Yesterday we finally received the news we've been waiting 16 1/2 months to hear. Madden is ready to come home! I didn't think we'd hear anything on Thursday & kept thinking we'd know on Friday, so I was pleased with the extra day to pack!
I hung up with my agency & immediately booked our flights! We are flying nonstop out of Chicago on Sunday & arriving home on Monday, April 9th. I'm going to get to spend Easter with Madden! Yaay!!!!!
It also worked out well for us to leave on Sunday because I have a wedding to photograph on Saturday. (Please pray that I will be able to focus! haha!) So, yesterday was spent packing and making a walmart run and today will be more of the same! The kids are spending the night at Grandmas so Tyler & I can have a date night before the whirlwind of craziness begins!
The kids are soooo excited about meeting their brother. Mason squealed this morning "I can't believe I am going to get to play with my brother on Tuesday!!!!" (made this momma's heart melt!) Millie has been bouncing off of the walls!
We found out that our hotel charges almost $100 a night for internet, so I may not get to blog as much as I'd hoped! Hoping there's free wifi nearby!
Last night at dinner, I told Mason "Mommy might be really nervous on the day we meet Madden." He patted my arm and said "It's ok, mommy. Don't be scared." I told him that I'm just nervous/excited. He said that he would stand with me and be nervous with me! haha! I told him that I might cry...but if I do cry they are just happy tears so not to worry. Mason then teared up at the table and said that he might cry happy tears, too. Love his sweet, tender heart!
Millie...she's on full "Can't wait to take care of this baby/be a big sister" mode. She is sooooo excited and he's going to be so blessed to have someone like her around. She'll make sure every need is met. He's going to be spoiled rotten!
Thank you so much for all of your love and prayers. The amount of love shown to our family on facebook during this time has just blown me away. For each of you that have invested your hearts into our family...we can't thank you enough!
Off to pack, attempt to clean a bit, and just try to enjoy my last day at home before the whirlwind begins!
See you in Seoul!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Friday, March 30, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Real World Changes...
One of the most exciting days of my life is about to happen. I am going to look into his eyes, kiss those cheeks, and put my arms around my sweet boy. It has been almost 17 months of waiting and I am over the moon excited.
For Madden...his life is about to get turned upside down. He isn't going to understand why this family showed up to his agency, started kissing him, and why they speak words he doesn't understand. He isn't going to understand when he is placed into our arms and separated from his foster mom that his world is forever changed. The one that has loved him and cared for his every need since he was 5 weeks old will no longer be there to comfort him. He is going to feel lost, alone, sad...and his heart will grieve. This loss will be so tough for him. Our greatest day ever will be one of his hardest days ever.
That breaks this momma's heart.
We know it's the reality of the situation. We are soooooo very grateful for his foster family and for all they have done to get him ready to live with us. There are no words to describe just how thankful I am for the love and care they have given him. I can't imagine just how much their hearts will hurt when they said goodbye.
I need some tissues already.
When Madden comes home, we are going to keep his world very small. Very small. We want him to be able to grieve and then start to attach to his new family. I read this online the other day & it really spoke to what we're about to go through.
“Stay home. I mean it. Stay the heck home. Cancel your calendars. Pull out of everything you’re involved in. Temporarily quit your small group and your Bible study and your volunteer position at church on Wednesdays and your gym classes. Katy, bar the door. Circle the wagons with your little family and hunker down. Do not take your newbie to Target. Do not drag them to public places. Do not spend two hours in the car running errands with them. Keep the moving parts to an absolute minimum.”
You can read the post in its entirety here: http://give1save1.com/2012/03/05/guest-post-by-jen-hatmaker/
In order for Madden to attach to us properly, we have to keep him cocooned at home. We won't be going out to dinner, out to shop, or able to have anyone over for awhile. We have waited a long, long time to get him home & we want him to have the best transition possible. That means no visitors until he's ready (most likely a month or so.) We are so anxious to show him off, but it is going to have to wait. (Side note...anyone wanting to see him for a few minutes can meet us at the airport when we arrive. Once we are home, we're home.)
Once we give the green light that we are ready for visitors and play dates, we would love to introduce him to you! But, we will take it slow and let Madden take the lead. It if overwhelms him, we will hold off a little longer.
Everything I've read and researched has stressed this over and over for a healthy attachment. We need him to learn that we are his parents. He is going to "mommy shop" when we are out because he will be looking for his foster mommy that he lost. I need him to learn that I am mommy & that I will be the one to meet his needs.
So, when the first visits happen, hugs and kisses can only come from mom, dad, Mason & Millie for awhile. High fives would be very appropriate to do with him, but signs of affection need to just be from us for awhile. Also, we will be the only ones to hold him. Again, we have to have him learn that we are mom and dad.
