Morning Light Children's home!!

WE are having a challenge. WE have a space for the children folks.. BUT we need a nanny and an AC. The main thing right now that YOU Can help with is the AC and ask around church for the nanny!!!

WE are asking everyone to consider adding just $10.00 to the fund. We need $1200 to get the AC in the building. Please consider this. We have children being turned away and need this home open!!!!

Thank you for your time and your consideration.
http://morninglightac.chipin.com/morning-light-ministries

If you are considering independent adoption in Taiwan in the future or even today, this may one day be your child's home and my child's home.. let's make it a special and comfortable one together!
Sarah k

The Splitting of the Blogs!!

Dearest ladies and gents. Do to the confusion being caused by having a dual purpose blog (Taiwan info and also family blog, I have decided to split the family blog off.
The address of the blog you are viewing will be the "Taiwan info blog" and will be located at http://taiwanindependentadoptioninfo.blogspot.com/

The family blog (which I just redesigned) will now be located at Taiwankiddo2.blogspot.com You will receive updates on Josiah and read
about our family life over there. I am sorry for any inconvenience this may
cause your links..lol.

AN INSIDE LOOK INTO INDEPENDENT!

The big 4! The big FOUR! The Fourth month! Ok, so it has been four months since we signed on with Morning Light. Our last adoption through Taiwan was a whopping 3 1/2 weeks to referral and 6 months from application to pick up! Of course this was when the milk and honey flowed freely and there were a gazillion people waiting in line! Even though we are with a small Missionary lead organization, time still ticks by, but hopefully just not as long as with the American agencies. Things are so different with a non agency adoption or Independent adoption. Foster care has to be located for your referral, paperwork is different, there is MORE travel across the island than with agency.
HERE IS THE SUPPOSED DIALOG of the intricacies of INDEPENDENT ADOPTION TAIWAN VS. Agency:
What could be so different you ask? Well, let's start with how an agency adoption would go.
First of all, you receive your referral WAY differently. The referral with an agency goes something like this.....
You either receive a call or an email with either a waiting child they are offering you or a child that has just come up for adoption within their network. You receive their picture (90% of the time or more) and their background, family history, health concerns if there are any to consider.
You think about it, pray about it and then accept or deny.
After referral acceptance, you get the contracts and the power of attorneys, which you first oogle over because they are sooo COOL! copy in triplicates times triplicates times a bunch more..lol. You get those notarized and then authenticated. Then they all go to TECO which says, "Yep, these are cool" and then they send them either to you or your agency. Your agency makes MORE COPIES of everything in triplicates times triplicates. You, If you are smarter than the average adopting bear, will take a copy of all these documents and carry one set WITH YOU, just in case, including copies of your passport ( I know they say no color, but do it anyways), AND you will leave a copy of your taxes and your whole "dossier packet" with a friend or trusted family member back in the states (including your passport copies) just in case you leave your documents in a taxi one day while in Taiwan and have to go to AIT to get your child's exit interview done and OOPS you don't have the info, BUT WAIT! YOU DO! Because you were smart, it is back at home, safe and sound and can be faxed or emailed right over.
Ok so you did the contracts and everything, you have all the info and now you are ready. You wait and wait, and wait, and GUESS WHAT? YOU WAIT! BUT WAIT, that's not all you also won a trip to "you don't know a thing ville". That's right, you don't get ANY INFO (depending on what agency and what judge and what orphanage). You possibly won't know when your court log in date was, when your court date is or was, or even when first ruling happened. So, you wait for the all fateful TRAVEL CALL! Once you get the travel call, you will have about 2-4 weeks to make your travel arrangements (depending on agency, orphanage, and AIT appointments already lined up since they only allow so many a week for adoption interviews).
So, you make travel arrangements for you and your oh so excited spouse, pack, repack, and finally pack again. You have the well known and famous "travel meeting" with your agency. Your blood is pumping, you have so many questions and they have answers for all. You are somewhat relieved now that you are up to speed. You make one more check of your luggage and your paperwork. You take your paperwork on the plane IN YOUR CARRY ON! So that you don't have to worry about the luggage not arriving or it getting ran over and your whole life history and nitty gritty info being all over the runway! You fly to Taipei, Taiwan. A twelve hour flight of butterflies in the tummy, watching the plane on the map with great anticipation, trying to occupy your reeling mind with airline movies, trying to sleep everynow and then when the butterflies grant you permission, or just talking to your hubby about how great your child is going to be (you know, what their cry sounds like, what their laugh is like, will they like you?, what are they doing right now?).
Ok, so you survived your flight, which is very nice and you couldn't have asked for better service if you took EVA AIR That is (small plug for our fave Taiwan flyer). You get off the plane, and even though you read the guidelines your agency sent you telling you NOT TO POINT!!!!!!! You get off the plane either graugy from sleeping or flat frenzied and excited and you POINT AT THE SIGN YOUR DRIVER IS HOLDING! You die of embarrassment and then vow to never point again! So you change your evil ways immediately and then you present your hand palm up towards the sign in correction. All the while excitedly yelling to your travel party, "there it is".
You worry for a split second "we have to go through customs" then you realize "there really isn't a customs to really speak of, no one is stopping you, no one even cares" so you grab your bags, make an instant check of the stroller to make sure all wheels are still attached, then make your way to your driver's car or van. You load it all up, quickly, since they like to do things quickly. You go on what the American's would call a rollercoaster or race track back home. You try to take in all the sites as they Wizz by you through the van windows. You try to snap a shot here and there and they are blurry since you are going oh 80 or so!! As you near down town Taipei you get more excited. Your thoughts are "Wow, I am really in TAiwan, this is soooo cool!" and then for some it turns to "WE are going to FINALLY MEET OUR CHILD, I FEEL SICK!"..lol.
Ok, so you came to grips with the fact you are no longer in Kansas Toto and you hang on for the remainder of your trip to your hotel. Some of you may choose to go directly to rail or another plane however if your child is in Tainan. None the less, your trip will end up at a hotel somewhere in Taipei or Tainan. You will meet your child either the next day or if you traveled earlier, in a day or two. You will again feel those butterflies, except this time they seem to have turned into BATS! You meet your child, you cry, you take pictures, you cry, you watch your husband playing with his son or daughter for the very first time, YOU CRY, you learn about their life there at the orphanage, you meet their caregivers YOU REALLY CRY because you are grateful for the love you see them giving your child, you give them their gifts, maybe listen to a letter from birthmom or YOU MEET HER!YOU CRY AGAIN! Finally, your day in the sun, your first day with the new love of your life, the day you waited for, the day you prayed for, Your Child's Gotchya day is almost gone, sniff sniff. You either board a plane or train or taxi and make it back to your hotel, which is more than likely in Taipei since AIT appointment is usually the day after you pick up your child, and THAT is in Taipei. You go the next day to AIT and you forget your money in the room (don't forget, all NTW or USD or a credit card but credit is unreliable and you don't want ANYTHING to hold up your child's visa). So you go back to the hotel and get the money. You arrive at the VERY SCARY guards standing outside and they ask you what your business is. You tell them and they smile, you think "they can do that?" lol. So you enter AIT. The appointment is easier than you had assumed. You run into another Afamily and say hi. Are they from your board? You go back to your hotel or site see. Next day you go back to AIT and get the VISA for your child. AGAIN, easier than you had assumed. That night or the next day you usually frantically pack your possessions up again to fly home, this time with the ultimate "Made in Taiwan" souvenir. You smile, many natives smile back. Life is good. You come back to mass crowds to meet you and your new sweet heart! You are dog tired. You make it through it all and think "where did the time go?".
Ok, so we just did an agency trip. Are you tired? I am.

