The visits are finished.  Jerry is currently on the middle leg of the trip home on a flight from Munich to Chicago.   As it turns out, he is on that same flight with a couple of other families who just finished up their first visits as well.  It is bitter sweet.  It will be nice to have Jerry home, but I will sure miss hearing the news from each visit and of course the pictures.  Everything went very well.  I don't have a lot of pictures to share because I had a lot of problems getting them copied out of the emails and onto our computer.  So, now we start our 2nd stage paperwork and more waiting.  It should be about 4-6 months until the pick up trip.

"Troy" (I still can't use his real name) was a little timid at first and then warmed up.  I actually think that is a good sign for his ability to bond.  He doesn't speak at this point, but seems to understand everything that is said to him.  I just can't wait to meet him and have him home.

Here are a few pictures from the week.  I may have more to share once they are downloaded from the camera.  Jerry took a most of the pictures himself, so we have several with Yavor, the guide and translator.  Jerry taught him thumb's up, so there are a number of those.

 Fun with Yavor

 Two thumbs up

 Thumbs up on the first day

He likes to be held.  He is waving for the camera

 He loves to eat these things, they are similar to Cheetos.

My favorite, what a cutie.  This is from the last visit. 

 Seeing his new car, it was a big hit

Preparing for the visa picture

Well, there has obviously been updates for me to post, but I have been very lax about getting it done.  Jerry left the house at 3:30 am on Friday for a 6:30 flight.  After stops in Newark, NJ and Frankfurt Germany, he arrived in country at about 1:00 PM, their time, on Saturday afternoon.  It has been really nice for him as there are 3 other families also there on their first visit.  No pictures to post just yet.  As this is our 2nd time there, we pretty much have a bunch of pictures from the capitol city.   He will be leaving on Monday morning for our boys town.  Hopefully, there will be much more to post once he arrives there.  I believe he will have his first visit before I even get up on Monday.  Can't wait.

Time here with just me and our kids has been fine so far.  We have been able to Skype with Jerry, so that is nice.