one of the ICAB workers leaves for the U.S. for the summer program. Once ICAB approves us then we need to complete all the U.S. hurtles and we'll be able to bring our boys home. I've broke the whole adoption into segments in my head.

1. Holt's Initial Process/Homestudy
2. ICAB Approval
3. U.S. Documentation/Approval
4. Visa/Physicals for Lucas and Eli
5. Travel Plans
6. Gotcha Day!

This way it's a piece at a time - totally a mind game for me - but this whole time ICAB has been a big hurdle as they are in control from the Philippines.

Pictures & Emails

We received an email late Thursday that Holt had heard from Eva (works for KBF in Philippines - affiliate to Holt). Long story short (6 emails back and forth) Eva has been to see Lucas and Eli in Zamboanga. She said she has more pictures of the boys on their way to school in their school uniforms. Whoopee!!! - why you ask? Well the last update was in February. Then it was reported that they were not in school. A positive change as far as we're concerned. (I'm sure 8 & 9 year old boys would prefer that they were allowed to play instead of going to school). We are now not so patiently waiting the updated pictures. Can't wait to see their faces!

Dossier & I800- A Out the Door

We FedExed our remaining dossier items to Oregon where they will be sent out to the Philippines on Monday. Yippee!!!
We've completed and will FedEx the I-800A form to the US government on Monday a.m. It's great when another load of paperwork goes out the door. Makes it feel like Lucas and Eli are that much closer to home.
Eli celebrated his 8th birthday on Thursday. If all goes well maybe it will be the last time either of our boys celebrates a birthday with just each other.
Watching the world news, the Philippines is experiencing problems in the areas near the boys' orphanage. There's a possiblity that if we recieve ICAB (Inter Country Adoption Board) approval from our dossier that Lucas & Eli will be moved into a foster home closer to Manilla. As much as we'd love to see and experience the area where they've lived for the last 5 years we're not sure how it would affect our travel plans. Sydney our 16 year old will be traveling with us and taking her into an area with a terrorist threat is not a viable idea. Holt says they never send anyone into this particular region so we will wait and see.

March - May 2009

It is really easy to procrastinate and I'm great at it! I'm posting these after the fact, cause between all the information gathering, meetings and document procurement, not to mention Rachel's graduation I did not start out posting like I wanted to.

We were in a holding pattern for most of April waiting for clearance from the Iowa FBI field office. We finally got the clearance at the end of April. That meant Holt could assign our social worker. Her name is Bonnie and a very easy person to talk with. We had met Bonnie earlier as she was a teacher at our Parents in Process class earlier in April.

We compiled our dossier for the Philippines to receive their official ok - still waiting on that. Dossiers consist of pictures of the family, home, boys' room, outside photos; birth and marriage certificates, letters of reference from our church, employers, friends, guardianship papers, physicals for Mike and I as well as Rachel and Sydney - Alison missed this pleasure as she moved to her own apartment the first of April. Again she says being the oldest still has it's advantages.

Our home study visits were May 18 & 20th. Bonnie and Robyn (intern) came to the house. I have to say the stress of getting ready for graduation and home-study at the same time (Rachel graduated May 17 - Home Study May 18 & 20th) about did me in. I had to laugh when they asked how I felt I handled stress - you've go to be kidding me - I wasn't blubbering in a corner - everything is good!

Had our psychological evaluations that Friday, May 22 in Omaha. The psychologist we found put us at ease and we forwarded as much of our dossier as we had to Holt's Oregon office. Right now we are waiting on the final Home Study to arrive in the mail and the appointment to pick up the psych eval - should be anytime. Then everything is off to the Philippines! On to the U.S. paperwork!!!!