Independent! Ok so, so far, this is what we have seen. Your birthmom has not always relinquished rights, which whether you know it or not, sometimes that is the case in agency too, but it seems to be more pronounced with independent. You get minimal info on your child up front sometimes, because they are not always born and you don't have the pull an agency does to muscle info out of the birthmom's doctors. You don't get a picture immediately, because this isn't agency land and that isn't a necessary thing..lol. You may get it a few days later though after you find out about your child. If your child is not born yet, then that is self explanatory, right? Unless you are partial to the alien look of a sonogram, then I would forgo this stage for a picture. Ok, so, since this isn't a normal referral you are use to, meaning agency style. I would assume, You feel very off kilter and kind of confused. Is this my kid? Is this it for our family? AFTER grueling back and forths in your thougths. You accept the child as your own. BUT the birth mom is under age and cannot sign the papers until she is 20, or SS are taking their time to get you the info on the kid or kids, or it is not born yet and again that is self explanitory (can't sign over what doesn't exist!). So, your waiting starts here instead of the courts. So you wait, and wait and WAIT! Details are nailed down as you go. They have to be because all cases are different. So, you just hang in there. Checking your email everyday for new information on the case. Your Taiwan side organization are great though and they get any info to you immediately. You are grateful. You seem to get more info than with agency because you are apart of the decision making process. You have a say so, since it is your adoption. You know WAY more than you did with your agency adoption and you are kept in the loop at all times. This is the nice part!!!! You get more updates than agency. So, depending on your birthmom's circumstance, you may have to wait a couple of months to be able to start the adoption. Depending on when she is due, is she 20?, will mom and dad sign on her behalf. You have to pay for your foster care. Which depends on who has the child as to how much they want. Some just want you to pay for formula and diapers or food and send clothing. Others want 400 USD. Until the home is up and running this is the way things are, so you deal with it. You find out your child is in oh say Taichung, so your court process will happen there. You finally get your contracts, you do the same process with them as with the agency, except there are NO triplicates times triplicates, BUT you are smart again this time and make a copy of everything for you to carry with you and one to leave at home. Ok, so you are through that stage! Pretty painless, just like with agency. Your papers go to the court either by SW or Lawyer. You get to skype sometimes with your child, even an infant. You get like 50 photos instead of 2 or 3 up the nose shots or some months not at all. YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON THE WHOLE TIME however. EVEN when your child gets a tooth!!! AGAIN, a nice thing to have on your side. You know court log in, court date, first ruling and then you get THE TRAVEL CALL. You have control over this somewhat though and you can leave as early as a week, to go and get your child. You frantically get your flights and hotel in order. Pack, repack. You don't have time for the final pack..lol. So, you just get on the plane and go, go, go. Where? To Taipei of course, just like with agency. BUT, your child is wherever your foster care is, so you go and pick them up say in Taichung. BUT they were born in Taitung, so you load up on a plane or a train again and go to Taitung to change the household registry YOURSELF, which means you get the "friendly IR-visa" and no readoption in some states. They will be a citizen upon touch down. Then you want to thank those that helped with finding your child so you go and visit with the missionaries, then the unwed home, so more planes or trains or automobiles for you. SO, you have already traveled half the island possibly. Lastly, you too have to do the agency thing and go to AIT for the exit interview and then second day, the visa. You of course are smart and do the whole document copy thing and make sure you have the all NTW or USD for payment, because rememer? WE don't trust the credit card. So, you are done and ready for the flight home with the newest member of your family. The butterflies come back, after all, they don't want you to fly alone. Your child does fine on the way home and you are greeted by what seems to be all of your home town if not the entire state! After all, you survived an adoption and have a super sweet kid to show for your efforts, pain, agony and sheer exhaustion!!!!! THE END!
Life is going ok, I have lots to do and NOT ENOUGH TIME to do it in. There are things going on behind our scenes that we are agonizing over! Emails need to be emailed, yard sales had, jewelry made! YIKES! I am so overwhelmed right now. Anyways, we hope to be doing a "real update" of some kind in the near future. Bear with us!

Your Chance is Here!

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Cyber world! Now is your chance to support a Birthmom. His Hands Taiwan has a birthmom and baby boy who are in desperate need of your help. This is His Hands first birthmom case sense opening their doors on March 1st. Mom is in an abusive relationship and baby is also involved seeing as they live with the abusive boyfriend of mom. Baby is 16 months old and in need of a surgery for a hernia. There is all the information you can hope for at this site HIS HANDS.
Please if you can find it in your heart, this Birthmom needs your prayers and help so does baby Adam.
On up note, His Hands has done so very well with this young birthmom and the situation has been a blessing to all involved! Thank you for your time.

Chinese New Year Videos!!!

TOO CUTE CHINESE GIRLS DANCE TO NEW YEAR SONG AND SING!

NEW YEAR ACROBATICS!

LION DANCING

DRAGON DANCING

Chinese New Year Calendar!

THE DAYS BEFORE CHINESE NEW YEAR! Guonian (is a typical greeting during new year meaning that you made it through the old year!)

SO, Guonian!!!!! And I mean that, it has been a hard year in our house. The first act of the New year is actually done days in advance to the first new year day!


Preparations for the Chinese New Year in old China started well in advance of the New Year's Day. The 20th of the Twelfth Moon was set aside for the annual housecleaning, or the "sweeping of the grounds". Every corner of the house must be swept and cleaned in preparation for the new year. SpringCouplets, written in black ink on large vertical scrolls of red paper, were put on the walls or on the sides of the gate-ways. These couplets, short poems written in Classical Chinese, were expressions of good wishes for the family in the coming year. In addition, symbolic flowers and fruits were used to decorate the house, and colorful new year pictures (NIAN HUA) were placed on the walls (for more descriptions of the symbolism of the flowers and fruits.

Kitchen God
After the house was cleaned it was time to bid farewell to the Kitchen God, or Zaowang. In traditional China, the Kitchen God was regarded as the guardian of the family hearth. He was identified as the inventor of fire, which was necessary for cooking and was also the censor of household morals. By tradition, the Kitchen God left the house on the 23rd of the last month to report to heaven on the behavior of the family. At this time, the family did everything possible to obtain a favorable report from the Kitchen God. On the evening of the 23rd, the family would give the Kitchen God a ritualistic farewell dinner with sweet foods and honey. Some said this was a bribe, others said it sealed his mouth from saying bad things.

Free from the every-watchful eyes of the Kitchen God, who was supposed to return on the first day of the New Year, the family now prepared for the upcoming celebrations. In old China, stores closed shop on the last two or three days of the year and remained closed for the first week of the New Year. Consequently, families were busy in the last week of the old year stocking up on foods and gifts. Chinese New Year presents are similar in spirit to Christmas presents, although the Chinese tended more often to give food items, such as fruits and tea. The last days of the old year was also the time to settle accumulated. debts.

Family Celebration
On the last day of the old year, everyone was busy either in preparing food for the next two days, or in going to the barbers and getting tidied up for the New Year’s Day. Tradition stipulated that all food be pre-pared before the New Year’s Day, so that all sharp instruments, such as knives and scissors, could be put away to avoid cutting the "luck" of the New Year. The kitchen and well were not to be disturbed on the first day of the Year.

The New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day celebrations were strickly family affairs. All members of the family would gather for the important family meal on the evening of the New year’s Eve. Even if a family member could not attend, an empty seat would be kept to symbolize that person’s presence at the banquet. At midnight following the banquet, the younger members of the family would bow and pay their respects to their parents and elders.

