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| TIMELINE: first viewed: June, 2007 LOI sent: Nov 1, 2007 I600A sent: Oct 16, 2007 fingerprints: Nov 16, 2007 I171H: Nov 29, 2007 PA: Dec 17, 2007 (47 days) DTC: Dec 17, 2007 LID: Dec 25, 2007 LOA / LSC: 03-10-08 (76 days) TA: 04-10-08 (31 days) CA: 05-15-08 Gotcha Day: 05-08-08 Travel Dates: 05-05-08 to 05-18-08 |
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DOB: 07-20-2004
This is the first photo we saw of Yuwen. It was taken the fall of 2006, I believe.
This is the description given of him at that time:
"This little boy is described as a very cute and bright little boy with ready smiles.
He is extroverted, active and curious about the world. Playing well with other
children, he dances animatedly to music, likes busy places and picture books.
This strong-willed toddler needs a family to guide and adore him."
This is the first photo we saw of Yuwen. It was taken the fall of 2006, I believe.
This is the description given of him at that time:
"This little boy is described as a very cute and bright little boy with ready smiles.
He is extroverted, active and curious about the world. Playing well with other
children, he dances animatedly to music, likes busy places and picture books.
This strong-willed toddler needs a family to guide and adore him."
| Isaac Carrington Baker |
It did not take long after Eden came home that I began looking for
our next child. Surely there was another child out there who
needed a family, and had been waiting too long. Isaac was on
WACAP's list, a Promise Child who had already been waiting about
a year and a half wiith no inquiries. His special need was epilepsy
and undescended testicles, two minor issues in my opinion. He
appeared to be very cute and healthy, and I was perplexed as to
why he had been waiting so long. Was epilepsy that scary of a
diagnosis? We already had experience with epilepsy in our family,
and I might have been more apprehensive had I not had
experience already with it. An epileptic seizure is a frightening and
horrible thing to witness in anyone, let alone your own child. I hate
it. But on the other hand, I understood it, and knew what to do, and
knew that it could be controlled. We decided to inquire further
about little Hong Yuwen in the Nanchang Social Welfare Institute,
Jiangxi province.
Isaac actually had a short video that we watched repeatedly. He
was about two in the video, and appeared to be quite feisty and
active and happy. We were not interested in pursuing a child that
other families might already be interested in. There had been
another little boy with another agency who we had been quite
interested in, and had even filled out the paperwork for. That
agency, however, made it very clear to me that there were several
families considering this little boy, and I had better hurry up or he
might be gone. I hate it when children are presented in this way,
like a "hot deal" that you'd better act fast to get. If there were other
families that wanted the boy, then he would have a home; I wanted
to find the child who had nobody, and needed us to bring him
home. There was a third boy as well who we had hoped to adopt,
and he, too, had another family commit to him before our
paperwork was submitted. (Ironically, in the cases of both these
other boys, their families fell through, the one being assigned to
three more families before coming home, and the other two more
families. In both cases these boys were still not home when we
traveled to get Isaac, and I am not sure if they are home yet.) So, I
was careful in inquiring about Isaac. I did not want to take him from
another family who wanted to give him a home already.
There had been no inquiries, and no interest. So we registered our
interest, and proceeded, with the knowledge that if another family
showed interest as well, and could have paperwork together more
quickly than we could, that we would have to choose another child.
our next child. Surely there was another child out there who
needed a family, and had been waiting too long. Isaac was on
WACAP's list, a Promise Child who had already been waiting about
a year and a half wiith no inquiries. His special need was epilepsy
and undescended testicles, two minor issues in my opinion. He
appeared to be very cute and healthy, and I was perplexed as to
why he had been waiting so long. Was epilepsy that scary of a
diagnosis? We already had experience with epilepsy in our family,
and I might have been more apprehensive had I not had
experience already with it. An epileptic seizure is a frightening and
horrible thing to witness in anyone, let alone your own child. I hate
it. But on the other hand, I understood it, and knew what to do, and
knew that it could be controlled. We decided to inquire further
about little Hong Yuwen in the Nanchang Social Welfare Institute,
Jiangxi province.
