Maia's 3rd Birthday!

Maia is 3!!!

Ok, a bit late on getting these pictures out, but Miss Maia turned 3 years old on the 10th. WOW! I can't believe she is 3 already! She had a great day. Her aunt, Katie, and cousins, Ally and Brooklyn, came to spend the day on Tuesday with us. We had a fun lunch at the park and lots of playground time. Wednesday was a very busy day, so we just had cupcakes at the Baugher's that evening for her actual birthday. Saturday we FINALLY had her party (poor girl...and Noah who just has NO patience waiting for the party!)
She is growing up so fast. She is such a special little girl, who for all the drama ;-) is such a sweet, sensitive and smart girl. We are so blessed to have her in our lives! Happy (late) Birthday our beautiful Asian princess--we all love you so very much!!!

Emma's Birthday!

Wow, I can't believe my sweet girl is 1!!! She is only 6 weeks old to me ;-) We had a fun day Saturday at her brothers' ball games, which she loves because she is outside! It was an emotional day for me, but how fun it is to celebrate. Sunday was her birthday party, and it was so much fun. The poor girl didn't know what to think of everyone singing to her, but she loved the frosting on her cake.
We also took some pictures of Emma and Maia in their Hanboks (Korean formal wear) at the park. Enjoy the pictures!!!

Yeah! For Good News!

We have had GOOD news with Emma's health the past couple weeks! Two of the things that made her a "special needs" baby were a hole in her heart (ASD), and ROP (retinopathy of prematurity -- yes, I butchered it). In the last week and a half, we have found out that the hole in her heart has finally closed and that her left eye (the one they were more concerned about) is fine as well! God has healed our sweet angel of 2 needs that could have had lasting affects for her. YEAH!!! There are a few other things to keep an eye on but nothing serious. We are so excited to have this good news! Thank you for your continued prayers for Emma and our family!

Natalie and Tenasia are officially...

Baugher's! I am so excited for them that the journey to making them their's is over!!! Praise God! Now we can all just focus on the fun of the kids' instead of having court always looming in the back of the mind. All praise to God for making it an easy enjoyable day, with right's signed over, instead of long and stressful.

11 months old!

I can't believe that our sweet angel is 11 months old already! Boy, time sure does fly...oh, I guess it has been only 2 weeks home ;-) Really, I am SO not ready to be celebrating her 1st birthday in less than a month. October 6 she will be 1 year old!!! We are still having a few grieving issues, but it is much better. I think she is starting to get used to this place, and these strange looking people. She adores her brothers and sister. Mommy and Daddy can't get her to laugh, but the boys especially have her laughing in a heartbeat! I put a new picture on the side, but it didn't post very well. For some reason it stretched out or something. Thanks for keeping up with our crew, and for all of your prayers!!!

Emma at home!

Home Again!

Ok, for a week and a half now, but we are home! Emma is an absolute JOY, and her brothers and sister are in loooove with her ;-) We have had some issues with jet lag, thankfully getting much better every day. We also had some definite grieving on her part--poor thing, I would too!! She decided to save that for the middle of the night as well. I think she has done very well for the amount of change this sweet little thing has been through, especially at almost 11 months old. I will post details about our amazing trip later, but wanted to let you know we are slowly coming out of our lack of sleep selves, and SO enjoying our family of 7!!!!! Thank you all so much for your prayers. They were definitely felt--especially on the flight home ;-)

1 more day!

Hello all! We get to see Emma again in about 4 hours. I can't wait! We leave tomorrow morning at 8am from here after Dr. Kim prays over our sweet girl (know I'll cry at that one!). Please pray for our sweet girl as she has so many new adjustments coming her way. Also lift up her wonderful foster family as they give her to us. We found out that this wonderful woman only keeps children with special needs--what an angel!!! She has definitely helped our little one! Thanks for all of your prayers. Will try to post pictures tonight of our visit today.

btw--really wish I could read hangul, it would be much easier to post as I don't know what to click on ;-)

Our first visit with Emma!!

Hello Seoul!!

After a VERY long day yesterday, where the sun never went down, we are HERE!! I am so excited to be in the land of my babies' birth! Will try to update as we can. We are off to hold some babies in the nursery and give them some lovin' ;-) then on to see the city! We are exhausted and are so messed up with sleep (@4 hours in 48 hours...not much to go on) but hopefully can push through it all and have a blast!
We'll try to post soon--we don't get to see our baby girl until Monday morning at 10:00 here (8:00 Sunday night midwest time) but will let you know, if we can even describe it, how our meeting goes! We can't wait to see her!

To my wonderful kids at home--mommy and daddy miss you SO much!! We can't wait to show you pictures and share with you how wonderful Korea is! We love you!