Turning Over a New Leaf
The Chinese New year is celebrated on the first day of the First Moon of the lunar calendar. The corresponding date in the solar calendar varies from as early as January 21st to as late as February 19th. Chinese New Year, as the Western new Year, signified turning over a new leaf. Socially, it was a time for family reunions, and for visiting friends and relatives. This holiday, more than any other Chinese holiday, stressed the importance of family ties. The Chinese New year's Eve dinner gathering was among the most important family occasions of the year.

1st Day of New Year
Lai-See (red envelopes you all hear about)

On New Year’s Day, the children were given Red Lai-See Envelopes , good luck money wrapped in little red envelopes. On New Year’s day, everyone had on new clothes, and would put on his best behavior. It was considered improper to tell a lie, raise one’s voice, use indecent language, or break anything on the first day of the year.

Starting from the second day, people began going out to visit friends and relatives, taking with them gifts and Lai-See for the children. Visitors would be greeted with traditional New year delicacies, such as melon seeds, flowers, fruits, tray of togetherness, and NIANGAO, New Year cakes.

7th Day of New Year
Everybody’s Birthday
The entire first week was a time for socializing and amusement. On the streets, the stores were closed and an air of gaiety prevailed. There were numberous lion dances, acrobats, theatrical shows, and other diversions. Firecrackers, which symbolized driving away evil spirits, were heard throughout the first two weeks of the New year. The Seventh Day of the New Year was called "everybody’s birthday" as everyone was considered one year older as of that date. (In traditional China, individual birthdays were not considered as important as the New Year’s date. Everyone added a year to his age at New Year’s time rather than at his birthday.)

SIDE NOTE: This is probably why when we researched birthdays and how they celebrate it that we found that they really didn't beyond the first year and birth! Red envelopes were also given when a child was born.

15th Day

Lantern Festival - 15th Day
The New Year celebrations ended on the 15th of the First Moon with the Lantern Festival. On the evening of that day, people carried lanterns into the streets to take part in a great parade. Young men would highlight the parade with a dragon dance. The dragon was made of bamboo, silk, and paper, and might stretch for more than hundred feet in length. The bobbing and weaving of the dragon was an impressive sight, and formed a fitting finish to the New Year festival.


SIDE NOTE: Our family is going to put our hopes and wishes on helium balloons in Marker and place a glow bracelet or blinking light inside and release them all at once to celebrate the Lantern festival! We will take pictures if we can and et you know how it went! I think it will be wonderful. Not as beautiful as the real thing but pretty none the less!

Flowers: Flowers are an important part of the New year decorations. In old China, much use was made of natural products in celebrations as well as in daily life. The two flowers most associated with the New Year are the plum blossom and the water narcissus

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

Chinese New Year Glitter Graphics

To hear the video, please pause the player to the right in the side bar.
The music you are listening to, is a variety of New Year music, including one from Taiwan traditional New Year music! Wonderfully cheery isn't it? I hope you enjoy.

Chinese New Year is a 15 day celebration, beginning on February 7th on the mainland and I believe I also read somewhere that it is beginning on February 6th in Taiwan, but remember that Taiwan and China are about 14 hours ahead of us, so they could have meant the 6 th here but the 7th there..lol. During the Chinese New Year, the country of Taiwan pretty much lay down their jobs in a lot of their jobs and go to festivals and events that are all apart of the celebration, at least government jobs do....we know this because of the court speed ups you experience right before the new year and the court slow downs you experience right during and after the new year!


In some aspects, the Chinese New Year does resemble the American New Year. They have fire works, they have new year resolutions, new year hopes and dreams... etc. In some ways however their new year is so different and wonderful! They have dragon dancing, parades, and Lantern festivals just to name a few things! Isn't it awesome what your new child has or will bring to your life? I am so happy that we have this part of us now to share with Jeremiah each and every year. It is such a colorful celebration with hope and new days to look forward too!

This Sunday, Jeremiah will wear his favorite outfit.. his traditional chinese outfit that we got him while in Taiwan. He loves wearing his outfit for his special occasions! And wouldn't you know it? He looks so snazzy in it too?! Anyways, he will wear his outfit to church so that they too can share in his country's celebration! I just wish we could let off some of those sky lanterns... too cool!!!!!! So, to wrap this up, Happy New Year!!!!!!

(as found on Infoplease.com)
A Ratty Year

Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal's year would have some of that animal's personality. Those born in rat years tend to be leaders, pioneers, and conquerors. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Affleck, Samuel L. Jackson, William Shakespeare, and Mozart were all born in the year of the rat.

Fireworks and Family Feasts

At Chinese New Year celebrations people wear red clothes, decorate with poems on red paper, and give children "lucky money" in red envelopes. Red symbolizes fire, which according to legend can drive away bad luck. The fireworks that shower the festivities are rooted in a similar ancient custom. Long ago, people in China lit bamboo stalks, believing that the crackling flames would frighten evil spirits.

The Lantern Festival

In China, the New Year is a time of family reunion. Family members gather at each other's homes for visits and shared meals, most significantly a feast on New Year's Eve. In the United States, however, many early Chinese immigrants arrived without their families, and found a sense of community through neighborhood associations instead. Today, many Chinese-American neighborhood associations host banquets and other New Year events.

Chinese New Year ends with the lantern festival on the fifteenth day of the month. Some of the lanterns may be works of art, painted with birds, animals, flowers, zodiac signs, and scenes from legend and history. People hang glowing lanterns in temples, and carry lanterns to an evening parade under the light of the full moon.

In many areas the highlight of the lantern festival is the dragon dance. The dragon—which might stretch a hundred feet long—is typically made of silk, paper, and bamboo. Traditionally the dragon is held aloft by young men who dance as they guide the colorful beast through the streets. In the United States, where the New Year is celebrated with a shortened schedule, the dragon dance always takes place on a weekend. In addition, many Chinese-American communities have added American parade elements such as marching bands and floats.

Although as a Christian family, we do not believe in the "legend" or celebrate the spiritual side of the New Year, we do share the culture of the New Year celebration with our Taiwanese adopted son! We are so happy to add his wonderful and rich culture to ours as we live and grow together. I think the Lantern festival is just beautiful and would love to see that in person, Maybe one day little man! I hope to one day see him involved in his cultural celebrations such as the dragon dance or the Lantern festival! Just beautiful. Thank you Jeremiah for sharing your wonderful heritage with us every day! We love you! Shing Shang Hau!

(ifnoplease.com)

New contact addresses for......

Here are some new contact addresses for those wishing to work with Christian Mountain Children's home. They work through these agencies in Taiwan and have requested that any family wishing to work with them contact these agencies!

Catholic Welfare Services
Room 907, Central Building (9th Floor)
2 Chung Shan North Road, Section 1
Taipei, Taiwan
tel: 311-0223, 311-7642

Christian Salvation Service
397 Hsin Yi Road, Section 4
Taipei, Taiwan
tel: 707-8736

The Pearl Buck Foundation
Room 950, Central Building (9th Floor)
2 Chung Shan North Road, Section 1
Taipei, Taiwan tel: 331-8690

BOTTLES,BINKIES, AND FORMULA! OH MY!

Orphanage Care in Taiwan:

Bottles, Pacies and Formula OH MY!

I know your mind is going a million Miles per hour.
We've gone over what to pack and what not too,
but I am sure you are still thinking that there is something else
you can do to be a better mom! You are thinking, I know they
said don't bother to bring bottles but I have to try,
or that the pacies are different from ours and so is the formula
......BUT!

