Bedtime is hard!

I finally got her to bed- bed time is such a big struggle. She screams whenever I try to put her down or lay her down anywhere. I was sobbing myself last night. This is so hard! She did let us put her in the bath tonight along with Daddy. She is eating great and will drink watered-down juice from a sippy cup. The bottle is not that popular. She has quite a temper and is stubborn when she wants her way. She is walking- but not that steady- and she falls down a lot. Doesn't seem to phase her at all. She tries to follow the cats around- pretty funny. We have a Dr's appt tomorrow- our first trip out of the house.

Ga-ga and more

Whenever Rachel sees Cheerios- it's "ga-ga" or "ka-ga"- I guess that's Korean for a snack or sweet. She's pretty funny- she loves Cheerios and loves to feed them to Daddy!


On other news, we are so exhausted! Rachel would not sleep at all last night- she just kept screaming unless I was rocking her or holding her and walking with her. She finally had a BM- hard as rocks- poor thing! This morning she drank her whole bottle finally. She will not take our formula straight, so I've been mixing half and half with the Korean formula- but it's the diarrhea formula- so I'm sure that's making her constipated. She eats regular food pretty good especially bread.


So far the biggest lifesaver- besides Cheerios- is the Korean Lullaby CD I ordered. She is very soothed by that. She is much bigger and heavier than I was expecting- already wearing some 24 mo clothes.

Day 2

Here is more on our Gotcha Day. We drove up the night before and stayed in a hotel near the airport. The weather was very cold. My parents as sister also came with us. We went to Fridays for dinner and had really bad service then we went to the mall just to walk around and got lost on the way back. We checked on her flight a few times from the room- we had internet. We went to the airport the next morning with my mom & dad & sister. Lee's sister and mom met us there. The wait was SO LONG! I didn't want to talk to anyone. We did talk to the other families a little- there were 5 babies on the flight. The plane finally landed ( a little early) and Anita called her husband from the plane so we knew they landed. She said Rachel was wearing orange. We were standing by the metal railing for a long time. Finally someone from Northwest told us it would be a little while longer. As soon as I turned around they were coming out of the frosted glass doors! It was like I got tunnel vision all of the sudden. Rachel was in an umbrella stroller with Dr. Kempf wheeling her out. She was wearing an orange plaid fleece outfit. She was holding the little doll we sent her. Everyone was taking pictures like crazy. We went over and said hi- she didn't seem afraid at all. We showed her the doll we brought her and she let me pick her up. She was SO HEAVY! She did great- didn't cry at all. I held her for awhile and then Lee held her. I didn't want to talk to anyone- just look at her. She had cute pink shoes on. She walked a little and then we tried to put her coat on- it was too small! We carried her out to the van- it was so cold! She didn't like the car seat but it was ok for awhile and then she fell asleep. About half way home she started really crying so we stopped to change her and got Burger King- she had her first french fries. She liked them alot. We finally got home. She didn't want to drink her bottle. We put her in pajamas and she played for a little while and then she did go to sleep in her crib around 10pm. She slept until around 3AM and woke up screaming. I tried to rock her for a long time and finally took her into bed with me. She slept from 5AM until 10AM this morning with me. Today she is very clingy- she just wants to be held and carried around all the time. She will not let us sit down with her- we have to be up and walking. She does not want to drink her bottle hardly at all. She did take a few sips of water from a cup. She has not had a BM yet. She screams and thrashes around when we change her diaper. I can barely wipe her face off- let alone give her a bath or even a sponge bath.

She's Home!

Today is Gotcha Day!

Rachel So Young is home! She arrived at the Detroit airport today. What an amazing day! Rachel did so great! And it was so nice to be with Raina and the other families at the airport. Rachel did so great at the airport- she went right to me. I don't remember a word Dr. Kempf told me. She is such a daddy's girl right from the start. She just loves him. She hated the car seat- but she settled in and slept a little in the car. Then she woke up and screamed and I had to hold her. We stopped and got Burger King french fries- that was a big hit! When we got home she was full of energy. She played for a long time. Ate a little bit, wouldn't take her bottle and fell asleep. She is in her crib right now! Cheerios are a big hit too! She keeps asking for "ga-ga" I think that means snack. We got her little doll back we sent her and she's had it with her all night. She is such a big girl- her size 18 month clothes are almost too small. Going to catch some sleep while I can.

Last Day

Today is my last day at work for awhile. My old boss is driving me crazy because she is panicking. Just now she asked me if she could call me at home if she needed something. I said I guess if it's an emergency. Good thing I have caller ID! Just talked to Renee at FAC. She got an email from Karen in Korea and the trip is going well and everything is fine. I found out the greeter for the 1/25 flight to Detroit is Michelle Para from the Utica office.

Video

Please check out this cool video Lee made of Rachel's photos (you may have to copy and paste into your browser).

http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=22177013e186e762712e7d833c4d3988.1699163

Travel Call!!!

Finally today after 10 months of waiting we got our travel call! Rachel is coming home Thursday January 25 to Detroit and her escorts are Karen Ristow and Dr. Ellen Kempf!

Any Day Now...

Our Social Worker called last night and said we should get the travel call any day now. The passports are issued and they are waiting on Visa stamps. She said Rachel should be home within 2 weeks! She also said we would be happy with the travel arrangements- but she couldn't say what. She said not to have too many expectations about how Rachel will be when she comes home- she will probably be very tired and may regress some. Not long now...

