Saturday, August 18, 2007
A new name
We have begun the process of changing Junior's name to Akins. So, taking the advice of a wise woman we have started by calling him Akins Junior for now so that he knows we are talking to him. Once he is used to Akins then we will drop the Junior part of his name. I must admit he "feels" like a Junior to me because I have grown to know him as Junior but I know it is not in his best interest to be called Junior once he gets into school. His birth certificate is really cute Junior Babyboy Smith. We will apply for an official name change when we re-adopt and have his birth certificate changed to Akins Cole Knupp.
He is quite the character. He is funny and LOUD and can laugh and frown like there is no tomorrow. We are working on some of the bad behaviors, like hiding food in his pockets and yelling or throwing things. It is hard to know when to really shut him down and when he just needs to get his way this time. Seatbelts in the car completely freak him out. This was true for his friend E-man so we are looking forward to this passing. It feels bad to watch him be so upset and yet we know we have to hold the line with him. For the most part he is a jewel but he has his moments where he is manipulative. Today we bought him a big wheel as he is still a bit too small for the bike (motorcycle) and he is even too small for this. His little legs don't quite reach the pedals. Here are some photos of him trying to figure it all out. Going backwards works pretty well.
He is quite the character. He is funny and LOUD and can laugh and frown like there is no tomorrow. We are working on some of the bad behaviors, like hiding food in his pockets and yelling or throwing things. It is hard to know when to really shut him down and when he just needs to get his way this time. Seatbelts in the car completely freak him out. This was true for his friend E-man so we are looking forward to this passing. It feels bad to watch him be so upset and yet we know we have to hold the line with him. For the most part he is a jewel but he has his moments where he is manipulative. Today we bought him a big wheel as he is still a bit too small for the bike (motorcycle) and he is even too small for this. His little legs don't quite reach the pedals. Here are some photos of him trying to figure it all out. Going backwards works pretty well.
Friday, August 17, 2007
24 hours home what all have we done?
Step One - went for coffee - first time in a mini mart
Step Two - saw where Grandma lives
Step Three - let the little dog get close (still not sure)
Step Four - had lunch at Lorea's work it was Hot Wings Friday Bones and all - yummy!
Step Five - had the major meltdown over the seat belt again
Step Six - pretended to take a nap
Step Seven - swam in the "big water"
Step Eight - let the "big" dog kiss me
Step Nine - ran from the "big" dog straight into the pool and came up laughing!
Step Ten - tried to ride my bike again fell down three times and came up laughing!
Step Eleven - wanted to see the garage
Step Twelve - drove the John Deere (a man after Mommy's heart - nothing run better than a Deere!)
Step Thirteen - drove the quad with Mommy
Step Fourteen - sat on Mommy's lap and drove the "big" truck in the yard
Step Fifteen - pulled the "big" wagon around the yard
Step Sixteen - sleep (ahhh)
Gosh what can be left for tomorrow?
Step Two - saw where Grandma lives
Step Three - let the little dog get close (still not sure)
Step Four - had lunch at Lorea's work it was Hot Wings Friday Bones and all - yummy!
Step Five - had the major meltdown over the seat belt again
Step Six - pretended to take a nap
Step Seven - swam in the "big water"
Step Eight - let the "big" dog kiss me
Step Nine - ran from the "big" dog straight into the pool and came up laughing!
Step Ten - tried to ride my bike again fell down three times and came up laughing!
Step Eleven - wanted to see the garage
Step Twelve - drove the John Deere (a man after Mommy's heart - nothing run better than a Deere!)
Step Thirteen - drove the quad with Mommy
Step Fourteen - sat on Mommy's lap and drove the "big" truck in the yard
Step Fifteen - pulled the "big" wagon around the yard
Step Sixteen - sleep (ahhh)
Gosh what can be left for tomorrow?
Junior's Celebration Party
The day was eventful in many ways. We got the approval for the visa in the morning and then we went to the supermarket for food for the celebration party. Back to the house to dance, sing and play. After a big lunch - by the way potato greens are bascially spinach, Jessie sang songs and said a special prayer wish for Junior to grow to be a good man, a strong man with pride and faith. That he would grow to be a man of honor and leave them today to go to a kind family filled with love and joy in America. So, we did - play and dance complete with Oklahoma University pink visors compliments of Cheryl.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
We made it - a hell of a trip but we're home!
Okay, what a hell of a ride but we are here and Junior has already riden his new bike (sort of), taken a 2 hour bath, and is not trying on ALL of his clothes. The is terrified of the dogs though - hmmmm not sure what to do about that part. Need to work hard on that because they are my babies too!
