JUNIOR'S JOURNEY HOME: 2008-01-13

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Funny little things

Some of the funniest things are just the things that are said throughout a given day or week. Here are a couple of them:

The scene - rushing to get to work and school
Mommy: Let's hit the road Jack
Akins: I'm not Jack
Mommy: You're not Jack, well then who are you?
Akins: Junior
Mommy: Oh, well where is Jack?
Akins: I don't know
Mommy: No, see it's just a saying, it comes from a song - (singing) hit the road Jack don't ya come back no more, no more.....
Akins: laughing
Mommy: (singing) hit the road Akins and don't ya come back no more......
Akins: Laughing harder
Mommy: Let's hit the road Jack
Akins: I'm not Jack

The scene - Mommy talking on the phone with Grandma
Mommy: - Yeah so the court date was postponed until the 25th so I will have to leave the court house go to the airport jump on a plane because I have to be in Orlando for a meeting on the 26th.
Akins: Mommy, you're going on a airplane?
Mommy: Yeah, but not for a long time - in Feburary
Akins: You're going on an airplane?
Mommy: Yes, but don't worry it is a long time from now
The scene - 4 hours later laying in bed after just reading a story
Akins: Mommy, you go on a plane?
The scene - 2 days later
Akins: Mommy, you going on a plane?
Great I will hear this everyday until the end of Feb. big mistake

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Back to daycare

Today Akins returned to daycare. He probably could have gone yesterday, but I was a bit apprehensive after talking to his teacher and having her express grave concern about being able to meet his two week restriction (no lifting, pushing, pulling, vigorous activity or sweating). This is a tall order for a 3 year old! Grandma offered to stay with him on Tuesday while I met with the director of the daycare to discuss our options and if they REALLY would be able to meet the restrictions. She assured me they would and actually moved him to a different less hectic class to make sure they could watch him closely. I hope they really are. He was sitting quietly in the office when I went to pick him up so it appears they are taking it seriously. Seven more class days to go before we see the doctor and hoepfuly have the restrictions lifted. Trust me I am counting them down a bit nervously.

Karen's Story

Gosh! Where to begin! Karen wants to adopt two children. She has been open to older children and both genders. After not getting a referral for a long time. Karen even applied in Ethiopia and Lesotho thus holding applications in three countries trying to broaden the options. Still no referral. Finally, Karen found Ishamel and asked about him. He is 9 years old and she has fallen in love. Still - Karen waits on a second referral. Still she holds applications in all three countries. The thought of making Ishamel wait while waiting for another referral has Karen in knots so she has made travel plans and is leaving to get Ishamel on August 23, 2007 and will likely have to make another trip for a second child! Karen has been my sounding board throughout these past few months. We got our referrals at about the same time and began holding each other together via telephone. Hang in there Karen!

Patricia's Story

This woman obviously has the patience of Job. She has waited 2 1/2 years for a child often feeling like she has been forgotten about. Finally, she got the referal for little Alomiza. After all this time and a communication failure she thought this child had been returned home. Later, it was confirmed that Alomiza is still at the house. Patricia hopes to bring her home in September but does not have specific plans yet as due to all of the waiting some of the paperwork has expired. We are all holding on to Alomiza coming home before fall!

July 19, 2007 - The Other Kids and Families

Needless to say international adoption is not an esay process. For the kids they often wait and wait. For the parents they often wait and wait! The only thing to keep everyone sane is each other. In the house there were reportedly 29 kids as of May 2007. The kids keep each other sane they play and learn together. The older kids are harder to place and often wait longer. The older kids seem mature and responsible beyond their years and are often seen caring for the smaller children. It seems to be natural and loving. Several familes are adopting more than one child so there are fewer familes. The familes stay sane by staying in contact through yahoo groups on line and the phone. By working together we learn. Without each other the process is maddening, complicated, confusing and very frustrating. There is little information provided and it is very infrequent.

July 26, 2007 - 12 day countdown!

Twelve more days until flight day! I'm starting to get anxious. I think with all of the frustrations and bad information around passports it was hard for me to "trust" that I was really going to bring Junior home. I now have tickets in hand and I'm goin'!

Heather shot off a short email today and while her arrival in Monrovia did not go exactly according to plan she did get to see the kids briefly - and she got to tell them their Mommies loved them and were coming soon - she wrote (VAL - JUNIOR WAS ALL SMILES!) I can not even explain how this made me feel and now I am really ready!

July 27, 2007 - 11 days and I can't sit still!

Unfortunately, no news from Heather today. All of us waiting families were hoping for an update from her and possisbly some photos! The mix up on her travel included not having reservations booked at the hotel where Internet is available so the communication from her is probably going to be limited. With Independance Day celebrations now complete she may be able to get better accomodations. We are all hoping for this anyway!

Yesterday, July 26th was the official Independence Day holiday Liberia was to celebrate its independence anniversary with something of a light show when Monrovia's street lights were to be turned on for the first time in 15 years, officials said on Wednesday.

Here's to PEACE, FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY in Liberia!