Friday, June 11, 2010

5 minutes with Joseph!!!!!!

We met Joseph!! It was a disappointingly short visit, only about 5 minutes. I laid awake all night imagining all the different scenarios that could potentially play out today, but none of them were accurate. :)

We were ready by 8:00am thinking our visit started at 8:30. In reality, our 8:30 appointment was at the Department of Children's Services to get official permission to visit the child. We sat for 2 1/2 hours in the hot car waiting for someone to show up to sign the paper, giving us permission to visit the orphanage. By the time we got there, visiting hours were almost over and I wasn't sure whether we would even get to see him at all.

The orphanage director was on vacation, but we sat in her office with the orphanage doctor, the social worker, the orphanage attorney, and our facilitator, who translated a summary of Joseph's social and medical history.

He has been at the orphanage almost six years, since he was born with Down Syndrome. He has had just a couple of tearful visits early on from his father, but his parents returned to their home country in the middle east, three years ago.

It seems there still may be some problems with his paperwork but the facilitator seems confident that it will work out for poor little Joseph this time. Poor little guy can't help that he was born to foreigners who left the country without him. It is a shame to think some people think that should doom him to a life of orphan-hood. But like I said we are being led to believe that it should work out for him this time, to be adopted. Pray with us, will you?

According to our meeting, Joseph is very healthy, eats very well, has flat feet, communicates in his own Joseph-way, is playful, social, and just like Ava..he gets overwhelmed and overstimulated....He is POTTY TRAINED! Woo hoo! By the way, the name Joseph is his Reece's Rainbow name, derived from the middle eastern name given by his parents. So we will just keep it "Joseph" because I can't think of any other name that would fit him better!

And here, the long awaited pictures...of our FIVE MINUTES TOGETHER!! (Hopefully tomorrow we will have more time to really get to know him. Today it was his lunch time and he made it very clear that he did not want to sit on the couch in a sterile office with complete strangers who insisted on picking him up and holding him......He wanted to EAT!! We saw him sign eat, by the way, in his own Joseph sign language. He is a doll, and we are crazy about him already!!!

45 comments:

Anonymous said...

OMG...there's lump in my throat. What a sweetheart. Love the pictures.

Jan

Anonymous said...

OMG...there's lump in my throat. What a sweetheart. Love the pictures.

Jan

Unknown said...

FINALLY! Who cares if it is time to eat!! We will have a life time to hold and cuddle and love on this special boy. Thanks for being patient and yes we all are praying! Love Oma

thedickinsonfamily said...

WOW! What a sweet boy. It may not be what you expected but I also know those will be 5 minutes you won't soon forget. Can't wait until you can spend all the time in the world with your big boy. Continuing to pray for every detail to be completed in your favor. Thanks for sharing!

Nance said...

He is a DOLL!!! I know, the first day is so rush, rush!!! Praying everything with all of his papers gets worked out this time!
Nance

June Berger said...

Oh my gosh!!! Could he be any more perfect??!! I love how he is looking at you two. Praying all works out without a hitch and that you will all be reunited quickly. I will anxiously be awaiting pics and an update of your next visit. God's peace and blessings be upon you all.

Julie said...

he is just adorable! I'm sure you are in love!!! : )

Cammie Heflin said...

He is PRECIOUS!! He is so cute!

Dove Familie said...

He is beautiful!! Sorry it was such a quick visit, but thankful that you got to hold him. Praying for his paperwork situation.

See you soon!
Jenn

Adeye said...

Oh I am absolutely rejoicing with you...another little heart has found a home. Praise God!!!

He is GORGEOUS!!!!!

Amanda said...

Gorgeous. Praying tomorrow goes better.

Robin said...

Oh Charissa (and John) He is just precious! What a way to make the earlier frustrations vanish for five minutes.
hugs and prayers

Mamapierce said...

He is so precious! Congratulations! :D

Shelly said...