So, we had the embassy interveiw and no the documents did not provide Alma - the Consular what she wanted but in the end she agreed to let Junior go only because she did not know what might happen to him otherwise. So, a HUGE relief there. We proceeded on to check out of the hotel and off to the home to have Junior's celebration party. Nadime was to go to pick up the visa at 3:00pm and make the copies of all of the documents for us to take on to the customs and immigration as we arrived in the US. Well - 2:30 Nadime is still at the house and our flight was at 6:55. The day prior it had taken about 1 hour to get to the Embassy. So, I start doing the math and it if making me uncomfortable. She leaves and gets back at 4:00pm the airport is 1 hour away so I think okay pushing it a little but not bad. Then Jessie looks at the documents and the most important document of all the Ministry of Health investigation that gives approval for the adpotion is not there! The freak out is about to begin for the third day in a row!
We scurry off in the car to go to the Embassy it is now like 4:30 and the Embassy closes at 5:00. Remember it took nearly 1 hour the day before. FREAKIN BAD NOW! Then the thing you just can even imagine - it gets worse. The car breaks down! Nadime takes a cab to the Embassy. Jessie calls her husband to get his car and the plan is for Nadime to meet us at the airport. Then Jessie says that the flight is delayed 2 hours - okay feeling a bit better. We get to the airport and Jessie has a friend standing by who works in airport security to get us through immigration when Nadime gets there with the documents. We wait, we wait, we wait and the man says the gate is closed they can wait no longer. FREAK OUT AGAIN! - I walk with him to some office I have no idea what it was and the man says get their bags and get them through security. We are running. We are scurrying through the check points and still no Nadime with the documents. Finally, a man comes running in with them and we get pushed through. Now, keep in mind if not for the flight delay we would have been stuck for another week.
Now on to Brussels - air traffic control is down so we are being routed somewhere else so we can route on their control tower. This will put us in to Chicacgo about 1 hour late. CAN IT GET ANY WORSE! This means we have 1 hour 15 minutes to clear customs, collect our bags, clear non-resident immigration with the investigator for ?Junior, re-check our bags and get on our Tulsa flight. I ran with Junior after the visa interview and left Mom so that I could hold the plane. When she arrived the closed the door behind us!
We arrived in Tulsa pretty much on schedule - oh did I was the bag with all the electonic charges etc is lost! Damn what a stressful week. Those of you that are escorting - hats off to you - it is the way to go!
Funny note about all of this stuff - we are on the plane today and Junior is bored as any child rightfully should be and he says "I think our paperwor is here already"! Guess he was paying attention to all of the phone calls to Jessie and Nadime the night before!
We are here and now I am off to bed. Tons more photos to share! CD's and DVD's for everyone - right after we rest!
So, we had the embassy interveiw and no the documents did not provide Alma - the Consular what she wanted but in the end she agreed to let Junior go only because she did not know what might happen to him otherwise. So, a HUGE relief there. We proceeded on to check out of the hotel and off to the home to have Junior's celebration party. Nadime was to go to pick up the visa at 3:00pm and make the copies of all of the documents for us to take on to the customs and immigration as we arrived in the US. Well - 2:30 Nadime is still at the house and our flight was at 6:55. The day prior it had taken about 1 hour to get to the Embassy. So, I start doing the math and it if making me uncomfortable. She leaves and gets back at 4:00pm the airport is 1 hour away so I think okay pushing it a little but not bad. Then Jessie looks at the documents and the most important document of all the Ministry of Health investigation that gives approval for the adpotion is not there! The freak out is about to begin for the third day in a row!
We scurry off in the car to go to the Embassy it is now like 4:30 and the Embassy closes at 5:00. Remember it took nearly 1 hour the day before. FREAKIN BAD NOW! Then the thing you just can even imagine - it gets worse. The car breaks down! Nadime takes a cab to the Embassy. Jessie calls her husband to get his car and the plan is for Nadime to meet us at the airport. Then Jessie says that the flight is delayed 2 hours - okay feeling a bit better. We get to the airport and Jessie has a friend standing by who works in airport security to get us through immigration when Nadime gets there with the documents. We wait, we wait, we wait and the man says the gate is closed they can wait no longer. FREAK OUT AGAIN! - I walk with him to some office I have no idea what it was and the man says get their bags and get them through security. We are running. We are scurrying through the check points and still no Nadime with the documents. Finally, a man comes running in with them and we get pushed through. Now, keep in mind if not for the flight delay we would have been stuck for another week.
Now on to Brussels - air traffic control is down so we are being routed somewhere else so we can route on their control tower. This will put us in to Chicacgo about 1 hour late. CAN IT GET ANY WORSE! This means we have 1 hour 15 minutes to clear customs, collect our bags, clear non-resident immigration with the investigator for ?Junior, re-check our bags and get on our Tulsa flight. I ran with Junior after the visa interview and left Mom so that I could hold the plane. When she arrived the closed the door behind us!
