DONE!

I finally finished up our adoption video. I'm sorry it took so long (we've been just a LITTLE busy around here! lol), but here it is.... the adoption story of Pavel Micah Spencer.

The last post :)

Now that our adoption journey is officially over, its really time for this... the last post. :)

How do I come up with the words to sum up our entire adoption process? To thank those who need thanking for the many many prayers, the dedication of following along on this blog, and the much needed emotion, spiritual and financial support? To close out this chapter as we open a new one... life with our little boy... Each and every one of you know who you are. Please know how grateful we are to you for the part that you have played in this little one's life.

"Father God, You are good. I am humbled at Your feet in awe of the great things You have done. Thank You for Your provision, Your faithfulness, Your lovingkindness and mercy towards us. May this journey be light to others. A testament of Your goodness. An encouragement for adopting families, a hope for parents of children with Down syndrome and a witness to those who don't know You. I pray that many more children would be rescued and that families would feel strengthened and encouraged that they too can do this. Thank You God that no matter what the world says about us, You have called us by name, adopted us as Your own, and loved us with a perfect, unconditional Love. And now we ask that you would take this boy and mold him into a man of God after Your own heart. May his life always point to You. In Jesus' name. Amen."

To follow Micah's new life as a Spencer, you can check out my personal blog:

www.manysidesofamy.blogspot.com

Languages

Today was Micah's second Sunday as a celebrity at our wonderful church. :) Everyone has welcomed him with open arms... and he welcomes them right back with open arms and a great big hug himself!! :) (So much for the not letting people hug or hold our adopted child for a few weeks so as to prevent attachment issues at home. This kid knows who his mom and dad are... and he's got a gift to love on people that we just have to let him walk in!)

Anyway, our dear friends the Mahys just got back from a missions trip to an orphanage in Ukraine. (Thanks again guys for bringing us home a flag!!!) Craig got to meet Micah this morning and was asking how his English was coming. I told him I'm pretty sure he's understanding quite a bit but is still not speaking any English (hey, its only been two weeks), but he wasn't speaking any Russian their either for that matter.

So Craig began speaking some Russian to Micah and his face just lit up!! It was the sweetest thing! He said something to him and Micah pointed to his nose... Craig started laughing and said that he had asked Micah if he knew where his nose was!! They had told us in the orphanage that he knew his body parts, but we'd never seen him asked... and I'd never seen him so confident in "answering" something spoken to him! They did mouth and eyes as well but we all needed to keep moving along (had to get the other kids into class).

I'm sure it felt so good to him to hear some native tongue! :) And on a side note, he's doing AWESOME with sign language as well. He's already learned "eat", "more" and "all done". (And I don't even have to sign those to him to get him to do it. I can say "Micah say more" and he will just sign it.)

So proud of my little boy and so happy for him for that little blessing this morning. Just had to share. :)

Orphans Deserve Better Campaign

The head of our orphan ministry at church, Greg, brought this to my attention via email...

its concerning the movie coming out "Orphan". I encourage you to look around this site a little, but if nothing else I URGE you to sign the petition asking Warner Brothers to counter act their poor portrayal of orphans by "giving back" a portion of their proceeds to orphan care.

Click here to sign the petition- it literally only takes a couple of seconds. And how great if we could get a ton of names on this petition! I also encourage you to pass along this email to friends and family who's lives have been touched by the command of James 1:27.

Thanks!!!

Pictures

Mr Micah!:

First ride on the mower (he looks way more nervous than he really was!):

Daddy's babies:

All my kiddo's!!:

Ugh! Sisters!:

The whole family on the 4th of July!:

More to come of Micah's first trip to the zoo!

Some homecoming pics!!

Thanks to my friend Katrina for snapping these for us!! My camera was in Jake's luggage so he could take pics in Ukraine, so all we have is a DVD (which I'm not sure I'm technologically advanced enough to put into a post). So anyone else who took pictures, could you please email me some? Thank you!!!

We're alive

Sorry for the lack of updates the last couple of days.... we are alive and doing well!!!

