Hi, everyone! Last Thursday, we got an exciting email from our friend Mary Clare, who also lives in Olney and who is also awaiting a child, a girl, from Korea. Well, after a long wait (remember that you wait much longer for girls than for boys from Korea), their big day is finally here! Their daughter Cara will be arriving at Dulles Airport this Friday, and we were invited to be at the airport to witness her arrival and the magic moment when parents and child will finally be united. I can't tell you how much it warms my heart to hear stories like this because it affirms for us that our turn is definitely coming and this WILL happen! And I feel especially privileged that Mary Clare and Marty are allowing us to take part in a very intimate moment in their lives. I told her that we'd videotape the event, so Jeff is going to be the cameraman and I am going to be the photographer. We plan on keeping our distance and just capturing candid moments that I'm sure Mary Clare and Marty are going to appreciate later. I went to her house on Saturday to pitch in to get the house/room ready. They are understandably a little overwhelmed. My task was cleaning up the kitchen and washing and sterilizing the baby bottles...one of my very first lessons in becoming a parent! Who knew that these things have like 7 different pieces? Good grief. I think I did OK, though.
The flight arrives at 6:30, and we are both leaving work early to attend this special event. So please be thinking about this family on Friday. The date of January 30, 2009, is about to become as important to their family as any birthday will be! Our parent support group meeting is next week, and I'm sure we'll be getting more good news from even more friends who are patiently (or maybe not-so-patiently) waiting just like us! And by watching Mary Clare and Marty at the airport, it gives us the chance to witness what we, as parents, will go through on our own "arrival day."
Jeff and I are going to pick up some baby clothes from his brother this weekend, so it'll be exciting to have things to put in the empty dresser I have waiting in the nursery. We're almost finished clearing the room out completely. Only one small pile remains. The transformation from storage space to nursery has officially begun! At least we have things to keep us busy while we wait.
Anyway, that's what we're up to. Will write more soon. After the parent support group meeting next week, I think I will have a much better idea of where we stand in terms of timeline (e.g., process of elimination, as more people who are ahead of us get their match and we creep ever closer to the front of the line).
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Good News For My Friend Erin
My friend Erin picked up her daughter, Emma, at Dulles Airport this past Friday. She got the phone call on Tuesday to be there three days later! Gulp! As we have decided to have our child escorted to us, we'll get the very same phone call. Margie says that they "try" to give us 5 days' notice. In Erin's case, she and her family had 3 days' notice! Wow! Days later, Erin reported that it feels like Emma has been with them from the very beginning, and Emma is doing very well! She is sharing pictures and stories, and it's so good for those us still waiting to hear the stories and see the photos and know that this is real...it's really going to happen to us! Interesting twist: Although Catholic Charities tells us that once we accept the referral, we are united with our child 4-5 months later, in Erin's case, they got the referral on Dec. 3 and were united with their child just six weeks later, on January 16. Interesting. Not sure if this was an anomaly or if it means that timelines are getting shorter between acceptance of referral and "gotcha day" (that's an adoption term that means the day you are united with your child--in an adoptive family, gotcha day is celebrated as much as a birthday is, because of its deep meaning). As much as I want to believe that the timelines are getting shorter, I suspect that this was just a situational quirk where Emma's escort happened to want to travel very shortly after Erin and her husband accepted the referral. I really do think that Catholic Charities' estimate of 4-5 months is more on the mark than 6 weeks. But anyway, it just shows that this process always contains the element of surprise. We'll see what our "surprise" will be. I pray every night that our referral will come soon, and that we will soon have a photo of our child to share with everyone! I've posted twice today, so I'm done for a while. Enjoy the rest of your January, and stay warm: It's cold here in Maryland!
Ringing in "Our Year"
Hello, everyone, and Happy New Year! We are more than halfway through January. How did THAT happen? Jeff and I had a quiet New Year's Eve, but we recognized that we were probably ringing in "our year." I am convinced that this is the magic year for us, and that our dreams of being united with our child will finally be realized in 2009. People keep telling me "this is YOUR year." This year, I really think it is!
