Exploring Seoul with friends

Wednesday, we met up with our friends JT, Grace & Anna! We’ve become such good friends and we both live in Champaign…and we’re both here in Korea together! They are adopting Sarah Mercy, who is an adorable 5 year old. Millie’s excited to have another playmate! We just adore this family & our kids all play so well together. (They have 2 other younger boys at home that are Mason’s buddies! I think he was wishing they were with us!)

We started off the day eating lunch at a little hole in the wall restaurant. The entire menu was in Korean and no one spoke English, so it was so nice having JT & Grace with us to translate! It made the whole day so nice & easy having them be able to ask questions and get directions.

Our first stop was a palace here in Seoul. It was at the top of the list of Mason’s “Must see” activities. The palace grounds were beautiful and it was so nice seeing some of the history of Seoul. There were several school groups of junior high and high school students that were visiting that day…and the LOVED Mason & Millie. They acted like the kids were famous & kept getting their pictures taken with them. Of course, Millie had no problem smiling and hamming it up for the camera. She held out her fingers and made the peace sign with them. They would just fawn over here & kept patting her hair. Everywhere we went, groups kept coming up and asking for photos. We’d turn a corner and Millie would see another group and she’d say “Oh no. There’s more of my fans!” She really was treated like a celebrity. They would just follow us around in a big group, giggle, and talk about how cute the kids were. It was quite comical!








After the palace, we went to the Insadong market and bought some souvenirs. It was neat to see lots of different shops. This area is more of an art market, so there was some pottery, painting, and other art type shops as well. We also had our first taste of street food. We tried this yummy fried pancake (which tasted a lot like funnel cake) that was filled with this sweet, brown sauce. SOOOOOO good!!! Mason loved it and I had a hard time getting it away from him!






After we left the market, we loaded up into the subway and our families headed to D-Cube City. It’s another big shopping center which has “Pororo Park.” Pororo the Penguin is HUGE here in Seoul. He’s kind of the Dora of Korea…but only more popular! The kids and Anna had so much fun playing there, the dads enjoyed some time to just sit and talk, and the girls went and did some shopping! JT & Grace had a couple of friends that lived in Seoul that met us at the D-Cube City & showed us around. (Both friends also lived in Champaign for awhile! Such a small world! They talked about how they really missed Jimmy Johns & it was fun to hear their perspectives of living in Korea after growing up in America. We ate dinner at the bottom of the D-Cube City. They had a huge food court (Millie opted for Taco Bell). One half of the food court was all Korean foods. It was set up kind of like a village and you could go from station to station and order various foods. I had Mandu (they were HUGE!) and an order of fried chicken covered in pepper sauce and peanuts. It was soooooo yummy! Tyler had some kind of shrimp fried rice and Mason had yummy fried shrimp. We then said goodbye to JT, Grace & Anna & then went to Emart with one of their friends to load up on Tayo toys. Madden’s foster mom told us that he likes Pororo, but he LOVES Tayo. So, we bought several toys and Tayo movies in English and then headed back to the hotel on the subway. We made it up to our rooms and crawled into our beds. It was such a fun day in Seoul!!!

COEX Mall & Aquarium

After our day of meeting Madden and lunch at Eastern, we decided to find an indoor activity since it was so cold and snowy outside. We hopped on the subway and made our way to COEX mall. We went the wrong direction on the subway and our ride took 1 hour and 45 minutes! Haha! We’ve now learned how to read the stops on the subway so that won’t happen again!

The COEX mall is a huge underground shopping center. It’s also home to the COEX aquarium, which was the main reason we wanted to visit. We all enjoyed a low-key evening of walking around and seeing the various fish. It was a huge aquarium! After exploring the aquarium, we walked around a few shops and then decided to grab some dinner. We walked into TGIFridays and sat down. That’s when the jet lag really started to hit. It was boiling hot inside & we were just done. We got up and walked out and went to McDonalds. (Yep, we’re in Korea and just went inside TGIFridays and McDonalds. Haha!) We were beyond exhausted & McNuggets had never tasted so good! We then headed back to the subway & began our “not quite as long as the first time, but still took forever” journey back to the hotel. We all walked inside and crashed!! Oh the joys of jetlag!

Meeting YeongJin

After a crazy night’s sleep, it was finally the day to meet Madden. I sat and colored with the kids that morning and was surprised at how calm I was. I really expected to be a nervous wreck, but I was filled with such peace. We all got our showers and got dressed up and then hopped in a cab to head to the agency. It was snowing and so cold outside on the way there.

The only way I can describe all of this is “surreal.” It’s hard to believe that we sent in our application in September of 2009, received his referral November of 2010, and now we actually were on our way to meet our son. We pulled up in front of the agency & I just couldn’t believe that we were actually here. This was really happening. I was about to become a mommy again.

