DMCville

Here are some pictures of our apartment at the DMCville. So far we have really enjoyed our rooms. It is very nice and large. We love having a kitchen and washing room here. It's also nice to have two bedrooms. We use one just for Jax storage and to have all our clothes and stuff laid out.

Day One

Today was our first full day in Seoul. We woke up and got ready for our day. We walked to Paris Baguette which was very easy to find!

We then took a taxi to the Korean War Memorial or at least we thought we were going to the War Memorial, but we were actually taken to the Museum of Korea. We didn't go inside because it wasn't open yet, but I did get a picture of Cheongjajeong which is a pavilion with celadon roof tiles. It was very nice and peaceful there.

Then we got another picture that took us to the Korean War Memorial. I don't know a lot about the Korean War or Korean history, but I thought the museum was great. A lot of great information and displays. 

Playing with my new camera.

There was this tile on the sidewalk and if you stood on the tile, you would get the picture shown below.  I think that every place should have photo spots! 

Statue of Brothers

Outside the museum

We then took a taxi to Seoul Tower. Taxis aren't allowed to drive you up the very long hill, so our taxi driver was stopped at the base of the hill. Well, our taxi driver was not taking no for an answer, he got behind a bus and when the bus started up the hill he stepped on the gas and tried to follow, but the gate came down again. We told him that we would take the bus up. The bus stop was literally 100 feet away and it was not a problem for us to take it. The taxi only takes you up part of the way and then you have to walk up a very steep hill. When I say steep, I mean very steep! 

The tower

When we got to the top, we looked around and then we put our lock of love on the fence. This lock symbolizes endless love. I got pretty emotional as we put the lock in place. It symbolizes the very long wait we have had to becoming a forever family. It also reminded me of the importance of family and how close we are to our families and how excited they are about having Jax in their lives. Ok, now I'm crying again writing this! 

Throwing away the key to our lock

Our original plan was to come to the Seoul Tower on Thursday when we have Jax with us, but it is supposed to rain that day. We wanted to make sure that we got to the tower before we left.

Our attempt of a picture of the two of us with the word love...epic fail!

The hill on our way back down.

We headed back down the hill and decided to go back to the DMCville and rest for an hour or so before we went back out. We really need some groceries and so we were going to go to Home Plus. That didn't quite work out. We both fell asleep and I woke up at about 5:45. We had plans to go to supper with two other adopting families. We got ready and headed out for supper. We took a few pictures, but our camera was acting up, so I'll to wait until we get them from one of the other ladies.

Jet lag has seriously gotten the best of both of us. We are wide awake in the middle of the night, but so tired in the afternoons. Hopefully, each day gets little better. Until tomorrow! 

Travel Day!!!

I can't believe that travel day has finally came and went. I don't know how many times I looked at Steve on the plane and said, "I never thought this day would come!" Well, it has come and went and it was the best thing ever SMOOTH!

I had spent the last week packing and getting everything ready for when Jax comes home. I packed and repacked these bags probably 100 times until I had everything exactly where I wanted it. This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that knows me I guess because when we were skyping with my parents (yes, Chuck and Linda know how to Skype) before we left my dad said something about me packing and unpacking every bag. ANYWAY, here is the final group of bags.

We got to the Eastern Iowa Airport got through checked our bags and went through security. The worker at the American Eagle counter was very impressed with how close to 50 lbs each of our bags were. My hard work paid off! The flight to Chicago was 35 minutes. I had never been to O'hare before, but it was surprisingly easy to navigate. We got to our gate and waited to board Korean Air.

The big blue plane!

We got to board the plane and we were off. You want to know the best thing. We were sitting in a row of three ALONE. Just Steve and I. It was great. We could stretch out a little more. Really hoping that we get that lucky on the way back, because that would be perfect with Jax, but I'm not holding my breath.

The flight tracker at the beginning of the flight.

 It didn't take long and it was lunch time. I had chicken and pasta, but Steve ordered the traditional Korean meal BiBimBop. The best thing about it, it comes with directions on how to assemble it.
He thought I would like it, maybe on the flight home.

So thankful for light Coke on the plane!

After about 13 hours on the plane we had made it! 

I think I said it before, the flight really wasn't that bad. I watched a couple movies on Sky Theater: The Vow and The Lion King. Played a lot of Tetris and still pretty much love it! The next person that sits in 46C should be pretty impressed with HLB's high scores! I tried to sleep, but really never slept well. Maybe 20 minutes a couple times.

Once we got of the plane immigration, customs, and baggage claims were a breeze. We exchanged our money and then we went out found our van driver immediately and we were on our way to DMCville!