Switching topics a little bit: I am still coming off the high of Inauguration Day, and the privilege I felt to be witnessing history in the making. Weren't you guys SO EXCITED to see all of that? I was! Whether you were an Obama supporter or not, you have to admit that it was an amazing, history-making day. On Tuesday it felt to me that our country was truly one in celebrating such a historic moment. How amazing it must have been to BE THERE (I wanted to be there, but I was as close as I was willing to get--I don't do crowds very well!) to witness the swearing-in of an African-American as President of the United States--how amazing, especially, for those people who also witnessed, years ago, racism in its most blatant, ugly form. What joy they must have felt!
As I sat glued to the television from 9:00 a.m. till well into the evening, I was so moved and felt such a connection to my fellow Americans, of all races, colors, creeds, and ethnicities. I know it sounds corny, but I felt so...patriotic. I wiped many a tear away listening the various speeches; hearing Aretha Franklin just belting out, as only the Queen of Soul can, "Let Freedom Ring" (she also got me reminiscing about my college days and my alcohol-induced attempts to sing the song R-E-S-P-E-C-T into my faux-beer-bottle "microphone" but that's a story for another time); and seeing the faces of everyday Americans not just putting up with the cold but SMILING and crying and laughing and celebrating, despite six layers of clothes and wind-chill factors in the teens and lower and crowds of unprecedented proportions. It was such a joyous day for our country. We'll all remember where we were on this day, and what we were doing.
I am going somewhere with this diatribe: I really am! Looking around at the crowd that day, it reminded me that having a child who is not our race or skin color is going to be looked upon as the most normal thing. It gave me such hope and consolation that our child is not going to be discriminated against and is not going to ever have to deal with the blatant ugliness of racism but rather will be embraced and accepted as the American that he or she is. And if this glorious day happened in MY lifetime, then just imagine the miracles that will be possible in our child's lifetime! Wow!
Switching topics a little bit: I am still coming off the high of Inauguration Day, and the privilege I felt to be witnessing history in the making. Weren't you guys SO EXCITED to see all of that? I was! Whether you were an Obama supporter or not, you have to admit that it was an amazing, history-making day. On Tuesday it felt to me that our country was truly one in celebrating such a historic moment. How amazing it must have been to BE THERE (I wanted to be there, but I was as close as I was willing to get--I don't do crowds very well!) to witness the swearing-in of an African-American as President of the United States--how amazing, especially, for those people who also witnessed, years ago, racism in its most blatant, ugly form. What joy they must have felt!
As I sat glued to the television from 9:00 a.m. till well into the evening, I was so moved and felt such a connection to my fellow Americans, of all races, colors, creeds, and ethnicities. I know it sounds corny, but I felt so...patriotic. I wiped many a tear away listening the various speeches; hearing Aretha Franklin just belting out, as only the Queen of Soul can, "Let Freedom Ring" (she also got me reminiscing about my college days and my alcohol-induced attempts to sing the song R-E-S-P-E-C-T into my faux-beer-bottle "microphone" but that's a story for another time); and seeing the faces of everyday Americans not just putting up with the cold but SMILING and crying and laughing and celebrating, despite six layers of clothes and wind-chill factors in the teens and lower and crowds of unprecedented proportions. It was such a joyous day for our country. We'll all remember where we were on this day, and what we were doing.
I am going somewhere with this diatribe: I really am! Looking around at the crowd that day, it reminded me that having a child who is not our race or skin color is going to be looked upon as the most normal thing. It gave me such hope and consolation that our child is not going to be discriminated against and is not going to ever have to deal with the blatant ugliness of racism but rather will be embraced and accepted as the American that he or she is. And if this glorious day happened in MY lifetime, then just imagine the miracles that will be possible in our child's lifetime! Wow!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Holiday Wishes to All
Wow, I can't believe 2008 is drawing to a close. Hard to believe it was almost a year ago when we first set foot in the doors of the Catholic Charities office in downtown Baltimore and began our life-changing journey toward becoming a family.
