Madison Gets to Ride!

Madison took one month of horseback riding lessons. Here she is with Rupert. This was a dream come true for her. We're hoping to sign her up for more lessons after the adoption is completed.

June Update

Pictures, pictures, and more pictures! Shao-Chun obviously got to take a field trip to McDonald's. There was even a photo with three other little boys. It's the first photo I received of somebody other than him. We mailed him a care package today that included a disposable camera. I hope they'll let him take photos of people special to him. Of course, if his picture taking ability is anything like that of M & N I'll get photos of a picture on the wall or a toy on a shelf. And maybe, just maybe...half of a person's face.

Initial Court Hearing

We heard from Cathwel that the initial court hearing took place on July 11. There will be two rulings over the next few months. After that, we will receive a call to make our travel arrangements.

We are sending a package to Shao-Chun today. We have books, stickers, Hot Wheels, a toy microphone, clothes, and candy. I guess the other kids have been receiving gifts and he was wondering where his was. I guess I'm not acting quickly enough! Now I'll go to the USPS to get sticker shock.

Madison and Nathan

I haven't posted too much about the other kids. Madison and Nathan have been busy taking swim lessons. They're making progress. Madison can do the forward crawl about 15 feet. She doesn't like to put her face in the water so that holds her back a bit. Nathan doesn't mind the face in the water but isn't very efficient with his kicking. He pounds the water like a mad man and gets a whole 2 feet of distance.

Madison is getting an early birthday gift this year. We signed her up for horseback riding lessons. She starts next Monday and they continue for 4 weeks. I hope to have a camera so I can start documenting things. We're still in the dark ages of 35 mm film.

Nathan will also be taking a class at the park district. It'll be baseball this time around. He just loves his daddy and likes to pursue those common interests. Too bad the Sox aren't helping any this year.

What's in a name?

Chris has started calling Shao-Chun Alexander. So I guess he has decided on a name. Alexander means defender of man kind. Shao means to join, connect and Chun means Goodman, a monarch. I think it is a mighty fine name for our little guy to live up to. We received word from Taiwan that they received all the documents and will begin the court process. From what I've seen on the yahoo groups, court time is only taking 3 or 4 months. That means we could be travelling as early as October.

May Update

Here are two of the photos sent with our update. We're glad to see him smiling. Every time we receive pictures (3rd time so far) there is at least one silly photo. His school teacher says he shows talent with painting. He is also enjoying puzzles, "mechanic" toys, and basketball. Our contracts and other required paperwork were sent from TECO to our agency last week. They were being shipped to Taiwan today. We are still waiting on one more form from US Immigration which allows us to bring him to the US. I hope this will not hold up the court process, but it probably will. It's always something...

TECO

Finally! Mission accomplished. The whole family took a trip to Chicago today. We took a scenic walk to the Secretary of State office and then to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office. Our documents are delivered and now we wait for the 171H and the Taiwan courts. This was stressful for me as I checked and double checked that I had all the right docs, fees, directions, etc. I think I must be obsessive compulsive. I checked everything at least 5 times. This is one day you don't want to mess up!

Chris and I realized the kids have never been downtown. They thought the tall buildings and the lake were cool. Lake Michigan is not your typical lake. Nathan asked if it was the ocean. I guess we'll have to return when we can visit a museum or take them up to the Hancock observatory. We didn't get to go anywhere fun today, but they did get to see their Uncle Kurt and have a Coke slurpee. Not too shabby in their eyes!

That's all for now...I need a nap!