Isaac actually had a short video that we watched repeatedly. He
was about two in the video, and appeared to be quite feisty and
active and happy. We were not interested in pursuing a child that
other families might already be interested in. There had been
another little boy with another agency who we had been quite
interested in, and had even filled out the paperwork for. That
agency, however, made it very clear to me that there were several
families considering this little boy, and I had better hurry up or he
might be gone. I hate it when children are presented in this way,
like a "hot deal" that you'd better act fast to get. If there were other
families that wanted the boy, then he would have a home; I wanted
to find the child who had nobody, and needed us to bring him
home. There was a third boy as well who we had hoped to adopt,
and he, too, had another family commit to him before our
paperwork was submitted. (Ironically, in the cases of both these
other boys, their families fell through, the one being assigned to
three more families before coming home, and the other two more
families. In both cases these boys were still not home when we
traveled to get Isaac, and I am not sure if they are home yet.) So, I
was careful in inquiring about Isaac. I did not want to take him from
another family who wanted to give him a home already.
There had been no inquiries, and no interest. So we registered our
interest, and proceeded, with the knowledge that if another family
showed interest as well, and could have paperwork together more
quickly than we could, that we would have to choose another child.
Here are some more photos that we
were sent while waiting to travel to
Isaac. In each photo, we saw that he
was very healthy, handsome, and cute.
were sent while waiting to travel to
Isaac. In each photo, we saw that he
was very healthy, handsome, and cute.
Our paperchase for Isaac was typical; lots of unnecessary and expensive forms and
documents and waiting. It is never easy waiting, but looking back, it was a fairly typical wait.
Our travel approval finally came and we prepared to travel in early May of 2008. We decided
this time to travel through LA, and spend the night in LA both coming and going.
There had been several rumors at Art's work the weeks before we left. We knew that there was
to be some sort of announcement while we were gone, and some even worried that there
might be some layoffs. But most thought that this was not likely, and just the voice of alarmists.
Still, Art was eager to hear from his boss while we waited in the LA airport for our flight to
China. He was finally able to get through and heard that something was happening, but they
didn't know what yet. He would check back after we landed.
We landed in China exhausted, as usually, and somewhat worried. It was late at night, and we
were alone. A hotel worker met us with a sign to transport us to an airport hotel for the night.
The next morning we would fly to Isaac's province to meet him. Nobody spoke English, and
this was difficult, but we finally made it into our room, and Art tried to get the computer working
to check his email for news. His email address was not working. Was it because we were in
China? Or was there another problem?
We tried several methods of reaching someone for any news. We couldn't find out anything,
and were frustrated trying to get phone connections and computer connections to work, and to
actually reach someone who knew anything. After what seemed to be a very long time, Art was
finally able to get in contact with his boss who told him that he and a couple hundred others
had been laid off. As of that moment, he had no job, and since we had just started working
here the year before, the severance was very small. In my exhaustion and jetlag and
anticipation of the next day, I was not consumed with fear as well. I could not sleep at all. It
was a long and weary time...
And on this backdrop, we flew the next day to meet Isaac. I hesitate to add all these details to
cloud his story, but it is a part of his story, and it is an important thing to understand as we set
out to meet him that next day. Our minds were full, and terrified, and despondent. It was
overwhelming. We have been asked several times since then if we ever were tempted to not
continue the adoption. The first time we were asked this, we were taken aback with surprise.
To be honest, the thought of not adopting him never crossed my mind. One of my first
concerns, though, was whether they would LET us adopt him if they knew that we were no
longer employed. This was a real concern and fear. And we were not going to let anything get
in the way of us bringing home our boy.
documents and waiting. It is never easy waiting, but looking back, it was a fairly typical wait.
Our travel approval finally came and we prepared to travel in early May of 2008. We decided
this time to travel through LA, and spend the night in LA both coming and going.
There had been several rumors at Art's work the weeks before we left. We knew that there was
to be some sort of announcement while we were gone, and some even worried that there
might be some layoffs. But most thought that this was not likely, and just the voice of alarmists.
Still, Art was eager to hear from his boss while we waited in the LA airport for our flight to
China. He was finally able to get through and heard that something was happening, but they
didn't know what yet. He would check back after we landed.
We landed in China exhausted, as usually, and somewhat worried. It was late at night, and we
were alone. A hotel worker met us with a sign to transport us to an airport hotel for the night.
The next morning we would fly to Isaac's province to meet him. Nobody spoke English, and
this was difficult, but we finally made it into our room, and Art tried to get the computer working
to check his email for news. His email address was not working. Was it because we were in
China? Or was there another problem?