Micah is doing awesome and adjusting so much better than we could have anticipated. We were "prepared" for the worst and of course hoping for the best... but I feel the scale has absolutely tipped on the "best" side. :) If anyone is having any trouble adjusting, its Abby... she's not really sure how she feels about him getting all of this attention, but we've been trying our best to balance it and give her lots of the snuggles she needs. Every now and then she'll cop a little attitude with him, but she is a two year old Spencer girl!!!

He's having a hard time adjusting to the time change, which therefore means Jake and I aren't getting much sleep either... kinda feels like there's a new baby in the house... oh wait. :) And he's been a little fussy in the afternoons (which stinks because that's when family has been coming over to visit him), but if anyone is up for a 7am visit, you'll find a very bubbly little boy! lol!

Food has been a bit of a challenge too. When we find something he likes, he can't get enough of it- to the point of over filling up. But its finding something he likes that's the hard part. He's got a LOT of mouth issues (rotten sensitive teeth, chewed up blistery tongue issues, chapped lips, and some seriously funky fish/onion breath that we can't get to go away) but I'm hoping some visits to the pediatrician and dentist will help with all of that.

He's so much more of a baby than I pictured him to be when he came home... he fusses and makes really pitiful frown faces when he needs attention and he really loves to be held (with BOTH arms- he'll put your arms in place if you don't hold him with both, its ADORABLE), to comfort himself he sucks on his tongue making this clicking noise.... and I know that its because he never had a mommy to nurse on or a passy to comfort him and apparently never learned to suck his fingers... so he just sucks his own tongue. It breaks my heart.

Today he had his first ride on the lawn mower with Daddy and LOVED it. He also had his first home haircut- he and Jake both got buzzed. :) He met his cousin Jackson, who much to our surprise was bigger than him (at 20 months younger!) but was a little out of it because he had just gotten up from a nap, but I'm sure it won't be long before they're good buddies.

The girls are still having a hard time adjusting to calling him Micah instead of Pavel. Emily has just resorted to calling him "me and Ashy's brover". But it sounds similar enough to Pasha, I think he's already getting used to Micah. And I think it fits him.

He's such a cutie little boy. I can't believe he's finally home and the journey is over. Tomorrow Jake will start back at work at the church and the real journey will begin. :) Being home with 4 kids between the ages of 2 1/2 and 5. And in 3 1/2 months baby Mabry will be here as well. Its exciting to me. :) I'm honored to be Mommy to each of these incredible kids. And feel like the little boy sleeping around the corner was always mine, but I'm just now getting to take care of him. Please pray for peace, structure and "flow" in our house this week as we all go through a period of adjustment. I'm still prepared for whatever may come, but anticipating an equally "on the best side" coming week.

(PS. I promise to post more pictures soon!!! Stay tuned!!)

They're Home :)

My boys are home safe and sound and all that I can say is that it feels good to be a whole family. :)

After a very joyous airport homecoming, Micah fell asleep in the van on the way home... we brought him in, laid him on the chair and this is where has stayed. :) I suppose he'll have to take a tour of his new home in the morning. This is one pooped out little boy.

But all is well, I hope to post more pictures tomorrow. For now, I'm going to sleep GOOD tonight with my family all under one roof. :)

In one hour

Jake and Micah will be getting on a plane to come HOME. Just had to say that. :)

PRAYER WORKS!!

I am SO EXCITED to announce that Micah had a NEGATIVE tb test and that Jake is holding his visa IN his hands, and that they have a flight out first thing in the morning!!!!!!!!!!

For those who want to help us welcome them home at the airport tomorrow, email me at
spencerchics{at}yahoo{dot}com!

Praise the Lord for the great things He has done!! Thank you to everyone who prayed! (And thanks to my sweet nursing friends who prayed through the night! lol) ;) God is good and He hears the petitions of His children!!!

Now lets pray them home safely!!

PRAYER NEEDED

Ok well thats all the info I'm gonna have for today... its bedtime there so I won't be talking to Jake anymore and won't know anything new until tomorrow morning.

Here is what we all need to be agreeing for in prayer together:

~That the scope goes smoothly and the results are NEGATIVE
(its at 8am their time, midnight here)

~That the negative results come QUICKLY
(supposed to be in by noon there, 3am here)

~That they are able to rush over to the Embassy before it closes to get his Visa
(the embassy closes by 2pm, 5am here)

If everything doesn't happen on time, it will be Tuesday before they get it because Monday is a Ukrainian holiday.