I will post pictures of our apartment later. Once we got back here, we got unpacked, showered, ordered a Dominoes pizza and were in bed by 8:00pm.

Well, that was only 5 hours ago and for some reason I'm awake. I think that my body knows that it's 11:00am in Iowa. I thought for sure that it was close to morning when I woke up, but not so much. We have a lot of sightseeing to do today, so I'm going to put in a movie and see if that won't put me to sleep!

Check back later for the adventures of our first full day in Seoul.....WAHOOO!!!!!

My cup runneth over!

May 2nd, 2012 is not a day that I'm going to forget for a very long time. Two wonderful things happened today. The first is that Jax's EP has been approved!!!!! He now will have his Visa Interview and Embassy Appearance in Seoul and then we will get the call that he is ready for us to go and bring him home. This call should come in a couple of weeks. IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS!!!! Something that we have waited over a year for is happening IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS!!! I'm still in shock, but so so happy!

Then the #2 wonderful thing that happened today was a huge surprise from kiddos. After lunch today my kids were OFF! I mean they were chatty, not following directions and that is not 4B! They are normally very hard working, well-behaved kiddos, but today, something was different. During our video in Social Studies, kids were coming up and asking me, "How long is this video?" "Will the video be over by 2:30?" "How long until 2:30?" Well, I should have put 2 and 2 together, but my EP approval-induced high didn't allow for much clear thinking today. Then I got a call from the office, "Can you come down here for a minute?" Then I knew that those 26 little cuties were up to something!

I went down sat in the office wasn't allowed to look out any windows or talk to anyone.  Finally it was time for me to go back to my room....I walked in and they screamed, "SURPRISE!!!!" And what a surprise it was. There were cupcakes, cookies, jello-jigglers, pretzels, and the cutest little pacifiers made from mints. They had made a "Welcome  Home, Jaxson" banner and each signed it and wrote a little message to him, but the best part was the books, so many books. Each of my kids had brought a book for Jax and written a message inside to Jax, Steve, and me. Then if that wasn't enough Mr. Hippen's class walks in with more books and more gifts. My cup truly did runneth over!

I know how much Steve and I already love Jaxson, but to see and read how excited those 10-year olds are for the newest Brokaw to come home was the sweetest thing to see. So blessed to have the job that I do and get to spend my days with those sweet kiddos!

More pics of my great surprise!

One Year Ago Today....

We saw this face for the first time......

I'll never forget April 26, 2011. It was the day I became a mom. The day that we received our referral for Jaxson. It was a typical Tuesday. I was outside walking with my 4th graders for fitness time. We were lining up to come back in and my cell phone rang. My cell phone never rings during school hours, unless it's a political call or a wrong number. I looked and there it was I had missed a call from our social worker. I knew what that meant. We had gotten our referral.

I checked my voice mail and called her back....SIX TIMES, before I finally got a hold of her. I think that we were both calling each other over and over. She said, "I have a referral for a beautiful baby boy." I'm going to send you the referral information and photos.

Then I saw that face and knew that was my son. He was meant to be with us. God has sent him to be our son.

Today we are so close to bringing him home. There are days that I can't believe that after a year of waiting we are really going to be bringing him home this months. I can't wait to have this little cutie in my arms!

New pictures!!

We got Jax's new WBC and pictures. He is growing! After being stuck at 24 lbs. since November, someone had a little bit of a growth spurt and now weighs 26 lbs. He has eight teeth on top and six on the bottom. He's also described as cute and fine! 

We also got new pictures, which always makes me so happy! He is looking so big. 

Give me an E, Give me a P, We've been submitted!

I've been waiting for a LONG TIME to get an email telling us that we are submitted for our Emmigration Permit. I have wondered what it would feel like to see that those magic words in the subject line and then on Thursday, April 5th, there it was: "EP will be submitted tomorrow"


The day started like this....I was home today and had a list of 1,000 things I wanted to get done. Let me tell you by noon I was well on my way to completing my list. So well on my way that I had lunch with a friend and still thought I could get everything done. I got home and was going to start on my list again, but thought I should really email my husband. I couldn't even believe it when I saw it. There is was...the email we had waited so long to receive.  Instant tears, not oh little tear trickling down my face, full on red eye-inducing bawl.

I had to call Steve. I could barely get the words out. Then I forwarded him the email. The email that I really hadn't read passed the your child will be submitted. The next hour is a blur. I know I called my mom and we shared some tears. I called my sister who was as much in shock as I was. In fact, she was speechless. I had emailed and "chatted" with some other adoptive parents.

I still think about it now and can't believe it. We have been submitted. We will wait about a month for it to be approved and then we'll travel to get Jax 1-4 weeks after that. Sometime in May, my son will be in my arms!