Tag Archives: adoption

02/17/10

{48/365} What would you do?

There is an adoption blog that I follow that until today made me cry for all the right reasons. More than FIVE years ago this family started their adoption journey. Below is part of an article about their story…I have taken names and places out because well I felt it necessary until they are back on US soil…

Heartache and Faith
The journey to parenthood for (where they live) couple

In June of 2004, the adoptive parents of (where they live) began the process to adopt a child. At the time, they knew they were in for a heart challenging ride, but had no idea what they were really in for. After talking to several other families who had gone through the process of an international adoption, they decided to adopt a child from Irkutsk, Russia. In July, 2004, the paperwork was completed and filed with the Russian government. The parents were planning a trip into Siberia for October of that year. Reflecting on the process, Mom said, “It does seem odd to people who have never been through an adoption. We got on an airplane, bound for Siberia, to meet a child we didn’t know anything about. We had cash in new American bills to pay for our translator, apartment and driver. We never questioned anything; we just got on that plane heading to Russia”. After 30 hours of travel, the couple was greeted in Irkutsk and taken directly to the Adoption Center for a formal registration process. From there, they were given permission to visit the Baby Home (orphanages in Russia are called Baby Homes). Dad said, “Maybe it was jet lag, but neither of us really remember much between getting off the plane in Irkutsk, and meeting our daughter for the first time.”

A little girl, barely 2, walked into an office at the orphanage to meet her new mama and papa. “Her big green eyes had so much confusion in them,” Mom remembers, “I felt so bad for her, I just wanted to scoop her up in my arms and tell her everything was going to be OK”. Mom went on to say that at that instant, she felt a maternal bond to this little girl. One of the Russian Social Workers noted that she could see love in this new family. It is not common for a child like this to be comfortable with strangers. It was fate. At the end of a 6 day visit, the parents were on a plane back to the United States, and the wait began. Typically, the process to adopt a child in Russia requires 2 trips. Trip #1 is needed to meet the child and file paperwork with the Russian government for adoption; Trip #2 is for the court hearing (generally 6-8 months later). The 6-8 months the parents had prepared their hearts for, has now dragged on to 2 ½ years (it was 2.5 years when this article was written ~ it has now been almost 5.5 years).

In the summer of 2005, a woman in Virginia killed her Russian adopted child. This child was born in the same region the parents are adopting from. “The backlash from this woman’s actions has caused many problems for everyone adopting in Russia,” said Mom. This situation started series of events within the Russian adoption industry that caused the agency the parents’s were using to loose accreditation to work in Russia. To date, most American agencies working in Russia continue to wait for proper accreditation and formal paperwork clearance to do business in that country.

Since July 2005 adoptions in Russia have continued however in the Irkutsk region they have not. Armed with Faith, abundant prayer, determination and love for a little girl, the parents traveled back to Russia in May 2006 to take matters into their own hands. They were able to hire a team in Russia who is helping them bring their daughter home. The team consists of a translator, interpreter, coordinator and a lawyer. “I don’t know how we were able to make connections with this group. Prayer is an amazing thing!” said Mom.

Their daughter, now 4 (she is now 7 I believe), calls the parents Mama and Papa. She carries around a photo album filled with photos of her visits with Mama and Papa. Mom said, “The older she gets, the more she understands what mama and papa means. On the last day of our visit in May, she thought she was coming with us. I can’t tell you how hard it was to leave my little girl in an orphanage, again. Their daughter kept saying, ‘mama papa I go with you now’. Even thinking about it today makes me cry”. Dad went on to say, “How do you explain to a 4 year old political red tape is the reason you can’t come with us. It’s all very hard for us as adults to understand, I can’t imagine what our little girl must be wondering.”

In October 2006, a 40lbs. box containing the required documents to adopt their daughter was shipped to Irkutsk. The documents were presented to the Russian Judge in November. Now, they wait for an official word that the documents were accepted as submitted, with no changes. (Those documents were NOT correct that time and would not be correct until late 2009…the hearing on the adoption was today.) With that ruling, the parents will get a court date to bring their daughter home.

The parents keep in touch with their daughter through letters and emails. According to the Director of the orphanage where their daughter lives, she feels very special because she knows she is loved. She asks for Mama and Papa frequently, and is waiting for them to come back to Siberia for her. The parents hope to travel back to Russia after the first of the New Year. If not to attend a court hearing and bring their daughter home, then to just visit their little girl. (Visit they did numerous times until now.)