Thank you for standing in the gap with us to bring them home so our family can be whole!

Scratch that

He did NOT have the scope today, its scheduled for first thing in the morning. They heard back from the CDC too late in the day on Wednesday to do it this morning. But once he has the test, they can get the results by noon and the visa by 2pm. Still not sure about flights...

Please pray...

Update

Jake has internet in his apartment now, but its an internet card, so its very slow and he is paying for minutes, so we're only able to briefly talk.

As far as I know, Micah did have the test this morning, and I'm assuming it all went fine because all that Jake said was that they will be getting his visa tomorrow. But not until 2pm their time and the flight that our travel agent had set was going to leave out at 6:30am.

So right now we're waiting to hear from the travel agent on if she can get a later flight out Friday. We were told yesterday that she couldn't even get a flight on Saturday... so right now I'm doing everything I can from here to figure out this flight stuff and GET THEM HOME already.

We'll do whatever it takes and pay whatever it costs to get them home quickly. So ready for this to be over. I'll update again in a little bit when I have more information.

FINALLY

an update. :) You know, sometimes ya just gotta take matters into your own hands.

Jake emailed me early this morning to say that they had STILL not heard anything from the CDC. And our facilitator Yulia was suggesting that I call from here to try to get something moving. Finally, a job! :) I can do that.

So after an hour and half on the phone talking to lots of different people... multiple emails and phone calls back and forth, here's the scoop:

They want him to do one day of testing. Then they can get on a plane Friday (if they can get a flight out). I'm so bummed for Micah that he has to take this test, but at least its only one day and not three. The test requires withdrawing mucus from his lungs via a tube down his nose. NOT a fun thing.

He's clearly not symptomatic and again, we know he was tested before, so there really is no concern that it will be positive. For more info on TB click here. Even if he has latent TB, he is NOT contagious and CAN come home. He'd just be on some antibiotics for about 9 months.

I hope this all makes sense, I'm a little frazzled from my morning. :) THANK YOU to everyone who's been praying for me and for our family. The saying is SO true "Every adoption is a miracle." More news tomorrow after the testing is over. Until then...

No word yet

There is no word yet on rather or not the CDC is going to accept their request to leave. Though it is evening on Monday there... its still morning here in the states so it's likely they haven't even seen the email yet.

PLEASE PRAY that they will accept the testing that was done at the orphanage and let them leave. Jake said our facilitator was a little more optimistic about it today. She also said the testing will NOT be fun for him (painful even?) so we really hope this will not have to happen. I'll update when I hear something.

7 months ago tonight

my husband called me from a youth leaders conference to say that God had confirmed in his heart what He had already spoken in mine.

7 months ago tonight I emailed Andrea from RR to tell her that we absolutely wanted to be "matched" with Pavel and Oleg.

7 months ago tonight a very excited Andrea emailed back extra pictures of my boys and gave me a rundown of the first few steps.

7 months ago tonight their RR profiles changed to say "My forever family found me"

7 months ago tonight I called my mom and most of my friends in tears of joy that we were really going to do this.

7 months ago tonight the life of a little Ukrainian orphan would change forever and he wouldn't even know it.

TONIGHT he's sleeping safely in his Daddy's arms.

God IS good isn't He?

Happy Fathers Day Jake!

My amazing husband is spending his first Father's Day having a SON with just his boy. :) I'm sure its a difficult day and doesn't so much feel like a Fathers Day at all, but we will celebrate with him when gets home as well... our princesses will do their best to make Daddy feel like a king. :)

I talked to him this morning and he said they are doing fine. Just hanging around Kiev! Due to some good hygiene and skin care, Micah's skin is totally clearing up! Praise the Lord. His face is totally clear and the big rough patch on his elbow is 3/4 of the way gone, Jake said. :) Micah loves showers, walking around town and watching Bugs Bunny. :) And he HATES having his teeth brushed... in fact its been unsuccessful at all so far. But Jake figured out he'll let him wipe the front of his teeth when he cleans his face. Jake bought some toys from the huge toy store around the corner and those have been keeping him busy in the apartment. (Jake also said he likes this apartment the best out of any of the ones he's stayed at there.)

