Chase is 13

Brought this guy home on Mother's Day 13 years ago. He's a blessing too.

Good Choice

I'm so glad that since we've had 7 years of saving, we've also had 7 years of planning our Korea trip.  Needless to say there is A LOT of planning for a family of 7 to leave for 2 weeks.  I've had so many lists going for the last several months.  I have to-do lists, packing lists, itinerary, lists of maps in Seoul, etc.  I've spent the last few weekends working hard around the house every single weekend, of course, that also means every one else in the house has been working hard too.  We got all of the flowers in, the garage cleaned up (that wasn't planned until the septic backed up), windows are washed, Spring cleaning is done.  I knew May would be terribly busy and I didn't want to stress any of us out anymore than we'd already be getting ready to go and getting ready for school to be out.  So this weekend, I cleaned the windows one last time, so much pollen on the outside, and am just sitting back to enjoy.  I've printed my coupons for my last shopping trip before we leave.  Chase had his birthday party last night and is enjoying spending the day fishing with his brother, dad and his friend for his birthday.  Mother's Day I'll spend doing my monthly shopping and finishing laundry up.  I spent some time earlier in the week to do the meal planning for the next week and 1/2 so we don't end up with an abundance of left overs or perishables.  I have one last grocery list; no perishables allowed.  So far, very relaxing!

Next week will be very busy, but we knew that.  I have the 5K for a fundraiser for our neighbor's grandson, a local celebration will be the rest of the day, possibly dependent on weather.  Then, Sunday is set to clean the house one last time and set all of the suitcases out and realistically pack everything.  Monday, the boys have their sports physicals and of course I have to work.  Hopefully, Cole will get his license this week.  That could help a bit, bur Brian has to have time to take off and take him first.  Tuesday I'm taking off early to take the girls for some couponed pedicures for their first time.  Taking the in-laws to dinner for their anniversary (40th) and then packing up the van to leave.

Chelsi is so excited she wants it to be here so bad.  Jaemin wants it to be in 2 days, he says.  I hope it's not a beach incident like Chelsi had.  She was so excited to see the beach for the first time, got knocked over by a wave and that was the end of all excitement and beach going for the week.  Hopefully, Jaein's experience will be as awesome as Chelsi's was 4 years ago.  Afterall, this is the only time the 7 of us will be able to do this together.....or probably every again for any of us since it's SO expensive and took so long to save for.  So worth it.....I hope!

A little more planning time

Our trip is almost here.  Just have to wait until school is out...well, a little after that yet, but still it's finally coming.  Here is our itinerary (yes I'm kinda Willie-ish (Duck Dynasty), but it's not in stone, it's just ideas so we can see everything we really want to.  Then, I have some other things written down that we will try to squeeze in, if we have time.

Ø      Friday –  Jogyesa Temple, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seodaemun Prison and maybe Nanta in the evening

Ø      Saturday – Hello Kitty Café and Hongik Free Market

Ø      Sunday – Myeongdong Catholic Cathedral and Seoul Grand Park

Ø      Monday – SWS(fostermom/babies home), Amsa Prehistoric Site and Coex Aquarium 

Ø      Tuesday – Suwon Folk Village/Hwaseong Fortress 

Ø      Wednesday - Holt (fostermom/reception center)

Ø      Thursday – ESWS (fostermom /unwed mothers home) for 10 appt and Trick Eye Museum

Ø      Friday  – Free

Ø      Saturday  -  Free

      Ø      Sunday – Seoul Tower and Korean War Museum

My alternates are Bukchon Hanok Village, Cheonggyecheon Stream and Rainbow Bridge.  We'll just see how it goes, but I would like to at least stop and see them.  I will definitely be venturing on my own to Etude House to stock up on my make up too.  That's a for sure, weekend thing.