A family friend, said, “It is inspiring to me to see Dad and Mom go through this process. Although they’ve lost literally thousands and thousands of dollars in this process, they will do whatever it takes to bring their daughter into their home.” Family friends organized a fund raiser in September for the parents. The fundraiser was able to raise over $6,000 toward translation and lawyer expenses.

Brenda Yonker, owner of Tears of Joy Adoptions, said, “The situation in Russia is very hard on everyone; the parents who are here waiting and the children in Russia who too are waiting. Dad and Mom have a tenacious determination and are fearless to do whatever necessary to break down whatever the barrier is to bring their little girl home.” Yonker went on to say that the nearly 50 other American families who are waiting for a court hearing in Irkutsk have not been able to make progress with their adoption cases because of bureaucratic red tape.

This article was written in 2006…it is now 2009. Three years later, and that determination finally was rewarded, today the adoption was GRANTED! I have cried numerous times today because of this family. I cannot imagine what they went through all for the love of a child, their daughter. They could have given up, they could have backed down but they didn’t. They prayed, they hoped and they loved. They did everything they could for not only this little girl but those who lived in the orphanage with her.

What this family still has to endure to get back to US soil. First they must wait 10 days (which may or may not include holidays and weekends) before they get custody of their daughter. Those 10 days are determined by the judge and they will go and visit her while waiting. Then they have to wait for a passport and so much more but while they wait they will have their daughter with them. They expect to be in Russia until the end of March at least. I hope someone has a HUGE party for them when they get home! I hope that the transition is easy though I know from experience it is not always as easy as one would like.

Here is a song the Dad wrote for his daughter complete with pictures of the family (have your tissues nearby):

So today I hug Little Man and Little Princess tighter as they help me while I cry some more for this family!

And because I LOVE how he left this…here is today’s picture:

01/29/10

{29/365} Did I really just hear that?

This week I have been massivly busy with all the Doctors appts and errands to run. So Aaron and I have been eating out a bit more and we have been out of the house at different places more. I am used to being stared at for whatever reason (the pasty white mama with the obviously Asian kids, the twin factor, the cute factor, they just feel like staring etc…) but I am not used to comments. This week I started getting comments about my children beyond how cute they are or how well behaved they are (I always invite those people to come home with me and see what they really behave like!).

Anyway I have finally got the “how much did they cost” comment and I am very proud of myself for not slapping the woman and just said “my children cost nothing, the adoption was what cost” because my children were right there. I didn’t know that answer would be so hard when it came down to it and how I didn’t slap her I will never know. I am used to the “are they REALLY related question” to which I respond “he is two minutes older” and watch their faces — yeah it takes them a minute to realize that they are twins and when the light bulb FINALLY goes off then they say “oh they are twins ~ how great” I then smile and say “I’m blessed” and walk away. Or the “where are they from” or “where did you get them” (which I HATE by the way) to which I respond they are from Korea, smile and walk away.

But I seriously want to know what makes people think it is ok to ask these questions? I have never heard anyone ask a woman who just gave birth “so where did you have that baby” or “what was the cost of your birth” and how many mothers of multiples get the question “are they really related” (I know that many of them get the “are they twins question” which does not question if they are brother and sister but if they are the same age)…why do people feel compelled to be in our business…

I guess I have to get used to it…our next child will most likely not be Asian so I am sure I am not done with these questions. Now to get my temper when they are asked in front of my children under control and I will be good to go!

(I know this picture is blurry BUT I love it anyway – they are hugging and the expressions!)

(This is what happens when they have almost NO nap and are asked to sit for a picture…)

01/25/10

{25/365} Did I hear them right?

I am so angry I cannot see straight right now. Today my family was discriminated against for the first time because of adoption. First let me tell you the story and then let me tell you about how I plan to handle it.

My husband works for an amazing company incase I have not said that enough lately. This amazing company pays for most of a gym membership for our family (well for all employees who opt for the membership) we pay the remainder but it comes right out of Aaron’s pay check so we never see the money. We loved the gym before Little Man and Little Princess came home and we have slacked a lot since they came home. My bff in town, Alison, joined the same gym at the beginning of the year and has recently talked me into going with her to some classes. All of the classes I had went to were at night so Aaron stayed home with the kids but a part of our membership we get childcare at no extra charge.

