Last Day In Korea......THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello all its Joe again, we all are doing well here. Jae-min is still being a great big brother, even if Yun-jeong cries when he gets a little rough with her trying to help. She still has not warmed up to me yet, but i know that will come it time. Shannon can not leave her sight at all, so I get to put Jae-min in for his nap and bed. That makes Shannon sad and miss him. We will see you next at the Airport Sunday wish us Luck!!!!!!!!



Guys Day Out.
Here is Jae-min and Papa Eating at Dunkin Doughnuts!!!
Party on the bed after Nap!!!!!!!

On our way to the N.Seoul Tower!!!!

Dancing on Glass YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Day 5.....Thursday And She's All Ours!!!!

Sorry for the deley in updates. Things are going well. After a very rough hand off in the streets of Korea she is starting to warm up to us. Jae-min is being an awesome BIG BROTHER feeding and playing with Yun-jeong. Shannon pretty much has to be in sight at all times so I get to Blog for once. Thank you all for my Birthday Wishes. I couldn't ask for better gifts than my Two Beautiful Children and Awesome Wife. Sorry pictures are out of order, I am new at this. MORNING TIME

NAP TIME

This is the Doctor and Nurse who took care of Jae-min. They remembered him and thik hes doing GREAT.

BATH TIME AT THE ADRAGNA'S

Cab ride Jae-min stroking her hair

WARMING UP A LITTLE AFTER NAP.

THE HAND OFF

Day 4.....Wednesday And THIS IS IT!!!!!!!!!!

Its Thurday morning here in Seoul and in just 4 short hours we will meet and pick up our daughter!!!!! We can't believe this day is finally here!!!! We ended up going to breakfast this morning to celebrate Joe's birthday. Then we plan on hanging out till about 12:30 when we'll take a cab to Holt for this life changing experience. The gifts are packed, the donations ready to go, the flowers ordered and being delivered and the nerves and tears have begun to flow.
We ask that you pray......for Yun-jeongs little heart to heal quickly and for her to somehow feel peace that its all going to be ok. For Jae-min...that he feels loved and cherished through this huge change, and that our foundation of attachment that we've worked soooo hard to build is only slightly shaken and not destroyed. For me......that I have the strength to help both of my children through what is to come, the patience to handle it all, and the grace to do it beautifully. For Joe....that he has the strength to keep us all together, and at the same time feel what he needs to feel. And for Papa....that he can handle all the bags, work the video camera Haha, and soak in this awe inspiring experience. Its go time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We'll see you soon as a family of 4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!On Wedesday we ended up going to Namedeum Market, saw the changing of the guards, and ate lunch at Bulgogi Bros. Jae-min loved the drums and watching the procession....and he finally got to see a king!!!!!!

Papa and Jae-min enjoyed haddeouk outside at the market....yummy!!!!

This nice guard made Jae-min feel so comfy standing next to him as he kept whispering little things to him.

Heres the market. We arrived shortly before it opened so it wasn't too crowded. It was fun to browse around and really experiene this part of Korea.

After lucnch we ended up napping and during nap looked what appeared....ah the reality has set in!!

After nap we went to dinner at chicken and beer. Jae-min was restless, whiney, and just not happy so I decided to take him to the park where we happened upon a concert. We were enjoying the music when all of a sudden things turned and I think we were in some sort of demonstration!!!! Um yeah awkward!!!!

The guys finally found us and were laughing that we'd probably get arrested hahahah

After we met up we went for a walk, then to bed.

One more sleep till we meet sweet Yun-jeong!!!!

Day Three....Tuesday

We had our scheduled tour through Holt so this morning we ventured downstairs and met a very nice young woman named Seojong. She is a college student in the US and is home on summer break. She took us to 2 palaces and then we hit up Insadong again for a short time to buy 3 sets of traditional wedding ducks (one for us, and one for each of the kids to give them on their wedding day). We also picked up some artwork to hand in Yun-jeong's room.
The palaces weren't very busy and it was fun to wander around and explore. Papa asked lots of questions and we got a good history of the palace and the meanings behind lots of things. Jae-mn kept pearing in doors looking for the king!!!!
This bowl is filled with water and it was believed to keep the monsters away........so we had Jae-min give a little look inside and tell those monsters...."away with you" We all went for a traditional Korean lunch of bee bim bop, bulgogi, and dumplings. It was yummy and fun to hear our guide order and talk with the staff. When the food was brought to the table Jae-min exclaimed "wheres the chicken nuggets?" Ah, I guess we've Americanized him.
Jae-min was alittle shy with Seojong at first but quickly warmed up and then they were great friends. He told her all about his sister and instructed her which way to go by sharing her map. Yup, one more Korean smitten with Jae-min.

We had tried to get into this palace first, its the biggest palace in Korea. But on Tues its closed. It was beautiful outside anyway.

After lunch we said goodbye to our sweet new friend, and headed for a nap. We woke and went out for Bulgogi pizza and then back to the hotel for a little swim. And yes that boy can rock a swim cap (required for the use of the pool). I will spare you the picture of poor Joe with his swim cap on.....he has asked me not to share Hahahaha......but it was sure good for a laugh!!!!

