Christmas was a bittersweet day for us. We had a wonderful time celebrating with family and friends but we longed to have our sweet son home with us to enjoy. Though it was grand to get such good news about the progress of the paperwork right before Christmas it still didn't make up for the void in our home on Christmas Day. We went to Norm's parents and enjoyed lunch and exchanging gifts for the day. We had out Christmas celebration at our house in Christmas night. The girls loved all of their gifts....especially their "Wii". That is a long story in itself how I finally managed to get my hands onto one of those. They have been really enjoying it though. And for the first time in years they actually loved all of the clothes I bought them. WOOHOO...no returns! We celebrated Christmas with my mom and brother and nephews on Wednesday. Another night full of great gifts, food, and fun times. My dad has been gone for 2 years now and it is still so hard to face the holidays without him. Our first stop on Christmas was at the cemetary to place a holiday arrangement on his grave and to wish him a Merry Christmas. I miss him so greatly. I have attached a few pictures of the girls on Christmas. Look at the excitement on their faces....

GREAT CHRISTMAS NEWS HAS ARRIVED!!!!!

Today we received our update on Derek's adoption. Things are moving in a VERY positive direction. We found out the corrections to his dossier should be completed in a few weeks. This could mean that once that is finished and the USCIS approves the completed dossier as actually complete and up to their required standards that it would have 2 more entities to go through then ,which legally they are each allowed 30 days to complete their investigations, and then it goes back to the DIA for a G&R date to be issued. WOOHOO!!! We are getting so much closer! If all goes smoothly and quickly it could be a few SHORT months and Derek will FINALLY come HOME!!!! Our CM said realistically it may be by May or June but if the process expedites it could be sooner. We have to remain optimistic yet cautious at the same time. So continue to watch for more good things to happen in the next few weeks. We do have to remember that in February we will have to deal with the country shutdown for TET again. That will delay things for a short time but hopefully it will pick up and take off again after that. We were told previously that our case will take precidence over the newer ones so that we can complete the adoption we have been waiting and longing for. So it sounds like we will be having a summer vacation and bringing home a baby at a great time of year. This will give the girls time to adjust to him too while they are on school vacation. We'll be loading up the camper and heading to the hills as soon as we can!!!!
Stay tuned......

New Pictures and an Update.....

We got an update on Derek this week. He is now:

23 pounds & 33 inches tall. He'll soon be a "3-footer". WOW!!!

He is doing well and is walking and eating good. The pictures were absolutely adorable. They dressed him in a santa suit and hat and he was sitting on a reindeer. SO CUTE!!!! There was a second picture and it was him and another little one standing at the edge of the crib. He was hangin on and his eyes are so big. It was great to see him smiling!!!!

Hopefully we will get an update about the Danang orphanage. The one we got this week was program specific and didn't really relate to our situation at all. We will put the update hre if we get one today.

We are expecting snow, sleet, and freezing rain for the weekend so we will be staying in and staying warm & dry!!!

WEEKLY UPDATE TIME....

So I wanted to share our update his week with all of you following along on our journey.

The orphanage director is still working with the DOJ to rectify the children dossiers. The DOJ is saying that they should be officially notified by the DIA in order for them to get involved with that process. For this reason, we are moving forward to request the DIA to send parent dossiers to DN DOJ a second time, instead of waiting until the child dossiers being all fixed first. For now, we are still not sure how much time it will take to complete the rest of the child dossier rectification process, but will keep families posted of any new information.


What does it all mean???? Well we are looking at it as a MAJOR step in a great and positive direction. At least it is showing signs of cooperation in fixing the dossier and getting us another step closer to Derek. FINALLY!! We are hoping that each update will be more positive and that each one sheds light on a "Road To Recovery".

We are supposed to get updated pictures this week so we are really looking forward to those. The package we sent for the 5 babies at the orphanage was received there and hopefully the pictures will show Derek with his new "blankie". I do hope he finds comfort in it and that it is something for him to snuggle up to at night until we get there.

The holidays are approaching so quickly and though I have 2 beautiful girls here with me that I need to focus on I can't dismiss the heartache of not having our son home. My heart aches tremendously for him. It has gotten progressively more difficult to deal with the questions and accusations from everyone around us. The only way to stop all of this is to get that travel date and bring him home. In the meantime I am trying to get into the Christmas spirit and actually did force myself to finish shopping and complete the wrapping. I am also focusing on the after Christmas trip Norm & I will be taking as we head to sunny California for a few days. I have started thinking about packing but just haven't gotten started yet (yes Michelle you may be rubbing off on me a little bit. LOL!!!). I am not by any means a procrastinator I just don't know what to pack. I've never gone to California in my life. Oh who am I kidding I have never even flown before. I can't wait to get on that plane and see the beauty of our country from one coast to the other.

Please continue to follow with us as we anxiously await our weekly update and remember to drop me your email address again if you want a sneak peek at Derek's new picture!!!!

Please allow me to use this day to focus on our baby boy.....

Derek,
As you turn "ONE" today we are praying for your health and safety and for God to bring you home to us very soon. We may have missed many of your milestones as you have grown over this past year but we will have many years of milestones to still share together. Yes...I wish we were rocking you to sleep, bragging about your first tooth, first step, first word, and of course all the in betweens. You are in our hearts and our thoughts of you grow more each day as we wait to come hold you in our arms. Exactly 9 months ago today we got a call telling us that we had the wonderful opportunity to increase our family with the addition of a beautiful baby boy. You can only imagine the excitement as we waited for the picture of you to download on the computer screen. WOW...what an adorable face. You have grown so much over this past 9 months of knowing you and we are looking so forward to watching you grow each year of your life with us.
God has blessed us so richly and soon he will bless us with our travel to bring you home to meet all of your family. Your sisters are so anxious to play with you and teach you things (probably some that will be bad). You will have a wonderful and love filled life here.

Hang on Derek...Mommy & Daddy will come soon.

We Love You So Much,
Mommy, Daddy, Alyssa & Jessica


Please continue to pray with us for Derek's Homecoming.