Thai Board Day

Seth went right to sleep last night. We try to wear him out!! :-)

Here we are with the Thai adoption board.


Mo is our social worker. She is absolutely the best. We have enjoyed her sweet spirit.

Nap time with Daddy.

Seth slept all night. He sat up some time in the night and I drew him close to me. After that he fell right back to sleep. We actually had to wake him. All 3 families met Mo and Pat in the lobby at 8:30. We headed over to the building where we me with the Thai adoption board. There were many families waiting also. They were from all over the world. It was so neat to see all of the families that were adopting like us. The board was very friendly. There were 4 ladies on the board and they were all professionals. The one that talked the most was a doctor. She had lived in Kansas City for a few years. They loved Seth and said that he was a very handsome "Thai Boy". They asked why we wanted to adopt. Joel told about his mission trip and how he fell in love with the Thai people. She asked what he liked about them. She also asked about his job and if he owned his own company. Seth had his little elephant lovie and covered his eye so he wouldn't have to look at them. They thought that was funny. In the end they said that we were a "PERFECT FAMILY FOR HIM". I couldn't agree more.

Afterwards we came back to the hotel and changed clothes. Seth took a nap with Joel and I went and got a foot massage. There is a great one across the street. After he woke up he and Joel went swimming. Pics were on Joel's camera so I will try to post those later.

We went to MBK tonight to eat dinner. It is like a huge mall. I gave Seth some juice and forgot that you should water it down for babies. He puked all over the furniture section at MBK. I felt terrible for him. It has been so long since we have had a baby that I am a little rusty. Seth really grieved today. He cried most of the day. Pat said that sometimes it is b/c it is reality for them that they are not going back home. It breaks my heart for him b/c we can't always comfort him. He still loves the Ergo most of the time and quiets down when I put him in it. Seth has not stepped on toe on the floor. Either Joel or I have to hold him all of time. He cries if you set him down for even a minute. The bath is torture for him. His foster mom washed him in a little plastic tub with cold water. He is pitiful. He won't play or act interested in anything. He also only eats soupy foods with rice and chicken. I am having an adjustment trying to feed him. I hope that he has a better day tomorrow. I forgot to mention, he started getting sick on Sunday and they took him to the doctor. He is on medication. It has been extremely difficult trying to learn him and figure out if he is hungary, tired, sick, or just grieving. I hope that we figure it out somewhat before we fly home on Tuesday.

Tomorrow we go to the US Embassy to get our baby's visas. After that we are going to try and see the palace. Friday morning we fly to Chiang Mai for the weekend.

I am missing Kara and Will terribly. This is so bitter sweet for me. I love being with Seth but I miss my kids so so much. I can't wait to be at home as a family of 5.

Prayers Answered!

"Gotcha Day" with Brian, Leah, and Olivia and Hirally, Chad, Diego, and Khirrissa.
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This is the social worker that was assigned to Seth's foster family. She was great help and even bought Seth lunch today. She is so wonderful.



We received word today that the US Embassy here has our cable. Thank you, thank you everyone for praying!!! We go tomorrow (Wed.) to our board meeting.

Seth did great today. He did cry a lot but was easily soothed and has started reaching for Joel and I. He doesn't seem to be particular about which one of us holds him. We were out a lot today and he loved the Ergo. We wore him out tonight and he went right to sleep. Let's just hope he cuts out the night feedings by himself! :-)

A Night at Siam Niramit

Last night at 5:30

Day Two

All 3 families met in the lobby at 10:30 and waited for the babies to arrive. Seth came in and I just can't get over how cute he is. He had on a little Christmas shirt and shorts and green camo shoes and socks. Gotta love it. He only cried a little bit when we first met him. He does OK for a little bit and it's like he thinks about it and cries. Today was a lot better and we could easily soothe him. We got into the van and headed to Central Shopping. It is the biggest department store that I have ever been in. It smelled like home. Nothing here smells like home. Kara, they even had a Build-A-Bear in this store. We ate at their restaurant first. You know that there will always be rice on the menu. I am adjusting to the food. After lunch we headed over to the home products. We bought Mrs. Ting and her family an oscolating fan. That is what they asked for. We also bought them a water boiler. It is like an instant water heater. They boil their water before they drink it. Thinking back, they didn't have a kitchen. It still blows my mind. After shopping the van dropped Mo (our social worker) off to the Homeland Security. As you see from the previous post things didn't go well. We walked back and then took the sky train to our hotel. I only had a minute to say good-bye to Seth. Joel had taken him up to the room. Seth is still not comfortable yet to be let down. Hopefully, today will be better. We meet him in the lobby at 11:00 - FOREVER OURS!!!

