waiting ... waiting ... waiting

I thought I would update my blog. It seems like everytime I do, then the next day I get news! Was waiting to get our TC to update, but that has not happened yet. Like I said before we were told 2-6 weeks and we are 3 weeks, 5 days in.  I recently joined a Facebook group consisting of familes in process with the Korean adoption program. It has been a wonderful group to be a part of. I have met other mothers going thru what I am and it's been a huge resource for all sorts of things from travel to grieving tips etc.  But while wonderful to watch other families come home with their children, it's hard at the same time because I'm so ready to take this step myself.  I know we are near the end of this long journey, but this wait is by far the worst of the process.  I'm ready to see her in my rear view mirror in the pink carseat I've had for a year, see her at the kitchen table eating rice and seaweed (yes that's a favorite snack), push her on my swingset, watch her knock all the fridge phonics magnets off the fridge onto the floor .. and I'm even ready to watch her cry for her omma and her appa, and stay up at night comforting her while she grieves the family she has just lost.  I'm ready for all of it ..

 I'm ready, ready, ready!!

So on a happier note, I thought I would share some of the fun things happening at the Hall house. We don't just sit around sad all the time that Kate Yu-Na is not home yet!  The kids took swim lessons. Both did great and have now advanced to the last level which is shark!

Jake went to Boy Scout Camp and had a blast!

He practiced his archery skills ...

we went on a hayride on family night.

While Jake was at camp Madeline and I did some fun girl things. We got pedicures and worked on Kate's nursery. We put together a shelf and a trike .. ok Dad had to help a little when he got home. Madeline was especially excited about the trike because she thinks the little girl riding it looks like Yu-Na.  I agree!

Madeline also helped me wash the fridge phonics change the batteries and arrange the letters on the fridge. We had the perfect combination of letters to write something special on the fridge!

 I forgot how much I missed the sound of .. "every letter makes a sound"!

We also did a little shopping and found a gift for Yu-Na's Foster Mother. It's her Korean name and her birthstone which also happens to be mine. I always hated that ugly green stone until now!

Well that's about all to report for now. Hoping to get some good news this week still yet and head out next week! 

EP Approved!!!

Well today it's official .. Yu-na's EP has been approved! Basically what this means is that Korea has approved her adoption and has agreed that all of her documents are in line.  Not to bore you with logistics, but I get a lot of questions about the process and what happens now and why it is an additional 2-6 weeks etc.

So this is what happens now (simplifying it as much as I can). My agency in Korea will apply for a Travel Certificate. This takes about a week to get. A packet called a P3 is then submitted to the Embassy with all sorts of documents which I won't bore you with. The purpose of this being approved is to obtain a one way travel visa for her to exit the country and enter the US. This typically takes 5-8 days to obtain. Once this is done the foster family will take her to the US Embassy for a "Visa Interview"  I can actually call DC to find out when this has taken place as they will have record of it. Once this interview is complete, I should receive travel instructions within 48 hours typically.

We are tentatively planning on July 2nd departure and arriving back in the US on July 7th, but of course don't know this for sure yet. This is just a window of time that is very convenient for all parties involved.

I am beyond excited that this is finally happening. I think I'm in shock at this point, because it doesn't seem real yet!   Very excited to have her here in time for her 2nd b-day, hockey camp, school enrollment etc. I just can't wait for all the people who love her so much to finally get to meet her! I think she is going to be such a little blessing to us all!

I also wanted to take a minute to thank everyone for the support this past year! My future is probably going to be very crazy so I may not say it as much as I should so I will just say it now .. thank you for the support and for the support I'm sure you will give me in the upcoming year!