It's all there.....

Okay, so we've been waiting..... for 3 years now!!  It's all in good humor though, don't let that (!!) fool you. We're getting down to the last leg of it, and I'm exhausted.  Sounds like I'm running a marathon, nope, just feel like it, maybe more mentally than physically.  The physical exhaustion will come later in trying to keep up with Aiden - something I'll welcome gladly!  And a big part of being exhausted (mentally) is my fault.  I'm a thinker....a planner....an obsessor (is that a word?) !!!  I love it when things go smoothly. And yes I'm the type of person to freak out when things don't go as planned. So I'm trying to cover all bases - (psssst )  like that's ever gonna happen!  I'm also trying to be very realistic too.

I've gotten better in my age with the didn't go as planned thing.  I'm trying to relax more about situations that more or less tense me.  I'm sure when Aiden is here, all planning  will go out the window!

I finished all my shopping for the special people in Korea I had to get gifts for.  I thought I was done last week, but still had an aching to get the doctors something else.  Then, night before last, I had a thought.  I've read/heard that Koreans like tea.  And most of the products I bought were made right here in Tennessee  -- Moon Pies,  Goo Goos, Honey bottled locally from our small town, and Apple Butter.  I searched the internet for local teas made in TN.  There was one that came up - Tennessee tea.  I thought great! Then I read on, it's a recipe:

Tennessee Tea

Scale ingredients toservings

1 partJack Daniel's® Tennessee whiskey
1 parttriple sec
1 partsweet and sour mix
2 partscola

Combine all ingredients and poor over ice in a mason jar.

Read more:Tennessee Tea recipehttp://www.drinksmixer.com/drink2318.html#ixzz13fHGXPIl




Yep you read right!  That's Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey.  Ummm.... that's not what I'm looking for, thanks! Although I've heard liquor is expensive over there, not the kind of impression I want to leave with them!   Moving on,  I searched the internet with just "teas" and this came up http://www.specialteas.com/. The site looks really neat and had all kinds of teas.  So, I ordered a couple and they're on their way now.  Yes, I am officially done.  Now,  how in the world are we going to get all this stuff to Korea?!?!?!

Mike said, " We're going to come back from Korea with an empty suitcase huh?".  So I said with a big smile, "Ummm no we're not!  That's where all the souvenirs are going!" : )  I just hope our bags won't be overweight.  Oh well,  just have to pack less clothes!  I've got it covered!

It was interesting....

I went shopping again on Friday to try and finish up getting gifts for everyone in Korea.  I think I'm about shopped out (I'm not an avid 'shopper'!) and done with gifts now....thank you! I'm not stressing this gift giving thing anymore.  I know they will appreciate all that I've gotten them, I'm just one of those obsessive-over thinker-stressing-kind of gift giver.  Got some gift bags  and tissue today, so I think I'm good with all that now.  (Whew! now I can move onto something else!)

Today was interesting, to say the least.  I went to Babies R Us to register.  My wonderful, sweet, kind, cousins are giving me a baby shower soon, so thought I'd go register today.  Went to the desk to sign up, a young girl walked up and asked if I needed some help.  I said "yes please,  I need to sign up for the baby registry."  She immediately glanced down at my 'not pregnant belly' and then turned to get the paperwork out of a drawer.  That was weird, I thought.  She said, "have a seat and we'll get you set up." She gave me the whole spill about what's involved, how to use the scanner, etc.  She was nice.  But to tell the truth the whole experience was a bit weird.


So I take the scanner and walk around looking at all the baby stuff.  So, I'm not scanning the newborn stuff,  I'm thinking, "okay, he'll be close to 12 months old.  What does a 12 month old need?"  Mike and I have a 9 year old daughter, so I've done this before, just had the big belly to go along with it.  It was fun to look at all the things there, but a little weird.....When I finished, I went back to the desk, and a different girl was at the desk.   She did the same thing, I went to hand her the scanner and she glanced at my 'not pregnant belly'.  I thought,  yeah this is weird.  

After Babies R Us,  I went to Target, love me some Target!  I went to the front desk, told the girl I needed to sign up for the baby registry and she did the exact same thing, glanced at my 'not pregnant belly'  as she turned to go get a scanner.  Okay now, I'm a little self conscience about my 'not pregnant belly'! lol   I guess it really didn't bother me, just felt weird. 

It's been a while since I've done this, so it'll take me a little while to get back into the swing of things, but I'll get there.  I'd better, there's a little boy half way around the world depending on me!  

It helps

No news this week, but that's not a big surprise.  I did call DC and talked to a very nice lady who said our P3  was sent to our agency in Korea on Oct 5th and that it would take about 4 weeks for it to get back to the US Embassy in Seoul.  Well, that's something! She said I could call back next week and check again and that she couldn't wait to see his picture!  What a nice lady!

