We are HOME!

We are HOME!!! I have been awake for nearly 48 hours thanks to my inability to sleep the night before we left. Axel was awake for 24 hours straight.

We stopped and had dinner on the way home, then introduced Axel to his new room. He was SO excited to see the bed he'd seen in the talking photo album I brought to him at the foster home. It was adorable.

He has now had a bath, and we had a family cuddle on Mama and Papa's bed. Axel is now tucked into his bed and was sound asleep in about 10 minutes.

That's all I'm allowed to post for tonight. It's a "no computer" night! Goodnight everyone. Pictures and video tomorrow, I promise!

Interview With Papa

While we were still in Kragujevak, on about day 3 with Axel, he interviewed Papa on Skype! Have I ever mentioned what an amazing thing Skype is? We have been able to talk to Dean and Angela 2-3 times per day, and I can even call Dean's cell phone. I was able to call and take care of a banking issue, and several other phone calls as well. I cannot WAIT to see how Axel reacts to seeing these people called Papa and Angela in real life!

Whew!

8:10 pm here in Belgrade. Axel helped me pack up his toys in his backpack, then a few things in the big suitcase before he went to bed.

The laundry is just about done, and all the electronics are charging. Then I just have a few things left to pack, and some picking up to do before I head to bed for the night.

Pleas pray for us, that we have safe and easy travels tomorrow. No weather complications. No ear problems on the plane for Axel. No "accidents" that would require me to break out the extra set of clothes...for either of us. (though he'll be wearing a pull-up, I know he will be scared to death of the airplane toilet!)

I did request a wheelchair for use in the airports. Axel walks even slower than Angela, and I cannot imagine d.r.a.g.g.i.n.g. him through the airports, particularly Frankfurt! And, it seems stamina is a little bit of an issue for him as well, so a wheelchair it is.

See you stateside!

Questions Answered: Ianna

I can't count how many times people have asked about Ianna, and if we'll ever be able to adopt her. You don't know how badly I wanted to share what was going on! As you know, I arrived in country a couple days early, for several reasons, really. One of those reasons was to work on the Ianna issue.

Ianna was transferred to a foster home shortly before I arrived in country, but she is NOT lost! I know where she is, who is the social center in charge of her care, and the name of her social worker. While some people would have me believe that this is "top secret" information, I am not dumb, nor naive enough to believe the words of one person. And, I am resourceful, and I know how to find information, even on the other side of the world. I just needed to get connected to the right people. Thankfully God orchestrated all of that! God has amazed me time and time again throughout this process.

Back in July I submitted a family profile to one person, who I trusted to send it on to the appropriate officials. That was not done. Instead that person chose to play God, and never submitted the profile. That interference cause Ianna to not only have to go through being moved from a facility where she was comfortable and had formed bonds, but to also loose months that could have been spent in her forever family. As much as this person wanted me to believe "You just don't understand the system here.", I knew I was not being told the truth, so I went in search of it on my own.

I am confident that my adoption of Ianna will go through sometime in 2011. If there is *any* interference of that adoption by people who are dishonest and spiteful, they will only create more legal trouble for themselves, and they will be swiftly dealt with by the Ministry Officials in that country. They can consider themselves sufficiently warned.

I have developed some amazing friendships here in country, and they have been nothing but a blessing to me as I completed the adoption of Axel, and as I move forward with the adoption of Ianna.

What are "red flags"?

The world of international adoption is one that is very different than what most people are used to dealing with. Sometimes you find yourself in situations where you don't trust what you're seeing or hearing. It is always important to trust your gut NO MATTER WHAT! There may have been others before you who didn't follow their instincts, and there will be more coming behind you as well who are trusting that their process will be smooth thanks to those who came before them. This is called "Paving the way". But if each family ignores the stones they trip over, leaving them for the next family to trip as well, the path will never be worn smooth.

Proverbs 4:18-26

¹⁸But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
¹⁹The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
²⁰My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
²¹Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
²²For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
²³Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
²⁴Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
²⁵Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
²⁶Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
So as you enter into your own adoption process, no matter what country you're adopting from, keep some things in mind:
1) If ever you are asked to do something that doesn't feel right in your gut, TRUST those instincts. God gave them to you for a reason, and when your stomach tightens when you're asked, that is a red flag! God is waving it in your face!

