Friday, October 30, 2009

I think I'm ready.

I am sitting here at the computer. I have had dinner prepped and ready to start to cook for an hour. The table is set. The house has been dusted and vacuumed. The kids are both down for their usual two hour nap. The laundry is done. The dishes are clean. I am actually bored! Yep, I think I am ready for a Jack Jack.

Please note: After Jack is home the situation described above is not likely to ever happen again, or at least for a very very long time.

NVC out!

Wow! That was fast! One day turnover! That is awesome! What does that mean? Well again I am not exactally sure but one step closer again. Still waiting on the EP! Keep your eye on the white list on the right side of the page. The next step usually takes about a month after you get EP. We will just have to see!!! It is such a guessing game!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

National Visa Center

We are offically logged into the National Visa Center. What does that mean. Well... I am not exactally sure but it is one more step checked off the list. In a few days we hope to be logged out and have our info sent to Korea.

Still waiting on our EP, which was held up because of an audit that was done in Korea. Hopefully we will hear about that soon!

Movin' right along!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

We have I600!

This means that we got approval on the US side to bring Jack home! That doesn't mean he can come home yet... See the white checklist of the right hand side of the page. That will let you know what still needs to be done. The main thing we are waiting on right now is his immigration permit from Korea, also known as EP.
But... back to the I600. It took about 5 weeks. It was approved on 10/21. I was worried that I would have to call them after the 6 week mark and hunt down his info to get it approved since others I have talked to had to do that. I guess we were lucky! I am grateful. One more thing off the checklist!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Waiting for Jack #2

Jack turned 7 months on Monday. I guess I figured, while we waited, we would get some illness out of the way. On Monday I was just starting to get over a battle with what I believe was H1N1 and Ethan was on day 2 of his round with the illness. We were in survival mode mostly and I thought to myself how thankful I was that Jack wasn't home yet, to be around all this sickness. H1N1 is around in Korea too and actually when you travel to Korea they are currently asking you health questions, and taking your temperature, before you enter the country. They have also called some travelers mid-trip to ask about their health status. They are trying to control the spread of H1N1 there, and like here in the U.S., it too has been related to deaths in their country.
I am hoping what I had was H1N1. For one, I won't have to worry about getting it while we travel. When I am all better, I will get my flu shot, if one is available, and hopefully be set. John and Allie ended up with nothing but a stuffy nose from the whole ordeal so far. They were popping vitamins the whole time we were sick so we are thankful that they have not been dealing with this virus like we have.
I did make some progress on Jack's room. Not done yet, a few more projects to go, but here is a sneak peak anyway. We are using a puzzle theme.

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These are pieces from a giant floor puzzle that we painted or covered with scrapbook paper.

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I bought some wood and cut out some large puzzle pieces of my own. I stained them and painted the edge of two. I covered the edge of the one in the middle with scrapbook paper. I then put hooks on the pieces so we can hang things. Allie has three flowers with hooks in her room and Ethan has three stars that have hooks. I couldn't find wall decore puzzle pieces, at a good price anyway, so I made my own. I was happy with how they turned out!

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Jack's letters are from Hobby Lobby, they are actually a cardboard type material, I then covered them with Scrapbook paper. The puzzle pieces on each side give it a nice touch I think.

That is all you get to see for now. You will have to wait for the rest. Feel free to look back to a July post to see some other artwork and such that will be in the room.

Jack, I hope you like your room!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

How do you say Jack's Korean name?

This is a question I have been asked by many friends and relitives. The answer I gave was not always the most confident. I leared when I asked a friend over the phone and I had to practice a bit. His Korean name is Gyeong-min. The G is more like a "K/G" sound together. The whole first part Gyeong, is one syllable and the second part is another. I had a freind over for coffee this morning so I could get to know her a bit. Her name is Eunha. She is a friend I met at MOPS last year and I found out today that she actually shares the same hometown as Jack! She has been a great help to us when we have questions about Korea. I can not express how thankful I am to have her as a friend, it has been so nice to know I have someone I can talk to about Korean culture. She is even going to bring me some of her mother's home made kimchee to try! I will write about that adventure when it happens. So while I had this wonderful woman over for a visit, I had her say Jack's name and I video taped it. So for all who want to learn, and for all who are curiuos... you can check out the video. Unfortunatly though the timing is off and I do not have a video editor that I can fix it on. But it will help just hearing it anyway. It wouldn't let me load it either. So use this link. Ugh technology!

http://s547.photobucket.com/albums/hh466/soccermom113/Fall%202009/?action=view¤t=MOV05667-1.flv