These are the sweet moments

With our septic backing up this week, a $1000 bill to fix the pipe that caused it and possibly more septic costs coming, it wasn't exactly a pleasant week.  May is going to be VERY busy anyways.  Brian was out of town last week and will be out for a couple of days again next week, so today was pretty welcomed.  We bought tickets to the Cardinals game for Brian's 40th this year.  His birthday isn't 'til Winter, but can't really go to a baseball game then.  He's not a partier type, so this was great.  Just us and another couple for an adult day.  Chase had a field trip there anyways, so it worked great.  We sat by ourselves and drove, but brought him home with us.  Weather couldn't have been more perfect and they won!

Jaemin has been so interested in reading lately.  He reads pretty well and doesn't want to be read to any longer.  He reads anything he finds.  If he doesn't know the word, he spells it.  He has to read a book before bed every night.  We've never been those great parents that read to our kids and do nightly rituals.  But this one loves to read.  He reads 30-70 page books a few times a night.  His newest (but shorter) favorite is Green Eggs and Ham.  He took to reading that quickly.  It was getting late tonight, so I told him to read quietly with his lamp on.  It was SO cute!

I got the job

So it happened over a week ago, but I was waiting for current management and new management to work things out.  I was set to get an increase on May 1st (these don't come easy, ever or at all, where I work) because my position was reclassed to a higher level late last year.  If I started my new job before that I would lose that.  I'd still get the new increase, but the 5/1 increase would add to that if I waited.  I didn't feel like I should tell my new supervisor 'when' I'm starting.  Seems very demanding, presumptuous and rude.  My supervisor was good with letting them train me a bit and then really starting on 5/1 and so was my new boss.  But, higher level management has an issue, that none of can seem to understand and I'm allowed to start on 5/1 as long as I do no training.  Shouldn't be a problem, though because the girl who is leave for retirement said there's only a couple things she has to show me.  She said I'm already doing everything else.  We work pretty close together already even though my new job will take me away from the bulk of what I do now and everyone I've worked with for the past several years. 

It's all alright though.  I get to keep doing what I enjoy.  I will be doing more analytical reporting and then training all of the other staff who get the tool.  The people in my new unit all seem to be pretty hard workers who seem very smart.  I'm excited about my new group, they seem very cohesive.  Best part is my new boss already seems very nice.  I haven't worked for a man in almost 20 years.  He approved me to keep my current hours, has no problems with Tuesday speech classes for Jaemin (which means I'm late every Tuesday), and was patient enough to let me give more than 2 weeks so I could keep my extra increase.  Of course, I had checked him out before I ever applied.  No money is worth an awful supervisor.  And now, we may have a little extra breathing room every month.  If something comes up or we just want to actually go out to dinner once, we could afford it.  It will be a nice break.

1st Youth Turkey Season

And Chase got his.  He missed a really big bird, but moved and got this 17 pounder, so he still did pretty great!

Late Easter Pic

Brian took most of them, so they're blurry, but we did have some.  I just didn't want to focus on pictures.  It's too hard to just enjoy sometimes.

Wish Day!

So the whole process hasn't gone smoothly; he lost his first wish, the wish granters quit 5 months into the year long process and Make a Wish didn't even know it.  But today, Cole had his day and the girl that was located at the Wish Office city we went to was wonderful.  Ashley was so good and walked around Bass Pro with Cole from 10:45 until 4!  Of course we stopped and ate lunch so that cut out about an hour of that.  We ate at the restaurant in Bass Pro and they kids LOVED it!  They got to get whatever they wanted, so the older 3 picked the buffet and it was full of shrimp, catfish, mahi mahi, roast beef, mashed potatoes, everything!  The little kids and I got meals.  Cole also ordered alligator as an appetizer and we ordered calamari (squid).  Everyone wanted to try it all, but Ashley (from MAW), said she wasn't very adventurous.  :)  Then, after everyone in the family had eaten so much our waitress came in and said they were getting together a special dessert.  Then, they brought out these really pretty, gigantic, wine glass looking things full of white chocolate, chocolate and caramel toppings.  Next game even bigger, gigantic wine glass looking things full of ice cream and fruit and other toppings.  When they placed one in front of Chelsi she took the serving spoon and almost dug right in.  We had to tell her that was for everybody.  But, then she got her own spoon and almost dug in with that.  The waitress started to laugh and told her she brought her a bowl.  It was so kind of the Bass Pro to add the extra dessert to the wish.  That was not part of the gift from Make a Wish.  It was SO nice to not have to worry about adding up everything in my head, worrying about the tip and all the worries to stay in a budget for 7.  That was MY favorite part.

