1st Post-Placement Assessment...

A post-placement assessment is when your social worker (or case worker) from the adoption agency comes to assess how your adopted child is adjusting to his new family, along with how the adopted family is adjusting to the child. The assessments are done by the first month of the child's placement, then another one by the third month of placement, and the last one is done by the sixth month of placement. These assessments are sent to the Intercountry Adoption Board in the Philippines as well. We had our first assessment on Friday, September 25th.

Our social workers, Cherie and Lorean, came by and grilled us a little bit. But, overall, it was pretty relaxed. Leo did well answering all the questions, and Maile even helped us answer some of the questions they asked Marvin and I about Leo. The kids showed off their bedrooms and we all had dinner together then took pictures. It was a nice time.

One of the things we discussed privately with Cherie was Leo's sensitivity level. Leo is sensitive. Although he doesn't say so much in words to express his feelings, there have been a couple incidents where he has cried. So we talked about that. But overall, Leo appears to be very happy. He doesn't seem to long for the Philippines or his foster family at all. Perhaps he thinks we'll assume he doesn't like us if he admits that he misses anything from the Philippines. So I told him that it's okay to miss his foster family, friends, and social workers...it's normal, I said. Yesterday, he finally said that he misses them a little. That was good to hear.

All in all, I am pretty amazed at the transition that we have ALL made into our new family. Marvin is awesome. And, Maile treats Leo like a "real" brother (which can be good and bad)...I haven't heard her mention him being adopted in a while. I have no doubts that Leo is happy about being a part of our family now. It's all a work in progress, but although there have been a few rough spots here and there...as there should be...there's no denying how happy and complete we feel as a family. To God be the glory!!!

Reunited...

Congratulations to the Ireland Family! Andrea and Jeremy Ireland are a couple who have been going through the adoption journey with us. They adopted a set of three siblings from the Philippines...Reggie (13 years old), Lalaine (11 years old), and Inggo (8 years old). They brought their kids home a week before we left to pick Leo up in the Philippines. The wonderful thing is that Leo and Reggie are great buddies. Andrea and Jeremy have been a blessing to us in supporting us, encouraging us, and praying with us throughout these last months. Not many people can understand the trials this adoption journey takes you through and it's been great to turn to people who really, really know...

We were finally able to see the new and improved Ireland family this past weekend, on September 26th, at their Welcome Reception for their children. What a beautiful ceremony! When Reggie and Leo saw each other again, their smiles were so big! When they hugged...tears filled my eyes! God is so awesome!

The Patterson family also recently arrived home (safe and sound, Thank the Lord!) from the Philippines with their newly adopted son, Julius, who is friends of Leo and the Ireland kids (they were all a part of the same Welcome Home Program that initially brought the children here back in November 2008). We are excited to see all these kids reunited again.

We are also praying for Wes and Lynette Imayanagita, who are in the process of adopting a set of 3 siblings (sisters)...Maribel, Marimar and Angelica...also from the Philippines. With the terrible floods that recently hit the Philippines, we are praying that their children are safe and sound. They are expecting to pick up their kids by Christmas, if all the paperwork moves smoothly. We're hoping for sooner!

Finally home...

It has been a couple days since we came home from the Philippines...God is good! Leo and Maile are doing well. So is Koa! Maile goes back to school tomorrow. Leo will start next week. Leo has met a lot of people in the last two days. He's been holding up good. Maile is adjusting...she is the little "Big Sister" right now...bossing Leo around. But, he doesn't seem to mind so much. Maile has been phenomenol throughout this whole journey...it surprises me how mature she is, spiritually and intellectually. Still dramatic but she's holding up good, too. Right now, we're all very happy...adjusting, tired, and jet-lagged but our home is filled with joy! Praise God!

ICAB...

On Sept 10, 2009 we had our appointment with ICAB (which is the governing adoption board in the PI) to pick up Leo's travel documents. What an overwhelming day...in a good way! Before heading to the ICAB office, we went to the Parenting Foundation (where we picked Leo up) again to meet with the director and again with Leo's social workers. During our visit there, Marvin had the social workers translate some things that we wanted to say to Leo before we went back home. It was very emotional. We cried. The social workers fought tears as they translated some of it. Leo and Maile were mostly quiet. They asked Leo how he felt about coming home with us. He said he was happy. Afterwards, I felt such peace...our family was sealed. I thank God for our family. I thank God for the wonderful husband and father that Marvin is.