2) There ARE times where extra expenses come up, particularly if you're dealing with a non-hague country. But they are usually reasonable, such an increased tax to obtain a new birth certificate or passport, but it shouldn't be exorbitant.  BUT, if you're ever asked for more money that what has previously been agreed upon, and the amount you're being asked for seems unreasonable, if you feel yourself trapped and that there is no other way forward than to pay that amount that one person is demanding, that is a red flag. God is waving it in your face!

3) If the person you're dealing with becomes very paranoid about who you talk to and what you tell them, THAT is a red flag. God is waving it in your face.

4) If you notice the person you're working with NEVER leaves you alone with legal officials, THAT is a red flag, and God is waiving it in your face.

5) If you are ever told to keep the amount of the facilitation fee you're paying...or the fact that you're paying one at all...a secret, THAT is a red flag. God is waving it in your face! Facilitators are usually necessary for international adoptions. There is much running around to do to get all the necessary documents in place, and facilitators do just that. They hold your hand and get you to all the various places you need to be, and they make sure the process is done as quickly and smoothly as possible. It is reasonable that you would pay a fee for this service, as they have families to feed also. Adoption facilitation is NOT secret, nor is the fact you pay a fee for it or how much you're paying. Some countries have rules about adoption facilitation, and if you're told to keep secrets it's very possible there are laws being broken. This includes contracts between yourself and agencies/organizations that state you are not to share the contract with anyone. 

6) If you are asked to pay a fee that you'd never been told about before, and you refuse to pay it, then the person requesting the money starts to insult you, call you a "trouble maker", use fear or ANY type of threat if you don't pay that fee (in other words, you fear if you don't pay you may not get your child out of the country, or that the entire adoption program in that country now rests on your shoulders) That is a red flag. God is waving it in your face.

7) GET RECEIPTS! If you want to claim the adoption tax credit, you must have them!  Ask ahead of time!!! If you're in country and ask for receipts and are told, "Oh, we don't give receipts." or "I will have to send them to you when you get home." THAT is a red flag, and God is waving it in your face! DO NOT leave the country without those receipts. 

The most important thing in all of this, is to follow your gut! If you are seeing red flags, TELL someone!!! Tell whatever agency connected you with the facilitator. THEY are your advocates and if they cannot advocate for you, then there are even more questions to be asked. Try your best to ask these questions BEFORE you enter into an agreement with them. ASK "If I run into xyz, how will you handle it? Do you have my back?"

When you're adopting from a non-hague country and are not required to use an adoption agency, everything is different. You're kind of on your own. If working with an agency, ask for WRITTEN PROOF they are approved to work in the country you're planning to adopt from.  Talk with other families who have used the facilitators or agency you are using, and ask if THEY saw any red flags during their adoption process.

Yes, we ran into some problems in Serbia while completing our first adoption, and they are now resolved, (May 2011 I did have to return to Serbia to give a deposition on the case which will eventually go to trial.)  They are problems that you can run into no matter what country you're adopting from. Things like extortion and the threats that come with it. Those families coming behind me to this country should not have any more of the questions I, or the families who came before me had. You will now work directly with the Serbian ministry, with COCI to hold your hand, help you secure lodging, get to your required meetings, etc. 

Lemons or Lemonade?

Everyone who knows me personally, knows that I try to always find the good in every situation. There is humor to be found everywhere, and there is good in all things. This trip has been hard for me to find the humor, but I have found the good! The last 2 1/2 weeks here has been busy, frustrating, and downright worrisome at times because I didn't know what to do or how to handle certain situations. They have also been filled with the laughter and giggles of one amazing little boy.

To the families coming behind me your adoptions will be smoother than ever before. I didn't do anything to make this happen. I was only in the place God put me, and he did so knowing that I'm one to ask questions and follow my gut NO MATTER WHAT! You will not have to ask those questions, and you can feel confident knowing your adoptions will be handled with the utmost care.