It was fun to see my boys today. I missed them yesterday and was sad all day. :( Micah looks so adorable in the little clothes I sent and looks so happy and content. He smiled almost the whole time we talked today and periodically he would stand up in the booth and and let out a very caveman, very contented "UUHHHG!!!" Jake would hold him close and tell him "Shhh" and Micah would just grin at him. I don't even think Jake notices, but its funny to me how many times Jake kisses Micah in the course of one conversation. :) Watching their relationship is just the most precious thing. What an amazing Daddy. What an amazing boy.

Please pray for a good report tomorrow. We're really hoping the CDC accepts this email from the Doctors there and that they'll give them special consideration and let them leave. If not, the testing begins tomorrow. While one more week there isn't the end of the world... our family is SO ready to be together.

A few more days :(

Well, there was a little hang up... well I guess kind of a big hang up...

We found out while we were there for the first trip that Micah's mom was TB positive... Micah is NOT, but to my understanding of the way Ukraine does things, the medical files will say that the child has whatever the mother had (regardless of if they really do or not). So because his file says that he is TB positive, the CDC is not allowing them to come home until he has been tested there. Its basically 3 days of testing. The doctors have written a thorough email to the CDC requesting special permission for him to leave, but everyone is telling Jake that will probably not fly. If it does, they would accept it on Monday and they could fly home then. If not, they'll start the testing and he can come home Thursday.

Either way, it won't be tomorrow for SURE. :( Zack will be coming back because he has to work Monday though.

Oh and after sitting for 3 hours at the medical place, they got back in the car and Micah threw up all over Jake and all over their drivers car. :( He didn't say for sure... but if you've ever ridden around in Kiev... I'm guessing he got carsick.

All in all, Jake sounded in good spirits. At this point it was almost comical to him... so many things have gone wrong on this trip! Thankfully nothing major, but just enough to make this a pretty crazy adventure.

GOTCHA DAY!!

Our sweet boy is free! Forever! Praise be to God!!!

Jake picked him up from the orphanage today and went through all of the "release procedures"... they're all back at the apartment now. We were able to talk on Skype today... what a strange thing to introduce your children to one another through Skype! He was laughing at the laptop and thought it was really fun! I was wondering how the girls would react actually seeing daddy holding this little boy, but they were thrilled and it was wonderful! He and Abby kept blowing kisses at one another! Can I just tell you that I don't think my heart could BE any more full!!!

Jake got to the orphanage at 11:00am, so Micah had one last meal there for lunch. At which point they explained to Jake that he doesn't eat solid foods... which really throws us for a loop! We saw him eat some pretty mushy food while he was there but would never have figured that his group being 3 and 4 year olds would ONLY eat mush (basically).

Once he was back at the apartment, he tried giving him a sippy cup and he didn't know what to do with it (which wasn't much of a surprise). He drank the whole thing once they took the stopper out, but as of our conversation, he couldn't drink it with it in.

He took a nap with Jake just fine. I thought that was so sweet. :) So now they are waiting to get on the overnight train tonight. That ought to be interesting. :) I'm hoping he's able to update me tomorrow once in Kiev, but I'm not sure if they'll have internet or not. I might not hear from them again until Saturday when they are in Germany. Please continue to lift them up!

For those who were thinking about meeting us at the airport Saturday to welcome them home, please email me for details at spencerchics{at}yahoo{dot}com.

TWO DAYS UNTIL MY BOYS ARE HOME!!

In other news....

So long as we can convince our other kids... we've decided to go with Micah. :) (You can read about my inner debate by clicking here. :)) It'll be hard at first I think to get used to calling him that, but ultimately thats what we want to call him. And now is definitely the time if we are going to start calling him something else... so Micah it is. For the girls' sake, we will probably say Pavel Micah to get them used to it. And for him, Jake said he will be calling him Pasha Micah to get HIM used to it. :) And if you see me somewhere and you call him Pavel to me... don't feel bad, I'll be doing it for a little while too! But I do love the name Micah. I will always think of my verse (Micah 4:9). And I think Micah and Mabry sound so stinkin' cute together!!!