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

Grant

We were very surprised today to find out we got an adoption grant from Operation Starfish. We originally applied in the summer, but at that time they didn't have any money to give out. Then some people made donations on our behalf. Today we got a check in the mail and it is such good timing since we had that plumbing problem. Such a blessing!

Happy New Year 2007!

Well, here it is- Janaury! Rachel should be home this month. After all the waiting I am nervous and I don't feel ready- but I suppose you never are ready. We got an email from her foster mom Mrs Lee. She writes "I hear maybe So-Young adoption in January." We think this means they told her she is coming home in January to start her new life is the USA. How sad for the foster family- she's lived with them for 10 months. Hopefully we can keep in touch. Waiting for the phone to ring...

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Merry Christmas

We got an update in December with pictures. Rachel was 14 months old. This should be our last update. Next we get to meet her in person. She is 16 months old now and I'm sure she is full of energy. Not sure we are prepared for that! Our SW said we should hear something by mid-January. After all the waiting now I don't feel like we are ready!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Blessings

We got a call and a letter from our agency. They now know the Korean gov't is not giving out any more passports for 2006. Now we expect Rachel home in January. It's what I thought in the back of my mind but it is still hard. She's getting so much older and we don't even know her. The time is going by rather quickly though. Soon it will be Thanksgiving and Christmas. Time to start working on really getting ready for her.

We got two unexpected checks in the mail this week. We feel that God is blessing us through this adoption.

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:19

November

I can't believe a year has gone by. Last November we were working on paperwork and getting our fingerprints done. We never thought we would still be waiting at this point. Our dear little girl is still not home. Our agency said we could send a letter to her foster mom in Korea, so I delivered a Thanksgiving card and some photos today. I realize that Thanksgiving is a distinctly American holiday. They actually celebrate a type of "thanksgiving" holiday in Korea called Chuseok, also known as the Harvest Moon Festival.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4

What's in a Name?

Way back when we got our referral- we decided on the name "Rachel". We also decided on the middle name "Lee". Rachel's Korean name is "Lee, So Young". "Lee" is her birthmother's last name. So we decided to keep it as her middle name. No we have decided to keep all of her Korean name as her middle name. So her official name is going to be "Rachel Lee So-Young ___". Kind of a mouthful but I think it's important since she is going to be so much older than we thought. The name "So-Young" is all she knows.

...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land... 2 Chron 7:14

Latest Update

We were able to get the MRI films from Korea and have a doctor here look at them. The doctor here agrees there are some abnormalities. But what that means for her future we do not know. It is likely she will have developmental delays. Her pictures look good and we got a video that looks good. So it's hard to believe that she might have "special needs". We had to have a meeting with our agency and it seems like they're trying to talk us out of this. We feel more committed to her than ever actually. We've been waiting 7 months for her to come home. There is a slight chance she could get consideration to come home in December. If not we are now probably looking at January. There were nuclear tests done in North Korea yesterday. That worries me and make it seem even more urgent that she comes home now. She's 13 months old. I feel like I've missed so much.

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. Prov 21:1

Tol

Our social worker called Aug 22 to say that Rachel had a few tests done in Korea but their not sure why. After having two doctors look at the results we have decided to ask for more tests to be run. I have gone from thinking something is terribly wrong to thinking nothing is wrong. Last Sunday Rachel also celebrated her 1st bithday which is called "Tol" in Korea. They have a special ceremony called a "toljabe" which her foster family had for her and they dressed her in the traditional "hanbok". At least she will always have that.

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. IS 40:31

Not home yet

Last Friday, Renee called and said most likely Rachel won't be home until the end of December. That's what they've said all along, but we had gotten our hopes up because things were moving right along and even a March referral came home in July. It just seems so unfair. Our baby girl needs to come home now. KSS has decided to give remaining passports to special needs kids first. We have been waiting for her so long.

When I wander through the desert
And I'm longing for my home
All my dreams have gone astray
When I'm stranded in the valley
And I'm tired and all alone
It seems like I've lost my way

I go running to Your mountain
Where your mercy sets me free

(Chorus)
You are my strong tower
Shelter over me
Beautiful and mighty
Everlasting King
You are my strong tower
Fortress when I'm weak
Your name is true and holy
And Your face is all I seek

In the middle of my darkness
In the midst of all my fear
You're my refuge and my hope
When the storm of life is raging
And the thunder's all I hear
You speak softly to my soul

Strong Tower- Kutless

a shower

My friends Lisa, Valerie and Terri gave me a baby shower Sunday 8/13. It was really nice and Rachel got a lot of cute outfits. It's weird though because we haven't even met her! I just want her home! more later...

Email

Got a suprise email today from Rachel's foster mom in Korea. She writes:

I send some So-young's photos
she has 6 teeth and she can speak "umma" ("umma" means mom)
She is crawl about all fours
She likes cookie, banana and cheese
She is very cute baby
so, my famiy and I love her
I'll send you too some photos next time
God bless you~~!!

Such a nice surprise! She also sent some pictures attached- she looks so cute!

11 months

Rachel's 11 month birthday was 7/27/06. We want her home now. But I think I can hold on a little longer. She turns one year old this month. It will be sad without her. We bought a new (to us) minivan. Now I'm feeling a little nervous about spending money. I found a bible verse on another site that is very fitting for a Korean adoption...

Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bring your children from the east, and gather you from the west. Isaiah 43:5