My posts about wanting to come home had nothing to do with being homesick. Don't get me wrong, I miss home tremendously and am anxious for Dean to meet his son, and Angela to meet her brother. My wanting to come home was related to the people I was having deal with here, and the situations I was put on on a daily basis, making me feel quite uncomfortable. If not for that, this is a beautiful country, and I wish I could have spent more time just enjoying it for the sake of my son. This is his birth country, after all.

Thankfully I had the support of COCI here in country. If not for them things would have turned out very differently. BECAUSE of COCI I have every confidence I WILL get Ianna home, hopefully this spring, and there will be MANY more children coming behind her to their own families.

I have a couple more posts coming including all those questions I keep getting about Ianna!

New Tag Line

Look up toward the top of my blog. Do you see the ticker that says when Axel and I will come home? Very very soon! Now, look just above that, to my new tag line (lifted straight off a good friend's Facebook page! LOL) For those on reader, it says:

Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, the devil says, "Oh crap, she's up!"

Once in awhile we all have to be that woman. Nuff said!

Passport in hand

We have the medical for the visa appointment done, and Axel's passport in hand. At 2:00 pm my time (that's 7:00 a.m home time) we have the Visa appointment at the US Embassy. We'll either get the visa today or tomorrow. THEN WE'RE DONE!

One potential problem with the passport, his name is written in Serbian, which is a different spelling than ANY document we have. Serbia just changed their laws about what language stuff is to be written in, and THIS isn't it.

...................sigh..................

Germany is expecting bad weather on Weds, so please pray our flights are not delayed!

Buttons Buttons, where are the Buttons?

Ten minutes ago he didn't know how to button. Now look what he can do! Have I mentioned this kid is AMAZING? He learns SO QUICK!

Who will save them?

Look at this handsome boy, who was slated to be sent to an institution sometime soon. Can you imagine this sweet spirit, or any other child, suffering such an injustice? There are more, many more children just like him.

As always, click to view full size!

Flights are booked!

I have rescheduled our flights home, arriving one day earlier than previously planned, and one day later than I thought yesterday. LOL It was just going to be cutting it too close to try leaving on Tuesday.

Axel and I will board the plane in here in Belgrade at 6:15 a.m on Weds 12/15, and arrive home at 4:00 pm that same day, thanks to the time difference. Getting home at that time of day I should be able to get on a normal schedule by going to bed at a normal time that night. Yes, I'm slightly delusional. LOL

Q & A

I'll be doing a Q & A post soon, so now is the time to ask all those questions you've been dying to ask! Please ask them here on the blog though, and not on FB so it's easier to keep track of.

What I've seen so far: Medical

General health: Axel is said to be very healthy. He doesn't catch colds often or have the usually health issues related to Down syndrome. I suspect this has to do with limited exposure to new people. I was told the foster family took him everywhere, but if that's the case, why did he act like he'd never seen stairs before, in a country that rarely has elevators and EVERY building has stairs??? I'm willing to place money on him getting a cold or something in his first couple weeks home.

Hearing: This is my biggest concern at this point. I spent 20+ years as a Sign Language Interpreter for deaf/hard of hearing students. I was frequently able to spot kindergarten students with hearing loss before they even did screenings at the beginning of the school year. They're TOO visual, and after the newness of of an interpreter in their classroom wore off for the other kids, these kids were still watching me more than a child without hearing loss. Sometimes they watched me as much as the deaf student I was interpreting for! And then there is Angela, with a moderate hearing loss who's been wearing hearing aids since she was a year old.

Enter Axel. He clearly hears many things, but he certainly does not hear well! It is more than just wax and/or fluid in his ears. Although he has grown up in Serbia, he only has a handful of Serbian words and those are approximations, and largely vowel sound words. He has already aquired about 25 signs now (far too many at this stage! A child with normal hearing would have acquired the words this fast, not the signs.) Although he is a master imitator (a survival skill for kids who have hearing loss) he is not able to imitate most vowel sounds. You can forget consonants all together. He IS saying his first English word now though!!! Can you guess what it is?

"No!"