This year has been a truly great year, if not a bit of a whirlwind, and I've learned so many things: Most important, I've learned that I really CAN be patient about certain things. So far, Jeff and I have handled "the wait" like real champs, if I do say so myself. And it's been incredibly touching, how many people have been asking us, again and again, how it's going. It's nice to know that so many of you are thinking of us, asking about us, and praying for us as we continue on this somewhat mysterious path toward parenthood. And with many of you, even the most minute of details don't seem to bore you, as I go on and on with my explanations and answers to your questions! I love talking about it and never tire of it!
Speaking of the "mysterious path" I mentioned earlier: One friend even compared it to the mystery of pregnancy: Although different in a lot of ways, adoption really is much like the uncertainty of pregnancy: wondering "when, exactly" it will happen...where will I be when nature (or, in our case, the universe, and the country of Korea!) decides it's time for us to be parents...what will it be like to hold my child for the very first time...to feel those tiny little fingers curling around mine...will I, like so many other parents I've talked to, think to myself, "I can't believe they are letting us leave the hospital (or, in our case, the airport) considering we don't know what the &*&**&* we are doing!" Ha ha!
I have grown as a person, and I have definitely grown as a potential parent. All the books I've been reading and classes we've been taking have really gotten us on the road toward being prepared. That being said, I know that we won't know what hit us until it hits us! But bring it on. Bring it all on: No one can scare me with their warnings that "you will lose your freedom," "you will have no life and no time for hobbies/interests/yourself," "your life will change FOREVER," etc. Folks, I am SO ready for my life to change! And I'm so ready to not know what hit me. I want to feel what it feels like to have love in its purest, most innocent, most joyful form just whack me over the head. I can't wait to fall in love with our child and experience all the ups and downs, twists and turns that parenthood presents.
And on that note, Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate Christmas. Happy Hanukkah to all of my wonderful friends who celebrate Hanukkah. And I hope people aren't offended if I lump the rest of the December/January religious holidays into one big "Happy Holidays to All!" May 2009 bring you many warm and wonderful blessings.
And, on a more selfish note, may 2009 also bring Jeff and I our baby.
I probably won't post again until early 2009. Last-minute holiday stuff--you all know what I'm talking about, I suspect!
Huge hugs,
Kathleen
This year has been a truly great year, if not a bit of a whirlwind, and I've learned so many things: Most important, I've learned that I really CAN be patient about certain things. So far, Jeff and I have handled "the wait" like real champs, if I do say so myself. And it's been incredibly touching, how many people have been asking us, again and again, how it's going. It's nice to know that so many of you are thinking of us, asking about us, and praying for us as we continue on this somewhat mysterious path toward parenthood. And with many of you, even the most minute of details don't seem to bore you, as I go on and on with my explanations and answers to your questions! I love talking about it and never tire of it!
Speaking of the "mysterious path" I mentioned earlier: One friend even compared it to the mystery of pregnancy: Although different in a lot of ways, adoption really is much like the uncertainty of pregnancy: wondering "when, exactly" it will happen...where will I be when nature (or, in our case, the universe, and the country of Korea!) decides it's time for us to be parents...what will it be like to hold my child for the very first time...to feel those tiny little fingers curling around mine...will I, like so many other parents I've talked to, think to myself, "I can't believe they are letting us leave the hospital (or, in our case, the airport) considering we don't know what the &*&**&* we are doing!" Ha ha!
I have grown as a person, and I have definitely grown as a potential parent. All the books I've been reading and classes we've been taking have really gotten us on the road toward being prepared. That being said, I know that we won't know what hit us until it hits us! But bring it on. Bring it all on: No one can scare me with their warnings that "you will lose your freedom," "you will have no life and no time for hobbies/interests/yourself," "your life will change FOREVER," etc. Folks, I am SO ready for my life to change! And I'm so ready to not know what hit me. I want to feel what it feels like to have love in its purest, most innocent, most joyful form just whack me over the head. I can't wait to fall in love with our child and experience all the ups and downs, twists and turns that parenthood presents.
And on that note, Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate Christmas. Happy Hanukkah to all of my wonderful friends who celebrate Hanukkah. And I hope people aren't offended if I lump the rest of the December/January religious holidays into one big "Happy Holidays to All!" May 2009 bring you many warm and wonderful blessings.
And, on a more selfish note, may 2009 also bring Jeff and I our baby.
I probably won't post again until early 2009. Last-minute holiday stuff--you all know what I'm talking about, I suspect!