We arrived in Tulsa pretty much on schedule - oh did I was the bag with all the electonic charges etc is lost! Damn what a stressful week. Those of you that are escorting - hats off to you - it is the way to go!
Funny note about all of this stuff - we are on the plane today and Junior is bored as any child rightfully should be and he says "I think our paperwor is here already"! Guess he was paying attention to all of the phone calls to Jessie and Nadime the night before!
We are here and now I am off to bed. Tons more photos to share! CD's and DVD's for everyone - right after we rest!
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Good News!
Junior, Valerie and Grandma Joyce will ALL be boarding the flight home today. The Embassy decided to hand over the visa. Keep your fingers crossed and prayers coming, they really helped lastnight!!!
Final post until?
Well - it's "D-day". We've had our breakfast and are now off to wait for Jessie to call to go back to the Embassy. I hope they have all of the documentation we need to make this happen. I will call Lorea when I can and have her post to the MUAA group and call my family to let you know where we stand. I hope to be emailing tomorrow night that we are home safe and sound.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Forgive the typos this thing is working and I'm trying to get them on!
Tarry and Lovetie
The kids table.
Ring Around the Rosey
The big kids table
Gift's new sister Assata
All Fall Down!
The Little Kids Formed Their Own Group Shot
Here comes some more!
I took about 200 pictures in total so when I return you will have much to keep you busy. About 1 hour of video too. Unfortunately, due to the other issues of the day (outlined in an earlier post) I will not be going back tomorrow. I'm sorry I told all of the kids I would be back tomorrow. I feel very bad for having said that.
Florence and Diamond (well and Kurker trying to get in on the action)
Grandma getting mauled!
Chuchuma (sp - one of the house workers) brought in this weird little creature - Junior was terrified of it as was Jacob. Most of the kids wanted me to hold it and see if I was scared. Those of you that know me well I love all creature - well except spiders. So, I was in.
Martu and Mackie
There are about 10 kids all talking to me at the same time!
Florence and Diamond (well and Kurker trying to get in on the action)
Grandma getting mauled!
Chuchuma (sp - one of the house workers) brought in this weird little creature - Junior was terrified of it as was Jacob. Most of the kids wanted me to hold it and see if I was scared. Those of you that know me well I love all creature - well except spiders. So, I was in.
Martu and Mackie
There are about 10 kids all talking to me at the same time!
More photos
I got the photos that I really wanted to get and I hope I did not miss anyone but I was able to get shots of all the MUAA groups. Here they are!
Princess and Jemama
Ishamel and Diamond (Angeline)
Gormah and Kurker (his best shot at a smile - I asked him to show teeth he snarled :))
Woekelle and Mary
Alomiza
Princess and Jemama
Ishamel and Diamond (Angeline)
Gormah and Kurker (his best shot at a smile - I asked him to show teeth he snarled :))
Woekelle and Mary
Alomiza
Everyone Please Get On Your Knees!
Another day at the house with the kids. We arrived a little later than yesterday and go there after study time so a little less disruptive. We spend only a couple hours because the following happened. Read on – it’s not good!
Everyone get on your knees again! We got the Visa 37 from the states and now another MAJOR hurdle. The consular “Alma” is not satisfied with the information the police officer has provided. She feels that he did not handle the situation correctly. She said that when he found Junior he should have taken Junior to the Ministry of Health (MOH) and then they would decide where the child should have gone. She said the police station had no record of Junior ever being reported as found or basically no official police report and she was unable to obtain records from the first orphanage (Tiny Town) where Junior was originally taken. Also, the police officer’s affidavit says that there were numerous attempts “in the media” to find the parents and there are no records to prove that.
After much negotiation Jessie convinced her that yes there had been a report that there were records and that in fact she had to give copies of them to the Ministry of Health before they completed their investigation. I also explained that it is the Ministry of Health that conducted the field report that gives the recommendation that the child be allowed for adoption to me and that while we can argue the officer should have done something different he did not, but that the Ministry of Health was satisfied with his actions and had written a notarized statement as such. Finally Alma said she would be very interested in seeing the documents from the police department and from Tiny Town. I hope they both can be found.
We left the Embassy went to the police station where Jessie verified they did have records (Alma was sending her guy to pick them up). I have no idea what they consist of and whether they will be enough to support everything the officer has said while satisfying her that Junior was not stolen from his parents.