This is the fan and water boiler we bought Mrs. Ting.


Joel holding Seth right before he left to go home for the last time.


We were cheek to cheek!!

Joel and Seth at lunch

Mommy and Seth at the department store. His first time in the Ergo. I think he likes it.


Here we are at lunch

VISA Prayers

Before I blog about our meeting with Seth yesterday and I am writing to ask for your prayers. Yesterday I called the US Embassy as well as visiting the Homeland Security office here in Bangkok. Neither place has received Seth's cable from Maryland's Visa Processing Center. They "cabled" it on Feb 11th. I called our local congressman's office last night and she said that is not very long and that the approval might still be in transit. I am about to lose my mind!!!!!!! We are going to call again this afternoon and hopefully they will have it. Please, please, please pray for us and that the approval will arrive here. I am afraid that if it doesn't then we will be delayed. My kids and family are having a hard time with us being gone. Not to mention that I am struggling too. I know that I serve a God that answers prayers. He has been with us every step of this journey and will not forget us now. Thank you for your prayers. I a in tears in the lobby after reading everyone's sweet comments. It is so encouraging.

We met this morning in the lobby of the hotel. We went into a meeting room and watched a movie and went over our schedule for the week. The social workers and staff are wonderful. I truly cannot say enough nice things about them. At 10:45 the babies came. There are 2 other couples here with us. When Seth was carried in I recognized the outfit he had on. I sent it for his 1st birthday. He is so much smaller than I had envisioned. He cried a lot. His paperwork said that he is not good with strangers. He has serious stranger anxiety. He cried off and on while we were in hte meeting room. After an hour we went to the hotel restaurant for lunch. Seth stopped crying and even ate a good amount of soup. His soup was ordered for him and the other two babies. It was a rice, cabbage , tofu and chicken mixture. He does drink from a cup. Let me just tell you that the boy LOVES his bottle. We will not be taking him off of it any time soon. He had it with him almost all day. After lunch we went up to our room with our social worker. Seth was supposed to be introduced to our room and its surroundings. He was either crying or sleeping in our room. At this point he wanted me to hold him . Basically just for survival. At 2:00 we went downstairs and met the other families. Leah and Brian rode in the Sahathai van with us to Bang Sai. It took a little over an hour to get there. Time passed by fast as we were taking in all of the sights. Our van pulled off onto a dirt road. It stopped at a house and I thought that was the foster families house. Oh no, we had to walk around a little dirt path to get to Seth's house. I say that very loosely. They told us that in the monsoon season you have to take a boat to get there. His house was , well, nothing that I have ever seen. I will tell you that he has been loved immeasurably. The family is rich in love. We got to see Seth in his comfortable surroundings. He is happy and playful. Mrs. Ting takes excellent care of him and has to keep a constant eye on him. She even gave him a bath while we were there. He gets between 2 to 3 baths a day. They say he loves it. After about 2 hours the Sahathai van came and picked us up. We left Seth with them. It was sad leaving him but we know that we will have him full time in 2 days. Mrs. Ting said that she is so sad about him leaving and has had a bad appetite thinking about it.

Kara and Will, they asked lots of questions about you and said that Seth will have a great time living with you. We can't wait for you to meet him! We love you!

Gotta go, Joel is ready to leave the lobby!

Finally in Bangkok

Funny how God has a way of letting you know He is in control. We arrived at the airport Thursday morning to find out that our flight had been canceled. After about an hour at the ticket counter we learned that our fastest route would be via Los Angeles. We flew to Chicago then on to LAX. We arrived at 11:00 and our flight out to BKK did not leave until 9:30 p.m. We spent most of the day touring Hollywood. The Oscars were Sat. night and we got to actually walk on the red carpet (covered in plastic).
The best part of this crazy change in plans was that we were able to fly Thai Air. It was scrumptious. Although we flew 18 hours total we could not have asked for anything nicer. There were only 50 passengers on the flight. Everyone was able to stretch out in a middle section.
The flight attendants were beautiful and changed clothes 3 times! We ate 3 wonderful meals on china and glass wear. I loved it. Thanks for all of the prayers everyone. Dawn, I received your message right before I was going to get our the last flight. God did hear my prayer, knew my heart, and blessed me with a wonderful flight.
It is Sat. afternoon now and we meet Seth in the morning at 10:30! Yipee! I will post pictures.

Kara and Will, Mommy and Daddy love you and are so proud of you. We miss you very much.