A Mother's Love....

This Mother's Day was filled with lots of mixed emotions...joy and sorrow, laughter and tears, arms that were full and arms that were still aching, and a heart that could burst and at the same time was weeping. A child I had longed for is here and so full of life to make this a GREAT day....and a child that I still long for is still so far away.I found myself bursting with happiness and sadness all at the same time. I know how close we are, but on this day nothing can take away the ache to hold ALL of your children in your arms.
And on this day I found myself thinking of 2 women....2 women whom I will never meet, yet feel like I know just by looking into the eyes of our children. 2 women who, with their brave and unselfish decision, allowed me to be a mother. It was with the greatest gratitude and respect that I thought of Jae-min's and Jaelah's birthmother's today. I hope they have some peace and in some way they know their children are loved beyond measure. To them I am eternally grateful.

Visa Physical!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On Monday we received an email from our agency informing us that Yun-jeong would have her Visa Physical on May 4th...that's today in the US, but its already happened in Korea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I almost fell off my chair when I opened that email......when 2 weeks ago we were thinking we wouldn't travel till August, and now 2 weeks later we've been submitted and approved for EP, and know her physical is complete is CRAZY!!!! I'll admit I sort of felt like I was going to throw up when I read the next line......." and travel from this point is about 1-4 weeks". Can you believe it???

I will say that I didn't sleep well last night. I knew that it was already Wednesday in Korea and I kept thinking of her getting ready with her omma, driving to the hospital, and getting checked over by the doctor. I hope she dazzled those doctors and showed them what she's got........make this mamma proud little one!!!!

And it was the most peace I've felt in a long time. To know exactly what both of my children are doing even though they were worlds away. While one slept snuggly in his bed, the other was having her most important check up of her life....a check up that will give the ok for us to come and get her.

Ah....we are getting so so close. The false "labor pains' have begun....my head is spinning, my belly is hurting, my eyes are filling with tears for no apparent reason. Tonight we're heading to Build a Bear so Jae-min can make Jaelah a bear and so we can celebrate this day.....this day that brings us closer and closer to being a family of 4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We'll Leave A Light On....

Till your home....

When we found out we had been submitted for Yun-jeong's EP we put a candle in her window to symbolize our waiting for her...a small glimmer of light and hope in these tough days.

And now, after finding out about her EP being APPROVED and realizing that we are getting ever closer to our sweet one, this candle has taken on a whole new meaning.

Now when I walk by it I feel hope and butterflies in my tummy. I love the glow it casts at night and I love that her room is full of soft light....a light that will guide her home!!!!

I love feeling connected to her and I often wipe away a tear or two, just thinking about her a world away. But most of all the room that was once dark has light....and will soon have the light and laughter of a little girl.

Today Yun-jeong turns 15 months old. I have thought about her a lot today. My prayer on this day is that she is soaking up all the love and snuggles from her foster family....a family that have cared for her for so so long, and will soon say goodbye. And that she will hold onto that love forever. May this be the last month "birthday" we have to be apart, little one.

Yet till we meet....we'll leave a light on to guide you home.

EP APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holey Moley................we got it.

EP APPROVED as of yesterday 4/28.

I cried and haven't stopped shaking since receiving the email. In just one short week our lives and this crazy roller coaster of adoption has changed sooooo dramatically. Last week at this time we found out we had been submitted for EP in early April. And now just one week later we have

APPROVAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are getting so so close...I can actually see the finish line....and it looks like a beautiful trip to Seoul and meeting our beautiful daughter!!!!

From here on out those wonderful people of Seoul will be working like crazy to finish these last few steps...

1. A travel certificate will be issued for little Miss.

2. She'll make her Embassy Appearance (EA) where her adorable little picture will be taken.

3. She'll have a Visa Physical by a doctor at the Embassy. And depending on his findings we may have to sign a Class B waiver...which may hold up travel for a week at most.

4. She'll have a Visa Interview.

5. All this will be placed in a packet called P3 and sent back to the US

6. Her Visa will be issued and...........................................

7. We'll get the TRAVEL CALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In 4 weeks we could be almost in Korea, heading to Korea, or already in Korea. Can you believe it????????????????????????? I guess Korea in June sounds fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can someone pinch me..............I just can't believe soon soon soon we'll be meeting our baby girl.

Easter Fun

This post has come a little late....oh well, I guess when your an "expectant" mommy things can slide!!!

We had a fun Easter weekend. Jae-min loved coloring eggs.....
And very "delicately" dipped, took out, and re-dipped multiple eggs over and over again!!!
He was excited to see what the bunny brought on Easter morning. Although he went to Jaelah's basket first....because it is his favorite color right now....PINK!!!
He found lots of eggs that the bunny left. All Jae-min wanted for Easter was a magnifying glass and a toothbrush with batteries.....Our silly silly boy.....
And the little smarty pants used that magnifying glass to look for the eggs!!!! Very inventive if I do say so myself.
The fun he had "investigating" and telling us it was a "mystery".
The weather was perfect for an outdoor egg hunt with all of Jae-min's cousins.....yet our boy liked his new toy bubble blower better!!!!
Miss Jaelah received some awesome clothes that will come in handy when she gets home!!!! Thanks Easter bunny for leaving her her very first bathing suit, and her own magnifying glass. We hope you visited her in Korea!!!!!

EP Submitted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just when you think you can't go on one more day, the most amazing email appears in your inbox!!! We found out today that Yun-jeong's EP (exit permit) was submitted to the embassy. This is the news we've been waiting for. This is the beginning of the paperwork that needs to be completed in Korea before she can come home. And the best news is that her paperwork was submitted on......

April 6th!!!!!!!!

That's right.............she was submitted over 2 weeks ago and we didn't even know it yet. That's exciting because approvals are coming anywhere from 3-6 weeks from submission date. So we've got 2 weeks of waiting under our belts already. Wahoooooooooooooooo!!!!

Now before we get overly excited let's be real.....approvals can take up to 6 weeks and then after that there's lots of paperwork stuff that happens, usually taking 4-6 weeks more. But that's ok. Because we are on our way.........................Hang on tight.................the ride is in full swing now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What do you think???? Korea in June is now a possibility!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We'll be there soon, girlie. Now to work on the room and all the fun stuff. A HUGE weight has been lifted off our shoulders. Our dream is coming true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sesame Street Live!!!!!

On Saturday we took Jae-min to see Elmo's Green Thumb in the city. It was his first stage performance and he did well.....he loved seeing Elmo and all of his friends.He sat in his seat like a "big boy" until he heard the woman over the speaker talk about how it was going to get dark in the show.....um yeah, we have a little fear of that dark...so he spent the entire show on mommy's lap!!!
The show was full of dancing, singing, and laughter. Jae-min wanted to "go up on stage and see Grover", but we convinced him that we were the audience and Grover needed us to stay in our seats Haha

And if you look at the picture below....there were even some ladybugs in the show.....Yun-jeong was with us in spirit!!!!
We had a great time. We had been wanting to do something like this before traveling to Korea...something just for Jae-min!!!! And it was a fun family day!!!!