Hi all! I am one of those adoptive moms that are obsessed with adoption t-shirts! So it only seemed fitting to design one of my own and sell them as a fundraiser. So that is what I did!! If you don't mind to take a peek at it and share with all of your friends! I need to sell 50 by April 7th or they won't print any of them. Hurry and order yours today!!
www.bonfirefunds.com/bringing-oliver-home
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Friday, March 20, 2015
Sneak Peek at His Brother and Sister
Our agency, AAC, just traveled to China to visit with some children that are coming up for adoption. While there, they graciously took care packages and visited with the children that have been matched. We have received one picture of Oliver with them. I sent a photo album with our pictures in it and in this picture, he is looking at the picture of Tanner and Anna. He is probably thinking how much fun he is going to have with those two!!
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Time to Get Back At It!!
Hello all! I guess it is that time to start blogging again. It looks like last June I had posted that we are going back to China to adopt a little boy 0-18 months. Little does the blogworld know, we have been matched with that little boy and are soooooooo close to travel!! I can almost taste the Chinese noodles (really....almost....because I won't really taste them there!!) Anyway, let's start at the beginning, shall we?
After coming home with Anna, Chad and I felt that our family was complete. We had that perfect American family....husband, wife, son, daughter, and dog. But...there was this longing....we knew on the other side of the world, how many there were without a mommy and daddy. We had been there....we had seen it....it's heart tugging. Could we adopt again? Should we adopt again? Remember...we had the "perfect" family. But we kept feeling that call. There is another one over there that needs a good home and loving family. And we felt that we could provide for another child...our hearts could love another child...our family would embrace another child. So we said Yes! Then we waited....and waited....should we apply now? No, let's wait until the kids are a little older. 6 months later...should we apply now? No, let's wait until the first of the year. What about now? Okay...let's go! But only the One person knew....that when we said yes that January....that a little boy was about to be born that very same month.
Fast forward to June 2014...we decided on AAC as our agency and started the paperwork process. The third go around was pretty easy. Our home study was completed and all our paperwork came back without a problem. We were just waiting on one piece to our dossier before we could submit. Our agency wanted that piece of paper right when we received it. And then guess what? We got a call. There were three little boys that they wanted to discuss with us. Now, most people think that a little boy is hard to get from China. Actually, it is just the opposite. Most people request a girl so there are so many little boys waiting for a forever family. We discussed the three little ones and decided to review a file for a little boy with a limb difference.
Here is where my heart pours out: Limb difference is not something that Chad and I had picked that we would "accept." It actually never crossed our minds to even think about it. We checked the "comfortable" needs: cleft lip/palate, hernia, club foot, minor heart condition. Everything was minor and correctable. Limb difference is minor...but is it correctable? I just couldn't grasp the fact that my son would not have a lower left arm. But he is perfectly healthy. The international doctor said that she never sees a file of a child so healthy! But he doesn't have a hand. Can we really refuse him because he doesn't have a hand?! We talked and prayed...and talked and prayed....and the next day I prayed for God to show me a sign saying that this little one was to be named Oliver Wesselman. About 10 minutes later, Chad texts me and says "I am thinking that our next son is not going to have a hand." That is all I needed!! We accepted him and started the process of bringing him home.
On February 4, we received LOA (letter of acceptance) which basically says that he is ours and that we can start working on getting him approved to come into the US. On March 3, we were approved by the US so now we are working on getting his paperwork ready in Guangzhou, China. Our paperwork will be pick up on March 30 and then we will wait for our travel approval...which says COME GET HIM!!! We are hoping...and praying...that comes quickly after March 30 and we can fly out on April 17.
I will try to be more diligent in this blog thing and keep everyone updated.
Here is an updated picture that we received yesterday from a family that traveled last month.
Keep praying for us!