We continued shopping and Cole had everything on his list within a 1/2 hour after lunch.  But, Bass Pro through him for a loop when they gave MAW a 15% discount plus with their tax exempt status, it left him with an extra $200.  It wasn't as easy to spend as you would think.  He really had a hard time since he had nothing on his list.  He had gotten small things for his two grandpas that hunt or fish and something small for his Godfather already.  He ended up going back to spend it on more fishing lures, extra gloves for himself, some shirts (Duck Dynasty and Swamp People) and some other small items.  Each of the little kids got $50 to spend.  Chase got a very expensive Under Armour camo hoodie he would never spend that kind of money on and then paid for the rest with his own Bass Pro gift cards.  Kaelin got a necklace, earrings (literally fishing lures) and something else that escapes me right now.  Chelsi got sunglasses, a hat with a blinged out deer on it, a bracelet made of fishing swivels and a little pink gun.  Jaemin immediately attached himself to a pillow that's a big sea turtle we call Crush (of course from Nemo) and he now has his very first camo hat (Duck Dynasty) he calls Happy, Happy, Happy (if you know the show) and a shirt for deer hunting.  He also spent his own Bass Pro card money and bought his own little gun.

Cole's goodies were so amazing.  On top of that he had already ordered things from Walmart, or rather MAW ordered them for him.  So he will be able to put some small speakers in his car to thump it a little louder.  He also is getting his very own laptop.  So glad.....no more fighting over the computer.

They paid for our gas since it was a 2 1/2 hour trip there and back and also gave him dinner money.  We didn't get home until 7pm and no one was really hungry.  Since he's supposed to enjoy all of his Wish items, we decided to defer his Wish dinner until tomorrow when he could be hungry enough to enjoy it.  We're all just exhausted!

Check out the sign.  It wasn't just a cheap poster board sign, it was heavy duty.  Cole kept it as a souvenir.

Lots and lots of shopping.

And time to eat....look at the ice cream!

And, well, luckily Jaemin had already decided he wanted to buy Crush and he went out after lunch.

Cole shopped and really loaded his carts....multiple.

It's finaly here

The week has come for Cole's wish come true from the Make a Wish foundation.  It was a bumpy ride.  The wish granters disappeared on us and MAW and so everyone kinda forgot about Cole.  So, we decided just to go ahead and do it, so no more stress for Cole.  He was beginning to think it wasn't going to happen.  Onto Bass Pro so he can shop hard.  He has been limited in life because of his heart condition and not been allowed to do everything most kids get the chance to try, not because he physically can't, but because no one will allow him to take the risk of his heart stopping or anything like that.  This time, it's his turn.  Cole will do something no one else his age really gets to do....okay maybe in a wealthy family, but not terribly common.  He's had a great time making a list of things he wants.  He pretty much can shop anywhere, but since he has to have a rep from MAW with him to purchase everything, he chose to order the items he wants from Walmart and then enjoy his time at Bass Pro.  They will pay for our gas, lunch and dinner since it's an all day trip.  The little kids are excited too because they will get a few bucks to spend at Bass Pro as well and for once they get to order their own meals when they eat out instead of sharing everything (that's the only way we can afford to eat out even once a year with them all).  :)  I told them they can even order a drink instead of water.  So exciting!

I can't wait.  I know Cole's looking forward to this.  He may not have gotten his first wish, but this is something he really wants and will thoroughly enjoy!

Multiplication

In first grade and she's onto multiplication.  I don't know that she actually does it in school or anything, but she obviously understand the concept. 