I had decided that this week I wanted to take some of the day time classes instead but that would mean that the kids would have to go to childcare. Before I took them I wanted to see what Alison thought of the program and if I needed to do anything special. I talked to Alison who told me all kinds of good things about the childcare but she also told me that my kids would need member numbers. I asked her what was required to get the member number for the kids she said nothing she just wrote down her daughter’s birthday and name and her daughter was assigned a member number. Ok great!

So while the twins were napping I called membership and tried to add them over the phone. They asked me a couple of questions and when I stated their birthdate I was asked why I waited so long to add them, so I then had to say that they are adopted. I was told that BECASUE they are adopted I have to prove they are my children. I said I have nothing that can do that (1) our adoption is not finalized yet (though it should be soon) so I have no decree to show them and (2) all of our major paperwork was at the adoption attorney’s office (I have since retrieved it). I was told that they were sorry I could not bring my children in. I was so surprised by the answer I said NOTHING at the time as I was shocked.

As I was calling Alison to tell her what happened I got MAD…VERY mad. I could not believe that she was allowed to walk into the gym with her child and sign that child up with no proof that the child is hers and not some child she was watching or had just kidnapped. I would not be upset at all if EVERYONE was required to show a birth certificate (or other proof) for their child but it appears only those who have adopted older children are required to prove they are the parents of the child. My anger level kept rising.

I am totally and completely surprised that the gym is that blatant about this. So what am I going to do now…I am going to go in and try to add them without any proof. I have discussed this with Alison and she says if necessary I can use her name if I am still asked for proof, and I plan to. I also will be sending a well thought out and carefully worded letter to the board about their policy. I want my children to know that this is NOT acceptable but that we do not immediately lose our temper and scream and holler (except for to our friends) because that gets us no where and can sometimes make it so that we are not heard. We will use the right channels to report this and if necessary I have a lawyer who is willing to send a letter (actually I have more than one – the benefits of being a retired attorney). It may take longer BUT we will make our voice known and most likely it will be heard even if they do nothing about it. If nothing is done then we have to decide if that is a business we still want to do business with, and you all already know my answer!

So thanks for listening to my rant (I have a few more coming up I am sure) and here are the pictures you really came to see:

01/19/10

{19/365} Haitian Adoptions

I have been watching the situation in Haiti closely – especially the plight of the children that were in the process of being adopted. The international adoption process is not for the faint of heart and when it comes to Haiti it is really not for the faint of heart. First you have to be married for something like 10 years though I have heard that there are exceptions to that rule and at least one of the parents has to be 35 years of age. Childless couples preferred and families with up to two children are accepted. However, couples who have children already will require a presidential dispensation, a special exemption issued by the president’s office lengthening the adoption process by 6-8 months. Single female applicants are able to adopt if they are a minimum of 35 years of age and under the age of 50. The process up to referral is similar to that of many other countries, though not Korea as Haiti requires a dossier. Referral and travel times are different for every adoption but generally you will wait 6 to 12 months for a referral, once your dossier arrives in Haiti. Two trips are then required. The first trip occurs shortly after referral to meet your child, and then the trip to receive your child typically occurs between 12 and 18 months after referral for childless couples or 18-24 months for families with other children.

The orphans in the news lately were all referred to families like this story from Good Morning America. Most if not all of the families had made the first trip to Haiti to meet their children and were just waiting for the call to bring their children home. The paperwork involved in these adoptions was most likely lost in the earthquake and could take years to sort out BUT these children are going home to their parents where they do not have to worry about a roof over their heads, food in their stomachs, or clothing on their backs or the rising violence. They are loved and will be loved without having to watch the rebuilding process or more of the devastation in Haiti. For these children I am happy! I am happy that our government realized that the possibility of finding all the paperwork is about a zero and that these children belong with their families! Our government realized this so quickly that we are still hearing about the earthquake in the news (which says a lot).

But my question is what happens to those children that had not been referred yet, they had not been through any processes in court. Some have needs, some don’t – all of them are living and witnessing the devastation first hand and will be for a very long time. What about the children that are now orphans thanks to this earthquake, children that had families but no longer do?