Becky
After coming home with Anna, Chad and I felt that our family was complete. We had that perfect American family....husband, wife, son, daughter, and dog. But...there was this longing....we knew on the other side of the world, how many there were without a mommy and daddy. We had been there....we had seen it....it's heart tugging. Could we adopt again? Should we adopt again? Remember...we had the "perfect" family. But we kept feeling that call. There is another one over there that needs a good home and loving family. And we felt that we could provide for another child...our hearts could love another child...our family would embrace another child. So we said Yes! Then we waited....and waited....should we apply now? No, let's wait until the kids are a little older. 6 months later...should we apply now? No, let's wait until the first of the year. What about now? Okay...let's go! But only the One person knew....that when we said yes that January....that a little boy was about to be born that very same month.
Fast forward to June 2014...we decided on AAC as our agency and started the paperwork process. The third go around was pretty easy. Our home study was completed and all our paperwork came back without a problem. We were just waiting on one piece to our dossier before we could submit. Our agency wanted that piece of paper right when we received it. And then guess what? We got a call. There were three little boys that they wanted to discuss with us. Now, most people think that a little boy is hard to get from China. Actually, it is just the opposite. Most people request a girl so there are so many little boys waiting for a forever family. We discussed the three little ones and decided to review a file for a little boy with a limb difference.
Here is where my heart pours out: Limb difference is not something that Chad and I had picked that we would "accept." It actually never crossed our minds to even think about it. We checked the "comfortable" needs: cleft lip/palate, hernia, club foot, minor heart condition. Everything was minor and correctable. Limb difference is minor...but is it correctable? I just couldn't grasp the fact that my son would not have a lower left arm. But he is perfectly healthy. The international doctor said that she never sees a file of a child so healthy! But he doesn't have a hand. Can we really refuse him because he doesn't have a hand?! We talked and prayed...and talked and prayed....and the next day I prayed for God to show me a sign saying that this little one was to be named Oliver Wesselman. About 10 minutes later, Chad texts me and says "I am thinking that our next son is not going to have a hand." That is all I needed!! We accepted him and started the process of bringing him home.
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| Fu Xiang Yang (aka Oliver Matthew Wesselman) |
On February 4, we received LOA (letter of acceptance) which basically says that he is ours and that we can start working on getting him approved to come into the US. On March 3, we were approved by the US so now we are working on getting his paperwork ready in Guangzhou, China. Our paperwork will be pick up on March 30 and then we will wait for our travel approval...which says COME GET HIM!!! We are hoping...and praying...that comes quickly after March 30 and we can fly out on April 17.
I will try to be more diligent in this blog thing and keep everyone updated.
Here is an updated picture that we received yesterday from a family that traveled last month.
Keep praying for us!
Becky
Friday, September 12, 2014
7 and 5 year Pictures
Tanner and Anna had their 7 and 5 years pictures done recently. I am not as strict for their pictures as I used to be. Before, I wanted them to be "just perfect!" Now, as long as I get at least 1 good one, the rest can be silly and show their personalities. Tanner is very photogenic so all his pictures turn out great. Anna, on the other hand, not so much!! She almost tries to hard sometimes! Here are some of the favorites.
On the adoption front, our home study is complete! Wahoo!! I have mailed all of the documents today to AAC and should receive our fingerprinting appointment soon. After that, we will have everything we need to turn into China and wait for our baby boy.
Hope everyone is enjoying the cooler weather!
Becky
On the adoption front, our home study is complete! Wahoo!! I have mailed all of the documents today to AAC and should receive our fingerprinting appointment soon. After that, we will have everything we need to turn into China and wait for our baby boy.
Hope everyone is enjoying the cooler weather!
Becky
Thursday, June 26, 2014
And we are off......
Well....it's official!! We are going back to China!! We are requesting a baby boy 0-18 months with minor, correctable special needs.
I am busy collecting all of our documents for the home study and dossier that will be sent to China. We chose AAC this time around due to the fact that they have just partnered with several new orphanages. That will give us better odds to get matched sooner, rather than later.
And on to the rest of the summer....
The kids just finished with swimming lessons. They now feel more confident in the water but I don't feel that they can actually "swim" yet!
