OUR WEEK IN KOREA
Prior to leaving for Korea, I reached a level of stress that was almost unbearable. The sense of loss I felt over leaving our son, Bennett, for a week and not knowing what Jonah would truly be like AND traveling back to the states with a toddler were all weighing on me.
But once we arrived in Korea late Sunday night (August 1), our focus shifted to sleeping and making preparations for our transfer meeting on Monday. We bought food and set up our suite with toys for Jonah Mingyu. Then in the afternoon, we headed over to the Adoption Offices to get custody of Jonah. It was a quick meeting including gift exchanges, signing documents, and getting a detailed narrative written out about Jonah's daily schedule. The foster mom was so kind and gave us food that Jonah loves: rice porridge, blueberry yogurt, and puff snacks. We played a while longer and then said our good-byes and headed down the street to our suite. Jonah didn't cry or seem bothered by the exchange. It was very surreal.
When we got to our suite (a.k.a. the guest house), we fed him the yogurt as suggested by the foster mom. From then on, it was a juggling act of trying to keep him happy and getting to know him while figuring out the best means of communication. Keeping Jonah happy usually involved food or playing with something other than toys ....i.e. hairdryer, fire extinguisher, and remote controls to all devices. He slept great!!! He ate great!!! His greatest adjustment was learning that he couldn't splash his face with toilet water or play with the fire extinguisher. He loved about everything in that suite…but not so much the toys. He loved the cabinets and whatever might be in them...hangers, a toaster, pots, pans, iron, etc.
The week was excellent. Our Visa appointment was on Thursday (Korean time- 14 hrs ahead of CST). It was painless and very quick. The taxi ride there and back was challenging since Jonah wanted to walk around in the back seat, pull the door handles and locks, and pull and kick the cab driver's seat. We were learning that Jonah is a typical, active toddler. Those active moments became just a glimpse of what the flights would be like.
On Saturday, we packed up and headed out to the airport by taxi. During this cab ride, Jonah fell asleep. That was a huge blessing because the next 24 hours were NONSTOP action and pure exhaustion.
OUR TRAVEL BACK HOME
The travel was difficult. I guess it is a time to see how much you can completely rely on God for strength and patience. Jonah is a happy guy and when he is happy, he is LOUD. And when he is upset, he is LOUD. We learned this quickly.
FLIGHT #1: The first flight from South Korea to San Francisco was quite a challenge. He threw fits, screamed and cried, laughed and played loudly while others were sleeping, and only slept 4 out of the 11 hour flight. I stood as much as possible with him in the carrier because that seemed to make him content. I did this until exhaustion would set in and I would have to sit, which would make him more upset. Our "toys" and distractions were not as interesting as all the new gadgets that he found like headphones and the seat tray that opened and closed. And if he was encouraged to sit in the seat or on a lap, a tantrum was sure to occur. But we got through this trial!!!
Flight #2 was wonderful for him. He slept all the way from San Fransisco to Chicago.
Flight #3 was good too because it was only 1.5 hours to Nashville and we hadn't had a good meal in a day so we kept him busy with food.
The traveling was NONSTOP.... every connection spot was a mad rush to get through customs or security and/or baggage points and then more security and to our gate before the plane took off. We were on our toes for 24 hours straight either keeping Jonah happy or running through an airport. Too bad we didn't have an attached camera. It would have made for some entertainment, I'm sure.
When we arrived to Nashville, we had such a sense of relief and joy!!! We were finished with this journey and could begin our new journey as a family of four. We were greeted at the airport by our family and were overjoyed to be with Bennett. The reunion was so memorable!
Even though Jonah screamed the ENTIRE car ride back home from Nashville (and he has some lungs!) and has had difficulty dealing with the time change, he has adjusted beautifully to his new family and surroundings considering what he has been through. He has gone swimming, played in the sandbox, gone for lots of walks, pulled grass, eaten many new foods, and tried relentlessly to get his little hands in every toilet to splash his face.
On the first day Jonah was home, we caught a precious moment. He saw a picture of himself in Bennett's room and picked it up and talked to it. He seemed so happy to see another Asian in our home.
The last two nights, Jonah has slept from 10PM until around 8AM and has finally adjusted to the time change. We all feel more rested.
Thank you for your prayers, your thoughts, and your help. Our family is honored to have you as part of our adoption adventure.
God is faithful.