We tried several methods of reaching someone for any news. We couldn't find out anything,
and were frustrated trying to get phone connections and computer connections to work, and to
actually reach someone who knew anything. After what seemed to be a very long time, Art was
finally able to get in contact with his boss who told him that he and a couple hundred others
had been laid off. As of that moment, he had no job, and since we had just started working
here the year before, the severance was very small. In my exhaustion and jetlag and
anticipation of the next day, I was not consumed with fear as well. I could not sleep at all. It
was a long and weary time...
And on this backdrop, we flew the next day to meet Isaac. I hesitate to add all these details to
cloud his story, but it is a part of his story, and it is an important thing to understand as we set
out to meet him that next day. Our minds were full, and terrified, and despondent. It was
overwhelming. We have been asked several times since then if we ever were tempted to not
continue the adoption. The first time we were asked this, we were taken aback with surprise.
To be honest, the thought of not adopting him never crossed my mind. One of my first
concerns, though, was whether they would LET us adopt him if they knew that we were no
longer employed. This was a real concern and fear. And we were not going to let anything get
in the way of us bringing home our boy.
Early on the morning of May 8th, Maggie and
Art and I got on the plane for the short flight to
Nanchang. We were met by our guide,
whisked to our hotel, and told to hurry to
come down for the taxi ride to the Civil Affairs
office where Isaac would be waiting.
We went up the elevator some twenty floors
or so, and went down the hallway. We saw
him come out with his nanny, and I pointed
him out to Maggie. Maggie ran up and took
him by the hand. He appeared
apprehensive, but not afraid or sad. I am
convinced that having Maggie there helped a
great deal in his transition. She was a
friendly face, and another child who looked
like him, and I think this helped him to feel
that everything might be okay. A few toys and
his favorite drink, and before long he was
smiling.
Lots of paperwork and soon we were on our
way back to the hotel.
Art and I got on the plane for the short flight to
Nanchang. We were met by our guide,
whisked to our hotel, and told to hurry to
come down for the taxi ride to the Civil Affairs
office where Isaac would be waiting.
We went up the elevator some twenty floors
or so, and went down the hallway. We saw
him come out with his nanny, and I pointed
him out to Maggie. Maggie ran up and took
him by the hand. He appeared
apprehensive, but not afraid or sad. I am
convinced that having Maggie there helped a
great deal in his transition. She was a
friendly face, and another child who looked
like him, and I think this helped him to feel
that everything might be okay. A few toys and
his favorite drink, and before long he was
smiling.
Lots of paperwork and soon we were on our
way back to the hotel.
The rest of the week was spent completing paperwork in province, and some
obligatory sight seeing. We were not real interested in sight seeing, but it was
even worse just sitting in our hotel room with nothing to do, so off we went. Our
guide was very efficient and professional.
obligatory sight seeing. We were not real interested in sight seeing, but it was
even worse just sitting in our hotel room with nothing to do, so off we went. Our
guide was very efficient and professional.
The next few days were spent in Guangzhou, completing the paperwork and requirements there, and we were on our
way home again. We were met at the airport by some very happy kids! Maggie was a little overwhelmed by everything. It
had been a very long and stressful trip, and besides her timeclock being all out of whack, we woke her up to get off the
plane. It was all too much and she couldn't stop crying, so in the photo below you can see the emotion on her face.
way home again. We were met at the airport by some very happy kids! Maggie was a little overwhelmed by everything. It
had been a very long and stressful trip, and besides her timeclock being all out of whack, we woke her up to get off the
plane. It was all too much and she couldn't stop crying, so in the photo below you can see the emotion on her face.
Since Isaac has been home we have learned a lot about him. Each adoption has been so different, and I think we have had a
wide range of experiences. But in the cases of Maggie and Silas and Eden, we were bringing them out of situations where
they were not being treated well, and in the case of Si and especially Eden, had actually been quite neglected. We were used
to people staring and pointing at them in China, and their frowns and sneers and chattering away in Chinese in disapproval.
