Sunday, February 27, 2011

My New Favorite Chore

No new picture.  No I-600 approval.  No travel notification.

But, on the upside, one of my household chores has become a lot more favorable the last month.  Laundry.  I know this seems silly, but I love pulling tiny socks, pants, shirts, onesies, etc out of the washer.  I reach in there thinking I am pulling out one of Paul's or mine large sweatshirts, and instead this cute little navy blue and white stripped onesie with a embroidered crab on it comes out instead.  It makes me smile.

The only problem with this new favorite chore...Jae isn't home to dirty up the clothes.  So the only time I am washing tiny clothes is when we first buy them.  "Hey Paul...where did you put your wallet?  I need it."

Danielle Santori - if you are reading this, it means you are not studying.  Do the right thing.  :)

Love,
Jae's Mom

Friday, February 18, 2011

Better Day

Today was the first day all week I felt like myself.  Yes, I am still checking my cell phone every 10 minutes to see if our social worker called, but it was different today.  Just a little more like myself. 

We did accomplish one adoption item today.  After dinner we went shopping and we found a necklace for Jae's foster mom.  We have looked around quite a bit and nothing seemed right.  Today we found a gold double hearted necklace at Kohls here in town (ironic since we have looked all over Minneapolis, Rochester and Duluth for something).  It just felt right.  Not to get all mushy on everyone, but something about the two hearts together meant something.  Jae's foster mom is part of our family, part of our hearts.  She (as well as Jae's birth mother) will always have a very special place in our hearts and I think the two hearts in some way represent how we feel about foster mom.

Love,
Jae's Mom

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Target is Getting Expensive

Every trip to Target is expensive these days.  It seems like Paul or I will make whatever excuse we can to buy Jae something.  Last night we almost convinced ourselves that Jae needed two kiddie riding toys...one for upstairs and one for downstairs.  What!?!  Or we could save ourselves $30 and just carry his current firetruck riding toy downstairs when he wants it. Thank goodness we came to our senses at the last minute.  But, taking the advice of a good friend, we did stock up on some baby first aid / meds.  Jae might be teething during the 18 hour plane ride home...we will want something on hand for that.  And of course Jae needs a box of Toy Story and Disney's Cars band-aids!  He will want options when he has a boo-boo.  And what kid doesn't need a Bert and Ernie toothbrush?  It would have been some form of neglect not to get him one.  Like I said...any excuse to buy Jae something...

Unfortunately, no good adoption news today.  No picture.  No I-600 approval.  No travel notice.  No travel estimate.  I would give up 20 Sesame Street toothbrushes for just one of the above.

Love,
Jae's Mom

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

A Rough Patch

I have officially hit a rough patch.  It has been 5 months since we first learned about Jae and he is still not home.  His room is ready, toys are washed, clothes are folded, the only thing missing is Jae Miles.  It sucks.

The good news of the week is that 8 families within the Korean program received travel notifications last week.  The bad news is they waited anywhere from 8 to 10 months to go get their child (minus the families that have referrals through the other Korean agency but that is a whole other story).  The thought of only being 1/2 way through the wait kills me.  But, I am not ready to give up hope based on the recent holiday jam.  As I have previously mentioned, the Korean New Year is celebrated the first week in February so I am hoping that not a lot of things get done between Christmas and the Korean New Year.  Much like the holiday season here in the US....Thanksgiving to Christmas.  A lot of people are taking off work, long weekends, etc.  Hopefully when I check the agency website next week, we will see just as many travel notifications but with shorter wait times.

We are still waiting for our I-600 to get approved.  Which, if our wait is going to be 8 months, the US Customs and Immigrations Services office has all the time in the world.  :(

Love,
Jae's Mom

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Polar Plunge Day!

Since I don't have any news about Mr. Jae, I will talk about what else is going on....

And today, that is the Polar Bear Plunge to benefit Special Olympics of Minnesota.  Me and my team of 24 are headed to Rochester today to jump into the icy water.  Should be a good time, and fundraising went really well so it will be worth it.  I will post pictures later in the day.

Some good adoption news is that our friends that we met through our adoption agency are in Seoul, South Korea right now!  They are meeting their son on Valentines Day and we couldn't be happier for them!  It is great to see movement in the program.  It is encouraging.  We are very excited for their return and meeting Jae's playmate!  Jae and their son are only a month apart in age so it will be fun to have the boys grow up together. 

Love,
Jae's Mom

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Can we just have some good news....please?!?!?

The Herzog house could use some good news these days.  We have had a little bit of a rough patch on the adoption front and we are ready for a new picture of Jae, or our I-600 approval, or better yet a travel notice.  Hopefully all of those will be coming soon enough. 

The adoption process is tough.  It isn't easy.  It isn't cheap.  It isn't overnight.  But in the end, we will have a son that we will love more than life itself.

Love,
Jae's Mom

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Happy Korean New Year

Happy Korean New Year!  This is a big holiday in Korea and the country has been pretty much shut down for the last 3 days.  It is a time to spend with family and honoring those family members that are no longer with you.  In my Korean culture book it talks about how the deepest bow is saved for this time of year.  Family members bow to the floor to honor the most senior member of the family.  Pretty cool. 

Not too much new with Jae news this week.  We, along with our social worker, are getting our I-600 updated (even though we shouldn't have to) so hopefully we can get our US approval this coming week.  Good thing it is a holiday over in Korea, so really no time is lost.

One other thing that has kept me sane the last month is getting ready for the Polar Bear Plunge benefiting the Special Olympics of Minnesota! Our team has 24 members and have raised just over $3,500; but, we are hoping to hit $4,000.  Since it is for a charity, I have to make a plug for donations...website is below, anything you can give would be greatly appreciated. 

Love,
Jae's Mom

http://www.plungemn.org/index.php?page=plunger&name=angelaherzog