Ok..let's start with this statement. "Many that have gone
before you brought these things and either it worked or not
for them".
Let's face it, adoption is a hit and miss, trial and error kind of world.
Now that you have signed up, get imaginative and if you
do ask the ladies on the forums, try to listen to what is being said
even though you are itching with excitement. We all
know that just like those that have gone before you, YOU TOO
are hoping for a perfect journey and wanting to be prepared!
If you feel you must try to bring bottles for your child and they
are in St. Lucy Center. The bottles they use are essentially some
of the cheapest on our American market. Feel free to go on to
Taiwan with out, they will give you a bottle or two from the
orphanage and then you can go to a pharmacy or a department
store and match what you were given up with what they have OR
I can tell you here and now what they are like so that you can
keep yourself busy during the wait to travel and search for them..lol.
The only way I can explain it is to tell you what to look for in
the U.S. The nipples in Taiwan have an x type mark on the top of the
bottle that is missing one of the legs. So it looks like a 3 legged x
of sorts or it will have an x shape on the top of the nipple.


Nuby has some like this but the nipple is caved in a little
which our child transitioned to fine..BUT yours may not.
None the less, the one you are looking for has this x on
top.

Anyways, the reason why they use these nipples is because
in Taiwan, their nipples like this come with spreaders. They
are a little object that you poke
through the nipple that opens these legs up to the desired flow.
Older children around 10-12 months nipples are opened pretty
much all the way, for max flow. Now, these nipples can be found
here BUT they do not come with a spreader... so here is what I
did. First
of all I wasted luggage space by insisting I would bring MY
choice of bottle and hope the baby liked them...guess what?
DIDN'T work lol. So, my next attempt was to take the bottles
the orphanage gave us in Taiwan and go to the department
store next to our hotel
and match up what I was given with what they had.
I found the same kind of nipple and similar shape bottle and
we were in business. I bought an extra 2 bottles and 3 additional
nipples. The bottles came with the spreader to open the nipple
for max flow.
THEN after returning, I went searching again for the nipples
and the bottles. I found them in run of the mill Playtex and
some cheap brands and the bumpy NUBY nipples have the x on
the nipple too.
Just look for the 3 leg x or an x on the top of the nipple.
Though ours doesn't come with a spreader, if you got one in
Taiwan, you are set. They work on these nipples too! For a
transition bottle I got the NUBY, want to be sipper bottles.
Our child would not accept a regular sippy cup for quite a
while and he was age 1, so I had to get imaginative and search
for something that would
"trick" him into progression. SO, I looked and looked and found
the NUBY system. Which allows for an adjustable flow in the nipple
and then a second "sippy cup" style nipple that still resembles a
bottle nipple in sorts. He fell for it hook line and sinker!






After that it was easy sailing NOT! I then offered him a latex coated hard
sippy cup spout until he accepted and finally, I transitioned him to
a hard plastic sippy cup! WHEW! Was that all? YEP!
As for Binkies! THEY DO LOOK FOREIGN! I don't have
one that he didn't end up biting off the tip left or I would show
you one.
If you must try to buy a pacie for your baby, I would suggest
Round nipple and straight, very little to no contour! I would suggest
though that if you do not want to waste money, to buy some extra
in Taiwan and then compare them when home. We had 3 or 4
extras and he destroyed or got a hole in everyone over a year time.
On a trip to Colorado he wrecked the last binkie! We were then
in a *loud booming movie voice" BINKIE EMERGENCY!
So, I bought I think 5 of 6 packages at 4 dollars a pop of binkies that
resembled the newly burried and dearly departed binkie and had
him try them all. He finally found one style by playtex that he
approved of and we were in business yet again. So, the binkie
emergency was virtually avoided to a point and the child was happy
yet again. WHY NOT JUST TAKE IT AWAY you say? Well,
because I felt that I had ripped pretty much EVERY BLESSED
thing from this poor kid he once new in one years time...
SO, I decided that the binkie was his call along with the sippy cup
transition (that one not so much). We did wean him down to
a binkie only at naps and bedtime though I think about 6 months
after he was home, and then a few months before age 2 he
finally kicked the binkie! Well, actually he got dangerous with the biting
the tip off and we HAD to say good bye to our dear friend.
Lastly, the Formula! At SLC they were putting a cereal
by nestle' in the bottle with the formula. We could not find either
in the states.
So, I would suggest that you buy a LARGE can at the department
store, or pharmacy. We had to find ours at the pharmacy because
ours was not findable at the departmentstore. Buy one or two of the
cereal and mix your bottles DRY formula up for traveling around
TAiwan for the day or carry a formula distributor. We did BOTH and
it worked great. On the plane we took the WHOLE lg can on board
and mixed 3-4 bottles DRY and just added water! AT SLC they did
not warm the bottles up so he took it at room temp. Awesome!
Made my life WAY easier! If you think of it though, by time they
would get around to feeding everyone, the bottles were probably
room temp anyways! So that is probably why he preferred it this way.
Once home I transfered our child to a NATURAL formula
by baby organics! We were very happy with this product and we also
used their cereal. He spit this formula up a lot less. We
mixed it pretty much according to what they mixed his formula in
Taiwan and added the cereal until our DR. appointment.
At the appointment he took him off of formula IMMEDIATELY and
put him on WHOLE milk and food. Which was a given! LOL.
Some parents preferred to mix the new formula with the old.
This didn't quite make sense to me so we just went ahead and
changed him and it was for the good! You are the child's mother,
if you feel a DR. visit for this info is needed go for it, otherwise
it is up to you. You can even breastfeed!!!! Yep, that's right.
You have that ability all built in too!!!! Amazing? YEP!
So, to recap, there are nipples that match SLC that you can
get state side! There are "similar" binkies but no true twins for
the binkies in Taiwan! And the formula is not going to be gotten
here in the U.S. more than likely so you will just have to transfer
your child over to another Formula. OR you can breastfeed!
I will try to get info on Chung Yi bottles and post that next time!!!!

Traveling soon???? What to pack!!!!

Travel: Packing Document:

Hello Ladies! So you have waited and waited and um well waited until you couldn't wait anymore! You have ridden the adoption
rollercoaster to heights that are unexplainable and to lows that are just as equally unexplainable. You have called your girlfriend
and typed to all of your forum friends until your fingers are numb and "FONT" is now your middle name. Now you have received
"THE CALL", that you have heard about from so many people. You have cried uncontrollably, you have jumped up and down and
now have an appoinment with the chiropractor and the bottom line is that You have been given the green light to pack and make arrangements.
All the packing drills up to this point has been for this moment, the very action of "Packing" for a trip to Taiwan to meet your child.
DON'T Panic!!!!!! But DO pack those comfy shoes and make sure there are chips for the camera... oh and don't forget......
This document is about to become your packing buddy! That's right.. just go down the list. Here we will list the DO TAKES
vs. The DON'T TAKES! So pull up a cushion and watch the drama unfold as we see what really should go and what should stay...

DO TAKES! (let's start with clothing) Taiwan is a VERY HOT country, in which the summer heat can reach a sweltering
100plus with ease. What does this mean for you Northerners that have never lived in Frightful Florida??? (It is not at all pretty
when it comes to heat) This means that you are about to experience a hot like no other..lol. Not only is it going to be hot but
you are representing your country and in another culture, so what is correct clothing? Well, while we were there we did not see
many native woment wearing anything less than a nice capri. Most women were in capris, slacks/jeans or dresses. Men were mostly
in jeans or slacks mainly with the occassional shorts. I personally suggest long flowing skirts for women. I found them to be
much lighter and a lot more confortable while in the heat. Look at it as an investment in personal airconditioning..lol. So, with
that said, pack what you think you will be comfortable in. If it is during the winter, you might want to concentrate a little more
on pants and a light jacket.
Shoes for you and hubby. I would concentrate on comfort. I took my chocos and David took a couple pair of shoes. If you get
around, you will do some walking,so be comfortable. ON a recent poll in a Taiwan group of shoes to wear, Chocos was number
2 with Crocks being the leader! When we traveled our agency told us to keep in mind that the memorials and the temples may
require certain dress and sure enough, Chiang Kai Chek did. They wanted closed toe shoes, no sandles so keep that in mind
too if you are planning on site seeing.
Some hotels offer laundry, but with you just getting to know your little one for the first time I would suggest not making more
headache for yourself and rely on the clothes you bring.