HA! Typical kid. But his "No!" sounds like "ngo", its all nasally....typical for a child with significant hearing loss. He doesn't tune into sounds. A few days ago, a stray dog charged us, barking and growling, coming within about 3 feet of Axel. But the dog was just out Axel's line of vision, and he was oblivious to the charging, barking dog. Neither Dean nor I are bothered by the fact he probably has a hearing loss. Actually, it kind of makes me laugh. Of course God would give me a child with a hearing loss. Look at my background...it only makes sense! Needless to say, hearing is one of the first things we'll get checked out when we get home!

Eyes/Vision: His visual perception skills are TERRIBLE when doing stuff with pens and markers on paper. Some of that is just his lack of exposure to those materials, and he'll have to go through the learning process, so it's kind of hard to sift through what's what. But Axel makes the "Pirate face" a lot (squinting one eye) and often tilts his head while watching TV, both indicators of being far sighted. I see glasses in his very near future. I think this will also make a difference for him doing stairs as well, as his depth perception is probably affected.

He also has blocked tear ducts, and almost always has a tear running down his cheek.

Toileting: Axel is completely trained during the day, but not at night. He has woken up soaked every single morning. Except today! Today he woke up dry, so there is hope! LOL Two years ago I purchased a bedwetting alarm for Angela and it worked FANTASTIC! I see Axel using that in the very near future, although we'll get him home and into a routine first. The alarm is a pitch/volume/tone that he DOES hear, so I think it will work. If not, they do have a shaker alarm available as well. I guess we'll see. Pray for me. LOL

Teeth: Axel's teeth are a rotten mess! He is missing 4 that appear to have been pulled or rotted out on their own. (there are holes in his gums where they were.) I can see one broken molar, and the ONE time I got him to open his mouth I could see what appeared to be several cavities. They could be stains though. I have a friend here in Serbia who is a dentist. If he has time before we fly home he is going to see if he can look in Axel's mouth. It will be easier for him since he speaks Serbian. Otherwise, Angela is scheduled for a dentist appointment right after I come home, and they have now set aside an extra 1/2 hr to take a look at Axel's teeth as well, though I'm guessing he won't let them in his mouth! I see oral surgery in his near future.

Skin: His skin is in pretty good condition, other than a few small white spots on his wrist (like white heads, but they're hard. I can't remember what they're called.) He gets a little dry rash around his mouth, but that is minor and nothing a little aquaphore can't clear up.

Gastrointestinal: This system is working GREAT!

Click to view full size

Introducing....

Djordje Spring

Adopted from Kragejevak, Serbia on December 9th, 2010

(the sign says something about the city of Kragujevak)

So, I suppose you want to know how to pronounce that name? Let me try to un-butcher it for you. The "j" makes a zh sound, like the s in "measure". The second "d" is silent...I think. His name sounds like

D'zh-or-zhi

Except that he goes by a nickname "D'jolli"

That's "D'zholli (short "i" sound, not long!)

In Serbia, the birth certificate is produced with the child's birth name on it, and his or her new last name. But don't worry, as soon as we get back to the U.S. we'll be ordering a new birth certificate so his name will be...

Axel Djordje Maurice Spring

Axel is my grandfather's name, and Maurice is my father's middle name, but already answers to Axel. If I ask him his name, he does not yet know what I mean, and responds with a long-winded stream of gibberish.

Do you want to know how to pronounce the name of the town? It only took me a week to get it right, so let me try to help you out. Remember to roll your r's. ;-)

Krag uh ya vech.

Now say it REALLY fast, roll the "r" and you might be close!

Ok, enough of the language lesson already, on to pictures!

Weds night Axel and I packed up all our belongings. At first he was quite confused, looking at me like, "What? We're not living in this 10x10 room forever?"

Thursday morning we got up nice and early,( Axel is a pokey eater so we had to allow enough time for him to eat breakfast) and got all squeaky clean and dressed! Here he is in his adoption day clothes. He looked so handsome and grow up!

Then we drove just a few blocks to the social center. First they had to verify that everything on the adoption decree was correct, and had me sign it.