Huge hugs,
Kathleen
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
I Hate Math
OK, I have to amend my last blog posting: As my dear friend Carol just pointed out to me, come Monday I will not be entering my fourth decade of life--but rather, I will be entering my fifth. My husband the scientist will not be surprised by this error one bit!
I have one thing to say. Hey, I'm a word girl: I hate math! Mainly b/c I can't do it...as evidenced by my error in simple addition/subtraction.
Rather than getting further depressed by this news, I think I'll choose to still stay young at heart! No worries, Carol...you didn't burst my bubble. Maybe deflated it a little bit, but no bursting.
God, I hate math. There it goes, screwing up my elegant prose and filling my blogs with factual errors!
I have one thing to say. Hey, I'm a word girl: I hate math! Mainly b/c I can't do it...as evidenced by my error in simple addition/subtraction.
Rather than getting further depressed by this news, I think I'll choose to still stay young at heart! No worries, Carol...you didn't burst my bubble. Maybe deflated it a little bit, but no bursting.
God, I hate math. There it goes, screwing up my elegant prose and filling my blogs with factual errors!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Aloha--We're Back!
Hi, everyone! We are back from Hawaii--jet lagged and exhausted (it's only 8:00 a.m. Hawaii time, and I'm definitely still on that--despite us forcing ourselves to stay awake till 11:00 last night to get back on East Coast time). We had such a blast! Beyond a quick recap (see below), there's too much detail to go into on this blog. Maybe I'll include snippets of stuff here and there, in the months to come. But suffice to say: Flying on 9 different planes in just two weeks was well worth it!
Some highlights of our Hawaii adventure:
--swam with dolphins in Kona on The Big Island (I have pictures to prove it!)(I was on my own for that one; swam with a mother-daugher duo: Iwa [pronounced "Eva"], who is 37, and Pukanala, her daughter, who is 5. Their skin feels like the softest of worn leather that you can imagine. I was quite moved by the experience.
--did morning yoga outside in the mountains of Kauai
--toured the island of Kauai via helicopter (amazing views!)
--rode a high-powered, fast Zodiac boat up and down Kauai's NaPali coastline (picture 4,000-foot cliffs smack at the shoreline and that's NaPali)
--kayaked the Wailua River in Kauai and then hiked to a waterfall and swam in it
--stargazed at the summit of Mauna Loa (14,000 feet!)
--saw/hung out on a gazillion Hawaiian beaches, all of them beautiful beyond description or belief
--stayed in a "hale" (thatched hut, elevated like a treehouse!) on the Big Island, right near the beach
--did lots of hiking/walking
--took about 1,000 photos. Seriously. For once, I am not exercising what is known as "hyperbole" (which is my nickname to many), or "exaggeration for dramatic effect." I really, truly, honestly did take about 1,000 pictures. Yikes! I promise I won't share them all; only the really good ones!
THE ELECTION
We were at Bubba's Burgers on Kauai when we got the news that Obama won the election. We were so moved. Having purposely avoided the news all day long (it would have been too nerve-wracking to bear, plus we were on vacation, trying to relax!), we were anxious to check in. We walked in to cheering, and we soon discovered why. I asked the woman: Any news yet? She smiled and cried and told me that Obama had won. People in his home state are SO PROUD of him! They joke that to them, he is not just the first African American president, but the first Hawaiian president! Ha ha! We walked in at 6:00 Hawaii time (which is 11:00 EST), just after they announced Obama had won. There was a whole lot of hootin' and hollerin', cheering and laughing and crying (tears were streaming down my face as I experienced this hisoric moment for our country: in Obama's home state, nonetheless! The woman behind the counter and I exchanged tearful conversation and high-fives!). We were celebrating with complete strangers, over burgers and fries and shakes! It was quite a memorable experience. If this burger place served beer, I would've had one! Something amazing happened in America on that day: It will live on, for all of us, as one of those days where we'll all remember where we were and what we were doing when we got the news. Now I pray that Obama can lead us to the change we so desperately need--and so clearly want. Not just for us, but more important, for our children.