I can't really remember what exactly the "P3"  consists of this very moment but it has 3 out of about 5-6 approvals we need.  Once I hear it has returned to the US Embassy, I'll post what they are.  This blog is helping me keep all these important things documented and straight, otherwise I'd be a big ball of mess!

Trail to Aiden Lee: Godspeed (Sweet Dreams) By the Dixie Chicks with l...

Trail to Aiden Lee: Godspeed (Sweet Dreams) By the Dixie Chicks with l...

Care package #2......

I was waiting to hear if Aiden got his care package #1.  He did go to Holt Korea for his September WBC, so I'm just going to have to assume he got it, no pictures to confirm.  Oh well,  look out Aiden,  #2 is on it's way!! I did so much better with this package at the Post Office.  Judy you'd be proud of me,  I learned so much from you the first time!  I had the form filled out before I arrived, even packed the box at home first also.  I went to the counter and voila (no picture, forgot the camera! at least I remembered every thing else!) 30 seconds later,  it's sent! Here's a photo of  the contents of the care package:    two new outfits, (these are for winter, long sleeve and long pants), a pair of socks,  Aquaphor, a camera, a bib, the sunshine toy (it plays You Are My Sunshine - cute!), another photo album that has our pictures in it for Aiden to look at, (and hopefully put two and two together when he sees us!), plus 2 boxes of Gerber rice cereal (they were marked 'Donation to Holt').

Still no word about the Emigration Permit.  :(   I know we are getting so close to the cut off.  I've mentioned this before, but I'll mention it again.  Korea only allows a certain number of children out of the country each year. Each child has to have an Emigration Permit to leave Korea.  So they count the EP's and when they get to their quota, guess what?  No more EP's are issued, so the children can't leave till next year around the first of February.  So if we do not get an EP soon, Aiden will not be home for Christmas, nor will he be home for his first birthday, January 3rd.  I would love for Aiden to be home sooner than later, but I'm almost to the point of wishing we'd just hear something.....a yes or no would suffice, thank you very much.  But haven't heard one thing about it......seriously?!?!

The Forum moms are so right in saying the last part of the wait is the hardest......uggggg!  It's the worst part of it.  But I know Aiden will be home with us soon,  we've made it this far, what's another month or two?  Ekkk  this is the hardest time to be patient!

On a brighter note, I did have some good luck today with Honey!  We live in a small town about 20 miles north of Nashville.  When Mary Leigh posted that Foster Families liked vitamins and honey,  I knew I was in it good!  There's this little store in the middle of our small town that sells local Honey.  AWESOME!  This store is about 3 miles  from our house.  Tay and I stopped by there on our way home from school and bought us some honey!   The Foster Family is getting the big one, oh yeah!  The second picture actually shows the honey comb!  I never thought I'd be so excited to buy honey!  I am so weird  now lol!

  Not sure who the lucky ones are going to be to get the small ones,  I may drop by there again and just buy more.  I. Have. Lost. It!  This adoption process has done strange things to this  mamma!  I've almost forgotten what normal is these days.  Another Forum mom said it's mommyitus.  I think I'd have to agree with her.  I'm feeling kind of nuts these days!

Monday in Seoul.....

It's Sunday evening again, but it's Monday in Seoul!   A new week has started there.  It seems now I look forward to Monday's.  OMGoodness, what has happened  to me?!  I'm so consumed by the thought of the US Embassy being 'open for business' on Monday morning this Sunday evening!  I know friends and family think I've lost my mind.  I'm getting to where I'm not focused, seem confused, can't concentrate, and dazed most of the time.  I can't hear straight, my mind races when I wake up first thing in the morning,  and it's hard to go to sleep at night.  What has happened to me?  Isn't there some kind of diagnosis that goes along with this kind of behavior?  No....I'm just an adopted parent.  Do others feel this way?  Probably.... Is it bad when you answer your own questions?  Yes.....

I'm sure nothing of what I just claimed is any different than any other adopted moms.  So why can't I snap out of it?  (at this point, I'm sure you all think I've lost it too right?)  We are so close to finding out if we're going to be bringing Aiden home this year, the quota thing again.  It's that darn Emigration Permit thing again.

If I seem lost, just turn me in the right direction I need to go and push!  I'll get there eventually!

I love this song ...(see earlier post from today)

A Forum friend suggested this song this morning.  I don't think I'd ever heard it.  Now,  I absolutely love it, so fitting!  I googled it and found this great video on youtube.  Hope you like it too!  Thanks Sherelia!   :)