HOME ONE YEAR

Can you believe it’s been a year that Jacob’s home with us? He is doing great. He has grown 5 inches and gained 5 pounds. He is so energetic, and happy. He talks all the time, with so much detail. He is also very independent. “Me do it myself!!” Right now, he’s favorite word is “Why?”. He starts to “school” in a week and is so excited about it. He has the most amazing memory. He recognizes places we have been, even if it’s only been one time. He remembered riding a little 4 wheeler 11 months after he had ridden it with our friend’s little girl, Breanna. When we asked him where he was when he rode it he was able to tell us. He pays attention to cars and if he sees one that looks like someone’s car he knows he will tell you “That’s so-and-so’s car” even if it’s a different color.

We have gone through all the “firsts” with him, as you will see in all the pictures I am attaching. Jacob was Batman at Halloween. We all had a great Christmas with him. He went on his first Easter Egg Hunt and he’s had his first vacation in the Smokey Mountains. We had hoped to go the beach, but it looks like we will be taking that trip next summer. He loves the water. Oh, he also has had his first swimming lessons. He had his first boat ride today with his cousin, Matthew. Other first he absolutely loved was Vacation Bible School.

I had planned to update the blog at Halloween, then Christmas, then his 3rd Birthday, but has you can see that didn’t happen. I doubt if I will be anymore successful at updating than I have been this past year, so most likely this will be my last blog.

I do love and appreciate everything each of you have done for us and for welcoming Jacob with open arms. He is so loved and he can feel it. He sure likes to pass out those little hugs and kisses.

God Bless You All.

The Sims’ FAMILY

GREAT REPORT

I took Jacob to see the Cardologist today. We thought from the medical papers from Ukraine that he may have some serious heart problems, but he doesn't. The doctor said his heart is perfectly normal. Thank You, Lord!!! Thanks also to everyone for your prayers.

Jacob is adjusting so well. He is a typical 2 year old ago. He has his share of tantrums but for the most part he is a very happy child. He understands everything we say to him and he is starting to say a few more words. It's slow but that is to be expected. He finally said "Nana" yesterday.

I am told he is doing fine at daycare. He stays with a wonderful lady from church that keeps kids. He is actually saying her name too.

We have had a time with getting clothes to fit him because he is so skinny, so we went shopping today. ALL DAY. He did so good. I think he actually likes shopping, especially more than Mama does. I am not a shopper. Well, I wasn't a shopper until Jacob came along. Evidently, I can shop all day when it is for him. We may go broke. :)

I am still trying to fit everything into my schedule that comes with a new addition to the family, so it may be awhile before I get to post again. I plan to send out Announcements, someday. And I still have Thank You notes to write. We really do appreciate everything you all have done for us.

We Love You,

James, Teresa, & Jacob

P.S.- Here are some pictures.

HOME AT LAST!!!!

Thank You, Lord!!! It has been a long journey, but it has been well worth it. Jacob did fine on the flight home. The first flight we both slept for an hour and he did great. We arrived 30 minutes late but it was fine. We had plenty of time to find our gate. The flight from Paris to Cincinnati he slept 2 hours and he got fussy and whiney through a couple of hours of it but no worse than the restaurant fits just longer. All in all he did good. The last flight he was so happy and excited. We actually arrived 15 minutes early. We got off the plane running. He was a little shy with everyone at first, even James, but within a few minutes he let James hold him. We went to eat at Cracker Barrel and the food was wonderful. :) He did great, no fits!!!! When we started to get out of the car Gladys opened the door on Jacob's side and I handed him to her and he was fine with it. She even carried him inside. He let her hold him one more time. He slept on the way home, he was so tired. He slept 11 hours.

Mama was able to hold him the next day. She bribed him by offering to go outside. She and he swung together on his new swing set. Mama said she was afraid it would be a month before she got to hold him. She was on Cloud 9 yesterday. Daddy still hasn't held him but he is playing with him. It won't be long. Jacob and his new cousin, Matthew played together so well. Jacob has even hugged Matthew twice and kissed him once. Matthew kinda hugged back but wasn't really sure what to do. It would have been a great picture. Jacob is already mimicking Matthew 's actions.

Jacob just woke up and is saying Mama, Daddy, Mama, Daddy so I will post more later.

We still need your prayers. Jacob has some health issues that we checking on that could require surgery. I will post more details later. God knows the need.

We love you all and are soooooo glad to be home.

Love,

JTJ

LAST POST FROM UKRAINE!!!!!

We got the medical and visa completed today. They both went well. We will be leaving the apartment at 4:30 AM to get to the airport to fly to Paris at 6:50 AM, so this post will be very short. I plan to be in bed in the next half hour. Pray I actually sleep. I didn't last night. Jacob has been great today. I think he knows we are going home or may be he senses a difference in me.

Again, I want to thank everyone for all you have done for us. We love and miss you and will see you soon.

God Bless,

Teresa & Jacob

DRIVING HABITS OF SIMFEROPOL

DRIVING HABITS OF SIMFEROPOL

I have waited until we only have one day left here before mentioning this country’s driving habits. Mama would have worried too much. Let me just start by saying there is no way to completely explain. It is something you would have to experience to completely understand but I wanted to try. All drivers give new meaning to tailgating, nose clipping, weaving in and out of traffic, and lane switching just to gain one car length. Speaking of cars, I was misleading on the types of cars here. At first I just noticed most of the rundown old cars maybe due to area we were in. But after further inspection, there are quiet a few Mercedes Benz, BMW’s, Lexus, and Cadillac’s just to mention a few. There are a lot of mid size Buses (Mercedes Benz) and Vans that are used like a taxi service.