ADOPTION
Speaking of children: The wait goes on. No news as of yet. We missed the Catholic Charities Adoption Celebration, which is held every November at a Korean church in Baltimore (in case you didn't know it, November is National Adoption Month!). Several hundred people showed up with their kids to celebrate adoption and the cultural traditions of the various countries that Catholic Charities works with. It's such a cool-sounding event: We'll go for sure, next year, hopefully with our very own child in tow!
WHAT'S NEXT?
So, what's next for us, you ask? After a whirlwind year, thankfully not much. Now that I have absolutely no annual leave left, Jeff and I will be hunkering down and enjoying the holidays with family--both here and in PA. And we'll be getting the baby's room ready, starting to move into that full swing. I have to clear it out and paint it. We already have some furniture in there. Starting now, I'll be saving most if not all of my annual leave for my maternity leave in 2009. If the "bad news" is that we are still waiting, then at least the "good news" is that I think I will have enough time to build my annual leave back up!
This holiday season, I'm going to be focusing much less on material things and more on being grateful for what I already have--amazing, loving family members (especially my husband) and good and true friends. What better gift than the one that all of you give to me every day, simply by being in my life?
OTHER THINGS
I've recently secured a regular yoga class at the newly opened Olney Yoga on Sunday evenings (it's a gentle yoga class, if anyone's interested). So that makes three yoga classes I'm teaching a week, besides being on several sub lists for yoga studios in the area. It's a step in the right direction for me--I truly see yoga as a vocation, a calling--I love it that much! And I hope to someday be 100% true to that calling. But for now, it's still a side thing--and one that brings me so much happiness!
Oh, yeah: Did I mention that I turn 40 this coming Monday(Nov 24)? It kinda blows my mind but not necessarily in a bad way. Yes, definitely in a "where-the-hell-did-the-time-go" kinda way as well as a "I-need-to-stop-associating-'40'-with-'old'" kinda way, but not in a "counting my days" or "I-have-so-little-time left" kinda way. Birthdays are meant to be celebrated, and I'll be busy celebrating mine, for sure!
Contrary to what many people say when they reach a milestone age like 40, there is so very much to look forward to! Life is really, really good, and I am having fun. Through yoga, I have discovered that the present moment is a truly delightful place to be! I am blessed with good people in my life.
So on Monday, when I clock into the first day of my fourth decade on this earth, I know that I will be thinking much of what I am thinking right now: That there is so much to do, so many fun days and moments to look forward to! And that I am as young as I feel.
Considering I swam with dolphins just 2 days ago, I think I'm doing pretty darn good.
Huge hugs to all of you who make my life the joy that it is. And if you're reading this, YES, this means YOU!
Kathleen
Some highlights of our Hawaii adventure:
--swam with dolphins in Kona on The Big Island (I have pictures to prove it!)(I was on my own for that one; swam with a mother-daugher duo: Iwa [pronounced "Eva"], who is 37, and Pukanala, her daughter, who is 5. Their skin feels like the softest of worn leather that you can imagine. I was quite moved by the experience.
--did morning yoga outside in the mountains of Kauai
--toured the island of Kauai via helicopter (amazing views!)
--rode a high-powered, fast Zodiac boat up and down Kauai's NaPali coastline (picture 4,000-foot cliffs smack at the shoreline and that's NaPali)
--kayaked the Wailua River in Kauai and then hiked to a waterfall and swam in it
--stargazed at the summit of Mauna Loa (14,000 feet!)
--saw/hung out on a gazillion Hawaiian beaches, all of them beautiful beyond description or belief
--stayed in a "hale" (thatched hut, elevated like a treehouse!) on the Big Island, right near the beach
--did lots of hiking/walking
--took about 1,000 photos. Seriously. For once, I am not exercising what is known as "hyperbole" (which is my nickname to many), or "exaggeration for dramatic effect." I really, truly, honestly did take about 1,000 pictures. Yikes! I promise I won't share them all; only the really good ones!
