Thursday, July 31, 2008
S-O-P-H-I-E
Here's my first attempt at posting video of our little Sophie, who just learned how to spell her name - we are ever so proud! Oh, also on display are her dramatics as she deeply sighs when I ask her to sing - I don't know where she gets it! ;-)
This one's for you, Aunt Leah! We love you!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Speech. Ready? Okay!
For those of you who may not know, Sophie began speech therapy with a different provider at the beginning of June and we could not be happier with her progress! The nasal tone is vanishing from her sounds and she is articulating much better than before. We (and her speech therapist) are very pleased to see her making such gains in the short time she's been with this center. I've joked with some of you about the "medieval contraption" that they sit our Sophie in at the beginning of the sessions to keep her 2 year-old curiousity contained to the task at hand. She doesn't mind and really, it's just a low-to-the-ground high chair...but I find it hilarious to see my little baby in such a thing! The first time they presented it as an option I must admit, it scared me a little...but I assure you that it is humane and completely necessary!
Sophie's new thing is to say, "Okay!" as an answer to most anything. Today, at speech, the therapist asked if Sophie was ready...so, Sophie said in her best cheerleader voice, "Ready? Okay!" Sigh. She's growing up way too quickly.
Monday, July 21, 2008
We love summer birthdays!
It's always a good time getting together with friends and family...especially for summer fun in the sun! Sunday was a day full of birthdays...my mom, our friend, Riley and our friend, Gretchen all were born on July 20th! Below are some pics from Riley's birthday party on Saturday...can't believe you are already 2, girl!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
It's been two years...
since we got the call from our agency stating that they had a possible girl referral for our family!
Just to set up some context, we had been on the wait list for 9 months and had just heard that wait times were increasing again, now we were anticipating a 12-14 month wait at best...I remember I was driving home from work and heard my cell phone ring without enough time to dig through my bag and answer it. When I noticed that the number of my missed call was from a different area code, I just hit redial thinking I'd get someone who had dialed the wrong number. The friendly voice on the line answered, "Dillon International!" Our adoption agency...hmmm...I hoped nothing was wrong with our paperwork. I identified myself with the Korea program and said that someone had just tried to call me...I was immediately put through to Alice. Then, she said those unbelievable words...we have a possible girl referral!! I really shouldn't have been driving at that time...don't really know how I made it home. I frantically tried to get all the info I could about what the next steps would be - Alice would send us the referral report along with medical info in an e-mail right away. I called Steve, who was bowling with his team at work...ah, gotta love those team-building exercises and he assured me he was hurrying home at once! While waiting for him to get home, I paced and paced the house...I must've walked into and out of the nursery 100 times...I just didn't know what to do with myself. Finally, we reviewed the info Alice e-mailed us and talked to our pediatrician. He was going to look at the medical stuff and get back with us (he actually e-mailed us that night around 10 o'clock!). Meanwhile, Steve and I went to our favorite Mexican restaurant to think and talk and emotionally eat. I think it was over dinner that we fell in love with this little girl that we hadn't met yet and had a lot of unknown health issues to address. It was a girl...we wanted to be parents so badly...there really was no question in our minds what to do...it was clear to us that this miracle in South Korea was destined to be a part of our family.
Picture taken with referral report on July 19, 2006 - look how crazy I look!
It would be 3 days later that we actually saw our first photo of Jee Hyeon (whom we would name, Sophie JeeHyeon)...we instantly fell in love with her big brown eyes! It would be a week from our referral call before we told a single soul about our blessed news! Our baby girl had heart surgery in Korea 2 days after our referral call and our agency advised us to wait until that surgery was complete before we made our official decision. I remember praying for her like she was already ours...it was the most nervewracking time for us. We kept our mouths shut about the potential GREAT news from everyone...my best friend, Casey was induced to have baby Riley the day after our call - it tore me up having to keep something so big so secret from her, especially while we were all hanging out in the hospital waiting for Riley to come into this world. We kept our mouths shut even while we were throwing a surprise birthday party for my mom that week - it was nearly impossible not to tell everyone, especially our family, when everyone always wanted to know our progress in the adoption process. It was such a relief when we had made that official acceptance and we could FINALLY make the round of phone calls to shout it from the rooftops - we were going to be parents! It was a girl!
Our first picture of Sophie...
Wow. That was all two years ago. My, oh my, how Sophie JeeHyeon has changed our lives! We are entirely confident that God led us to her - she has fit into our family perfectly! It makes us laugh to remember how scared and crazed we were on this day two years ago. It also makes us wonder how we will receive baby number 2's referral - I'm sure there will be a story to tell with that one as well...we can't wait to discover all that is ahead for our family.
