First Care Package

On Sunday I received a surprise e-mail from a fellow adoptive mamma who was about to leave for Korea to meet her son.  She new we had just gotten a referral and offered to deliver a package for us.  We are only allowed to send one package but I heard the make exceptions with "mama mail" so Carrot and I quickly made a dash to the stores on Sunday to buy some funeral clothes but also pick up some things for our little guy (I guess I'm going to have to put Carrot on getting a fruit or vegetable name for him for the blog)  :)

If was super fun and has already been sent thanks to a friend who took it to the post office on yet another schools out day so I had no chance of getting there.

We needed to fit it into a gallon size ziplock so this is what we ended up with.  A recordable book from Hallmark that we each took turns reading pages.  We even had John read the opening in Korean that said to the baby it was a gift for him read by Appa, Umma, hyeongie, and Nuna 

(Father, Mother, Brother, and Sister).  We are so super blessed to have John here.  I am not sure if his size so we just got some socks and a hat, teething toys (since he is getting teeth) and some lotion for foster mother.

This weekend the kids are going to build him a bear and record their voices on it and I will send his special blanket and book we made.

Special gift: Part 2

..... Part 2

It was less than 5 minutes from discovering my friend (from our US agency) had pictures when I got a FB instant message from another adoptive mama from in our Korean agency FB group.   

Earlier that evening I had edited a document that listed foster mothers (FM) by name so I added who we had as a foster mother to the list.   She had saw I edited the document and noticed I had the same FM as someone we knew who was in Korea right now meeting her son.   

I was in awe as she was telling me that this other mama had gone to visit my FM during her trip. Our FM was her older daughters former FM.  She was telling me they had gone for a visit and she had met the FM's new baby.  Oh my goodness....THAT IS MY BABY.   Someone else had pictures of my baby and had seen him too....WHAT A DAY!

 Within minutes I connected with this mama and she send me pictures and told me about her visit.  She told me he was such and easy going baby, he sucked his thumb, and the foster family adored him.   

She had the most precious picture where FM and her daughter were hugging  but beside them was our little guy's foster dad and he was kissing his hands.....be still my heart!     In other pictures FM was busy taking pictures with the family and she had our little strapped to her back.  I can't tell you how that made me feel that our little guy is getting this kind of love.   He spent almost the first 6 months of life in the reception center (which is a nice facility) but it is not the love of a family and now he has that.   

In a few months we will take him from this family he has grown to love and it will break his heart.  It breaks my heart to think about that day but I can't even begin to express my gratitude to this family for the love they are giving my boy this very day.....it makes such a difference.

Special gift: Part 1

Sunday we received such a special gift.  I was chatting on-line with a friend of mine from our adoption agency who had just picked up her own sweet girl from Korea.

 I ask her if she had any pictures of the baby reception center while she was there because our little guy was at the reception center from birth until almost the end of December (the baby reception center is where the babies are cared for until a foster mother is available).

She said she did have some and she would look.  They next thing I knew she messaged that she had HIM....oh my goodness....my heart stopped I think.

Within seconds I was looking at his sweet little face at probably around 5 months old in the picture.  It was such a special gift I never thought I would have.  

It is just so amazing how God allows these special little things to work out.  Out of all the nannies in the room our little guys nanny brought him to the window so my friend could snap a picture of a baby who was not even matched with a family yet....and here he was ours and now I have this special gift.

to be continued because the blessing kept on coming........

One of the best days ever!!!!!

We awoke to the sound of the phone ringing and I new it would be the dreaded sound of K. K. voice saying something about a school closing.....Sure enough....FOG.

My heart instantly sunk and I said poor Sarah but still feeling so thankful because it God had not provided her I would not been able to continue with our plans.

Daycare opened at normal time and we rushed out the door as the last kids were coming in for breakfast.

After our two hour drive to our agency I made a quick call to Sarah and everything was fine - Wheew!!!!!

We walked into our agency and in no time were being give a file to look over.  Our director walked out of the room so we could view it in private.  As soon as I saw his sweet face my tears of joy were overflowing.  He was BEAUTIFUL!

We read his file and new instantly he was perfect for our family.  We had been given the blessing of a healthy baby boy!!!

We verbally accepted the referral and made some arrangements to have his file looked over by a adoption pediatric specialist and were on our way to make that 2 hour drive again.

Jeff had the brilliant plan to make the kids and John wait to see his picture until dinner time.

Since we had the blessing of Sarah there already we stopped to have like a bazillion documents notarized so that was done and out of the way then we got home and I had an hour before bus so started the mountain of acceptance paperwork.

Daycare kids came home, little boys got up, we made special ice-cream sundaes (because I was not above bribery that morning for Sarah's sake) and managed to get all the paperwork done but one document before we were off to celebrate with dinner at the Korean BBQ.  Uncle Chuck needed to pick Sarah up that night so he met us there to celebrate with us.

After we ordered we let the kid see his picture.

Carrot and her Man Doo Kook

John and Banana (who had some sort of squid - ewww)

One last picture before Sarah embarks on her voyage to the Mediterranean

Thanks goodness for Staple to make some last minutes copies

home to celebrate with our cake that John bought for us on his way home from school 

(how thoughtful was that)

Truly and AMAZING DAY!!!!