THE ELECTION
We were at Bubba's Burgers on Kauai when we got the news that Obama won the election. We were so moved. Having purposely avoided the news all day long (it would have been too nerve-wracking to bear, plus we were on vacation, trying to relax!), we were anxious to check in. We walked in to cheering, and we soon discovered why. I asked the woman: Any news yet? She smiled and cried and told me that Obama had won. People in his home state are SO PROUD of him! They joke that to them, he is not just the first African American president, but the first Hawaiian president! Ha ha! We walked in at 6:00 Hawaii time (which is 11:00 EST), just after they announced Obama had won. There was a whole lot of hootin' and hollerin', cheering and laughing and crying (tears were streaming down my face as I experienced this hisoric moment for our country: in Obama's home state, nonetheless! The woman behind the counter and I exchanged tearful conversation and high-fives!). We were celebrating with complete strangers, over burgers and fries and shakes! It was quite a memorable experience. If this burger place served beer, I would've had one! Something amazing happened in America on that day: It will live on, for all of us, as one of those days where we'll all remember where we were and what we were doing when we got the news. Now I pray that Obama can lead us to the change we so desperately need--and so clearly want. Not just for us, but more important, for our children.
ADOPTION
Speaking of children: The wait goes on. No news as of yet. We missed the Catholic Charities Adoption Celebration, which is held every November at a Korean church in Baltimore (in case you didn't know it, November is National Adoption Month!). Several hundred people showed up with their kids to celebrate adoption and the cultural traditions of the various countries that Catholic Charities works with. It's such a cool-sounding event: We'll go for sure, next year, hopefully with our very own child in tow!
WHAT'S NEXT?
So, what's next for us, you ask? After a whirlwind year, thankfully not much. Now that I have absolutely no annual leave left, Jeff and I will be hunkering down and enjoying the holidays with family--both here and in PA. And we'll be getting the baby's room ready, starting to move into that full swing. I have to clear it out and paint it. We already have some furniture in there. Starting now, I'll be saving most if not all of my annual leave for my maternity leave in 2009. If the "bad news" is that we are still waiting, then at least the "good news" is that I think I will have enough time to build my annual leave back up!
This holiday season, I'm going to be focusing much less on material things and more on being grateful for what I already have--amazing, loving family members (especially my husband) and good and true friends. What better gift than the one that all of you give to me every day, simply by being in my life?
OTHER THINGS
I've recently secured a regular yoga class at the newly opened Olney Yoga on Sunday evenings (it's a gentle yoga class, if anyone's interested). So that makes three yoga classes I'm teaching a week, besides being on several sub lists for yoga studios in the area. It's a step in the right direction for me--I truly see yoga as a vocation, a calling--I love it that much! And I hope to someday be 100% true to that calling. But for now, it's still a side thing--and one that brings me so much happiness!
Oh, yeah: Did I mention that I turn 40 this coming Monday(Nov 24)? It kinda blows my mind but not necessarily in a bad way. Yes, definitely in a "where-the-hell-did-the-time-go" kinda way as well as a "I-need-to-stop-associating-'40'-with-'old'" kinda way, but not in a "counting my days" or "I-have-so-little-time left" kinda way. Birthdays are meant to be celebrated, and I'll be busy celebrating mine, for sure!
Contrary to what many people say when they reach a milestone age like 40, there is so very much to look forward to! Life is really, really good, and I am having fun. Through yoga, I have discovered that the present moment is a truly delightful place to be! I am blessed with good people in my life.
So on Monday, when I clock into the first day of my fourth decade on this earth, I know that I will be thinking much of what I am thinking right now: That there is so much to do, so many fun days and moments to look forward to! And that I am as young as I feel.
Considering I swam with dolphins just 2 days ago, I think I'm doing pretty darn good.
Huge hugs to all of you who make my life the joy that it is. And if you're reading this, YES, this means YOU!
Kathleen
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Child Care Class Was Great!
Hi, everyone! Lots has been going on. That child care class was really great...again, it was so good to not have to endure sitting in a class with women who are pregnant. It's still tough being around pregnant folks. So this class was a welcome relief, and it addressed not only general baby-care stuff, but also adoption-specific stuff. They had weighted, biracial babies to pass around, and we did hands-on diapering, among other things. She started to explain to us how to do it, and I raised my hand and said, "Wait a minute. Back up. How do you tell the front from the back?" She laughed and said, "Good point, for you new parents out there. The tabs go back to front." I didn't even know THAT!!! That'll change quickly, and I'll soon be Quick Draw McGraw when it comes to changing poopy diapers. But for now, I have the big old "C" on my forehead for CLUELESS!