I promise we do want to share him and let others cuddle with him...but we do want to do what is best for our little guy and give him some much needed time to adjust and attach.
Many have asked if there's anything they can do once we get home. Dinners would be great! Just text us when you're on the way over and one of us can meet you at the door! Also, Mason & Millie would love trips out of the house! They aren't going to like being kept at home for a month, so fun things for them would be wonderful! They are going through lots of transitions too. Watching a brother grieve is going to be hard. I'm all for making Mason & Millie feel special with play dates!
Once he gets home, it's going to be tough. Jet lag, new time zones, new food, new smells, new language...he has a lot that is about to hit him. I am praying that we will be able to help him adjust well. Please pray for us. Pray that we will attach well to him & that we will make wise decisions for him as he is home. We are excited...and yet, so scared and nervous!
Thank you so much for all of your love and prayers!!!! They have meant so much to us during this long, hard journey to get him home!
For Madden...his life is about to get turned upside down. He isn't going to understand why this family showed up to his agency, started kissing him, and why they speak words he doesn't understand. He isn't going to understand when he is placed into our arms and separated from his foster mom that his world is forever changed. The one that has loved him and cared for his every need since he was 5 weeks old will no longer be there to comfort him. He is going to feel lost, alone, sad...and his heart will grieve. This loss will be so tough for him. Our greatest day ever will be one of his hardest days ever.
That breaks this momma's heart.
We know it's the reality of the situation. We are soooooo very grateful for his foster family and for all they have done to get him ready to live with us. There are no words to describe just how thankful I am for the love and care they have given him. I can't imagine just how much their hearts will hurt when they said goodbye.
I need some tissues already.
When Madden comes home, we are going to keep his world very small. Very small. We want him to be able to grieve and then start to attach to his new family. I read this online the other day & it really spoke to what we're about to go through.
“Stay home. I mean it. Stay the heck home. Cancel your calendars. Pull out of everything you’re involved in. Temporarily quit your small group and your Bible study and your volunteer position at church on Wednesdays and your gym classes. Katy, bar the door. Circle the wagons with your little family and hunker down. Do not take your newbie to Target. Do not drag them to public places. Do not spend two hours in the car running errands with them. Keep the moving parts to an absolute minimum.”
You can read the post in its entirety here: http://give1save1.com/2012/03/05/guest-post-by-jen-hatmaker/
In order for Madden to attach to us properly, we have to keep him cocooned at home. We won't be going out to dinner, out to shop, or able to have anyone over for awhile. We have waited a long, long time to get him home & we want him to have the best transition possible. That means no visitors until he's ready (most likely a month or so.) We are so anxious to show him off, but it is going to have to wait. (Side note...anyone wanting to see him for a few minutes can meet us at the airport when we arrive. Once we are home, we're home.)
Once we give the green light that we are ready for visitors and play dates, we would love to introduce him to you! But, we will take it slow and let Madden take the lead. It if overwhelms him, we will hold off a little longer.
Everything I've read and researched has stressed this over and over for a healthy attachment. We need him to learn that we are his parents. He is going to "mommy shop" when we are out because he will be looking for his foster mommy that he lost. I need him to learn that I am mommy & that I will be the one to meet his needs.
So, when the first visits happen, hugs and kisses can only come from mom, dad, Mason & Millie for awhile. High fives would be very appropriate to do with him, but signs of affection need to just be from us for awhile. Also, we will be the only ones to hold him. Again, we have to have him learn that we are mom and dad.
I promise we do want to share him and let others cuddle with him...but we do want to do what is best for our little guy and give him some much needed time to adjust and attach.
Many have asked if there's anything they can do once we get home. Dinners would be great! Just text us when you're on the way over and one of us can meet you at the door! Also, Mason & Millie would love trips out of the house! They aren't going to like being kept at home for a month, so fun things for them would be wonderful! They are going through lots of transitions too. Watching a brother grieve is going to be hard. I'm all for making Mason & Millie feel special with play dates!
Once he gets home, it's going to be tough. Jet lag, new time zones, new food, new smells, new language...he has a lot that is about to hit him. I am praying that we will be able to help him adjust well. Please pray for us. Pray that we will attach well to him & that we will make wise decisions for him as he is home. We are excited...and yet, so scared and nervous!
Thank you so much for all of your love and prayers!!!! They have meant so much to us during this long, hard journey to get him home!
Soooooo close!!!!!!
I called DC today to find out if they had any news on Madden's Visa. I wasn't expecting to hear any news until next week at the earliest and was so surprised when she said "His visa interview is set for March 29th (tomorrow!!!) and she can see his picture! That means he has had his embassy appearance already! The visa interview is the last step before travel call.
Last step before travel call.
AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are guessing travel call may happen on Friday (just found out my director is out of the office until Monday, but I'm hoping someone else can coordinate travel call in her place) or Monday. If it happens Friday, I will shoot the wedding on Saturday, pack all day Sunday & we will fly out on Monday! If it comes on Monday, we will try to leave on Wednesday! We'll see...I'm hoping it all happens quickly from here on out!
I've been pacing in circles since the news and my hands haven't stopped shaking.
I'm about to be a mommy again!!!!!!! I just may be the world's luckiest mom. God has given me such precious gifts in Mason, Miles & Millie, and I am so grateful for this newest gift!
Come on travel call!!!!!!!!
Last step before travel call.
AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are guessing travel call may happen on Friday (just found out my director is out of the office until Monday, but I'm hoping someone else can coordinate travel call in her place) or Monday. If it happens Friday, I will shoot the wedding on Saturday, pack all day Sunday & we will fly out on Monday! If it comes on Monday, we will try to leave on Wednesday! We'll see...I'm hoping it all happens quickly from here on out!
I've been pacing in circles since the news and my hands haven't stopped shaking.
I'm about to be a mommy again!!!!!!! I just may be the world's luckiest mom. God has given me such precious gifts in Mason, Miles & Millie, and I am so grateful for this newest gift!
Come on travel call!!!!!!!!
Friday, March 23, 2012
EP Approved!!!
We found out today that our little man's EP was approved! That means we should be in Korea in 2-4 weeks! (This momma's hoping for 2!) The next step is getting his visa & then he will be ready to come home! We are all so excited to get the call that he's ready & we'll jump on a plane and go and meet our boy. We are crazy excited, nervous, scared, etc. It's hard to imagine what life is about to be like...but we are ready!
After I got news of the EP approval, I was overcome with the reality that our foster mom is closer to having to say goodbye to the boy she's loved and raised for almost 2 years. It breaks my heart for her and for him. I am so very grateful for the home that she and her family have given my son & for the amazing way they have taken care of him. I'm probably going to be a crying mess trying to tell her thank you when I meet her. How do you properly thank someone for loving your baby each day while you could only love him from afar? It's going to be tough.
I'm praying for sweet Madden's heart. Life is about to hand him the hardest transition of his life. He is going to grieve & his heart will be broken. That is going to be so hard to watch. We are going to need some major prayer around here!
A couple of days ago, we received new pics of our sweet boy. Hang on just a little longer...your family is coming to get you and bring you home! :)
After I got news of the EP approval, I was overcome with the reality that our foster mom is closer to having to say goodbye to the boy she's loved and raised for almost 2 years. It breaks my heart for her and for him. I am so very grateful for the home that she and her family have given my son & for the amazing way they have taken care of him. I'm probably going to be a crying mess trying to tell her thank you when I meet her. How do you properly thank someone for loving your baby each day while you could only love him from afar? It's going to be tough.
I'm praying for sweet Madden's heart. Life is about to hand him the hardest transition of his life. He is going to grieve & his heart will be broken. That is going to be so hard to watch. We are going to need some major prayer around here!
A couple of days ago, we received new pics of our sweet boy. Hang on just a little longer...your family is coming to get you and bring you home! :)
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Madden at 21 months...
I just realized I didn't share his pictures from last month here on the blog! To be honest, blogging was just to difficult. I was tired of being whiny & was just avoiding blogging. I just whined a lot on Facebook. (Sorry Facebook friends! Thanks for not unfriending my whiny butt! Thanks for allowing me to share this momma's heart & for praying extra hard for our family during this time!)
Madden actually turned 22 months old today. Ugh...another milestone missed. I'm hoping for new pics next week! But, here's pics from when he turned 21 months!
Madden actually turned 22 months old today. Ugh...another milestone missed. I'm hoping for new pics next week! But, here's pics from when he turned 21 months!
EP Submitted!
For the past 18 years, March 5th has been a very difficult day for me. It was the day I had to say goodbye to my mom after her hard battle with breast cancer. I always dread that day on the calendar, but this year we got some much awaited news on her Heaven Day! Madden's paperwork FINALLY went into the hands of the Korean ministry. That is HUGE!!!!! It is finally his turn! He was submitted with around 120 other children between 3 agencies in Korea. We are hoping that they approve the paperwork quickly so we can be in Korea in no time! (I'm hoping last week of March or Early April.) The ministry supposedly said that they would approve within 2 weeks, so that date would be Monday. My fingers, toes, arms and legs are crossed that this will actually happen! This wait has been long, hard, and I am finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel! The past 2 weeks have drug slowly by...but hopefully we are nearing the end!
Please pray that the approval will happen Monday & that he will be able to get his visa & passport in record time. We are all so excited and ready to add him to our family!
Please pray that the approval will happen Monday & that he will be able to get his visa & passport in record time. We are all so excited and ready to add him to our family!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)