Seoul Tower and Shopping

Pictures of Our Day

Spent the day wondering the city, buying groceries and having lunch with friends that are headed home tomorrow.  The theme of the day was "just keep moving" because as soon as we would sit down the sleepiness would set in.

View from our hotel room

Buckhorn Hanok Village

Homes of Bukchon

Dongdaemun Gate

3:30 am

It is 3:30 am here and I should be sleeping but I just can't any longer.  My brain is on overdrive and keeping me awake.  At one point last night I woke up thinking I heard Jae say "mama" which is crazy since he is back in Owatonna with my parents.  Even crazier is the fact that I thought I heard our cat, Jessie, meowing.  Clearly my brain knows something big is supposed to happen and doesn't know how to process it.

But everything went very smooth yesterday.  On time flights.  Caught the train and then the taxi to our hotel with ease.  And even got quite the room upgrade here at the hotel.  We now have a 2 bedroom 2 bath suite with a huge deck/observation area.  I can't wait for the sun to come up so I can fully take in the view as I think we overlook the palace.  And maybe, just maybe Violet will be comfortable enough to sleep in the separate room by herself come Monday.  That is probably not likely but we can hope.  If nothing else Paul and I can take turns getting sleep in one room while the other co-sleeps with her.  But she will have more than enough room to play, that is for sure.

Today we plan to head over to Eastern to meet some friends that are staying there during their second trip.  They have their little boy and fly home tomorrow so wanted to say hi while we have the chance.  Otherwise just site seeing for the next 3 days.  Hoping to go up Seoul tower and get some shopping down prior to Custody on Monday.

Love,
Jae and Violet's Mom

13 hours later

We made it.  And in case you were wondering, 13 hour plane rides suck.  Although I think this was the first time we were both able to sleep a bit.  Not much, maybe 2 hours total, but any sleep is good.

We are currently on the train headed into Seoul.  Once we get checked in to our hotel it will be lights out.

More tomorrow.

Love,
Jae and Violet's Mom

3 days

This morning Jae came into our room holding one of the paper chains and saying "Mom, only 3 more days till you leave!"  Yes, kiddo 3 more days.  This is so surreal.  After waiting 2 years, I still can't believe this is finally happening.  And just like the few days before we left to get Jae, my stomach hates me.  Nervous butterflies in there that just won't go away.

Yes, we are super excited, but also super nervous.  We are about to tear a 2.5 year old away from everything she knows.  Sure she was a very happy kiddo when we met her, but foster mom stayed in the room the entire time.  And if Violet is anything like her brother, she will be inconsolable when foster mom leaves.  Heartbreaking. The best and worst day of our lives.  But don't worry, right after custody we only have to make our to the US Embassy and have her sit still for a few hours while they issue her Visa.  Easy peasy lemon squeezy as Jae would say...or not.  Our agency specialist assured us ours would not be the first child to scream her head off at the US Embassy.  So that's comforting, kind-of.

Last minute prep at the house today.  No packing just chores around the house.

Lastly, I need to say thank you to Big Brother Big Sisters for last night. Top 10 moment in my life.

Love,
Jae and Violet's Mom

2 Weeks to Custody

Now that our Korean agency has our travel schedule, they were able to schedule custody (aka- Gotcha Day) and our visa appointment.  Although we will arrive in Seoul late Thursday, we have requested custody and visa for that following Monday (March 23). Paul and I want a few days to touristy stuff (not that the police museum wasn't fun) and a little shopping.  Plus it is kind of a delicate balance with custody and the number of days you stay in Korea.  Custody is not all roses and as soon as you have that sweet kiddo in your arms, you want to care for them on your own turf.  Not a hotel room, but home.  We love Korea, but like any new parent....you just want to go home.

So two weeks! Even though we will have an ocean between us (Jae is staying back with my parents this trip) we will be a family of four!  We are so excited, nervous, anxious, overwhelmed and every other emotional.  Crazy times.

Love,
Jae and Violet's Mom

Final Approval!

We received Final Approval this morning! It came 4 or 5 days before it was expected but perfectly timed given that we threw caution to the wind yesterday and booked plane tickets. Plane tickets have been slowly creeping up and we thought we better book tickets now before they went up much more.  Our Judge is pretty consistent with Final approval so although a gamble to book tickets, it was a small one.  Which obviously worked out! We will fly out on the 18th and take custody of Violet on the 23rd!  We will also have our visa appointment on the 23rd so here's hoping she is comfortable enough with us to sit through a visa appointment at the embassy.

Unlike our past two trips to Korea, we are staying at a hotel this time.  Our agency thinks it is better for the kids to not be in the agency after custody and....well, Paul and I are ready to stay in another area of Seoul. Just have a different view and experience some new restaurants.  We will stay at Fraser Suites Insadong  which is next to the palace as well as our favorite market (Insadong).  It is also close to the US Embassy which is nice.

Yippee! Can't believe it is done! Violet was first referred our way on March 12, 2013...2 years and 11 days later we will take her in our arms forever!  

We leave in 12 days but the new chain continues until we come home with Jae's little sister!

Love,
Jae's and Violet's Mom