The adoption-specific stuff we learned was interesting and extremely relevant: For example, did you know that most Korean babies sleep on the floor and don't even know what a crib IS? It's not like they are mistreated or anything...they are clean and warm, just on the floor...for some Korean foster moms, it's just the way they do things. Often, the foster mom will sleep right there beside them! So when you go to put them in the crib for the first time, they may be like, "What the hell is THIS? I'm in a CAGE!" and may put up a fit. So for the first week, couples adopting from Korea are advised to put their child in their crib to sleep/nap but to then lie on the floor beside them until they are asleep, to let them know that we are there and that they are safe. CC says that it usually only takes a few days for the baby to get used to the crib and to see it as their place to rest and sleep, a safe place, and after that first couple of days, Mommy or Daddy doesn't need to be in the room with them. I never thought a sleeping bag would be a desired addition to the decor of Baby Halverson's room! At least, temporarily.
The class was run by our caseworker, Margie, and a woman from Silver Spring, MD, who is a nurse at the V.A. in DC as well as a mother of 4 (3 of whom are adopted). She actually referred us to a pediatrician's office in Olney, Dr. Miller (she takes her kids there!), so we plan on contacting that office once we get the referral, so that Dr. Miller can review our child's records and photo(s) to make sure that he/she is indeed healthy as stated on the forms. We've also gotten some names of other doctors' offices from several friends who live in Olney. As usual, word of mouth is the best thing for something like this!
I also have my name on three day care lists thus far. (In this area, the sooner you get on a list, the better!) And there are several others that I plan to check out.
That's it, for now. Stay tuned for my next post (which will happen as soon as I find the time to write it) about the latest update on our "wait" (which is already very quickly becoming a new "four-letter word"!).
And thanks for continuing to check in. Your visits make me keep blogging, just when I think no one really reads this thing. It means a lot to me, to know that you care enough to make time to do this.
We leave for Hawaii in just FOUR DAYS! WHOO-HOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Hugs to all!
Kathleen
The adoption-specific stuff we learned was interesting and extremely relevant: For example, did you know that most Korean babies sleep on the floor and don't even know what a crib IS? It's not like they are mistreated or anything...they are clean and warm, just on the floor...for some Korean foster moms, it's just the way they do things. Often, the foster mom will sleep right there beside them! So when you go to put them in the crib for the first time, they may be like, "What the hell is THIS? I'm in a CAGE!" and may put up a fit. So for the first week, couples adopting from Korea are advised to put their child in their crib to sleep/nap but to then lie on the floor beside them until they are asleep, to let them know that we are there and that they are safe. CC says that it usually only takes a few days for the baby to get used to the crib and to see it as their place to rest and sleep, a safe place, and after that first couple of days, Mommy or Daddy doesn't need to be in the room with them. I never thought a sleeping bag would be a desired addition to the decor of Baby Halverson's room! At least, temporarily.
The class was run by our caseworker, Margie, and a woman from Silver Spring, MD, who is a nurse at the V.A. in DC as well as a mother of 4 (3 of whom are adopted). She actually referred us to a pediatrician's office in Olney, Dr. Miller (she takes her kids there!), so we plan on contacting that office once we get the referral, so that Dr. Miller can review our child's records and photo(s) to make sure that he/she is indeed healthy as stated on the forms. We've also gotten some names of other doctors' offices from several friends who live in Olney. As usual, word of mouth is the best thing for something like this!
I also have my name on three day care lists thus far. (In this area, the sooner you get on a list, the better!) And there are several others that I plan to check out.
That's it, for now. Stay tuned for my next post (which will happen as soon as I find the time to write it) about the latest update on our "wait" (which is already very quickly becoming a new "four-letter word"!).
And thanks for continuing to check in. Your visits make me keep blogging, just when I think no one really reads this thing. It means a lot to me, to know that you care enough to make time to do this.
We leave for Hawaii in just FOUR DAYS! WHOO-HOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Hugs to all!
Kathleen
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