And for those worried about Papa, he's doing well. Soaking it all in, trying new foods, being the gracious world traveler. So no worries......we're taking good care of him!!!

Today is Wednesday morning, the last day Yun-jeong gets to spend with her Omma. My heart is heavy today, I hope she soaks up all their love....enough to last her a lifetime. As her Omma kisses her tonight and puts her to bed for the last time, I will kiss my sweet son for the final time as a mommy of one. I will snuggle him and tell him just how much I love him. And I know Yun-jeong's Omma will do the same.

Day Two....Monday

We awoke this morning a little later than yesterday but still waaaay to early Haha, and decided to go to the Holt reception center to play with the babies housed there. Jae-min decided to get his groove on in the subway station store while we bought some apple juice!!! The guys decided they needed coffee so I decided to walk down the street because it looked very familiar. And sure enough as I held Jae-min's hand we happened upon Holt. It was closed today due to a holiday but we looked in the windows and I began explaining to Jae-min what this building means. And then it happened.....right there on the streets of Seoul this crazy American mommy was overcome with emotion as she held the hand of her little Korean son.

You see this building is where we are matched with our children. Where every t is crossed and i dotted to bring them home, where we meet them for the first time, and then say goodbye to their omma. Where dreams and heartbreak are all rolled into one. I stood on that sidewalk and was transformed back 2 years, looking at the exact spot where Jae-min's omma stroked my face and he became ours forever!!!!!

The enormity of it all hit me on this sidewalk, standing in front of a closed building, watching the little boy who once was so frightened holding my hand. I couldn't stop the tears.

And to think that in a few short days we'll be heading there again to meet our daughter and have those same experiences was almost too much to handle. I'm so thankful to have the quiet time to just reflect on all that was and all thats to come.....this one little building holds so so much of our family in its tiny walls.

After standing on the sidewalk, we found the reception center and got to play with the babies. It was so much fun, two babies stole our hearts. A little girl melted me and I vowed in that moment to come back when the kids are older to do some EI work as a dev specialist to help these babies out.
Next we headed to a palace where we strolled the grounds and enjoyed the weather.

It was beautiful, then off to lunch.

We took a nice long nap then Jae-min hit the playground again, had some dinner, played in the room and off to bed.

The enormity of whats to come has hit me...seeing Holt and the babies puts it front and center. And the emotions have begun to surface!!!!!

Day One....

We decided to go to Insadong on our first day here. We started on our adventure and true to the kind Korean people, a man stopped to help us find the subway. Well......many blocks later in the wrong direction, and a language barrier that wasn't being conquered Pappa decided to take out his phrase book and find the word subway. Oh, we had just walked BLOCKS in the wrong direction but this kind man turned around and led us all the way back. I just love the people of Korea. We made it to Insadong with the help of another stranger too....but we made it. We bought some gifts for Yun-jeong and strolled the streets and enjoyed the atmosphere. These pictures are taken in the park near our hotel.

We bought Yun-jeong a traditional name chop and Jae-min charmed the lady at the store....who made one for him free. Again, love the people of Korea.

We ended up going back to the hotel for an afternoon snooze and then went to dinner around our hotel. There is a beautiful park across the street with walking trails, basketball, games, and even a playground. Jae-min had a blast and it was fun to watch him enjoying these activities in Korea.

The people are so kind here. They are so welcoming of Jae-min....some even rubbing his arm,

smiling, and speaking Korean to him which he's repeating making them giddy with joy!!!! He's a big hit.

As I watch Jae-min in his birthplace I can't help but stop to think how very different his life could have been. These are the sights he would have seen, these are the people he would have met, and this is the land he would have called home. It makes me teary and proud that we could bring him back to experience it with us. Because seeing Korea through Jae-min's eyes is amazing. And thinking back to the time when we were here before with him is surreal. From a scared baby to a happy toddler who's taking this country by storm. And it gives up hope that in the tough months ahead with Yun-jeong it will get better....next time we come back we'll have two hits on our hands!!!!!

Good Morning Beautiful Seoul!!!!!!

This morning as I woke up waaaayyyy to early (Jae-min and I are suffering from some serious jetlag) I looked outside and realized I was HERE.....in Korea with both of my children!!!!!
The flights went well....Jae-min was an absolute TROOPER. He was up for the first 6 hours then we put on his new digger movie and he fell asleep and slept for 4 hours. He would have kept sleeping if they hadn't turned on the lights for more food. For the next 4 hours he just hung out, snuggled, and then we were landing in Seoul. Whala just like that Haha. And I didn't even have to use my stash of new activities that I spent weeks finding....one for every hour of the plane wasn't even necessary!!!!

We're all doing well, just the jetlag is hitting us. Jae-min woke at 3:30 and I laid on his makeshift bed with him and he finally fell back to sleep till 5:30. Not too bad. We're heading out now to do some sightseeing.
I honestly can't believe we're here.....and meet Jaelah in a matter of days!!!! As Jae-min and I laid on his bed this morning he said "what do you think Yun-jeong's doing today?" I don't know buddy....but soon all those questions will be answered.
And as the bell man brought up our bags he asked Jae-min how old he was. He responded "three, did you know my little sister is coming soon?" I think he REALLY gets the meaning of this trip. To be back in Korea really feels like coming "home".