YOU AND HUBBY!
A nice church type outfit to pick up your little on in and possibly for attending AIT meeting.
A mixture of casual and nice clothing.
2 pair comfortable shoes each just in case one pair doesn't work for you or you wish to switch for a day.
bathing suits if your hotel has a pool
Pajamas
A hat if you are sensative to heat.
Of course plenty of underclothes, more than normal because of the possible sweating you will do while in Taiwan.
Sun glasses
tooth brush
tooth paste


Your child's clothing is a whole nother story! I am sure your orphanage person will give you pretty good ideas of how big
or small your child is, but I would suggest that you bring 2 sizes of clothing just in case and at least 2 pair of shoes!
The shoes was the big problem with our pick up. We brought 4s he was in a 5 1/2. Can you say Big foot? If you are
picking up a child over 2 I would strongly suggest you wait to buy clothing until a week or two before leaving so
that you are getting accurate sizes. Or you can "forget" the shoes all together and buy some Ellie roos and
squeaker shoes!!!!!!

BABY or CHILD!

2 different size shorts, pants dresses.
2 different sized shoes (possibly sandals since it is hot)
You can pick up diapers in Taiwan at department stores but if you wish then bring one package of diapers.
Hat or bonnet for hot sun.
Onesies and pajamas for sleeping or romping in your room
(when packing your diaper bag for travel, make sure you have a few changes of clothes including a soft (no zipper) sleeper.
Our little one got a chaffed chest from the zipper and soiled a few outfits while traveling. It is a long ride home folks.)

THE MEDICINE CABINET
Ok.. not exaclty, but you will need to bring some medicines. The medicines we use can be found pretty easily in Taiwan, BUT
they are a little less strength than ours even if it says it is the same strength and I would strongly suggest that you don't
rely on finding it in Taiwan simply because you are picking up your child and do not want to have to travel across a
country needlessly during an emergency if you can avoid it... take the time to get to know your child... So here is a list that
we found helpful. We have info for you if you need an english speaking doctor while in Taipei and your orphanage will
be reachable I am sure if you need one in their hometown. Your child may be on country insurance still so if they get sick
just take them in and show them the Insurance card provided. Regardless, Doctors are very reasonably priced

Allergy medicine for you and baby/child such as benedryl (helps on plane ride too to keep baby's ears relaxed)
Allergy cream
Eye drops if you are a contact wearer both sterile and re wetting
Tylenol or other
Cough syrup
Orajel or Teething tablets by Hilands (teething tablets are wonderful)
An antibiotic for stomach ailments or small infections for you and hubby
Prescription medications (if you take these in a carry on, they must be less than 4 oz and in a ziplock bag)
Pepeto bismal or Tums
Gas medication
Imodium
Contact kit for contact wearers
Eye glasses
Noczema for sun burns
Baby powder
Butt cream for baby
Sun screen for all
baby/child tylenol
Baby toiletries for first bath with mom and dad (burt's bees shampoo bar and soap was wonderful for travel)
Thermometer for you and a child/baby thermometer with non vasaline base if it is a bottom one.
Nit/lice remover only if your child is in an orphanage sittuation.
Bandaids
Neosporin

IT"S FOR THE BABY/CHILD
* DO NOT BRING: I would not suggest you bring bottles unless you are told for sure what ones they are using. The ones we brought were all
wrong and he would not touch them. SO, just go and match them up with the ones in the department store and you should be
fine. Buy a few for home.
* DO NOT BRING BINKIES: Their binkies are WAY different from American ones and hard to match up in form and shape. If your child's binkie looks foreign to you, find them while in the country and buy at least 5.
*DO NOT BRING: Formula, buy that in country and buy one extra to take home.. I would suggest buying one of those formula dispensers for
in the diaper bag while traveling around Taiwan. HOWEVER, premeasuring the powder in bottles is fairly easy for traveling
or take the whole container on the plain with you (FILL WITH BOTTLED< productid="2590956">


MONEY!!!!
DO BRING: Money Belt. Be careful though when carrying your passports in them. They tend to get wrinkly if the money belt is next to the skin. You have to carry your passports at all times so this is just something you will have to figure out!
*Call your banks and credit card companies BEFORE you travel and let them know you are going out of the country, and when. They can (and do) freeze accts they tag as having suspicious activity.. which means you could get stuck in Taiwan with no ability to get cash UNTIL you reach them by phone.
*TWO DIFFERENT BANK or credit cards (WE took a prepaid thank God that saved our lives at Taipei 101, we could use our
bank cards for all ATMS but the ones in Taipei 101 and in Tain Mu. The prepaid however worked great!!!! no green dot)
*EXCHANGE money on the U.S. side when possibleI personally would exchange at the U.S. International airport! You will have a chance if are in the LA airport right after you cross into the international area after the ticket booths. The one we used was to the left on the way to customs! It didn't seem that bad. You can also do exchange in the airport in Taiwan BUT your taxi will more than likely be waiting and they rushed us unbelievably! They can only park for so long and they want to load immediately! You can also get NTWDollars out of the ATM's there and they are in Chinese and English. I would suggest however bringing 2 different kinds of bank or credit cards! We brought our bank card and we also (thank God) brought a special prepaid card that I had set up with 600$ on it just in case. Which all of the ATMS except "bank of China took" which Bank of China was what was in Tain Mu and also in the Taipei 101. So, I whipped out the prepaid at the Taipei 101 and it worked!!!! So, moral of the story, easier to exchange and from what I hear cheaper to exchange in the U.S. airport!
*AIT APPOINTMENT!!
Also, for AIT, pay all in USD or NTW. The credit card machine isn't always working and it WILL HOLD your visa up!


*YOU DON'T need an electrical adapter for Taiwan. Your things will work fine in their sockets.
Also SOME CELL PHONES WORK IN TAIWAN SO CALL AND FIND OUT IF YOURS DOES! VERIZON DOES WORK!!!!!!!!
*But this is a whole nother file...
*A phone card left at home for calling you back, Will get back to you with the one that we used that used barely anyminutes.
*A phone card for the trip for you to use.
*Lap top if you wish to keep in touch with back at home and you can skype call if you have it with you.

FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SNACKS!!!!!! Pack snacks for YOU!!!!! Maybe even some real food.
Some parents have gotten to Taiwan and just didn't eat! Dorritos do not even taste like dorritos, burgers don't taste like burgers
and the Snozzberries don't taste like Snozzberries (this line donated by Willie Wonka) Let's face it........ you are
not in Kansas anymore honey and your little doggy is eating all your comfort food!!!!!! That's right. Even though there are
restaurants parading around in "KFC" clothing and Pizza Huts, they do taste a little different. I mean when was the last time
you went up to Micky D's and asked for a shrimp burger on a rice bun? And paid 150 NTW dollars for said burger????????
UM.. maybe never! In Taiwan, there are like 2 or 3 grades of beef, one is called Australian beef, another is "I am not sure
beef, does in MEOW?, and the last is American beef! They use a any of the three over there so please ask what beef it is before
ordering. If you like chinese food, that is great. You should be able to eat, BUT it is not like our Chinese food. Our food is
known as CANTONESE food to the Taiwanese. The Taiwanese eat CHINESE food. It is quite good, but nothing says
"Passport please" like sitting in a foreign country while they point at ONE chicken dish, ONE beef dish, and ONE fish
dish out of 20 items and you are expected to point and eat! Don't get me wrong it was good but we could have used some good
OLE American junk food. Especially since Jer was not cooperating with us and we spent a lot of time in the room.. well that and
I was sick. Also, if you are really bad at chop sticks BRING FORKS!!!!!!! No really, even orphanages do not have forks even though
they sometimes serve you a lunch when you visit to pick up your child! Trust me.. I disregarded the food and I still regretted this
decision, even though we ate ok but not great since we were stuck in the room. And I was so excited when I found 'TACO"
dorritos at the 7-11 (they are everywhere along with starbucks) and they were horrible!!!!!! I also was not good at chop sticks
and did not bring forks or spoons and well, I had a crash course while eating, holding a new baby I don't know during nap time!!!!
Let's just say that I am a pro at chopsticks now after such an interesting experience!!!
Really, Mcdonalds is not bad, KFC has corn soup instead of fries or wedges and sides we know. Pizza hut was a real treat
and you MUST, MUST, MUST visit that YUMMY famous DUMPLING place in Taipei. Also, have some MILK TEA or PEARL
TEA... it is a must while in Taiwan!!!!! IF you are a picky eater though... Load your luggage up with food to take to TAiwan.
Also, while there try the beef Jerky at the airport.. it is WONDERFUL! and You cannot bring it into the states because it
is beef!!! YOu will have to declare it and you won't get it in and it WILL Cause you a delay!!!!

OTHER STUFF!!!!!!
*Please make sure you have copies of all your INS paperwork, Tax returns, and dossier in a safe place at home or with a relative/
friend just in case it is lost or left. One family left it in taxi on a trip and it was awful trying to get the info together.

*Also make copies of your passport and lisence and keep them with you just in case and leave copies of those behind too!

***Please see File "Contentspediatrictravelkit" for a kit of medicines and such that can be mimiced or bought for your trip.

Ok.. so we are packed and we didn't even need the kitchen sink....! The bathroom sink will do just fine!!!!!!

Laws for adoption from Taiwan VS. Orphanage regulations

Taiwan Law for adoption via the U.S. Government site....

I. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS: The articles of law relating to adoption in Taiwan are
found in the Civil Code (Family and Children Welfare Act in Book VI), Articles 1072 through 1083.

* The adopting parents must be at least twenty years older than the child(ren) to be adopted.
* No child adopted may be:
1. Directly related by blood;
2. Directly related by marriage, except in the adoption of the other spouse’s child as a stepchild; and
3. Indirectly related by blood, such as cousins (unless removed by a certain degree), the spouse of a sibling, or a
sibling of your spouse. (Taiwan law is very detailed about what degree of indirect blood relation is excluded from adoption.
If prospective adoptive parents are concerned about possible blood ties with the child they wish to adopt, they should contact
AIT for clarification before proceeding with the adoption.)


Taiwanese regulations further stipulate that adopting parents must be adults not older than 55 years of age. A married person
who adopts a child shall do so jointly with his/her spouse.
Taiwan Orphanage Requirements or Regulations for
adopting Parents

Orphanage Criteria for adoptive parents:
(orphanage specific regulations and rules)

CATHWELL

Criteria for Prospective Adoptive Parents

* The adoptive parents must be at least twenty years
older than the adoptee.
* Where a married person adopts a child, he/she must
do so jointly with his/her spouse.
* Our organization requires the applicants to be under
45 years old and to be married at least five years.
* Preference is given to CHILDLESS couples.
* A letter addresses to prospective birthmother should
be attached with home study.
* Please keep in touch with Cathwel once in a while before
you are offered a proposal. So we are sure that you still have
interest in working with us.

St. LUCY CENTER

The Qualifications of adoptive parents :

* The adoptive parents must be at least twenty years
older than the adoptee.
* The applicants must be under 50 years old.
* The applicants must be married at least five years

CHUNG YI

Couples who have the following qualifications:



*Live either in Taiwan or outside Taiwan,
ages between 25 to 50 years old,
married over 2 years are eligible to adopt.
The age difference between the

*adopter and adoptee should be over 20 years old.

*Have a fixed living place and regular jobs and can
afford rear children economically.

*Are mentally and physically healthy, couples who
without criminal records and
who can provide rearing and parenting to the adoptee.

*Whose family members can honestly accept, love and care
adoptee families and willing to accommodate adopting procedures
and participate in preparation courses and also willing to try.

HOME OF GOD'S LOVE (NOT ACCEPTING APPS,
temporarily on hold)

1. We pray concerning the placement of each child, and ask
prospective parents to do the same, seeking God’s direction in
placing just the right child in their home.
2. Both parents must be active Christians and must provide
5 references attesting to their
Christian maturity and suitability for parenthood. We do not
adopt to single parents, although
we have helped some, (who locate their own child), with their
paperwork and childcare during
processing.
3. Priority goes to couples who cannot bear their own children
and due to this waiting list,
families with children of their own would be advised to seek
adoption through other agencies.
4. We tend to place children with couples who have no other
children but weigh each situation
and child – seeking the Lord’s guidance.
5. We prefer to adopt to Chinese families. We feel both parents
and child will have a better
adjustment. However, due to the scarcity of childless Chinese
Christian couples, most of our
children have gone abroad.

MORNING LIGHT (applying for registration in Taiwan,
not yet an orphanage and NOT ACCEPTING APPS AT THIS
TIME)

Here at MLC, we are not an organization directly looking for kids
to adopt out. We do have
though, connections through the agencies here that contact when
a child is available. We do
not necessarily have the child/children in our home, but they are
in a foster home or in a
children's home here in Taiwan.
Our first priority at MLC is to place children in an evangelical
Christian home. As Christians
ourselves, we do not feel we can allow a child to go into a home
of an unbeliever. We do have
people ask us about infants, toddlers and older children. We can
search for the child they want,
but not necessarily find one right away.

ADDING COOL TAIWAN VIDEOS>>>>>>>>>>>>>

WE ARE THE WORLD IN CHINESE.....TOOO COOL!!!!!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=DMQpmp4v4ao&feature=PlayList&p=AB74DCED4AB3259C&index=3
DRAGON DANCING
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gPGWKvk4lTY&feature=PlayList&p=AB74DCED4AB3259C&index=0
http://youtube.com/watch?v=HJLIO06_2OQ&feature=PlayList&p=AB74DCED4AB3259C&index=1
MORE TO COME!!!!!

Chip In

Just adding a chip in box for anyone wanting to help support our adoption in Taiwan. We are not too sure if this road will be long or short seeing as we are adopting privately.. BUT we do know that all of your prayers and financial help is greatly appreciated! Thank you.

So you want to adopt through TAIWAN??? Or anywhere?

Hello, Welcome to the confusing yet wonderful world of adoption via Taiwan. If you are like I was, you are probably searching for an agency or an adoption path that fits your family profile, your budget, your desired time frame, and possibly even how long you want to be in country. Well, with China adding and changing their rules around, in turn eliminating the option for some to adopt from China, it is now thrusting these parents to other asian countries to find their little ones and Taiwan is quickly becoming the country to adopt from. With their lax rules Which are as follows from the U.S. Government site.
I will start by suggesting that you ask about requirements of the country, the orphanages they work with specifically, and also the agency itself and ask them to divide the rules and regs up by that standard. If they are claiming a reg that is not in the below state department list, and they are claiming it is.. BEWARE!