Referral!!!!!!!

WE GOT OUR REFERRAL!!!!

My day was already wonderful!!!!  Sarah was back from the Disney cruise and had come to spend the day with me.  I decided to make it special for the daycare boys and we all went out to
Chick-fil-a so the boys could have some fun on the play area and Sarah and I could chat.

We were about 40 minutes into their play and we were going to go grab out food soon and after eating grab something special to take to Carrot at school for her lunch and a surprise visit.

At 10:40 our chat was interrupted but the sound of my phone quacking.....I held my breath.  All in the matter of seconds my mind was thinking......could this be it..... No probably not I did e-mail a question yesterday.....but she wouldn't call to respond to my email....and I picked up!

After the formalities she said the most beautiful words, "We have good news for you, we a have a baby for you".  I was almost giggling with tears in my eyes at the same time.

I learned we had a boy and he was 6 months old......BE STILL MY HEART!

The call was quick since I needed to call Jeff ASAP to see if he could get home within 30 minutes.  We had over a 2 hour drive and our adoption director needed to go into a meeting at 2:00 so we needed to be there by 1:30.

We rush out of the play area and ordered our food to go and rushed home, but Jeff didn't make it home.  He called at 11:25 that his meeting just go over.  Yes, disappointing but it was hard to be disappointed for long.  I quickly assured myself that this was better since we would have to rush if we went that day.

Sarah who is also one of my daycare substitutes and also works in children was able to spend the night and stay the next morning with my daycare so we could make the 6 hour round trip.

Our adoption has been nothing short of a picture of God's faithfulness in every single detail.  It is always hard to wait but God truly had the timing in his hands.  My other 3 daycare substitutes all have jobs now....and on top of that at 5:30 a.m. we got a call that school was delayed by 2 hours.  God gave us this call when I can hold in my heart for the rest of my life having that awesome moment to share with one of the sweetest people I know and providing a way to keep my daycare open...STRESS FREE.

One of my subs had family with the stomach bug and the other two not only had their jobs but now their children would have been home from school and it would have just not worked out.

TO BE CONTINUED...........

18 months

It has been 18 months and here we are still waiting.  Hoping we are getting close.  I do plan to call our agency today and ask for an update on expected wait times.  I am kind of guessing I already know the answer that they just don't know but hoping they may know something.  

So close yet so far away.

I have been hopeful this week!  The holiday's are over, people are back to a regular work weeks, and we are in fact the family that has been waiting the longest at this point with out agency.  All of these reason have lead me to feel hopeful that maybe this is THE week.   However, January and February are traditionally slow months for referrals and our agency does not go in order for referring families which are all reason to keep my excitement in check that we could in fact still wait another few months and it wouldn't be unheard of for us to wait until almost summer for our referral.  Recently most have waited 18 months for less but there have been those cases in the past where some have waited up to 23 months for a boy referral.  

It's a tough place to be.  Tough and lonely.  Not many understand emotions of this wait unless they have been there.  I am thankful for those around me who have adopted in the past and those I am connected with on-line who have experienced a wait like who truly understand.  

I want to be hopeful and at the same time am scared to let myself get too excited.  4 months will be hard thinking everyday my phone should ring any day now.

I actually think I am handling this wait pretty good.  I have only had one or two moments when tears have come.  I do not walk around sad or feel depressed.  I am blessed beyond measure and am happy and busy throughout the day.  It is just those little moments when the house is quiet or the busy schedule has a break here and there when it gets hard and I get hopeful.

I know I'm on the countdown!  Several have said well only 4 more months that should be easy.  I guess it should really when you think about it but it is an indescribable feeling and even knowing that does not help.  

I have spent 10 years in my heart feeling like this adoption was something I was meant to do and 2 years ago we filled out that application and I have been preparing my heart and mind to love this little child God deemed fit to bless us with.   My heart is ready to be done with waiting.  

I know I'm going to see his sweet face and the wait is just going to get harder and I will have to find room in my heart to deal with that wait.  I know I can do!  

Christmas Day 2

The day after Christmas we headed to my sisters for dinner with my side of the family.  Thankful Sarah has a new camera and snapped tons of pictures or I wouldn't have any from here either. 

Pretty funny

Nice to see most of the nieces and nephews

Carrot opening presents on her HiHi's lap

What could it be????

Aunt Suzannah even had some extra stuff in a box so we could wrap something up for a last minute dinner add on

Uncle Chuck says he doesn't like the little dogs....heee heee

Good pick Carrot....Aunt Suzannah liked the earrings

Christmas Day

Enjoying our quiet Christmas Eve after the kiddo's went to bed.  It is kind of nice not to have to play Santa anymore and be able to relax on Christmas Eve.

John was pretty excited about Christmas.  I caught him looking at his presents a few time under the tree.  I guess his family does not wrap the presents in Korea so this element of surprise would be exciting for him.  I hope you enjoyed his American Christmas.

 Rooney was able to join us on his college break again this year.  This is the 3rd year he has been with us for Christmas.

.....and Dad ended the fun with a nap LOL

Christmas evening we went to Jeff's sisters and had a lovely dinner and time with his side of the family.  I can't believe I didn't snap any pictures :(