Just to set up some context, we had been on the wait list for 9 months and had just heard that wait times were increasing again, now we were anticipating a 12-14 month wait at best...I remember I was driving home from work and heard my cell phone ring without enough time to dig through my bag and answer it. When I noticed that the number of my missed call was from a different area code, I just hit redial thinking I'd get someone who had dialed the wrong number. The friendly voice on the line answered, "Dillon International!" Our adoption agency...hmmm...I hoped nothing was wrong with our paperwork. I identified myself with the Korea program and said that someone had just tried to call me...I was immediately put through to Alice. Then, she said those unbelievable words...we have a possible girl referral!! I really shouldn't have been driving at that time...don't really know how I made it home. I frantically tried to get all the info I could about what the next steps would be - Alice would send us the referral report along with medical info in an e-mail right away. I called Steve, who was bowling with his team at work...ah, gotta love those team-building exercises and he assured me he was hurrying home at once! While waiting for him to get home, I paced and paced the house...I must've walked into and out of the nursery 100 times...I just didn't know what to do with myself. Finally, we reviewed the info Alice e-mailed us and talked to our pediatrician. He was going to look at the medical stuff and get back with us (he actually e-mailed us that night around 10 o'clock!). Meanwhile, Steve and I went to our favorite Mexican restaurant to think and talk and emotionally eat. I think it was over dinner that we fell in love with this little girl that we hadn't met yet and had a lot of unknown health issues to address. It was a girl...we wanted to be parents so badly...there really was no question in our minds what to do...it was clear to us that this miracle in South Korea was destined to be a part of our family.
Picture taken with referral report on July 19, 2006 - look how crazy I look!
It would be 3 days later that we actually saw our first photo of Jee Hyeon (whom we would name, Sophie JeeHyeon)...we instantly fell in love with her big brown eyes! It would be a week from our referral call before we told a single soul about our blessed news! Our baby girl had heart surgery in Korea 2 days after our referral call and our agency advised us to wait until that surgery was complete before we made our official decision. I remember praying for her like she was already ours...it was the most nervewracking time for us. We kept our mouths shut about the potential GREAT news from everyone...my best friend, Casey was induced to have baby Riley the day after our call - it tore me up having to keep something so big so secret from her, especially while we were all hanging out in the hospital waiting for Riley to come into this world. We kept our mouths shut even while we were throwing a surprise birthday party for my mom that week - it was nearly impossible not to tell everyone, especially our family, when everyone always wanted to know our progress in the adoption process. It was such a relief when we had made that official acceptance and we could FINALLY make the round of phone calls to shout it from the rooftops - we were going to be parents! It was a girl!
Our first picture of Sophie...
Wow. That was all two years ago. My, oh my, how Sophie JeeHyeon has changed our lives! We are entirely confident that God led us to her - she has fit into our family perfectly! It makes us laugh to remember how scared and crazed we were on this day two years ago. It also makes us wonder how we will receive baby number 2's referral - I'm sure there will be a story to tell with that one as well...we can't wait to discover all that is ahead for our family.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Two.
Today marks two months for us on the waiting list for baby number 2! No real news to report, but we are slowly inching our way up on the list. We still have a lot to do to prepare for our next little one, so here's hoping we can use this time wisely! Hope everyone is having a fantastic summer!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Zoo Outing
We had a blast at the zoo yesterday with a few of the families from our adoptive families group here in KC. Although it was hot and muggy, Sophie had a great time with all of her 'big-kid' friends!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Big Birthday Weekend
Happy Birthday America and Happy Birthday to Me! Yep, I'm a firecracker born on the fourth of July! Still, to this day, I love to think that the whole country is celebrating MY day with fireworks, food and fun! (At least that's what my parents always told me...is that not how it works?!)
Also, my brother was born one year after me on July 6th. So, we got to celebrate Jeff as well!
Between lunch at Saddleranch with my dad, the family bbq at mom and Charlie's, couples dinner out at Yardhouse and Jeff's birthday dinner at Don Chilitos followed by cheesecake, we had a fantastic and very busy weekend...this morning, the whole fam is on a sugar detox from all of the birthday desserts we consumed. We hope you all had a safe and fabulous fourth of July weekend. We were so blessed to spend it with a large majority of our loved ones!
Also, my brother was born one year after me on July 6th. So, we got to celebrate Jeff as well!
Between lunch at Saddleranch with my dad, the family bbq at mom and Charlie's, couples dinner out at Yardhouse and Jeff's birthday dinner at Don Chilitos followed by cheesecake, we had a fantastic and very busy weekend...this morning, the whole fam is on a sugar detox from all of the birthday desserts we consumed. We hope you all had a safe and fabulous fourth of July weekend. We were so blessed to spend it with a large majority of our loved ones!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Welcome to the world, baby Kayleigh!
At 8:59 this morning, our new little niece and Sophie's new cousin, was born in Virginia! Kayleigh Xandra McFarren weighs in at 8 lbs. 14 ounces and is 19 inches long. We are so happy that both mom Dana and baby Kayleigh are doing fine. To celebrate, we held a "birthday celebration" in her honor...cupcakes and all!
Happy Birthday, Kayleigh! The world just got more beautiful!
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