Sunday, September 19, 2010

operation i.d.

We decided that since Jackson is unable to give any identifying information about himself that we would look into purchasing an i.d. bracelet for him. We searched the internet high and low, emailed bloggy friends who are friends of Kurt's cousin in Michigan (Hi Rachel!) and then received emailed pictures from our friends in Jacksonville, whose daughter wears an id bracelet due to allergies. 

We finally decided on a bracelet for our little man.  And now this mama feels much better as he rides the big yellow bus away from my school each morning 10 minutes down the road!  He wears it at all times and does very well with it on.  He now likes to hear it jingle on the car window, his car seat arm rest, across the dining room table, down our footboard to our king size bed...you get the picture!

The information was simple:  on the front with the Medic Alert we have his first name and last name and then the words Hearing Impaired with the word "over" on the next line.  It flips over easily and has his birthdate, No Known Allergies (since at this time we don't know of any but since he is adopted, there could be something), our cell phone numbers and our first names.  It's stainless steel and wasn't too costly.  But the best part...

We feel much better knowing that someone could contact us if our little man was separated from any of us or from someone at school.


Sunday, September 5, 2010

7 months

7 months ago on February 2nd we finalized adoption papers in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, Peoples Rebublic of China.  Fast forward to September 2nd, we had our court hearing to "readopt" or "refinalize" what was done in China, here in America.  Although Jackson became a Swartzlander in every sense of the word 7 months ago, we decided to go through this very simple process here in the US so that we would be able to get Jackson an American birth certificate (which I believe is a Certificate of Foreign Birth) and then we will be able to apply for an American Passport!

Our attorney was wonderful.  He and his wife have 2 adopted girls from China.  He provides his services free of charge to families that have adopted from China to refinalize everything.  We only had to pay the court fees!  What a blessing for our family!  In all of the years that he has been doing this, Jackson was THE VERY FIRST BOY that he has represented!
Jackson and his "out of the blue" goofy grin! with our attorney, Mr. Pappas
Our family with Judge Piggotte
Outside the courthouse
Jackson and Kurt

Thursday, August 26, 2010

a little someone turned 3

Sunday was Jackson's 3rd birthday!

He had a blast!

More details on our family blog, but here are a few pictures for you to enjoy!







Bilateral Bahas

On Friday, we received a phone call from our insurance company that they had APPROVED Jackson for the BILATERAL Bahas!!!!!!  We just couldn't believe it!  As things usually go, we will be thrilled on the day that we are walking out of the audiologist office with them on!  We will probably be RUNNING hoping that our insurance company isn't waiting for us to tell us they changed their minds!

I have spent this past week calling back and forth between Shands and FL Health Care Plans trying to get FHC to send the paperwork to the correct fax.  It finally arrived today at Shands but UNFORTUNATELY the audiologist is on vacation until Sept. 8th and nothing can happen until she comes back.

But...on the bright side, our little man is getting what he needs and soon!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Help for the Hurleys

My friends, the Hurleys, over at www.5hurleykids.blogspot.com are down to the final days of raising money to bring home their son Waid from China.

Their story is full of compassion and selflessness!! When we were adopting Jackson, somehow our families managed to connect...we were with the same agency. Throughout the adoption process, Kurt and I were preparing ourselves that we would have to travel without a group because it was a Special Needs adoption. I was thrilled when Janet and I were able to contact each other and we had hopes of traveling together to bring our sons home! Although the timing didn't work out for us to travel together, the Hurleys did manage to travel just a few short weeks after us to bring home their son Wes.

At some point during their adoption, they felt called to seek pre-approval of a blind little boy whose file was about to be returned to China. Sometimes when this happens, the children are not able to ever be adopted! This leaves them with a desperate life on the streets, begging. Kurt and I witnessed this with our own eyes. The experience was painful.

Kurt and I are thankful that God called us to adoption. Thankful that His plans were bigger than ours so many years ago! And although God does not call everyone to adopt a child into their home, He does call us to do something!!! What does that look like for you or your family?

I can't begin to tell you what it felt like when people gave out of their hearts to help bring Jackson home! I still weep when I think about people listening to that still-small voice and then acting out of obedience and love to the Lord!

In James 1:27, God's Word says "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

We did what we were able to help the Hurleys bring Waid home.

Will you please pray about what God would have you to do?

Will you please pray for others to hear what God would have them to do?

Will you please pray and send this post around to your friends so that the Hurleys can bring Waid home??

His time is running out!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Sunday Snapshot:{Beachin' It}


Last weekend after dinner, we took the kids to the beach. This was Jackson's first time! Saying that he loved it would be an understatement!
As I looked out across the ocean, I was reminded of a little boy that only 5 1/2 months ago was on the other side of God's creation...waiting for us...waiting for a mama...waiting for a daddy...waiting for a sister...waiting for a brother...waiting for a chance at life...the life that God had created him for.
It was a thrill for this mama to see her littlest son captivated by God's greatness!

loving the wet sand!


finding such joy in the simple things in life



laughing as the cold rush of water came upon him!



happiness in playing with a big sister

What beauty there is between a father and a son!



A daddy to call his own!


Doing the things that dad's love to do with their sons

looking forward to what's coming next in life


The first BIG wave for Jackson!


We're looking forward to sharing many more FIRSTS with our lil' man!


Ni Hao Y'all








Thursday, July 8, 2010

broke, again

We decided on Monday to send Jackson's BCA back to Otic*n.  We have been watching it work sporadically, thinking that it was just needing a new battery.

If you held the microphone up to your mouth and spoke, the oscillator would work perfectly.  But, for anyone else talking in the room, Jackson wouldn't hear ANY of it!  The microphone would not pick up sound from even an arm's length away.  We also couldn't get any feedback with it.

Our audiologist is asking for them to REPLACE it instead of fix it again.  We're hoping to have it back tomorrow because our 6 month post placement meeting with our amazing social worker is on Saturday morning.

We've noticed that when Jackson doesn't have his BCA, he is rather grumpy.  I guess I would be, too, if I didn't have my glasses on!

Jackson has been working really hard at trying to talk.  He now will call "Maggie" (our 85 lb. Lab) in from outside.  He's saying Mama more often.  He says "Mour" (more)  and my favorite is UT OH!  I think we even got an "AMEN" out of him at dinner!