Then, Jessie brought us back to the hotel so they could go to a place called Tiny Town where Junior was first taken by the police man (first I heard of this was today at the Embassy). I came back to the hotel and attempted to call Cheryl as the Embassy would not let us take a cell phone inside. The phones were down GREAT! So, I shot off an email and the Internet went down! Freaking out by now.
Finally, two hours later I got through to Cheryl she could not hear me but I got out of her that Jessie and Nadime were coming back to the hotel to tell me what was going on. When they arrived they told me they went to Tiny Town and the records are stored somewhere else, they went there and the woman was gone. They are going there first thing in the morning, then coming to get me to go back to the Embassy. They instructed me to pack and check out of the hotel, but at this point the last thing the woman said was that unless she got better records to prove the officer’s story she would NOT approve this adoption. Needless to say I am completely beside myself. Tomorrow I could be leaving Africa without Junior and with no hope of ever getting him.
I asked Jessie and Nadime if they thought it was going to work. They both said yes, but this lady is very tough! She scolded them for not making the officer take the child to the Ministry of Health and told them they should never again take a child under such circumstances. Telling them that they can not just take a child as officer had no rights to Junior. They told me later they have handled many adoptions this way. Jessie said there are at least three other kids that already live in America that were handled this exact way. They seem confident that the lady will accept the documents. I wish I had their confidence. If this fails it will be the first time Jessie has had to return a child to the orphanage and watch the parents leave. Lucky me! Additionally, Alma said Junior should be taken to the MOH and not be allowed to return to AFAA. So, not only will he be ripped from my arms, but those of everything he knows. I don’t know what to do. I don’t think I can do this much longer.
Everyone get on your knees again! We got the Visa 37 from the states and now another MAJOR hurdle. The consular “Alma” is not satisfied with the information the police officer has provided. She feels that he did not handle the situation correctly. She said that when he found Junior he should have taken Junior to the Ministry of Health (MOH) and then they would decide where the child should have gone. She said the police station had no record of Junior ever being reported as found or basically no official police report and she was unable to obtain records from the first orphanage (Tiny Town) where Junior was originally taken. Also, the police officer’s affidavit says that there were numerous attempts “in the media” to find the parents and there are no records to prove that.
After much negotiation Jessie convinced her that yes there had been a report that there were records and that in fact she had to give copies of them to the Ministry of Health before they completed their investigation. I also explained that it is the Ministry of Health that conducted the field report that gives the recommendation that the child be allowed for adoption to me and that while we can argue the officer should have done something different he did not, but that the Ministry of Health was satisfied with his actions and had written a notarized statement as such. Finally Alma said she would be very interested in seeing the documents from the police department and from Tiny Town. I hope they both can be found.
We left the Embassy went to the police station where Jessie verified they did have records (Alma was sending her guy to pick them up). I have no idea what they consist of and whether they will be enough to support everything the officer has said while satisfying her that Junior was not stolen from his parents.
Then, Jessie brought us back to the hotel so they could go to a place called Tiny Town where Junior was first taken by the police man (first I heard of this was today at the Embassy). I came back to the hotel and attempted to call Cheryl as the Embassy would not let us take a cell phone inside. The phones were down GREAT! So, I shot off an email and the Internet went down! Freaking out by now.
Finally, two hours later I got through to Cheryl she could not hear me but I got out of her that Jessie and Nadime were coming back to the hotel to tell me what was going on. When they arrived they told me they went to Tiny Town and the records are stored somewhere else, they went there and the woman was gone. They are going there first thing in the morning, then coming to get me to go back to the Embassy. They instructed me to pack and check out of the hotel, but at this point the last thing the woman said was that unless she got better records to prove the officer’s story she would NOT approve this adoption. Needless to say I am completely beside myself. Tomorrow I could be leaving Africa without Junior and with no hope of ever getting him.
I asked Jessie and Nadime if they thought it was going to work. They both said yes, but this lady is very tough! She scolded them for not making the officer take the child to the Ministry of Health and told them they should never again take a child under such circumstances. Telling them that they can not just take a child as officer had no rights to Junior. They told me later they have handled many adoptions this way. Jessie said there are at least three other kids that already live in America that were handled this exact way. They seem confident that the lady will accept the documents. I wish I had their confidence. If this fails it will be the first time Jessie has had to return a child to the orphanage and watch the parents leave. Lucky me! Additionally, Alma said Junior should be taken to the MOH and not be allowed to return to AFAA. So, not only will he be ripped from my arms, but those of everything he knows. I don’t know what to do. I don’t think I can do this much longer.
Off to the house again
We're are waiting on the cab driver to come to take us back out to the house for a couple of hours. Junior is looking forward to playing with his friends again. More pictures tonight.
Monday, August 13, 2007
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