We are official!

Sawadee ka! ("hello" in Thai)

We attended our DSDW (that is basically the Thai department of social welfare) hearing today in front of a panel made up of Thai public officials. We had to answer some questions from the panel about why we chose Thailand, what our plans are for helping Anderson with his special needs, and some other questions about our family and our daily lives. The panel member who asked the most questions was a pediatrician, so she was very interested in our plans for physical therapy and how we will help Anderson progress and develop despite his delays. She liked our Southern accents, too! She even asked Alex and Aerin some questions about our family and their new brother.  Afterwards, we received the final piece of paper signed by ourselves and the DSDW officials saying that we are approved to bring Anderson home as long as we comply with the requirement to complete his adoption by Thai and American law after he comes to the United States and we complete the post-placement process in accordance with Thai regulations. We are so excited! In Thailand's eyes, we are officially Anderson's guardians. We only have one more appointment to attend, and that is for the U.S. Embassy to finalize his visa application. After that, we will wait for them to process his visa and we will be able to come home next week.

Because of new I800 (that's the U.S. immigrant visa form for adoptees) regulations, Anderson had to have certain vaccinations before he enters the U.S.  He was more behind on his vaccines than the children of the other two Holt families, because he lived in the South and they lived in Bangkok. So, he and I went to the hospital today with Holt staff to get his shots. My sweet boy had to get 5 shots in one day--one in each arm, two in his left leg, and one in his right leg.  It was really difficult for him (as you can imagine), but I am so relieved it is over.  It broke my heart that after the third shot he was yelling in Thai, "don't do it" over and over while we held him on the table.  He was very tired this evening after such an eventful day, but he was still cheerful and sweet despite getting all of those shots and running a low-grade fever. 

I still have to ask the other two Holt families who we have shared some of our journey with if it is okay to post more details about their families, but it has been really great to get to know them and meet their new children. All three of our families have two biological children (all each have a boy and a girl) who are two years apart in age, and we are all adopting our 3rd child.  One of the families also brought their children with them, and our kids have really enjoyed spending time together and becoming friends.  We feel blessed to have met so many wonderful people on this trip and to share this time with these families. 

Tomorrow is a free day with no "official" adoption business, so we have plans to take the kids the the Children's Discovery Museum here in Bangkok.

Thanks for all of your prayers. We are excited to introduce you all to Anderson (Garfield) very soon. 

Grace, Peace, and Love from the very happy but somewhat homesick Tatums!!