We are anxiously awaiting our vacation to Destin, Fl. My parents have rented a condo for my whole family to stay together. We did that a couple years ago in Gulf Shores and it was a lot of fun.
We just celebrated Tanner's 6th Gotcha Day a couple weeks ago. He likes to go to Holiday World for his Gotcha Day. We couldn't have asked for a better day this year. There was a threat of rain throughout the day so I think that kept the crowds away. It only down poured for about 15 minutes and it stayed cloudy so we didn't get hot. Plus, there were no lines!! The kids didn't even have to get off some of the rides....they just started them going again! I think this is the first time that we were able to ride everything they wanted plus some of them multiple times.
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| I am sooooo excited to be at Holiday World!!!! |
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| On the train! |
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| He looks so little in this picture! |
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| Chad wasn't able to get off work so Papa went. He was a trooper!! |
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| That was awesome!!!!! |
I will definitely keep you all updated on the progress going forward! Thanks for stopping by!
Becky
Saturday, December 7, 2013
SNOW!!!!!
The weather outside is frightful!!!! 4 days ago it was close to 70 degrees and now we have snow on top of ice. Yikes!! Tanner had is first official snow day yesterday and was so excited! Of course, I was scheduled to work so he got to spend all day with Nana, Papa, and Anna.
This morning, they couldn't wait to go out to play. So we bundled up and away we went!
The kids had never actually eaten the snow before. Anna mentioned it so I told them it would be okay but watch out for yellow snow. So, before the ate it, every time they asked if it was yellow! :)
This wasn't a "good" snow because it wasn't very wet. We weren't able to build a snowman or really go sledding. We were able to sled a little but weren't able to make a long track to go really fast. Not too impressive for my sensory kid but fun nonetheless!
After we warmed up and ate lunch, I decided to make some snow ice cream. This was a first for us as well. It was yummy!!!!!
Hope everyone is staying warm!
Becky
This morning, they couldn't wait to go out to play. So we bundled up and away we went!
The kids had never actually eaten the snow before. Anna mentioned it so I told them it would be okay but watch out for yellow snow. So, before the ate it, every time they asked if it was yellow! :)
This wasn't a "good" snow because it wasn't very wet. We weren't able to build a snowman or really go sledding. We were able to sled a little but weren't able to make a long track to go really fast. Not too impressive for my sensory kid but fun nonetheless!
After we warmed up and ate lunch, I decided to make some snow ice cream. This was a first for us as well. It was yummy!!!!!
Hope everyone is staying warm!
Becky
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Where do I even begin?!?!
This blogging stuff is hard!!! It never crosses my mind to get on here and actually do an update. So...almost 5 months later...we are still here and going strong! Tanner is acing kindergarten. He loves it and is having so much fun. I can tell his brain is just soaking up everything!
Anna started preschool in September. She loves it and is so excited to finally go to school also. She is going to Friends Forever and has the same teacher that Tanner had, so it made for a smooth transition. Anna was already comfortable there and didn't have any problems making the adjustment.
In October, we flew to Miami for a nice relaxing vacation. We didn't do much but it was nice to just get away for awhile. Plus, we had never been that far south so it was neat to go and experience a different area. We went to the Miami zoo and went on an airboat out on the everglades.
We are gearing up for the holidays. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and please remember the Real Reason for the Season!!
Becky
Anna started preschool in September. She loves it and is so excited to finally go to school also. She is going to Friends Forever and has the same teacher that Tanner had, so it made for a smooth transition. Anna was already comfortable there and didn't have any problems making the adjustment.
In October, we flew to Miami for a nice relaxing vacation. We didn't do much but it was nice to just get away for awhile. Plus, we had never been that far south so it was neat to go and experience a different area. We went to the Miami zoo and went on an airboat out on the everglades.
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| Tanner and the Koala Bear |
We are gearing up for the holidays. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and please remember the Real Reason for the Season!!
Becky
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