Well, I say we were used to it, but you don't really get used to that. Many of the people there are so appallingly rude, that I don't
think anyone is ever supposed to get used to that. They are very open in their disdain of children with anything "wrong" with
them. We had experienced this fully. But with Isaac, he had several things in his favor: he was a boy, and he was plump and
healthy and handsome, and he was active and engaging and ran around smiling and charming people. People flocked to him
in China. They smiled and nodded and brought their children over to play with him. The contrast was appalling. From the
time we met him, and in the weeks to follow at home, we became very aware that he had been a favored and spoiled child in
China. Not what you would normally see! So many children in the orphanages are treated so poorly. Girls do not seem to be
highly valued, and boys with disabilities are equally disregarded. But here was a very healthy, happy boy, and people
wondered why on earth he was being adopted in the first place. Isaac had been favored, and looked to us expecting the same
treatment, expecting to receive things that our other children did not receive. What an interesting dynamic! I don't think I would
have believed it, had I not experienced it myself. I am sure there is a reason why we have been given this perspective, but
nonetheless, we had to embark on some weeks of having Isaac discover that he was no longer a little emperor, but was now
one of seven children, equally loved and cared for. As of this writing, it has been seven months, and he has come a long way.
He still has his presumptuous moments, but for the mostpart, he has learned that he is one of us. He is affectionate, happy,
and enjoys his brothers and sisters immensely. He has learned what it is like to be part of a family.
Isaac is active, and bright. We quickly discoverd that he is quite athletic, and is able to throw and hit and catch easily. He loves
buses and swimming and cars and trucks, and for some reason loves to play with a lot of girlie things as well. One of the
biggest challenges in our first days together was that he spoke very good Chinese, and we did not. The first weeks home I
was exasperated at times, wondering how he would ever be able to learn the language. Seven months later, I can say it is
astonishing how quickly he has learned English. He is not quite at the level of English of a normal four year old, but he is very
close. I cannot believe all he has learned and understands. It is amazing. He likes to play on the computer. He adores
Canaan and loves to watch him play football and practice playing himself. He is a very active and normal four year old boy.
Medically, he is very healthy as well. At our medical exam in Guangzhou, the doctors there assured us that his testicles were
not undescended, and that they were definitely there. When we met Isaac he was on medication for epilepsy. According to
China, he had had four seizures, as an infant, and was put on medication. Our neurologist here gave him several tests and
had us wean him off the medication to see what would happen. His MRI did show a place on his brain that might indicate an
inutero stroke. This could have possibly caused some seizures as an infant, or they may have just been febrile seizures.
Regardless, our neurologist does not see any indication of true epilepsy, and did not even see any reason for us to see her
again, unless he ends us having any further problems. A visit to the urologist here confirmed that other things were in order
for sure, and so both of his supposed "special needs" turned out to not be needs at all. His only real medical issue was that
all of his teeth were rotten, and he had to undergo three hours of dental surgery to fill or crown each one. This is, unfortunately,
an very common occurence with older children coming from China. They do not brush their teeth, and I have heard countless
stories of older children coming home and enduring substantial dental procedures, with decay, abcesses, and infection. It
boggles my mind to think that these children live in the orphanages like this from day to day and endure this pain in their
mouths, and nobody does anything about it.
So this completes our fourth adoption. Sometimes we are asked about more. Unfortunately, that door has been closed for us
right now, due to Art's work situation. Each adoption has been very difficult and stressful, especially the first months home,
and this last one has probably taken the most out of me. But with each child, we followed what we truly thought God wanted
us to do, and I always say that you should never say "never" to God. The future of Baker children is completely in God's hands,
and would certainly take a miracle at this point. But, our God is a God of miracles. It is hard to imagine at this point, but five
years ago, I would never have imagined I would have four little Chinese kids running around outside of our NC home, riding
their bikes, chasing each other, laughing and calling to each other. It is indeed a blessing.
You may notice that Isaac is the only one who does not have a slideshow yet. Besides being busy, I simply have not yet been
inspired with a song that I feel is "his song" yet. We do have a couple ideas, and hopefully I will be able to put something
together soon. Also, for more pictures of Isaac's first days home, visit the Spring and Summer 2008 pages.
wide range of experiences. But in the cases of Maggie and Silas and Eden, we were bringing them out of situations where
they were not being treated well, and in the case of Si and especially Eden, had actually been quite neglected. We were used
to people staring and pointing at them in China, and their frowns and sneers and chattering away in Chinese in disapproval.
