Little Boy Blue

What a sweet heart of a baby boy. If all you had to do in a day was drink bottles, learn to roll over, exercise your arms and legs and entertain the family, wouldn't you take a wink or two given the chance????? Tomoyuki's adoption paperwork is underway, please pray for that process. Pretty user friendly, don't forsee any snags along the way.

Happy Father's Day TOM

Happy Father's Day "Tom". What a very special dad you are to each of your children.
"Your the best dad in the world, so funny and crazy", so say's Bethany.

Tomoyuki posing with his new haircut. He has great hair, goes all over the place, certainly the style of the times.

Sashiburri "Long time no see", great phrase the japanese like to use. Well, I like to use it too. Sorry I haven't posted, we have been having fun getting to know Tomoyuki. Some friends from church gave Tomoyuki this "Wiggle Worm" activity mat. He loves to lay on it and try to pull the toys hanging down and especially smiles at himself in the mirror hanging. We try to have "Tummy Time" everyday on the Wiggle Worm. He can pick his head up and legs at the same time, "Airplane", but not yet raising up on his arms. Bethany is proving to be his best therapist thus far, spending alot of time instructing him on daily exercises and cheering him on. What a week we had last week. As Tomoyuki joined in on our daily schedules, he was able to meet so many folks. From Bessy's Yochien "Japanese Preschool", Yochien mommy's ESL class, Juda's school/classmates/teachers/therapists, Uemura "Mommy and Me" class, Ai no Kesshin Volunteers "Prayer Meeting" ladies, neighbors, Koza Church family and Goya Church family. We gave him a haircut, as he was in great need of one. He wasn't real thrilled about it but survived. He continues to love his evening baths. By the end of the week he along with Bethany and Juda were sick with a cold and cough. His turned into croup. After a few trips to the steaming mist of the warm shower room, his breathing got better. He continues to sleep so well at night, it really spoils us. He wakes up just cooing and oohing in the morning, so happy to see us, plays a bit, then has a bottle, plays a bit more, then dozes off into a little nap, wakes, plays, eats, dozes, throughout the day, going wherever we go, without complaining, riding nicely in the van. He is quite a trooper, and quite a joy to have. We are truly blessed to have the opportunity to be his family.

Welcome Home Tomoyuki

A few months ago we heard about Tomoyuki possibly coming to Ai no Kesshin for placement. Sarah already had one little boy with Down Syndrome she was fostering who was waiting to have heart surgery. God has heard our prayers regarding the Down Syndrome children of Japan not being placed in orphanages, at least for two most recently. Well it took a few months before Tomoyuki's family could make up their mind to place him for adoption. Please pray for his family as they grieve terribly over his little life. Through a course of events, God revealed to us that we should adopt Tomoyuki. We were very surprised by this opportunity and very excited. He was only in foster care for 8 days. So those of you who wrote and said, "Did I miss something?", NO you didn't, we just dit not have time to inform anyone before bringing him home. He is such a sweet baby boy. Although he has Down Syndrome, he is so healthy. He possibly has some hearing loss, not sure to what extent. For now it is convenient, the kids don't have to be quiet when he is sleeping, ha ha. We will do further testing soon. Pray that God will restore what loss he may have.

Everyone that accompanied Sarah at the airport to give me Tomoyuki. Ako, Co-Director of Ai no Kesshin, (beside me) is Emma (Ako's Daughter) Aya, Hannah and Maddi (a few of Sarah's children) then in the stroller is Jotanabe "Jo", on his way to his new family in Chattanooga TN. I am still laughing at what the people in the airport must have thought as they witnessed this scene. Up walks this American lady with all these Japanese children, passes one to another American lady, laughter and tears commense, we sit for just a moment exchanging paperwork and filled my suitcase with Tomoyuki's things. Scrambled to keep on schedule to get Sarah on her flight with Jo to America. Then there off, blowings kisses and saying "I love You's" heading up a near by excellator, then in a moment they ALL return as they were headed the wrong way, then once again the "I love You's" and blowing of kisses. Then I head to the restroom to get Tomoyuki in a front pack, then over to get my boarding pass and head to my departure gate. Isn't life great and isn't God even Greater.

Bethany couldn't wait to get her hands on him and hold him. He is quite a hand full and a little floppy. She has given him more bottles than we have. She is a great BIG SISTER.

Tom has sure got his lap full. Tomoyuki can't figure out what Juda thinks is so funny. He says, "Maybe it is my hair dooooo!"

Not sure if he is signing "Thank You" or being the ever so polite Japanese and covering his mouth when he laughs?????

He loves to smile and laugh. What a joy and treat he has been in just a short time. We are in for some fun.

Tomoyuki just fit right into the family as if he'd been here all along. Bethany has taken on the role as the Big Sister with a Baby Brother. Juda has taken the role as.......well, he is just Juda, keeps us laughing. He laughed so hard at Tomoyuki knodding his head up and down. Juda would laugh and Tomoyuki would knod again and again. Oh my goodness, what lies ahead.......alot of laughter that is for sure. Hey, we're always ready for a good laugh!!!!!!