Video of Mia and Camye Swinging:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3lZsev0SB0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Video of Daddy and Mia spinning:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lujCJS1td0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I was reminded this morning of a night only 10 1/2 months ago, that I did not blog about.

There were no pictures to remind me later of the pain of that night.

Adoption moms know this day as Family Day or Gotcha Day. The long awaited day we all long to have.

I never blogged or Facebooked what ‘really’ happened.

I didn’t want to hear I told you so. I didn’t want Mia’s foster parents to read about how hard of a time she was having.

I didn’t want my adoption agency to think I was doing something wrong.

What I have learned over the last 10 months, about this infamous day…is what we experienced is normal.

Very.very.painfully.normal.

Most of you have heard the story, of when I had take Mia from her foster mothers arms …a bond I didn’t wish to break, but had too. How nervous, I was and when I just randomly hugged her foster father?? What was I thinking? Hello…cultural no-no!!

And she screamed, until we got into the cab. She went from screaming to laughing hysterically at the crazy cab ride. She laughed for a couple of hours. Looking back on this I realize, that this was part of her grieving. Laughing and Crying are two closely related emotions. Remember these pictures…Gotcha Day Cab Ride.

That first night, she hated me, Kenny, the hotel..I mean despised that hotel…we walked around Seoul for hours and she finally calmed down. I think she calmed down while walking because she thought we were looking for her beloved Umma.

She cried herself to sleep on Kenny’s shoulder, as she was grieving/sobbing….I was in our bathroom,sobbing, praying and asking God…what had we just done. Because she HATED us.

 And then I will bring you up today, most of you know how perfectly adjusted Mia is. How attached she is to me! How much she loves her daddy!! How happy she is!! How smart she is!!! How snuggly huggy, kissable, adorable, loving Mia is.

I can explain our gotcha night pain to my heart as the pain of physical labor while delivering my biological children.

A pain you forget so quick.

So quick, we have been waiting for Avah now for 9 months. We expect to travel to get this sweet one next month. I am sure she will struggle and grieve but all a pain that must be endured to become a part of her family.

It’s normal. It’s expected. It’s healthy. It will happen. And I can’t wait.

To add this little bundle of joy….

To this picture…

We traveled to Nashville for the 4th year on Easter weekend. We didn’t win anything but we had loads of fun.
Our church door signs.:)

Mia and her friend Ryan… They are always touching, kissing or hugging. I am sure by no encouragement of their older siblings.;)

Not a great picture… But only one I got of this adorable outfit.:) and yes i have one in the next size up for Avah.;)

We have to get 2 rooms at the Opryland hotel. Kenny keeps the boys and I keep the girls. Kenny dressed Paul Saturday night and sent him over to me. I am pretty sure Kenny was punishing me… I about died when Paul comes running down the hall.. Socks to his knees and dirty tennis shoes!

Mia was ready to go home!!

The view from our balcony!! Not too shabby!!:):)

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Today we went on a wonderful picnic with friends… Camye asked for my phone to take a few pictures of her creations. I thought this was so cute!:)

Mia in her little dress from Amy H’s daughter Avah, Avah came home right after Mia did. Mia and her Avah look alot alike!
I just loved the name Avah.. Especially Spelled like that…. We are naming our Avah… With the same spelling!

Avah H. Is a little bigger than Mia. So when her mama sold her Matilda Jane.. I jumped at the chance!:):)

So cute!!!! And so affordable!!:):)

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My friend Grace’s Video <——-will blow your mind..

We are slowly recovering from pure craziness with Mia. I am so thankful that spell is over with and she is doing 100% better. Almost better than she has done since she came home.. She seems so secure. Daddy rocks her to sleep and puts her in her bed. Her security is skin, we are pushing this ‘Annyeong Kitty’ that is super soft instead of my arm. We do have a sleep study coming up in the next few weeks to determine if she has sleep apnea.
While we were in the hospital, my great friend from church brought over 2 great meals… It was a huge blessing.

And it was excellent food.. When in doubt what to do to help someone.. Take them a meal. Especially if they have a gazillion kids and Gods keeps saying… Just one more.;)

I am back to myself. I was so stressed over the K*rean adoption process which is moving again.. Praise God!! Everything was suffering… But I am back to cooking, cleaning, scrubbing and baking… It feels so normal. Portfolios for the kids are all organized and almost ready. I am feeling a freezer cooking session coming right up! The kids are up on all their reading.. I found a fantastic math curriculum.

But then my friend Danielle… Had reminded me that we had tickets to see Jordan Knight in Pittsburgh. I almost cancelled so many times that week. But I hadn’t seen her in awhile… These concerts are always such a blast. So I went… I did struggle at first. Well… Let me back up.. First I had to figure out something to wear. It was between my Kohls 6.99 tees or my adoption fundraising tshirts I have been buying from everyone. So I went shopping and found something concert worthy. While I was at the concert I was checking adoption forums and emails and private messages on Facebook… The entire time…. I felt guilty while Avah waited in an orphanage for mom and dad to hurry and come. I couldn’t stop thinking about my friend Amanda’s little boy.. If he was hungry. My thoughts went on and on. And finally.. I thought to myself.. If I am going to be any shape at all when Avah does come home… I need to relax and pull myself together. So I finally loosened up and the song You’ve got the Right stuff.. May have helped.;)

It was a lot of fun!!!

Back to reality… Adoption stalking!!!;)

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Yay!!! Still having some pain!! But she is home!!:):)

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We are still waiting for tests to be run to figure out what is going on. She keeps having random fits of pain.

Daddy-Appa and Oppa-Paul came to visit…

She loves her Oppa…

He helped cheer her up some. Watching out our window.. With the not so nice view!!

We found a playroom. Playrooms always cheer you up! I found out every floor here at Children’s has a playroom.

We picked out a few toys to take back to our room because I couldn’t bare the thought of catching any more germs.

She even felt up to letting me wash her hair.

The amount of smiles she gave today are probably pictured above… Not too many. She is really really sick but her UTI has cleared up!

Back to sleep… This is what she did most of the day!

Thanks Daddy and Paul for coming up!! Thanks to Mr.Dave our new minister for visiting! Thanks for Miss Leah’s second visit and for the chocolate.:):)

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Little Mia has been so sick. We headed back to Childrens Hospital after just being there on Thursday night.

I told them I wasn’t leaving with out blood work, kidney ultrasound, an urinalysis, IV antibiotics and she needed to be admitted. Guess what they are doing all of it.:)

Sleeping so sweet!!

Waking up with a smile.

My precious little girl.:):)

My take…God has something great going on in Avahs adoption… Satan wants me to desperately change my mind. This experience has only helped prepare me for Avah and her needs by familiarizing myself with Children’s hospital! Praise God!:)

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