Monday, July 16, 2007

NOT ONE DAY AND COUNTING

As some of you may already know we will not be coming home tomorrow. We have had some issues with getting Jacob’s passport. It seems Ukraine has chosen now to change their passports and we have to have an international passport, which is now red. Several regions are running out of blank red passports so we are waiting for some to arrive here in Simferopol. We had hoped they could arrive by train or plane today but this isn’t the case. Hopefully we will get it tomorrow but it will be late in the day, which means we plan to take a late flight to Kiev. We still plan to get the medical exam and visa completed on Wednesday and travel home on Thursday. Of course this too could change. I just got off the phone with Delta and we have the same flight schedule as before.

We are hoping the Passport Bureau will let Andrew pick up Jacob’s passport without James or I present when it is ready. We want to leave today for Kiev so we can have a change of scenery, eat better food, do some site seeing, and shopping. Andrew is going to ask when he goes back to the Bureau after lunch. No one would even answer any questions until after lunch. As I am typing this it is 4:00 AM at home and I’m sure no one will read it before we have an answer about leaving for Kiev today or I would ask you to pray, but please do pray we can come home on Thursday.

On to better news, Jacob is adjusting well. The first two nights he slept 11 hours, last night he slept 9 hours with a 2 hour nap yesterday late afternoon. I had to wake him up for fear he might not go to sleep that night. He still loves bath time, more so the water than the bath itself. I can’t wait to get home and him and Matthew can play in the “kick pool”. He has a pretty good appetite. He doesn’t seem real fond of the strawberry oatmeal but he had almost a whole banana for breakfast. He probably would have eaten more if we had something he liked. The caregivers said he likes yogurt drinks, but he didn’t like the one we got him. They also said he likes porridge “oatmeal” but he doesn’t now. He ate McDonald’s again yesterday for lunch and he had 6 McNuggets and a half pack of fries. At this rate he will be gaining weight pretty fast. He needs to. We figured out yesterday that some of the clothes we bought are too big. He is really between 12 and 18 month clothes. The 18 month clothes I bought him just hang on him or in one case the shorts fall off of him. He is so skinny.

Papaw – Jacob said his version of Papaw yesterday evening walking back from eating. He said it again today. He had said something that sounded like Nana about two weeks ago but we are still working on associating the word with the picture.

He rides in the taxi’s with no problems. He walks down the sidewalk next to a lot of traffic with no problems. He tried to follow Andrew when he got up at the café the other night. He still has a temper when he doesn’t get what he wants but things are getting better each day.

Thank you all for thoughts, comments, and prayers. I know your prayers have helped him to adjust to all the changes he is going thru and will be over the next few weeks.

I love and miss you all with all of our hearts.

God Bless You ,

JTJ

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

JTJ,
GLAD THINGS ARE GOOD WITH JACOB. NOW IF WE CAN JUST GET YOU GUYS HOME. WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU DAILY. I COULDN'T WAIT TO GET TO WORK THIS MORNING TO READ YOUR BLOGS. ANYWAY, CHARLIE LIKES PLAIN OATMEAL BETTER THAN FLAVORED, I PUT A LITTER SUGAR AND MILK IN IT. AND LOOKS LIKE THE MCDONALD'S TRIPS HAVE ALREADY STARTED. I KNOW WHAT THAT IS LIKE. WE MAY CAN COMPOUND JACOB'S MEDS AT BISHOP'S AND MAKE IT TASTE GOOD. I HAVE GOT HIM A BUNCH OF CLOTHES, MAY BE NEXT SUMMER, OR WINTER BEFORE HE CAN WEAR THEM. WE WANT TO COME VISIT SOMETIME. WE ARE LEAVING SUNDAY FOR VACATION. SO AFTER WE GET BACK, LET US KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE A GOOD TIME.

LOVE,
C,J,S,C

Tammy said...

Hang in there guys. We'll be praying for you.

Anonymous said...

So glad the days are getting closer, we want you home as bad as you guys want to be home..James looks like he is thrilled with Jacob. We can't wait to meet him. I believe he will be just fine with all of us..
He seems to a joy of a boy, full of spirit...him and Izak along with all the other boys will have a ball playing together..
Lots of love from me to you all..

Anonymous said...

He looks happy. James looks like a proud papa.I know he isby the look on his face.He needs to use the camera more.I hope the times will be as they are right now and do not change.I am so ready for you guys to be home.Jacob looks as if he will be a hand full.But that will be ok,because we have a lot of hands here waiting on him to get home.I like the boy clothes!I love yall and can't wait for you, James and Jacob to get home.
LOVE
AUNT CAROLYN

Melissa said...

Glad to hear he likes the water, I'm ready to take him to the lake. See you soon.

Christa said...

The pictures are great!!! Kelsey likes the brown sugar and maple oatmeal the best and I'm not sure what you have with you to use for the liquid medicine, but the squeeze droppers always worked the best with Kelsey. Sometimes she would hold the medicine in her mouth and not swallow, but someone told us to blow in her face and it would make her swallow and that did work. Also, a drink of something she likes waiting on her after the medicine helps with her too. He will get better with this as you learn what works best with him. I'm so glad he is with you guys now and we are praying for your passport situation to work out quickly. I'm glad he likes water. My girls always have too! (Kayla actually made it up and skied a few yards this weekend). We love you all and miss you and can't wait for you to get home. Try to get some sleep (it will be better when you get home in your own beds - Jacob will rest better too!!) See you soon!!

Becca said...

Hey Guys,
Sorry about the red passport. Hope they get there soon and you can go to Kiev and get through with the medical exam and get to the embassy. I know you are ready to get on the plane home.
I hope things go better in Kiev. New scenery will help too.
Sounds like Jacob is settling in better with you and feeling more comfortable. McDonald's is always a favorite with kids. Breanna loves it too. They can be chicken McNugget buddies. She can teach him how to swim. She has been teaching Addie Kate and Brindlee and Bray so far. Sounds like he loves the water as much as she does. They will have a blast together in the water.
It really is getting closer. You will be home before you know it. Maybe you are supposed to click your ruby red slippers 3 times and you will be home! Click, Click, Click. Ha Ha!!
We are still praying for your safe return. Miss you sooooooooooo much!
Love,
Becca, Breanna, Bradley, and Donald

Anonymous said...

We continue to check on you every day, Your story of "Hurry up & wait" ... is very familiar to us... we remember it well! Soon you will be home and the hardships will be replaced daily with the joy of your new son...Jacob is WORTH IT ALL! You will have the most wonderful feeling of release when you get on that plane to come home! There is no way to explain it... but it is GREAT! You'll know in a couple more days. Congratulations!