We're home!

We had an amazing adventure to Korea to pick up Shea. We learned a lot about the culture, food and the love Shea received until she was place in our arms. There is no doubt that she was well taken care of!
Shea has been an absolute joy so far. She is loving and sweet. Her brothers are all over her with hugs, kisses and brining her toys.

We've all been a little sick this week but we have had so much help from family and friends. I can't say thank you enough!

Packing!

It's time. I can't believe we are packing our suitcases to get our baby girl. Most of you know I am a bundle of nerves on an everyday basis and much worse when faced with uncertainty. The thought of leaving my boys, flying so faraway, meeting our daughter, bringing her home, parenting three kids, her health, her bonding, her adjustment, I could go on and on with my worries. I am also really happy that the time has come, let's get this show on the road!
A quick thank you to all our friends and family for the support now, the meals later :), and for the prayers. I will try to post again from Seoul!

Travel Call

On Wednesday we got the call we have been waiting for! Our Travel Call!! We were so thrilled to finally receive it. By Thursday we had our travel arrangements made, printed out our needed paperwork and put to rest the disappointment that we will not have Shea home by Christmas.  We leave for Seoul on Jan. 6th and return on Jan. 12th. We are watching CNN religiously and praying for peace between North and South Korea. I can't believe on top of everything I have to stress about a WAR breaking out! Really??

Shea's Room

So the last three weeks have been torture. Our paperwork sat on a desk for 4 months and we are mad as hell about it. Our paperwork has made progress in the last week, which we our thankful for. In the meantime we have been busy putting together Shea's room with all the wonderful gifts we have received from family and friends. We are a potpourri of emotions right now, sad, angry, frustrated, hopeful, grateful, revengeful (that's mostly me) and anxious. Still praying everyday to bring our baby girl home, whenever that may be.

Holding On and a Poem

It's been a rough week, our paperwork is still stuck in Texas! This devastates us, especially with the holidays coming so quickly. Gene, of course, is being strong for the both of us and will now be in charge of calling all U.S Immigration workers for fear of my Sicilian/Irish temper.
On a positive note I have had two baby showers over the last few weeks, spoiled me. Shea has the most amazing aunties! My mother in-law wrote this beautiful poem and said I could share it with you.
To our Baby Sister Shea:
 We wish you were here on this beautiful day. We can't wait to kiss you, hold you, and play with you everyday.
We have an awesome mom and dad who will love you a lot,
And aunties, uncles, grandmas, grandpas, a tutu, nonna, and a papa,
You'll think you hit the JACKPOT!
So here is a bag of stylish clothes, 
Because when we go to Truckee or Aptos you'll have to have those!
We've changed our baby boy room from blue to pink, 
We can't wait to see what you'll think,
When you come home, our family will be complete, 
With the sister-patter of little girls feet! 
Your big brother, Franke and A.J. 

Bummer News.

So I got my hopes up and was thinking we would be headed to Korea before Thanksgiving, silly me. After waiting 3 months for US immigration to process our paperwork I discovered it still had not been done. I talked to our case worker in Texas and she could care less she was the only thing keeping us from our daughter. So we wait. I have to keep reminding myself that God's time is perfect and patience is the only thing I control.  Still praying to bring her home by Christmas which is her 1st birthday.

Undated Picture

We were thrilled to get two updated pictures of Shea today. I actually received them as I was shopping for gifts for Shea's foster family, adoption agency and other's who have worked toward caring for our daughter when we couldn't. Now if the Giants could win today.....