These drivers are skilled drivers to be able to drive the way they do and not have any major accidents that we have seen and only 5 minor ones. I don’t know if I can explain this and it be understood but the drivers around here drive wherever they want to. If you are suppose to have two-lane traffic (one car going in each direction) you will most likely have three with cars parked on the side of road. You can literally reach out and touch the car next to you. And when I say they drive wherever they want that includes driving and parking on the sidewalk. I asked Sasha about this and he said there wasn’t enough parking on the streets so they use the sidewalks too.

Watch out peds. You had better be fast crossing the road. Most drivers don’t slow down. It looked like one our taxi drivers came within an inch of hitting a guy walking down the road. We weren’t going fast but I’m sure it still would have hurt the guy.

Then there are the daring little Moped drivers that aren’t required to wear helmets (and they don’t). No one seems to wear seatbelts either and they don’t have carseats.

We have even seen two guys in wheelchairs wheeling down the road with the traffic. One of them was asking for money.

Sharon (who was here in January) mentioned in the blog comments that a red and yellow traffic light means “Go” to some drivers that can’t seem to wait for green. I had to laugh when I read it. It is so true no matter what region of Ukraine you are in.

Most speed limits are the same as ours, except the freeway in Kiev. It is 100 mph (not km). There are very few traffic lights and stop signs. Mostly yield signs, which I’m not sure they pay much attention to. Then there are the around-abouts, which are a couple of circle type intersection, which everyone just merges into wherever they find space. It truly amazes me there isn’t a pile-up everyday.

Believe it or not, most of the time I wasn’t scared riding around town. Mama, don’t worry only one or two more car ride and we are on our way HOME.

WE GOT IT!!

PRAISE THE LORD!!! WE GOT IT!!!

We now have Jacob’s passport. It took 15 minutes to get once we talked with the lady. She was nice this time. Paul wasn’t able to go with me but Tammy was. She was great. I did get to talk with Paul and he wished us luck. He went by the passport office to see us but we had already left. Paul has been wonderful and the kindest Ukrainian I have ever met. Paul said he hoped we had had some good experiences in Ukrainian and said maybe we would see each other again someday if I came back as a tourist. I said maybe. I really don’t see that happening.

I was supposed to leave Simferopol today at 2:40 PM, but the flight has been delayed to 6:25 PM. Typically, for this whole journey, but I’m OK with it. I still get back to Kiev in time to do the medical and visa tomorrow and I get to spend more time with Tammy. She has become a great friend. She and Matt are coming home in November for 2 months. I really hope they are going to be able to visit us and spend some time with us.

Our flight is now leaving Kiev for Paris at 6:50 AM which means we will at the airport at 4:50 AM. We leave Paris at 11:45 AM to arrive in Cincinnati at 3:00 PM, then onto to Huntsville at 5:00 PM to arrive at 5:13 PM. Note: This times at all local times. We will be leaving Kiev at 10:50 PM Wednesday Central Time.

Please pray that the trip home will be boring and uneventful and of course safe.

I want to thank each and every person for all your help, thoughts, and prayers. We will never forget it. Words can not express our gratitude. With my heart swelled, and a lump in my throat I sit here trying to find a way to let you all know just how much to us. We love you all very much!!!! To all the future adoptive parents reading this blog please feel free to contact us at anytime with any questions and good luck.

We will try to see as many of you as soon as we can. It will depend on Jacob and how quickly he adjusts. He has been amazing so far. He has welcomed most of the changes. He still doesn’t do well in restaurants. He didn’t do too well on the flight last night. I’m praying for a better flight today. He didn’t have much of a nap yesterday and it was past his bedtime. I have also found out he is afraid of Simba, Tammy’s big orange cat. He is doing a little better the longer we are here. I hope he is going to like Rowdy, our big orange cat.

One more time I have been meaning to mention. Becca gave me a Daily Bread booklet to read while I’ve been here and one of the things I read I have thought back on several times and it was so appropriate for the time here. It said, “Delay is not denial”. We have definitely been delayed beyond our expectations but we have not been denied. The Lord is so good.

We are Homeward Bound!!!!

Love,

Teresa & Jacob

STILL WAITING

Well, we had hoped for a passport today. No luck. We are now hoping for Monday. We won't find out for sure until Monday. If it has been sent to Simferopol Jacob and I will travel to and from Simferopol Monday and still be able to come home Wednesday. If we do make it to Simferopol on Monday I will try to post a short note letting everyone know.

I have a couple of cute pictures of Jacob I thought I would post today. We have found that he loves Cocoa Puffs, at least Ukraine's version of them and can make a huge mess eating them.

I have felt the prayers. Please keep praying. There is still a lot to get thru before we get home. I just finished reading Sarah and Anthony's blog. Somehow, I had missed the post about the flight home. Now I'm a little concerned about our flight. I hope we don't that many problems leaving.

Jacob and I both miss home. He just doesn't realize it yet. I hope to go to the playground, park, or the fountains yesterday. Maybe I will get some more good pictures.

We love and miss you all.

Teresa & Jacob