A. ASK ABOUT RULES AND REGS of the orphanages, country and agency

I. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS: The articles of law relating to adoption in Taiwan are found in the Civil Code (Family and Children Welfare Act in Book VI), Articles 1072 through 1083.

• The adopting parents must be at least twenty years older than the child(ren) to be adopted.
• No child adopted may be:
  1. Directly related by blood;
  2. Directly related by marriage, except in the adoption of the other spouse’s child as a stepchild; and
  3. Indirectly related by blood, such as cousins (unless removed by a certain degree), the spouse of a sibling, or a sibling of your spouse. (Taiwan law is very detailed about what degree of indirect blood relation is excluded from adoption. If prospective adoptive parents are concerned about possible blood ties with the child they wish to adopt, they should contact AIT for clarification before proceeding with the adoption.)

Taiwanese regulations further stipulate that adopting parents must be adults not older than 55 years of age. A married person who adopts a child shall do so jointly with his/her spouse.

So, with that said, I would secondly suggest that when you speak to an agency or an independent adoption source, you ask what THEIR rules and regulations are or policies for placement with their families. St. Lucy Center and Chung Yi's rules are more like "suggestions" that can be over turned. They do review a family on a case by case basis. Some regs do come from the orphanages such as:

II. ORPHANAGE REGS:

Must be over the age of 25 or 20 years older than the child (second is in an older child adoption)
Must be married 5 years or more.
Must not have criminal history (although this is a suggested rule, and can be overturned)
Must be in good health (This is not by any means meaning that if you have an issue that you won't be considered again, these are used really as GUIDELINES and not a hard line of fact)

Now, the agencies however are adding a higher level of insult or hoops to be jumped by requiring even more... such as:

II. A. Agency rules:

Must be over 30.
Must not have a Body Mass Index over 30 or 40%
Must not have any health problems existing.
Cannot choose sex of child to be adopted.
Cannot add to your family if you have X amount of children.
Must wait until child in your home is X months or years old.
Cannot adopt from Taiwan unless you are XXX religion.

Please ask your agency for guidelines and policies for their programs before signing and make sure they line up with your goals and desires for your journey. MOST agencies will represent that their rules are orphanage or country specific and THEY ARE NOT!
Please, if you are being told that your agency is wanting you to comply with any of the afore mentioned (paragraph II A.) and your family is wishing for a different outcome.... please do not hesitate to contact another agency until you find what you are desiring as far as stipulations.
For instance a family told me that they were wanting to adopt, BUT they had 5 children and the agency they contacted told them that they could not help them, BUT they put them in another program under the guise that this "other" program would be better for their family. YOU SHOULD NOT BE CO-Hearsed into a situation you do not want to comply with. There are other agencies with other programs that very well may suit you. LOOK ELSEWHERE!

B. ASK ABOUT GAG CLAUSES THAT PREVENT PAST CLIENTS OF THE AGENCY TO SHARE EXPERIENCES OPENLY AND HONESTLY.

I. Most if not all agencies that will have you sign a very scary contract. This contract usually is standard in many ways... BUT there are some agencies that will put a clause in the contract known as a GAG clause, that will legally bind you and their clients in totality to never be allowed to discuss a wrong doing, bad experience, or a distateful subject matter outside the company. Therefore you will be in danger of lawsuit if you do have a horrible experience and are caught sharing.
II. These same agencies that employ the GAG CLAUSE, are also sending spies into the adoption world on forums you discuss on and in chat rooms in order to lore you out and catch you discussing a bad ordeal you had or are having with your agency so that they can hold their GAG clause over your head. They do not identify themselves until you have been caught, if then. They act as a questioning parent or uninterested party.

C. WHEN DECIDING ON AN AGENCY, JOIN FORUMS SUCH AS

Adoption_Agency_Research@yahoo.com and ask questions about the agencies or inteties/resources you are desiring to work with to bring your child home.
I. Other helpful sites for fishing for answers are:
a. AdoptingfromTaiwan@yahoo.com
b.ChristianInternationalAdoption@yahoo.com,
c. Adopting_from_Taiwan@yahoo.com (recommend research on this group only)
d.Adoption.com (forums: International adoption/General Asian forum

D. ASK IF THE AGENCY PROVIDES A "TAIWAN SIDE" HELPER

I. This is a person that works on the inside of Taiwan to ask questions more directly, go to the orphanage to represent your desire or need for your child and meets you in country to help you with the first meeting with your child and to translate while there. MANY do not supply this. This is a comfort level for some families feel they must have.

E. ASK HOW IN DEPTH THE AGENCY WILL PREPARE YOU FOR TRAVEL

I. The agency we worked with was SUPERIOR in this topic. They provided WAY above what we were expecting as traveling parents.
a. They provided handmade taxi cards to insure an easier time getting around. These cards included address in Mandarin to an english speaking doctor, major hotels, shopping, sites, AIT, orphanages.. etc. They proved INVALUABLE.
b. They provided us with a type of commercial taxi card which was from Taiwan with more in depth info and more sites and such.
c. They provided us with an in depth look via web look into Taiwan's culture, traditions and what was expected of us as Americans. This was most helpful in buying gifts since flowers are usually given at funerals only by Taiwan tradition, and the Taiwanese do not open gifts in front of people, they are put aside until later. Things like this can really cause a kink in your trip when you are already frazzled about all the goings on about to happen.
d. Are they going to do a conference meeting before you travel.. either by phone or in person?
This is an information gathering meeting between you and an agency REP where they help answer any last minute questions on the papers you must take over to AIT, to explain airports and lack of food before your departing gate (VERY IMPORTANT), where the best place for money exchange is, any last minute questions about your child or the proceedures.

F. WHEN QUESTIONING OTHERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH AN AGENCY AS AN aPARENT, ASK THEM:

I. How was the communication?
II. How well do you feel they prepared you?
III. Are they hand holders?
IV. Were there any questions you asked that went unanswered?
V. Did you have any problems with getting information on your child after requesting it?
VI.Were there any bumps or major events during your adoption with them? If so, how did the agency handle it?

G. IF CONSIDERING INDEPENDENT ADOPTION
I. Try to grasp a firm understanding of the dossier paperwork first or find a good source/helper that has "been there done that" so that you are not so alone in the process
II. Recognize the differences:
a. Paperwork will be your responsibility first and fore most even with a Taiwan side coordinator.
b. The system is not as cut and dry as an experienced agency
c. Will you have to find a foster family for your child while the court proceedings are happening?
d. What all are they helping you with on their end?
e. Travel may be longer or shorter since the Visa may be acquired differently than with agencies.
f. What will they do to insure your child meets INS requirements?
g. What kind of background will you receive? What are they requiring of their placing families to insure your child has a solid transition?
h. What kind of Visa are you receiving for your child?

H. WHEN ADOPTING THROUGH AN AGENCY OR INDEPENDENT

I. Ask if there are any fees you should know about that are not listed and cross reference those with other Aparents online for affirmation.
II. Make sure you understand their routine and policies and when monies are due.
III. Ask about what kind of support is in place for you and your little one in Taiwan if there be an emergency or a need arise.
IV. What kind of contacts they have in Taiwan besides for just agency wise?