"I certify that from this day forward I am the mother of this child." No turning back now! LOL (Shelley, do you see the paper NEXT to the one I'm signing? That's Grifyns adoption decree! They were comparing the two documents to make sure they were using the same wording. I glanced over and realized I was seeing "Bedford" all over it! LOL

I thought, "Umm...THIS is the "ceremony"? The woman in charge must have seen the look on my face, because she said, "Don't worry. This is just the legal part, we'll have the ceremony in a little bit."

The documents done we all filed into this huge room. Interestingly, there were A LOT more people at this ceremony than I'd seen this far. There were 12-15 people in the room. Maybe more, I lost count as they kept filing in. This is only their second international adoption from this city, and everyone was very excited to be part of it.

In Serbia, everyone wears many hats. The woman who did the legal documents is also the head psychologist for the social center, and apparently also wears a couple other hats. She switches from one to the other quite easily. Now it was her job to conduct the ceremony.

We were all sitting a conference room at this huge U shaped table. Axel sat on my lap, happily coloring away, oblivious as to how his life was about to change, and that his new mama was going to be a in puddle of tears any minute!

The boss lady said (paraphrasing of course) "We want you to know how happy we are for Djordje. To know that he is going to have a new life, with freedoms and opportunities that he could never have here."

.......picture sobbing mom here, along with tears from everyone in the room......

"As you know, you are the first single parent we have allowed to adopt, and that we gave your family much consideration. We have seen the wonderful things you have done with your daughter, and the opportunities available to her. We have seen how well the contacts with Djordje, you and the foster family have gone. We have seen how much he has blossomed while in your care just these few short days."

......more crying here....

"We are satisfied that that you are more than capable of caring for all his needs, and that he will have a wonderful life with you. We look forward to hearing all the things he is now able to experience in his new life. We now formally pronounce you as his mother, just as if you were his natural mother by birth."

Yep, I was pretty much overwhelmed with emotions at this point, and so were all the people in the room. At some point she said, "I'm glad you're crying! I get worried if the parents don't cry." LOL

There was much chatter before and after the ceremony. At one point one of the women on the other side of the room pointed to me, and indicated my glasses. Everyone nodded in agreement with whatever it was she said. Finally it was translated:

"The two of you have the same eyes. Everyone agrees, and it is amazing!"

The ceremony done, we had to walk a few blocks to the police station and get his new birth certificate, and order his passport. (There is another story here for this that I will save for another day.)

This is Axel walking with one of the social workers who was most involved with the foster family. He is a very nice name, and is adopted himself. He was SO happy to see Axel finding a forever family.

Here is Axel's certificate of citizen ship listing his new name. What, you can't read it? Bummer for you!

Axel just chill'in while they redo the birth certificate for about the 4th time.

We had to wait awhile to make sure there were no additional problems with these documents and the butchering of my name in Cyrillic (that's the untold story from above). While we were waiting back at the office, the head psychologist sat next to me with Axel's entire file in her lap. Suddenly she says, "Axel looks just like his birth father, would you like to see a picture of his birth parents?"

Who would say no to that?

She flipped through the file and pulled out a photocopied page that had both of his parents' Serbian identity cards on it. (like a driver's license) There they were, his parents! I asked if I could take a picture of it so I could show Dean later. She said, "Oh, I'll give you a copy of it."

She proceeded to hand me a copy of his parents' identity cards, with their full names and DOB and everything. I was told during our meeting with the ministry officials last week that they, particularly the birth father, are interested in having contact. They would like to know what kind of life Axel has in the states, and would love to watch him grow up. Needless to say, I was THRILLED to have this information. In Serbia, there is no such thing as 'open adoption', and it is frowned upon. They don't realize that in the US, open adoption is normal, and that adoptive families often have some level of contact with the birth family.

When this was all done, we went to lunch at a local restaurant called "The Hunter". I had eaten there earlier in the week, and the food is very good. But, while we were eating outside in the BEAUTIFUL weather, as predicted earlier in the day it suddenly turned. The winds came, dropping the temperature about 15 degrees while we sat there. We quickly loaded into the car for the 2 hr drive back to Belgrade.

Tonight while going through pictures, Axel did a "first". When he saw a picture of himself, he pointed to his chest, then signed, "Axel"!! What a perfect day for him to truly understand his name for the first time!