Well, I say we were used to it, but you don't really get used to that. Many of the people there are so appallingly rude, that I don't
think anyone is ever supposed to get used to that. They are very open in their disdain of children with anything "wrong" with
them. We had experienced this fully. But with Isaac, he had several things in his favor: he was a boy, and he was plump and
healthy and handsome, and he was active and engaging and ran around smiling and charming people. People flocked to him
in China. They smiled and nodded and brought their children over to play with him. The contrast was appalling. From the
time we met him, and in the weeks to follow at home, we became very aware that he had been a favored and spoiled child in
China. Not what you would normally see! So many children in the orphanages are treated so poorly. Girls do not seem to be
highly valued, and boys with disabilities are equally disregarded. But here was a very healthy, happy boy, and people
wondered why on earth he was being adopted in the first place. Isaac had been favored, and looked to us expecting the same
treatment, expecting to receive things that our other children did not receive. What an interesting dynamic! I don't think I would
have believed it, had I not experienced it myself. I am sure there is a reason why we have been given this perspective, but
nonetheless, we had to embark on some weeks of having Isaac discover that he was no longer a little emperor, but was now
one of seven children, equally loved and cared for. As of this writing, it has been seven months, and he has come a long way.
He still has his presumptuous moments, but for the mostpart, he has learned that he is one of us. He is affectionate, happy,
and enjoys his brothers and sisters immensely. He has learned what it is like to be part of a family.
Isaac is active, and bright. We quickly discoverd that he is quite athletic, and is able to throw and hit and catch easily. He loves
buses and swimming and cars and trucks, and for some reason loves to play with a lot of girlie things as well. One of the
biggest challenges in our first days together was that he spoke very good Chinese, and we did not. The first weeks home I
was exasperated at times, wondering how he would ever be able to learn the language. Seven months later, I can say it is
astonishing how quickly he has learned English. He is not quite at the level of English of a normal four year old, but he is very
close. I cannot believe all he has learned and understands. It is amazing. He likes to play on the computer. He adores
Canaan and loves to watch him play football and practice playing himself. He is a very active and normal four year old boy.
Medically, he is very healthy as well. At our medical exam in Guangzhou, the doctors there assured us that his testicles were
not undescended, and that they were definitely there. When we met Isaac he was on medication for epilepsy. According to
China, he had had four seizures, as an infant, and was put on medication. Our neurologist here gave him several tests and
had us wean him off the medication to see what would happen. His MRI did show a place on his brain that might indicate an
inutero stroke. This could have possibly caused some seizures as an infant, or they may have just been febrile seizures.
Regardless, our neurologist does not see any indication of true epilepsy, and did not even see any reason for us to see her
again, unless he ends us having any further problems. A visit to the urologist here confirmed that other things were in order
for sure, and so both of his supposed "special needs" turned out to not be needs at all. His only real medical issue was that
all of his teeth were rotten, and he had to undergo three hours of dental surgery to fill or crown each one. This is, unfortunately,
an very common occurence with older children coming from China. They do not brush their teeth, and I have heard countless
stories of older children coming home and enduring substantial dental procedures, with decay, abcesses, and infection. It
boggles my mind to think that these children live in the orphanages like this from day to day and endure this pain in their
mouths, and nobody does anything about it.
So this completes our fourth adoption. Sometimes we are asked about more. Unfortunately, that door has been closed for us
right now, due to Art's work situation. Each adoption has been very difficult and stressful, especially the first months home,
and this last one has probably taken the most out of me. But with each child, we followed what we truly thought God wanted
us to do, and I always say that you should never say "never" to God. The future of Baker children is completely in God's hands,
and would certainly take a miracle at this point. But, our God is a God of miracles. It is hard to imagine at this point, but five
years ago, I would never have imagined I would have four little Chinese kids running around outside of our NC home, riding
their bikes, chasing each other, laughing and calling to each other. It is indeed a blessing.
You may notice that Isaac is the only one who does not have a slideshow yet. Besides being busy, I simply have not yet been
inspired with a song that I feel is "his song" yet. We do have a couple ideas, and hopefully I will be able to put something
together soon. Also, for more pictures of Isaac's first days home, visit the Spring and Summer 2008 pages.
| "I don't want to bring another kid into this world. But how do you argue against the logic of loving one that's already here?" -- John Cusack, Martian Child |