Driving to Quezon City to the ICAB office was so not fun. Traffic. Traffic. More traffic. Rough ride for the kids. At the ICAB office, we saw some familiar faces. Bernadette (the ICAB director) and Rutchelle (social worker) were both people that came to California while Leo was here back in November 2008. Happy to see them. We met with Dr. Sotto for awhile, the ICAB psychologist, then signed some papers...one was a form where we had to write a statement to Leo for his file (in case he chose to look through it in the future)....that was a little emotional. Leo got fingerprinted for that form. Then, Imelda (the ICAB social worker) went over all the documents that we would have to show the customs' officials at the PI airport and at LAX. The ICAB people gave Leo a small Filipino flag, a toy jeepney, and a book entitled "Philippines: The land that I came from." It was sweet of them to also give Maile a little doll wearing a Filipino dress. We took a lot of pictures...

From then on, Leo has been in our legal custody...
God is so good!

Reunited...

It has been 3 days since we were reunited with Leo. It feels like a few weeks have gone by! We are still in the Philippines and it seems we've managed to squeeze a month's worth of stuff into just the last 3 days. I will do my best not to be overly verbose and summarize the events...

The day we picked up Leo...Sept 7, 2009. Could hardly sleep the night before and Maile woke up at 3:00 am and started counting the minutes to our 10:00 appointment to meet Leo (didn't help). We were so excited! It was raining. When we finally saw Leo, it was very emotional. Leo's foster mother, foster brother (6 years old), his best friend from school, social worker, two other social workers, and a friend of Leo's foster mother were there to greet us. We met in an upstairs office. Leo was very shy, so was Maile. He opened a couple gifts we brought for him (an ID bracelet, and a framed drawing Maile made of her with Leo infront of our house). Leo's foster mother cried several times as she talked about Leo. I cried. Talked with the social workers about how Leo has been, his school, etc. They said lots of girls at Leo's school cried when they found out he was leaving. Seeing Leo say goodbye to his foster family and best friend was hard. Overall, Leo handled it all well. Despite the goodbyes, he was clearly happy to be going with us. He is excited to see our new dog, Koa.

We went back to Marvin's parents house in Las Pinas...hung out, ate lunch, went swimming, went to the mall (Leo forgot to pack all of his underwear!) where the kids played video games and we ate dinner.

The next day...went to the mall(Marv drove...so proud!) and Leo, Marv and Maile bought new shoes, went to visit my parents in Cavite for a couple days. Raining hard! Leo met my parents and "my side" of the family (Leo loved playing with my 7 month old niece, Mayumi), we did some shopping and ate out, had a breakfast party, hung out, walked in the rain to the Mini-Stop convenience store for ice cream...yummy:o) The kids love looking at all the stray dogs.

Today we have two meetings...going back to the Parenting Foundation office (where we picked up Leo) to meet with the director and psychologist, then will be going to the Intercountry Adoption Board office to meet with the board where they will hand over all of Leo's travel documents.


So far, everything has been better than expected! God is so good! I think Leo was a little overwhelmed at my parent's place having to meet so many people so early on but he did good. We've managed to have some quality 'down time' together as a family where we'll sit around the bedroom and hang out. Leo is most comfortable around Maile...they seem to have picked up right where they left off. He is so good with her. I thank God when I look at them together...what beautiful children I have! Have not heard Leo call Marv or I, "Mom" or "Dad" yet...that will come. Mostly, Leo is just as I remembered...sweet, sensitive, still loves the video games, affectionate...but his appetite is so much better than I remember! Hallelujah!

Want to say a special thank you to our wonderful friends, Dojo and the Aguilar family for handling our flight arrangements and for driving us (and picking us up) from the airport. Also, a heartfelt thanks to Kristen and John Winder for taking care of our dog, Koa, while we are out of town. Our hearts are so full from the love, support, and prayers we've received during our journey...

We are enjoying are stay here. A little muggy and rainy, yes...but not overly hot. Thank the Lord! But....I can't wait to bring our Leo home!