We are now happily settled into my friend Mary's lovely flat! Today I'll go to the US Embassy to pick up some forms, and get some groceries. The weekend will be pretty much open. Then Monday will be a flurry of activity as we get Axel's medical visit done (a requirement for the visa) have his visa appointment, and wait for his visa to be done.

We will be flying home Tuesday afternoon!!!!

USA, here comes AXEL!!!

Cockta

I was going to blame my being up late every night on the fact I've been having more caffiene than I'm used to. I had a Coke a couple days ago. And it says, "Coke" on the bottle.

Today my translator left (he'll be back tomorrow to act as "driver". He wears lots of hats! LOL) and he gave me a bottle of "Cockta". I thought it was just another version of Coke, except it tastes a little different, almost like Dr. Pepper, only not.

Guess what? This stuff was designed to actually be healthy. LOL And, it doesn't have ANY caffeine in it. And that slightly fruity/tangy taste? Maybe Rose hips? I have no idea. LOL

In the 1940s, when Coca Cola was not yet available on the Yugoslavian market, Ivan Deu, director of the Slovenijavino company, decided to create a similar product – but better and healthier. He entrusted this task to Emerik Zelinka, who, after ten years of research in Ljubljana, invented a mixture of pure spring water with carbonic acid and eleven herbs, rose hips, vitamin C and caramelized sugar. He derived the name “Cockta” – the beverage was originally called “Cockta-Cockta” and later “Jugo-Cockta” – from the word “cocktail”. Cockta was one of Yugoslavia’s first export products, and was registered as a trade mark with the International Patents Office in Switzerland.

That Page

When I met Axel last spring, he'd already been listed on the Reece's Rainbow site for several months. Almost a year, in fact. I had never seen him. I had never noticed him.

I never noticed because he was on "that page". The one where the older boys with Down syndrome are listed. I never looked at that page because, well first of all, we weren't adopting, remember? Besides, there was no way I wanted to adopt an older child. Those children come with far too many problems. The institutional behaviors are a lot to deal with. Aggression is common. At least that's what I'd heard. And, well they're not cute and cuddly looking like the little ones.

And then I met Axel.

I was stunned, really. There was nothing "wrong" with this boy other than he'd been born in the wrong country. He was funny. He was "cute and cuddly", and he was smart. He wasn't aggressive as far as I could see. He was just a 9 year old boy who didn't know that although he'd spent the past 2 years in the foster home, he was soon to be transferred.

Right after I met Axel, I traveled to Bulgaria with my friend Shelley to finalize the adoption of her son Kullen. Kullen was a lot like Axel, and after being trapped in a hotel room with him for three weeks, I knew that adopting an older child isn't always what people say it is.

I knew that adopting Axel, we were gonna be o.k.

Which brings me here. The day I met Axel for the very first time, there was another boy I met. His name is Marjan (pronounced Marion).

Marjan is 9 and shares a birthday with me. He lives in a foster home in the very city where I am sitting right now! He goes to regular school, walking there by himself each day. Do you know why he's considered "special needs"? Because two years ago he had an infection in his hip and he now has a limp. He also has a *slightly* higher than average energy level (but NOTHING compared to my Angela!) Those things make him imperfect. Marjan is going to be transferred.

Marjan, and all the other boys like him who are listed on the older boys pages need homes. We spend a lot of time advocating for the children who are at risk of being transferred when they turn 5 or 6 years old. But some of these children have already BEEN transferred. Some, like Axel and Marjan, are going to get transferred AGAIN if someone doesn't come get them. I am here, getting Axel. Who will come get Marjan???

If Marjan jumped out at you, as a face who is familiar to you somehow, that may very well be GOD telling you he is YOUR CHILD! Will you come get him? If you want to know more about Marjan, please visit his page on the Reece's Rainbow website. If Marjan doesn't jump out at you, perhaps one of the older boys with DS will, or one of the older "Other Angels". But please go look! Sometimes you don't know you have a child waiting for you until you see their face! You just might find yourself expecting again!

Nothing

Please go read my friend Julia's post about nothing. I promise nothing will hurt your heart.

Everything Axel

Let me tell you about this amazing little boy....