We walked in the doors and met our social worker, gave her our bag of care packages that we took for other waiting families & she took us into a back room to fill out one piece of paper (one piece…felt so small after the stacks of paperwork I’ve filled out during the past 2 ½ years!) She got our travel itinerary, copied our passports, and then she came in the room and said “Your baby is here.” We walked out of the room and were surprised to find him standing right there in the office. He was standing there in a pink rain coat and had the sweetest, little sheepish grin on his face. I walked over to him, knelt down, and tears were filling up in my eyes. I hugged that sweet boy, kissed those cheeks I’ve waited so long to kiss and he was just smiling and giggling. I’ve always wondered what the first thing I’d say to my son was…and honestly…I have no idea what I even said! Haha! I just remember telling him hello and that I loved him. He gave me the biggest hugs and gave me a big kiss. (Which of course made my year!!) I then passed him off to Tyler and he gave Tyler hugs and kisses and we were led up to the room to play with him. We were so caught off guard that we don’t have any pictures or video of the first moments. But…I can definitely say that it was hands down one of the best moments of my entire life. This kid that I’ve waited so long to meet was in my arms, giving me hugs and kisses…does it get better than that? Hearing YeongJin (Madden) call me “umma”, call Tyler, “Appa” and call Mason & Millie “Hyung-a & Noona” was AMAZING!

When we got into the room, we quickly realized that we have a silly, funny, and BUSY boy!! (14 hour plane ride home…not going to be fun!!) He giggled, laughed, and put on quite a show! Balls were thrown all over the room, more hugs and kisses were given, and we laughed and laughed at him. It’s so hard to believe that I am the mommy of this wonderful little boy! He loves balls, cars, and our video camera (Which he ripped out of our hands and ran around the room. He didn’t want to give it back and we caught our first glimpse at the typical 2 year old behavior! Haha! He folded his arms, turned his back, and pouted when his foster mom asked him to be a good boy and give it back. Too funny!)

While the kids and Tyler played with Madden, I took a few moments to ask the foster mom questions about him. She said he’s very smart. (which we noticed right away. He was picking up on things Mason was saying and was repeating them. Having siblings is really going to help him learn English quickly!) She said she has had over 100 foster children and he is very special to her. He’s her last foster baby (which breaks my heart for her.) He has been loved and adored and I am so very grateful for her & her family for opening their hearts to him and loving him until we could come and get him. She told me he’s easy going, independent, and loves to play with her hair when he’s sleepy. He’s scared of the vacuum and doesn’t like it when people scream. The social worker also told me that Madden is very smart & she’s always so impressed with him. After about an hour or so, we said goodbye to Madden & gave his foster mom some gifts for her and her husband. We were told we would come back on Friday at 2:30 to pick him up.

We then had lunch with Dr. Kim, the Turners, and another family. We were told we were the first travelers of the year and that they are sorry things have taken so long because of the delays with the government. We were also told a lot of the history of Korea and Eastern Social Welfare Society. It was such an amazing experience!

Sigh. It all still feels a bit surreal. But, in the most amazing way possible…like it was the world’s best dream. This dream that we’ve been dreaming about for so long is finally a reality. We are the family of the sweetest, cutest, funniest little Korean boy. Please continue to pray for all of us, as we are all about to begin one of the biggest transitions of our lives. Please keep Madden & his foster mom in your prayers. Saying goodbye to each other is going to be so difficult & please pray for their grieving hearts for the weeks to come.

Welcome to our family Madden YeongJin Penn. We are so thrilled and thankful that God has placed you into our family. You are such an amazing, precious gift!

Here's some pics from our crazy, wonderful, better than I could have ever imagined day!












First family Photo:

Up, Up and Away!

On Sunday, we woke up bright and early. (Not an easy thing to do after shooting a wedding the day before!) We started gathering our bags, Tyler was busy loading the van, and the kids found that the Easter Bunny left them their baskets a week early! They were super excited! We then headed to Chicago O’Hare International Airport. When we pulled up at the airport, we pulled in behind our friends, The Turners, who are also headed to Seoul to pick up their little guy, Ace. We met the Turners at adoption training, we received our referrals on the same day (Madden is 2 days older than Ace), and we received our travel calls on the same day. Ashley & I have had many telephone conversations and facebook messages during the 16 months we’ve been waiting and I am so grateful for her friendship! Millie was very excited that their daughter, Audrey, was coming, too!

After checking in, we had a little time for the kids to play and relax before we began the 14 hour plane ride. They were thankful for the little play area at the airport! We then boarded the airplane and began our loooooong flight! We flew Asiana airlines & loved the service and attention we received on the flight. The kids did amazingly well, which made this mom super happy! I’m sure that the plane ride home will be a whole other story! Haha!! After we landed and made it through immigration/baggage/customs/currency exchange/cellphone rental, we loaded up in a cab with the Turner family and headed to the hotel.

We unpacked a little bit and then headed over to the main hotel to grab a bite before we went to bed. As soon as we sat down and ordered, we were all overcome with tiredness! The kids were falling asleep at the table and Tyler & I weren’t doing much better. We ate as fast as we could and then headed back to our room. We were all in bed by 8pm! (Which is 6 in the morning in Illinois! The poor kids were up all night!) I’m fairly certain that sleeping on a board would have been more comfortable than our bed! I woke up at 10pm, midnight, and several times until I gave up at 5am when we all woke up. This jet lag is no fun! We are so excited for our week here in Seoul…we just hope we can stay awake enough to enjoy it all!

Travel Call!

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!!!!!!

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!

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!!!!!!!!