I. PADS-POST ADOPTION DEPRESSION

I. Know it is real and can strike anyone at anytime. Even experienced bio and adoptive parents.
II. Study it before hand so you can recognize the signs and be aware of a problem sneaking to steel your joy of your adoption.
III. DON'T hesitate to reach out on the forums to talk about any signs or symptoms of pads.
IV. DO NOT BE EMBARRASSED. When I did a poll on PADS most did not know about PADS before adopting, but a shocking number of trusted friends silently dealt with this ordeal and then came out about it almost a year after their adoption placement.
V. DO share your feelings with other Aparents and talk out adjustment issues and celebrations of the small triumphs in your adoption.
VI. DO NOT EXPECT to have no bumps, bruises, adjustments, behavior problems or other.
VII. Once you are through the dark waters and you are "IN LOVE" with your child, please pass this message on and share what you experienced so others may be more prepared for their adoption and possible PADS.

J. NOW THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO ADOPT...
I. Please, RELAX, although I know that is hard (ok.. impossible for most), take up a new hobby.. others have found that
a. Blogging helps a bunch because you can share your blog with other aparents and vent or celebrate, which both are invaluable acts during your hard journey.. heck the wait is hard enough!!!
b. Scrapbooking. I personally scrapbooked all Jer's wonderful photos we got by surprise visitors to the nursery or through our updates.
c. Keep a Journal you can hand on to baby or the child when they are older so they feel apart of the overall Journey.
II. Take off those Rose colored glasses and just sit back.
a. A large majority of parents I talk to are wearing Rose colored glasses. They do make the "responsible parent" list however because they Do consider most of the questions most adoptive parents do, but too few go the extra mile to get support, REAL SUPPORT in place just in case there is a medical issue that was not discussed that pops up after returning home. Or the aparent just doesn't really listen to the facts that their child can have behavioral problems, eating problems, quarky habits, delays in skills etc. SO, what are you going to do about it????
Read a few books, REALLY listen to those that have gone before you.. they are pretty smart!
BUT DO NOT take everything to heart about your child that you read in books. After all they are still SOME ONE ELSES experiences that May or may not colide with your life.
b. Do not got Medical GA GA! These international doctors here in the U.S. can only know so much and they have not examined YOUR CHILD personally. NOT every test can be ran on every child to insure yours is healthy. Do not rely on head circumferance. Simply ask your DR if it seems alarming. Adoption is a LEAP OF FAITH FIRST AND FOREMOST. What Taiwan may or may not see as a Special need may or may not be one in the U.S. Also, some medical info will translate differently than what our terms are.. so DO NOT OBSESS Over this!!!!!
c. Do not hesitate to hound your agency if you have an IMPORTANT question. And most of all DO NOT hesitate to go to the boards for things that your fellow Aparents can field for you so that your agency gal or guy has time to handle the questions that your friends cannot answer.
d. DO NOT FREAK OUT if you do not love your child immediately. I know this sounds odd, and even horrible in some circles, BUT IT HAPPENS MORE THAN NOT AND MOST WON'T TALK ABOUT IT OUT OF EMBARRASSMENT!!!!!!!!! Please, do not be embarrassed but do know, that it is very normal part of the adoption Journey and in most cases will go away with time.. and it is usually a sign of PADS of some degree sneaking up on you.
e. MOST OF ALL... please enjoy this time. You may never experience Taiwan or adoption again. SO SOAK IT ALL IN! Take lots of pictures of the crazy "travel phone call" and the outfit you bought to bring your child home in.... DO SHARE!!!!! Everyone loves to hear about a new life getting a forever family!!!!! So don't hesitate to GLOAT ABOUT THAT WONDERFUL CHILD OF YOURS BIG OR SMALL!!!!!

Repost Taiwan info

Taiwan info

Although Taiwan has over 32 orphanages, Taiwan has 3 baby nurseries presently in the game publicly.
One is Cathwell http://www.cs.org.tw/ which is ONLY and THE ONLY birthmother program. LONGEST WAIT. Works with 2 agencies I know for sure.
St. Lucy Center http://www.stlucycenter.org/ is in Tainan and they do not like the BParents to meet the adoptive parents. They are the second longest wait. They work with several of the U.S. agencies you see.
Chung Yi http://www.cybaby.org.tw/E_Page_Show.asp?Page_ID=2 is the third and FINAL that works with public agencies. They are in Taichung and are attached to an older child orphanage. They are the shortest wait depending on what agency you go with. They presently work with 2-3 U.S. specific agencies.
There are two private orphanages/nurseries that work with BORN AGAIN believers only... Home of God's Love http://www.thehomeofgodslove.org/ (not taking apps right now) and then there is an organization Morning Light missions http://mlchome.org/adopting.aspx that can help locate a child for you and total fees are around 12k.
Lastly there is a gov Christian branch csstpe1983@yahoo.com.tw. http://seed100.com/csstpe/about-children-women-service-en.htm and there is also an AIDS Mercy home mercyh@ms42.hinet.net that adopts out children that were born to AIDS parents but the child has been tested for months until cleared for adoption with a negative result.
There is also another older child adoption but I think it is Chung Yi Linked.
On top of all of this, there is the fostercare system which I think works through Chung Yi firstly then SLC lastly.
Now, Some agencies will put you into a pool if they work with SLC and Chung Yi (not in a birthmom program). The pool is for both orphanages. Then there are some that works with SLC only but can get referrals from the foster care system.
Right now there is the one agency quoting the shortest waits along with one other agency (both SLC program specific) but you cannot choose gender. They have just implemented an abandoned child program on top of all of this though which is cheaper than the mainstream programs. ONe agency has put a temp moretorium on their (healthy infant) apps because of their waiting family pool becoming too large.. they wish to allow that to settle down and will reopen their program A around April the 16th.

If anyone needs info as to who to avoid, who has the most, or any info on waits and such.. please email me.

Crazy person, adoption NUMBER 2 from Taiwan!

Ok.. so here we are again.. We used real honest to goodness ink on the papers folks..lol...we have one foot in the wading pool of adoption. We are down in the "sprint position" ready to run at the guns fire. We are.... INSANE! Ok.. maybe not insane but I do remember a day, ok several days... after we brought Jeremiah home from Taiwan October of 2007 that I was pretty much sure we would not be doing this again. Our adjustment was going roughly. Our expectations were met, underestimated, abolished and surpassed all in one journey. Our wildest dreams turned out to be exactly that.. WILD! Anyways, Jeremiah, which is the wonderful little man and ultimate blessing we obtained through our last journey is doing great! He is requesting a brudder or sitter now. SO, Now we are facing the long walk to Taiwan again, ok.. walk then flight. Once again, those naive but lovely dreams are dancing in our heads. What will our child be like? Where will we find them? When will we find them? What will we know about them?
This time we are heading for a different part of the island with anticipations and expectations to visit Tainan and also Taipei, BUT our main visitation will take place in Taitung.

I have NO clue as to how this one will work this time because we are adopting privately through Morning Light Ministries. You heard it.. PRIVATELY! I know.. the word alone scares some into a quivering ball of goo, but we are confident that we are following the path that God has set in motion for our family. We have yet to start the homestudy BUT we are OFFICIALLY WAITING.. we need to file our I600 and such too! YIKES... ya know it is when you see yourself type the words that you realize that you are already knee deep in the journey yet again..lol. Anyways, I will be posting some info on here about our private journey through adoption for those to view that are just wanting to see how we manage this time, how the process moves along this route, or if I really am insane. So there you have it... we are officially on route to number two via Taiwan. Please stay seated and keep hands, arms and feet in the car at all times. When the car comes to a complete and utter stop, please grab small children by the hand (or husbands so they don't get lost) and step out of the right side of the car.. and please remember to gather all belongings and take them with you!!!!!!! Unless they are neat, then you may accidentally leave them..lol. So, stay tuned to the crazy ramblings of an adoptive parent.. ROUND TWO!!!!!