Still Waiting ....

We received some disappointing news yesterday. The Korean Government has stated they will not accept EP submissions for at least another 2 weeks. The is the crucial step which we have been waiting on to be able to travel to Korea to bring Yu-Na home. We originally thought January, then were told it would be February and now have been told Mid-March.  As I've stated before any movement is better then none as it moves us that much closer to "the top of the list". Very heartbreaking and confusing for sure.

I thought I would explain the process a little bit so it's a little clearer on what exactly we are waiting on. On our end we had everything done and had legally "accepted" Yu-Na last May. The acceptance was received in Korea on May 26th. Typically after the documents are received you are submitted for an EP (Emigration Permit). When the EP is approved, that is basically the Government saying the child is allowed to leave the country and at that time you receive your travel call to come and get the child. In the past, this time frame from acceptance to travel is 4-6 months. One of the reasons we chose Korea was this short wait time.  All of this being the case a pre-determined number of EP's is allowed each year and when they run out, they run out. This number is reset in January of each year. I don't know this #, but have heard that it is somewhere in the neighborhood of 400 children.  We were told last year in July our Agency had learned that the government was nearing their quota and they did not know if we would be submitted in 2011. The last group of children were submitted in October. Families who submitted their acceptance documents in Feb are home with their children. So we know families from March and April are waiting ahead of us.  This is why I say movement of any kind is so crucial.

We received an update today due to the overwhelming question and concern our agency received after the news yesterday.  Basically the agencies that represent families waiting are going to go to the government along with the ministry in Korea collectively to lobby for these babies to come home. 

I will say the line in the email that gives me hope is ... "despite these delays, your child will come home!.

We sent a new care package

So this week we got a new care package in the mail. My friend Carrie made her the awesome outfit with a "K" on it for Kate. I had bought the coat and scarf to take over when we picked her up. Since it won't be winter any more I thought I'd send it along with some other 18month clothes I have bought. Never imagined she would not be here by 18 months.  Sent her some more Gerber puffs which I hear she loves and some coffee for the foster family.   I am busy planning Madeline's birthday which is next month and had really hoped she would be here to celebrate with us. At this point I'd just love for her to be home to celebrate her 2nd birthday!

New Photo

She's getting so big! I sent these feeted PJ's, but not the boots and pink coat. Doctors describe her as "cute and fine" as usual. While she always looks big sitting in the chair, she is in the 25% for weight and 10% for height. Sending another care package out next week.  Mailing some of the 18mo clothes I had for her that she will not be here to wear :(

Still Waiting

We have had an active couple of weeks. So much so that I have already struggled to keep up with this blog. We found out no EP's (Emigration Permits) were going to be submitted in January which is terrible news as it means no movement for any families. Even if we were not in the first group any movement is better than none. And as we sit here over halfway thru Feb, nothing has happened this month either.  I continue to get very frustrated, but then I get an updated picture and am reminded it will all be worth it. On a separate note, Dan's company had layoff's which affected his position, but luckily he rebounded in true Dan fashion and got an even better job the very next day. He is currently in Phoenix training will start selling in a couple of weeks.  Off to Joplin this weekend with my mom and Rachel to celebrate my Grandpa's 86th birthday!

First Blog

So I decided to start a blog. I have previously been updating everyone on Face book, but it occurred to me that not everyone may want to hear the constant updates! This is also more of a way for me to journal and vent my frustration. Maybe it will be therapeutic. Today is Martin Luther King, JR day and the kids are out of school which is probably a good thing because it keeps me busy and occupied so I don't think about the sweet baby that continues to sit in a foster home in Korea. The last couple months of last year were easier because we knew nothing would happen until January so we could rest easy and relax a bit. But when January came, we knew there could be "movement" any day and so the constant checking of emails, caller ID and Holt forums for any morsel of information started. Then when the 2nd week came and nothing, we started to make phone calls, but still try to not be "those people" that are calling all the time. The problem is ... everything is in the Korean Government's hands and they apparently are not accepting EP submissions yet and  are not giving anyone information as to when they plan to resume. Not to say it could not still be in January as we are only halfway thru the month. But a month is a long time and it's starting to break me down.  I have a cold I can't get rid of, I play games and do puzzles with my kids because it makes me happier than doing laundry and housework. Right now I'm in the same clothes I changed into on Saturday. I snap at people for no reason because I'm cranky and I just hope they understand it's not them, its me.  Now lets talk about the saddest thing of all of this .. a little girl getting older and more attached to her foster family everyday because the government who took her into their care will not let her go. The crazy thing is that I have never once even in the last 2 weeks questioned my decision to adopt. I know in my heart it was the best decision and still is. I would not do anything any differently. She is mine as much as Madeline and Jake are and it will so be worth the wait.  I just hope I don't have to look at the pictures on my fridge much longer, but will instead be able to hold her in my arms. So now I am going to shower, take my gets to lunch, go to hockey camp and even run for the first time this year.  And I might just check my email only once more today. It's time to keep living and snap out of this! At least for today ...