still adjusting

Well, Jack Jack was still sick today and started spiking high fevers so I took him in to see a pediatrician. She checked him out pretty thoroughly and thinks he just has a virus so hopefully will get better in a few`days. He is keeping water down OK today. I am still going on around 3 hrs sleep a night with a 2hr nap during the day with him so I will be lucky not to pick up his crud myself if he doesn't start sleeping soon, especially since I have been covered in vomit several times! I am hoping that Jackson will soon let me out of his sight so that I can at least get some things done, like unpack! He won't even let Lance hold him much yet. I haven't even been able to go to the store to get him clothes that fit, so are just doing a lot of laundry on the 3 outfits we did have, that and just doing a lot of rolling up of sleeves and pants on RJ's. Hopefully things will get somewhat back to normal soon. I appreciate all the offers for help from friends and as soon as Jack Jack will let anyone else hold him will be happy to have friends over and take them all up on their babysitting offers.

So far

I think Jack Jack is having a harder time adjusting than RJ did. He still is not sleeping over 2 hrs at any one time and this morning woke up vomitting and has continued such most of the day. He is finally resting now so am hoping will sleep through most of the night tonight as Lance & I are getting pretty tired and cranky too! I am sure it will all pass, however, it is still somewhat difficult for us all.

Home

We finally made it home around midnight Saturday night, after a cancelled flight in Denver and a 4 hours wait for the next flight. Things are good, trying to catch up on sleep after spending about 32 hours in the same clothes with only a couple of hours of sleep. Both RJ and Jack Jack did well on the flight. RJ was content to play with his GameBoy between naps, while Jack Jack did fine as long as he could walk around the plane and entertain the flight attendants. Its good to be home and things will only get easier for Jack Jack now that he is settled in one place.

Heading Home

Finally ready to go home. Picked up Jack Jack's VISA, went on a boat ride and took naps today. We leave the hotel Saturday morning at 4:00 am (Friday afternoon in the US) and return to Kansas City Saturday evening at 6:00 pm. About 19 hours of flight time with a 13 month old who is scared and barely knows us. Pray that things go well.

US Embassy

Today's visit to the US Embassy went well. LOTS of people applying for VISA's to visit the US, we are really lucky to live where we do, because thousands of people per day are trying to join us.
We go back tomorrow to pick up Jack Jack's Thailand passport which will allow him to leave the country with us.
After lunch we finally made it to the Aquarium. It is on the lower level of the Siam Paragon Shopping Center, one of the nicest we have ever been in. Lots of sharks and crazy fish to look at.

It's official!

Well, it is official! We sat two hours for a two minute meeting in front of the adoption committee and got their final apporval. Jack Jack is officially our son (in Thailand at least, the State of Kansas will take considerably longer). All we have left is to go to the American Embassy and obtain his passport and Visa and we will be ready to go, unfortunatley as easy as that sounds it is stil a 2-day process. We are all ready to head home, I think we are all officially tired of Bangkok and its smells! Won't be too long now, only 2 more days.

The new addition

Well we went from 3 family members to 4 this morning when we got Jack Jack for good. He is doing fine, took a nap this afternoon and then ate dinner this evening, something RJ wouldn't do when we first got him. RJ is having fun being a big brother. They danced to the TV and laughed together at different things. RJ keeps sleeping through dinner and then wakes up at 5:00am ready to play, to early for us but he is doing great.
Tomorrow we go to the Department of Social Development for a morning meeting and then to the US Embassy on Thursday to start the VISA process.

First Jack Jack Video

Shopping

Today we went with Jack Jack to the department store and got him some new clothes, shoes, etc., and then ate lunch with him as well. We played in the hotel room for an hour or so, he is doing great, he even didn't want to leave when it was time for him to return to the foster family. RJ is having fun playing with him and wants to show him his favorite things to do. Jack Jack is already following RJ's lead doing what he does and watching his every move. Tonight is the last night he will spend with the foster family so tomorrow we will get to keep him for good.

Jack Jack

We finally got to meet Jackson Danai Beeson for the first time today. We were overjoyed, he however, was less than enthusiastic. Jackson, like RJ, cried for most of the first hour or two we were together. He finally warmed up to me, however I think Lance's size and his overall "caucasionism" scared Jackson a little. He eventually warmed up and by the end of our time together, he was following RJ around and mimicking just about every move he made. We will get to take him to the department store and buy everything we think we will need for the next few days, I am still at a loss as to what size he is, other than large! I thank the Lord for the blessing He has given us, and even as I held Jackson for the first few minutes, I knew he was ours and that it was meant to be. God is so good, praise Him!

Internet Access Finally

The blog is a great item but from Phuket, Thailand the lack of internet access made blogging difficult. We are in Bangkok now and will have access the rest of the week.

It was a very relaxing stay at the Phuket Aqua Marine Resort. It was a beautiful hotel that sat up high on a hill over looking the Andaman Sea. We took RJ on day trip to the Elephant Sanctuary and went for a long ride on the elephants (I am not sure how people used to travel by elephant, as it wasn’t the smoothest ride!). Lance even got an elephant “massage”. I personally enjoyed my Thai/deep tissue massage better, although was a little sore afterwards. We also enjoyed a meal and show at the Phuket Fantasea show, quite an elaborate production (although RJ wasn’t too impressed as he slept through the whole thing!). We finally get to meet Jack Jack tomorrow so will let you know how it goes.

first leg

So far, so good. We made the first leg of our trip without any major problems (I don' t call gum stuck all over the clothes I plan to wear for 2 days a major problem!). RJ has been relatively well behaved, we met my parents at San Fran airport without a hitch. Wish us luck, as our next leg (10 hrs to Tokyo and 8 hrs from Tokyo to Bangkok) will likely be a little more trying! Stay tuned...

Jackson 11 months old

RJ helping us pack for Thailand