I am not sure what to say now – because I am torn. See I am only for adoption when it is done in a very ethical way and the children really are available for adoption. In post earthquake Haiti that will be hard to prove, making Haiti ripe ground for those adoption agencies that are well not so ethical. I am sure there are families that were just separated and would like to see those children again. I want to see all children who need good homes in good homes.

All I can say now is I cry for the children and families reunited today and in the weeks to come…I cry because some of those families have been fighting for their children for so long that a natural disaster that could have killed their children is what finally brought them together and I cry because adoption does that to me…all because of these two faces:

10/1/09

One year ago….

(Little Princess’ First Picture – she was 4.5 months old)

(Little Man’s First Picture – he was 4.5 months as well!)

Has it really been a year since we received that e-mail that changed our lives? We had accepted the twins referral back in April unofficially, officially in early July and then waited….and waited. We would sign whatever they sent us and worried that the day would never come that we would be allowed to go to South Korea and pick them up. September 30, 2008 I got an e-mail that I could not believe at all….when you are ready, they are ready. There were a few e-mails back and forth as I could not believe this was really happening and a ton of tears. The day we had been waiting for had finally came.

It would take a week to get everything in place to leave. I remember the mess with getting the plane tickets and wrapping everything up at work to be gone for what was supposed to be three months, setting up our stay at the Guest House and the nerves, oh the nerves. There were so many what ifs. I remember agonizing over what to pack for our two babies (we had NO clothes that actually fit when we got there – they were so much smaller than we imagined)

Had you asked me a year ago what today would look like I would have never answered that it would consist of a love note from my husband when I woke up, a diaper that had exploded EVERYWHERE, and dancing with my kids after Playhouse Disney was over with no sign of legal work anywhere.

So bear with me over the next week or so (it may end up lasting part of the month as we look back at the last year) and today as you can tell I am going to post all the pictures we received of the twins before we traveled! And if I have a post from a year ago that talks about what I am talking about on that day I will link it and the words it is linked to are bold and underlined)

(In the red chair – they are 7 months old here and this is my favorite picture from before they came home!)

(More red chair – they are 10 months old here)

(And the last picture we received – they were 13 months old here)

09/27/09

Multiple Moments on MomTV — Adoption Fundraising

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So hopefully I will start getting things back to normal tonight! Does everyone remember that my MomTV show moved to Monday nights at 9 P.M. EST — all you have to do is click on the words Multiple Moments anywhere in this post! I usually go live a few minutes early and you can come and go at any point in the show! You do not have to log in with a name unless you want to chat in the chat room, so just come and listen. The more viewers I get every week the more chance I will have of being able to give away some really cool things!

Also, as always tonight on Multiple Moments we will discuss something adoption related – adoption fundraising. Come and add to the conversation whether you agree or not, I will be discussing not only the pros but the cons. Also, I will talk about some of the best ideas I have seen and how to come up with something original that may work if you decide that fundraising to help you with your adoption is for you! If you cannot be there and want to add to the discussion leave what you would like to say in the comments and I will be sure to include it!

09/20/09

What No One Told Me About Adoption

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As always I am little late to the party and I had grand plans for this party and well life happened so the party is well a little late and a lot less than planned!

So most of you know that I write over at Grown In My Heart and well I think I have a post coming up there (oops guess I need to start writing), anyway we have started doing bloggy carnivals for all of those involved in the adoption triad. Our first one “What No One Told Me About Adoption” was a big hit, even if I am late to the party! I think there were posts from all members of the triad – some made me cry even. So be sure to check out all of the other posts on the Mr. Linky over at Grown In My Heart! And hey if I can be late to the party so can you!

My only involvement in the triad is as an adoptive parent so all of my things have to do with being an adoptive parent:

  • No one told me that we could get exactly what we wished for but had been told would never happen.
  • No one told me that a country could over diagnosis medical conditions or that I would be so joyful that we were down to one instead of many
  • No one told me how hard twins would be in the beginning or how rewarding they would be a year later
  • No one told me that it would not be roses and rainbows at first or that it would seem worse because I didn’t sleep for months
  • No one told me I would cry the first time I heard mama and knew it meant me, got my first real kiss or watched them reach for me because it was me they truly wanted and not who they knew
  • No one told me that it may be possible that I would have to be a SAHM for awhile or that if I was it would affect my whole identity
  • No one told me that there would be feelings other than happiness when you met your children
  • No one told me I would obsess if a woman half a world away is ok while I try to do her justice raising children I see as hers and mine
  • No one told me that there were adult adoptees that were very angry (some for very valid reasons) and that they would make me question everything I am doing to make sure my kids grow up happy and healthy
  • No one told me that I would consider moving to a foreign country where I do not even speak the language to make sure that my children understand their heritage or that I could become so obsessed with a country that I would have regular dinner parties where I would cook the food and invite those we know from that culture over to try to learn more
  • No one told me that I would want to be rude to complete strangers (and sometimes non-strangers) when they ask questions like “how much did they cost” — really they cost nothing people, how much did your baby cost (p.s. I never say that but oh how I want to among other things)
08/13/09

God and Adoption

Lately I have been thinking a lot about what role God has played in our adoption plan — especially with Little Man and Little Princess’ birthday just past. My thought has been “How would the God I know and love allow a woman to go through the pain of giving her children away JUST to give me children?”

So I decided that it was time to see what the bible had to say about adoption:

  • First, there’s Moses – Exodus 2:1-8
  • I also thought of Samuel – 1 Samuel 2:1-11 Hannah was barren and prayed fervently to God for a child “O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” 1 Samuel 1:11. Once he was weaned, he lived with Eli, the priest and “ministered before the Lord.”
  • And who could forget beautiful Esther.
  • Even the new testament frames our salvation, or acceptance into God’s kingdom through Jesus’ sacrifice, in terms of adoption: Romans 8:22-24,Romans 9:3-5, and Ephesians 1:4-6.

I read all these stories again — and thought some more. I mean God gave us freewill – the ability to do as we please and sometimes that freewill gets us into trouble (at least I know it does me). Once we get into trouble then what is the plan to get us out of trouble? Do we attempt to make our own plans?

I think about this as I try to put myself in the shoes of my children’s birth mother…and what if I was her – pregnant with unexpected twins, no clear plan for my life and living in a society where being a single mother is not looked kindly upon – what would I do? How would I handle that situation? What would I do when those babies came so early that I was told there was not much chance of them surviving and if they did the list of problems they could have? How would I feel? Would I be at the end of my proverbial rope? Where would I turn and what would I do?

As I look at my children playing while I type I want to think that MY God led her to the decision to give these babies up so that I could raise them – better than she could. How pretentious of me? My God would NOT be happy with my line of thought about that I am sure — I am changing my thoughts on this. While I still feel like I was supposed to raise these children — like they were put in my life for a reason, I do not believe they were born for me to raise them anymore. Though I do believe that once their birth mother exercised her freewill and made her plans  – God knew the plan for my children was to place them with Aaron and I and put that plan into play.

I think about the story of Moses — God HAD to know what he was doing there, and I am sure it broke Moses’ mother’s heart to put her baby in a basket and watch him float down the river to a completely unknown fate. God used that decision to give Moses the ability to do things other Jews would not have been able to do at that time and it helped him to set his people free. Moses was able to know his family and live with them as an adult. I believe in that sense that God had a hand in matching up the twins paperwork with our paperwork and making sure that they came to the right place to be raised the way He desired them to be raised. While I do not believe that my children are destined to set their people free – I do believe they are destined to do great things as it says in the bible: For I know the plans I have planned for you… Isaiah (cannot remember the chapter and verse). And maybe one day my children will go back to Korea and do great things – I am ok with that and I am ok with them doing great things here in the US as well.

So my thoughts now turn to how do I raise them up to be all that they can be and to be who they should be? To love without question the woman who gave birth to them and the rest of their Korean family? Another post for another day —

But be sure to leave your thoughts on God and Adoption…even if they do not match mine.