When I took him from his foster home one week ago, he came along with a smile on his face. I'm sure because in his mind he just thought we were going for a ride in a car, which he loves. And besides, these people have fun toys and all the attention was on him! LOL

But over the course of the week, he has cried a total of 4 times! Not once in sadness like he was missing someone or scared, but instead when he fell down and bumped his knee, or got into trouble for throwing something at me. Then today when we were getting ready to go out for a walk he was being too silly, throwing his coat and shoes, and just generally being too much of a pill to even get out the door. Laughing hysterically the entire time, because...you know...he is so funny. Finally I put on my "Mad Mama" face, removed his shoes and coat and sat him on the bed. His little lip came out and he crawled over and pulled the blanket over his face because he was embarrassed. He cried for only a minute before I went over, wiped his tears, and offered to let him try again. He gets the message VERY quickly!

One week ago when I met him, we walked into our hotel and came to the stairs leading to our 3rd floor room. (no such thing as handicapped accessible here.) He was PETRIFIED! It was clear he'd never seen stairs before, and he had no idea what to do with them. That first trip up the stairs took quite some time, and my little boy blue, who is afraid of heights, clung to the railing as if it was a sinking ship. I had to show him where to put each foot, and the higher he got the more bent over he was. By the time he got to the first landing he was bent in half, scared to death to stand up. Going down the stairs was no less labor intensive for me, and scary for him. I wish I had thought to get video of this, because for the past two days he's been going UP the steps holding the rail with one hand and alternating feet, jabbering all the way and joking that he's going to turn around and go back down! Going down the stairs he's still using a step-step method, but when he's not thinking about it he alternates his feet. ;-)

I really do need to thank his foster family. In the 2 1/2 years he was with them, they taught him some wonderful skills!

When he gets up in the morning, he makes his bed.

In case you thought you read that wrong, let me say again HE MAKES HIS BED, and makes it WELL!

Once his bed is made, I lay his clothes out for the day while I get in the shower. When I come back he is fully dressed, and even has an extra shirt on, just in case. LOL

He can take a shower 99% independently. The 1% is me adjusting the water because the hotel water is VERY hot. He gets his hair all shampooed, then shoves his head under the water, and even when the shampoo is all running right in his eyes he doesn't flinch. It's like he doesn't even feel it. Then he proceeds to scrub every square inch of his body, and probably comes out cleaner than any 10 year old I know.

He is able to use a fork, spoon AND knife.

He eats EVERYTHING I give him, no matter what the color or texture. He doesn't eat much though, and what he does eat takes f.o.r.e.v.e.r. because he's busy watching everyone else. This might have to do with why he's a very skinny boy. I don't think he weighs more than 35 pounds because I can easily pick him up. (and he is MUCH lighter than my 50 lb suitcase. LOL)

He now recognizes about 25 signs, and uses 12-15 on his own and in the right context. The little boy I met a week ago who had no language is learning communication.

He is matching letters and numbers on the iPad. I don't know that he's ever seen letters OR numbers before, and certainly not in English.

He puts all of his toys away EXACTLY where they belong. Not in an obsessive way like some kids with DS do, but just because that's where they go, so they do!

When it was time for bed that first night, I laid out his pajamas, when I turned around to close the closet, I turned back to find this:

and the next night this:

He can hardly wait to get his pajamas on!

When he goes to bed at night, my amazing boy pats the pillow next to him, indicating he wants me to lay by him. When I do, he tenderly takes my hand to his chest, hugging it, and gets the biggest grin, and falls asleep with that very grin on his face.

Because, he is amazing!

We have a SIGNATURE!

WOOT WOOT!!! The head Minister signed the adoption decree this morning, so tomorrow we will have our adoption ceremony! Axel will be officially OURS from that moment on!

After the ceremony we will go get his new birth certificate, then head back to the capital city. Oh, I am SO EXCITED!!! If all goes smoothly, we could be on a plane on Weds next week. Our flights are currently scheduled for Thursday the 16th, but at this point I'm willing to pay the extra $300 to get home one day earlier.

THANK YOU GOD! And thank you everyone for praying for us!