July 31,2018

What For It...........

We found out Friday afternoon Pierre, our social worker in Burundi, was going to hopefully visit Jameson over the weekend. The purpose of the visit was to deliver his package and tell him about his mother and father. Like most news with our adoption, we begin praying for all hands in the process and remind ourselves everything is in his time. 

This afternoon, we received an unexpected phone call from Melissa, our social worker from All God's Children International. Melissa shared Pierre was able to visit Jameson this weekend!!!! She also explain he was hopeful our court date would take place in September. We're realistically looking at a November through January travel date. Praise the lord!!!!! This little guy will be home before we know it! 

              We're honored and blessed to be Jameson's forever parents!

                                                   Love,

                                             Jim and Kelly 

July 25,2018

Emotional Roller Coaster

Our journey toward adopting sweet Jameson into our family has been an emotional roller coaster at times! It seems every high moment comes with a splash of reality which typically slows the process.

We thought our court date in Burundi had either already occurred or would be occurring any day now. Unfortunately, we received an email from our social worker stating our court date is currently scheduled for October. Our first reaction was- Are you kidding us? We were quickly grounded by a subtle reminder, this entire process to date has not gone as "planned." We've found God's unique timing to be perfect. Pierre, our social worker in Burundi, will be negotiating to move our court date sooner but there are certainly no guarantees. We want to note, several families received this news. Please continue to pray for all families currently adopting from Burundi as we accept God's perfect timing. 

What does this mean for travel? 

Once our court date occurs, we'll be waiting on our adoption decree. The adoption decree can take anywhere from one to two months. Then we'll wait for an invitation from Burundi to travel!!! Typically, this arrives 40 days after the adoption decree. We originally thought we'd be traveling between October and December of 2018. If our court date doesn't occur until October, then we'll realistically be looking to travel in January or February. Not only would Jameson not be home for the holidays, there would be a high likelihood we'd have to pay to update our home-study again. The irony behind this "set back" is no matter what Jameson is our son and WILL be coming home! We'll just have to continue to hurry up and wait!!!!!!!!!

T-Shirt Campaign:

Thank you to everyone who ordered a T-Shirt. Ours arrived today and WOW are they soft!!!! Remember, we want to collect pictures of everyone wearing their shirts!!! We want to show Jameson how loved he is! A few people ordered shirts after the deadline, so another campaign opened! If you know anyone that missed out and wanted to order, they have 11 days! The link below works: 

Order a T-Shirt

Jim and I appreciate each and everyone of you! Without you, the past three years of waiting would have been torturous! 

                                         LOVE,

                                     Jim and Kelly 

July 8, 2018

What is Cocooning and Why is it important? 

Cocooning is a very intensive time of care where Jim and I will be the sole primary caregivers for Jameson. During this time, we will be the only people to hold ,feed, touch, kiss, comfort and play with him. It's recommended we don't introduce him to new people including family members and not leave the house with him. During cocooning we have to be intentional about bonding with Jameson and teaching him we are his primary caregivers no matter what! Our main goal will be to develop healthy attachments and boundaries as well as a deep bond to us. We must be sensitive to his needs and highly responsive during this time as well. Establishing routines will also be key. The best part of cocooning will be learning his personality while he investigates ours!!! It's absolutely critical we establish TRUST before leaving our house consistently. 

The one piece of advice Jim and I hear over and over again is be sure to cocoon. Families choosing not to put this practice in place regret the decision. 

Our Plan.......

We will be in Africa for 9-11 days as a family unit. Upon returning home, we want to control the outside world and distractions as much as possible so Jameson can begin to feel comfortable. Remember we will be dealing with a language barrier as well. We will put ourselves in his shoes and provide routines and proximity (recommended to be only an arms length away as much as possible- even when he's sleeping).  We want to give Jameson our undivided attention during this time. He will guide us through play and we'll show him as much affection as he can tolerate. We will also limit rules to health and safety during this time. 

9-11 days in Africa 

First Two Weeks Home- Alone in our house as a family unit, providing him with some 1:1 time with each of us toward the end of this two weeks. 

Third Week Home- Transition back to work one of us at a time. 

*** Our plans will adjust depending on the time frame of travel and how he's handling the transition***

Once we go back to work, we will still be cocooning in the evenings and on the weekends. It's recommended we do this for at least the first 90 days and again anytime we feel it's needed. Once we have a pattern of good behaviors, we'll start emerging! 

What we ask of Friends & Family during Cocooning......

The main thing we need from our friends and family is understanding during this time. We will share our journey and time with Jameson via our Whittaker Adoption Journey Facebook Group. We will post pictures and videos as often as possible. Thanksgiving and Christmas will most likely fall during this time, we need everyone to understand our need to be low key and limit traveling during this time. Our local friends and family can run errands for us or even grocery shop especially during the first few weeks! 

The first three months Jameson is home will be critical for bonding as a family unit. While we know it's going to be hard for everyone because you all care for him deeply, we are asking you to be respectful during our cocooning and understand the process. Trust us, we'll be dying for each of you to meet him as well! 

Prayer Requests: 

1- For God to prepare Jameson's heart for his transition to his forever home in America with us. 

2- For Jameson to know he can be who he wants to be! We have NO expectations for his abilities or interests! 

3- For guidance as Jim and I make decisions regarding cocooning and schooling

4- For doors to open regarding childcare once we go back to work. We need to find a babysitter with limited, very limited kids in their home until he goes to school this Spring. Several potential plans have fallen through. 

5- God to continue to provide financially as we are nearing the end of this journey 

Thank you for joining us on this journey, please do not hesitate to ask questions about cocooning. We will do our best to answer! 

             Love,
         Jim and Kelly