MAN!! I have a lump in my throat too and tears rolling down my face! How awesome!!! It is so cute to see him hold your hand to his face, and him looking up at John just takes your heart!!! I can't wait to see more pics from your visit tomorrow. And as always i am praying for Joseph to come home, and by the way his name fits perfect!! :)

Marlita said...

Too sweet! Can't wait to meet him!

Gretchen said...

He is precious!! Oh, I hope tomorrow you get to really meet Joseph....hug and touch more than 5 minutes, play, etc...

Blessings!
Gretchen

JUST A MOM said...

He is so PERFECT for you guys. PRECIOUS!!!

Qadoshyah said...

Such a cutie! I hope all the paperwork troubles work out for the sweet little guy.

Rachel said...

He is just darling! I love his dark hair and big brown eyes! Praying everything works out with his paperwork and that you get to bring him home quickly!

Lisa (DanielsMommy) said...

Oh those pics were so worth the wait. I will continue to pray all his paperwork is in order. Lots of love from my family to yours.

junglemama said...

Awww, I am so happy for all you!

Maria and Family said...

he is just perfect !!!So much smaller and teeny then i thought he would be :) so happy for you guys!

Anonymous said...

He is beautiful, what a smile! No more hitches, delays, snags, issues, or problems--- that's my prayer for you! That and a much longer visit full of snuggles and love. :)

Kerry Shealy said...

Tears here, too! I'm so excited!!! Now, on to prayers that the kinks get worked out!

Kristin Ferguson said...

Oh, that first visit is soooo rushed and overwhelming for the child--I felt the same way about ours but our subsequent visits have been absolutely WONDERFUL as I know yours will be!!! He looks VERY sweet! Can't wait to hear about tomorrow's visit.

Kristin

Julie said...

Oh, what a doll! I am praying that the paperwork works out, so you can bring your sweet boy home soon. He is just adorable!!!

MoonDog said...

he is so darling. those big dark eyes and the dark hair. there is just soemthing about brown eyed boys(I know, I have 4 of them!) hope to see you this weekend before we head to Ptown on monday.

Michelle Z said...

Hooray! I'm so glad you got to meet him!

Kelly said...

HE IS A CUTIE!!!!! And sounds like he's doing pretty well too! SO happy you are there!

amyl4 said...

Oh Charissa, he is BEAUTIFUL!!!
Amy

La Viajera Insaciable said...

Wow. I'm in awe. Simply precious!

La Viajera Insaciable said...

Wow. I'm in awe. Simply beautiful!

Alice said...

At last! He is perfect. Praying all works out.

Jodi said...

oh, he's beautiful! And wearing his favorite color; yellow :)

I just love those dark eyes!

The Spicer Family said...

He's the cutest little boy ever, Charissa!! I am praying soooooo hard that you guys are home soon so I can see him!! Here's hoping for lots of time with Joseph tomorrow....

markay714 said...

Awesome. That's looking like an awfully great five minutes to me! We got scared in our first five minutes together....this looks way better!

JennyH said...

He melts my heart. Glad you at least got 5 minutes with him. Such a doll. He sounds like he is doing great!

Anonymous said...

HE IS ABSOLUTELY STUNNING! praying for a smooth process..

Beth said...

Wow! He. is. gorgeous.

Yes, I will (and am) praying for you, Joseph and the process.

Larsen Family said...

Precious. I hope your visit is longer tomorrow.

Koen Family said...

Tears of joy. We are so happy for you guys. He is precious. Our prayers for no delay or complications, and time again soon with Joseph. God bless you guys.

Anonymous said...

Thankyou for sharing such precious photographs with us, I can't stop grinning.

I have my whole family praying for you.

Samantha in the middle of England.

Julia said...

CRYING - NO WORDS!

jennifer... said...

Of course I'm your 44th comment! Who in the world isn't excited about your 1st moment with your new son?

Praying for you...

Andrea Roberts said...

Charissa, he is SO beautiful!!! Hang in there sister!!!