10/12/08

Family Day – October 12, 2008

I am not sure that I ever believed anyone when they said this day and this day alone would make you feel every emotion in the book and I mean everyone. It started out full of excitement and ended with exhaustion. The foster mother made us breakfast, Korean style and I was in heaven and my husband well he was not so sure but he tried it and liked it! Then came the most heart wrenching part of the day – the blessing ceremony and saying good bye to the foster parents, I cried soooooo hard. The foster mom was crying and I was crying and Aaron was crying and you could tell foster dad was trying hard not to cry. The foster mom said she has been fostering for 10 years and has never been so close to a baby (though she meant babies). She said these two got into her heart. I cried harder. I thought someone was going to come and stomp on my heart it was horrible. Then came the time for Little Man and Little Diva to start grieving and wow did they grieve. I was prepared for it but that tore at your heart even more. We soon learned that Little Diva is 100% no doubt about it a Daddy’s girl – only daddy can stop the tears, only daddy can change her diaper, ONLY DADDY. She has even said dada a few times and it seems appropriate but we are not sure. Little Man does prefer me but likes his daddy time as well – Little Diva screams bloody murder when Aaron does anything with Little Man she can see, talk about jealous. We tried some baby food and Little Man LOVED the vegetables and rice but was not sure about the fruit even though he ate it. Little Diva well she tried it and would eat it but not as good as Little Man. Daddy let her have the spoon and that was it green baby food everywhere! We laughed, we played, we cried and we bonded. By no means are we attached, but at least we have started. It is currently EARLY in the morning and Little Diva thinks it is play time, she is in the hallway playing with Daddy. Little Man is sleeping right next to me so his sister does not wake him up! We cannot wait to see everyone! We love you all and we are ready to touch down in Chicago on Monday morning! Illinois here we come…for those wondering we will be home sometime Monday. (Grandma and Papa we will call you at work when we are not too far away from home.) So I leave you with some pictures from our day (This is nowhere near all of the pictures, I will be putting all these pictures and the ones from the trip on flickr when we get home):

10/11/08

More Things I learned in Korea…

1.     That sidewalks are not just for pedestrians. Here you can be followed by cars, motorcycles and bikes. They even park on the sidewalk if nothing else is available.

2.     You really can do anything in 2+ inch heels. I have seen it all. These women are amazing, and it does not even look like it hurts. I would have fallen on my face LONG ago and never been able to get up. Heels are worn with everything from jeans to fancy attire here and we even saw people at the zoo in heels (and that was NOT a place I would have worn heels).

3.     You can be adictted to water. Yep – I am adicted to this peach flavored water. It is AMAZING. I have begun looking for it over pepsi (which is hard to find here) fortunatly the peach water is easy to find but I bet I will never see it in the states. It is better than any flavored water I have ever had.

4.     Diet Pepsi does not exist in South Korea at least. It is a VERY good thing mom brought some with her as we have NEVER seen a bottle of Diet or even Lite Pepsi over here. They have Lite Coke which mom says is NOTHING like Diet Coke at home, I wouldn’t know I don’t like either.

5.     Kids here are VERY trusting and they love to try to talk English. They always say hello and where are you from. They become very excited when they hear USA and if they see a camera want their picture taken. They then hold their fingers in a peace sign and say “cheese.” It is so cute! We cannot help but oblige them!

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6.     I could not love this country more. It is a mix of traditional and modern, old and new. While drastically different from home in some ways it feels like home in others. And most importantly they trust Aaron and I to raise two of their most precious commodities – children. I hope that we succeed and that we can make our children understand what Korea was, is and will be and that no matter what they do they will always be Korean and American. How they choose to mix the two is up to them.

10/11/08

Friday and Saturday

On Friday I really wanted to go to a spa/public bath but Mom didn’t want to go and I was not brave enough to try it on my own. So we went shopping! Hahaha! We went to Dongdaemun Market. The guide book called this shopping area “massive” but I am not sure that word is big enough to describe it. The first building we went in was all fabrics and textiles. They were so beautiful and if I could have figured out how to get it home we would be the proud owners of a traditional Korean bedding set (actually I would have begged for two - Little Man and Little Diva each have to have one :) ), but bag space was running low as a matter of fact we had to buy a new suitcase just to get everything home (and we brought one whole suitcase of gifts that was empty before). We did manage to find Aaron’s hanbok for family pictures. Now the whole family will have one! We also found more stuff for the Little Man and Little Diva - 95% of what we have bought has been for Little Man and Little Diva, gifts for future Family Days! Wait until you see some of the clothes and shoes we have bought and I wish you could see some of the things we have left here. Sowe wandered through buildings of clothes, actual shopping malls, streets filled with vendors selling everything from shoes to pets….we saw pets, shoes, hats, books, clothing, towels and so much more. All along this beautiful stream. It was great! We shopped from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and even ate more traditional Korean food for lunch! I am obsessed with bibimbap, this great all in one bowl rice, vegetables and meat meal (even mom likes it). Aaron has become obsessed with kimchi stew - I think it is very spicy but he likes it so much he wants me to make it at home. Please wish me luck even though the younger Dr. Kim says it is very easy. All in all it was a great day!