If you see my kiddos, give them a big kiss for me ;-) and make sure my mom is making it ;-)

Here we go!!!

We are leaving in the morning for KC. Thank you all for your prayers for us, and can't wait until we get back with our precious girl! Please pray, as it is hard on all of us leaving the boys' and Maia behind. We will try to update this as often as we can. See you in a week!
Love you all!!!

Praise God...Travel Call!!!!!

We are so excited! This loooong wait, that no one understood why it was happening, is finally over. Our caseworker was relieved to finally be able to call us and let us know this morning, I think. We are waiting to hear for sure on flights, but will either leave Wednesday or Friday. Please pray that we are able to get the best flight we can. It has been a long day of phone calls and computer time, but we are so excited we can't stand it! Now to pack ;-)
Also, my sister left for 10 days in China today, but we were able to tell her by phone rather than email that call came-PTL for that!
Sweet Emma, mommy and daddy are coming!!!!!

Check out my Slide Show!

Still no news

Well, not much new to put on here. It has been awhile so thought I should probably put something on here. We are still waiting...not exactly sure why, but we are. Our agency is trying to find out some answers for us, but that was Monday. It is now 5:15 am in Korea, please pray that today the agency in Korea gets some answers for us, whether it is from the embassy or within the agency, and that we get news (preferably travel call) tomorrow! I just need to hold my daughter!!!

My little sis leaves for LA, then on to Vietnam tomorrow as well. I just don't know how much more my emotions can take. I will miss her so very much, and a year is such a long time!
Please pray for all of us tomorrow, as it will be hard to say goodbye to Melia.
I love you girl!

Emma- 9 1/2 months old

another week down...

and still NO CALL!! We had a great week at VBS, and were really hoping the call would come, but not to be I guess! I finally called today, and we do have new pictures of our sweet angel--she is absolutely beautiful--if I do say so myself ;-) Tuesday we should get a DVD and some updated info. on her. We just can't wait to have her home!
Praying for next week!!!

a little step back...

Well, last Thursday our agency called with news that embassy in Seoul wants more info. on us (financial, of course). So we HURRY around Thursday to get these papers filled out and overnighted to them so they can be sent to Korea Friday. Well, they never came Friday. So Monday we are on the hunt for these papers, seems the post office gave them to the wrong office in St. Paul, MN. Thankfully that office took them over to the office they were supposed to be at, but it meant that our papers didn't get sent until Tuesday. I know that doesn't make a lot of sense to a lot of people, what's 4 days...but my baby is only getting older ;-) I'm pretty sure the embassy needs these papers for her VISA--last step before our CALL!!!

Please pray specifically that the papers would be to Korea by Friday (their time), and for it to quickly answer ALL of their questions.
Pray also for our call to come next week--yes, during VBS ;-) This way we could leave the Monday after VBS. We really want her to come home before my dear sweet sister leaves for 11 months in Vietnam!

Emma is 9 months old!!

Our precious angel is 9 months old now--as of Friday! Hopefully not too much longer before we can start celebrating these milestones at home! Please keep praying that Korea has everything they need...and that we can get that phone call VERY SOON to get over there!!!
We love you sweet baby girl!

Another step down!

We received I600a and I600 approval today! PRAISE GOD!!! This is the last step needed on the US side to bring Emma home. This means they can apply for her Visa at the US Embassy in Seoul. Please continue to pray for every other step to be completed as quick as possible to bring her home--I don't even know what they all are. I am ready to see my girls' birth country (scared...but ready ;-) Thanks for the prayers!

9 weeks down!

OK, it was 9 weeks ago yesterday since our papers went to Korea! The call to travel better come VERY soon, because I really need to hold my daughter! She is 9 months old next Friday. Please PRAY that the I600 has been cabled to Seoul and her Visa and Passport can be applied for.

Maia's haircut!

Miss Maia had her first REAL haircut--not just a trim. She looks so grown up now! Grandma and Aunt Melia, sorry I told you I would have these posted a couple of days ago ;-) She loves to be cheesy with the camera!

Passports!!

OK, nothing to get way over excited about--like a travel call--but our passports came yesterday! I am so excited because now we really CAN travel to get Emma ;-) Hopefully we get some good news soon. I would even settle for an update on my sweet baby girl!!! Keep praying!

Wow! I have a blog!

OK, so new to this! Hopefully we can keep everyone up to date on adoption stuff--and on our family once we are finally all home!
Just a note to say that we are 7 1/2 weeks into a 10-14 week wait for our daughter Emma to come home. We are waiting for out I600 to be approved from our government, and then Korea can apply for Emma's visa and passport. PLEASE pray for approval very soon and also for everything on the Korea side to be done and ready! We are all so ready for her to come HOME!

Emma