We had to be back at the Guesthouse by five p.m. so that we could meet with the social worker to sign off on the last of the paperwork (I think I have signed my name over here more than I do at work, and that is a lot). She also gave us our travel bag FILLED with diapers, formula, two carriers, pacifiers (even though we have been told they do not take pacifiers) and a necklace of the Korean flag with their Korean names and birth dates inscribed on them as a gift. We received the last of the medical information some just update that day and tons of well wishes. We had already received their passports and visas. I was crying again.

When we were done I went to find my mom and she was in holding the babies. She held the cutest little girl for a couple of hours and I held an adorable little boy. We just talked to them and held them and loved on them. I seriously thought my mom was going to take that little girl home. I think she wanted to and would have if she could have figured it out. I wish there was a way to help the baby nursery more, they all seem very tired and very much all about the babies. Mom said when she was there they brought in a brand new baby boy and that the head nurse (who actually speaks amazing English) told her that the number of babies in the baby nursery has doubled in the last few years. Maybe after being here I can do a fundraiser for the babies and special needs children of Eastern….there has to be something I can do.

We then had supper at Pizza Hut, one of the few American restaurants that I have found is very similar to home except NO breadsticks. But the original pan pizza was VERY good. I have been trying to compromise with mom and Aaron and one meal be Korean and one American and that seems to work.

On Saturday we had planned to go to the zoo and Seoul Grand Park. So we got up and ate breakfast and left for  the park. Initially there were very few people out but as we got closer more and more people we out and the subway cars were packed with people. When we got to the place we bought tram tickets and the tram took you to either a museum, the zoo or Seoul Land amusement park (which was nicer than I expected). We got off at the zoo and prepared to walk around to see the animals. There were a lot of animals, so many that I took over 600 pictures. We had also bought tickets to see the dolphin show at 1:30 p.m. so while we walked around the zoo and looked at animals, we also snacked on food. I had this Korean sushi style food you see everywhere here and mom and Aaron chose more American style fair. The zoo was big and full of hills and stairs. My favorite part was the nursery where they had baby cubs and monkeys playing (I will let everyone know when I have the pictures uploaded to flickr – probably not until I get back home the connection here is hit or miss). We then we to the Dolphin show – I LOVED it even though I could not understand one word of what was being said. It was 100% in Korean well except the music it was all in English – does anyone remember Mambo #5? That was one of the songs! But the show was absolutely amazing! I got some great pictures of that and for the first time the whole trip wished I had the camcorder.

After the dolphin show, we left the zoo and went to another market. Mom was still looking for a few things and she had really got the hang of bartering. So we went to Namdaemun Market. Oh my gosh talk about huge, there were stalls with people every where and real deals in some of the stalls. We got Aaron some dress shirts for no more than $5 each and some dress pants for the same. I think the belts he bought were about $5 each as well, he bought there when I was not there. It was about this time I decided that I really wanted a traditional Korean style baby carrier and we had only seen those one place, fortunately Mom wanted McDonald’s for supper (another place that tastes like home) and the store I had seen them at was across the street from the McDonalds. We went and I bought a traditional Korean style carrier and then we went and had dinner. We also bought some fruit as at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday we would be receiving Little Man and Little Diva for good and we would still need to eat on Sunday and since the guesthouse provides eggs, bread, butter and juice we thought at least one meal we could cook ourselves.

After we got back to the guesthouse I sent Aaron out to get some juice for Little Man and Little Diva and something for me to drink besides plain water. I then prepared everything for Sunday – our first family day! I type this now having had almost 10 hours of sleep in one night! More on Family day later….

By the way thanks for reading the boring posts a.k.a the ones without pictures or mention of Little Man and Little Diva - I am writing these posts for them someday to know what we did while we were in Korea. I know that it could mean a lot to them and maybe someday when we come back it will mean even more. So thanks! I will do my best to post some pictures on Sunday if they take a nap…otherwise it will have to wait until we get home.