I was talking to Kaelin about working hard and I was using an example of using coupons and sale ads to save money.  I gave an example of saving $20/week.  I asked her how much that would save in a month.  I got the cricket chirping stair.  I asked if they had taught her how many weeks are in a month and then told her 4 (average anyways).  I restated and said 'okay, now if I save $20/week, how much will I have saved in a month?'  The crickets were back.  Chelsi had climbed into bed and was giving me that 'call on me, call on me' look.  So I looked up at her and said 'okay Chelsi, how much'.  Curious if she really knew the answer.  She confidently tells me '$80'.  Yep, you're right smarty pants!

Spring Snow Day!!

By calendar Spring is here, but someone forgot to tell Mother Nature.  I think we had to have been pretty close to 10" of snow today.  The big boys decided they weren't going to be stuck inside and they got creative.  Their dad hadn't quite gotten around to taking his old truck bed liner somewhere to dump it, so they decided to redneckify it.  They made it into a pulled sled, since we have no sleds.  What can I say?  The last few Winters were a little short on the snow scene.  Not so much this year.

They worked together on this project.  First they tried just taking it down the hill.

Then, they decided to drill holes.

And add rope.

And pull the new sled up the hill to the top of the driveway.

And then they pulled it down the hill with a boy inside.

                                                     And attempted to go back up.

 Then, the big boys came in and Chase went back out with the girls.  He and K built a huge snowman.  I didn't go out to the front of the house (way too cold) to take a picture, but apparently he's a hunter.....full on orange vest and camo hat.

Donations and Gifts

I am done.  We have gotten as many gifts and donations as we could.  The only thing I have left is to buy some bags of Dove chocolates for the social workers, volunteer and foster families.....so about 7.  I'll wrap a pretty ribbon around it and call it good.  In addition, I went to the dollar store today to find as much as I could of what one of the agencies gave me as a list of needs.  Since the other two didn't give many really anything, I bought one of everything and they will each get the items.  Plus I knited about 15 hats all together.

Then, we have the gifts for the foster mothers.  I printed the portraits we took of them this fall and added their names and ages in Korean for them and put them in frames.  I knitted scarves for Chelsi and Jae's foster mothers while Kaelin knitted the one for her foster mother herself.

All of this together took almost the entire extra carry-on we're bringing.  I had hoped to bring donations from others, but there's just not space and I while we could just upgrade to a bigger suitcase to check, I can't imagine trying to get through the airport with 6 suitcases and 5 carry-on bags.....too much.  Each one of us bigger 5 will have a wheeled suitcase to be in charge of us and then everyone but Brian and Chelsi have a carry-on.  The girls are sharing one and I'm carrying a big back pack for Brian and I.  I'm going to have to get creative to get everything in all of these bags.  We're bringing some food too, to snack on.  I've already had to pare back my clothes.  The week we leave is when I find out what really can't go and what I can fit.  I'm not bringing an more than what we have decided.  Then, when the food is gone and gifts are gone, we should have room to bring anything we find there home.  I hope not to have to ship it home.  :)

March is almost over

One more week to go and we'll be that much closer to school out and vacation.  I've had my biopsy and it came back clear.  No cancer this time.  Kaelin got to pick her dinner out last night for her 10th (yes 10th!) Gotcha Day.  Chelsi will pick what she wants her dad to make her Friday night for her 7th Gotcha Day.  Cole will hopefully keep his grades up long enough for us to let him get his license.  No, they're not terrible, but I need him to stretch to his potential.  I finally got my interview over with today.  It was terrible and I don't think I did well, but it's in God's hands now.  It's time to accept whatever is meant to be.  I may think I want it and it's perfect for me, but He knows better than I ever have, so I have to let it go.


Come on April!

New to me

I've never played or really watched volleyball, so kinda like wrestling, we have a new sport to learn.  Kaelin seems to finally really be enjoying something.  Her first game was tonight and she asked if she could play a summer league too.  Funny.

It happened.....16 years....

of my biggest boy!

I can't  believe he's already 16....driving age.  He's not getting his license right away.  He's had his permit for 11 months and is a decent driver, but I don't think a little more time practicing will hurt.  We told him when he trust he'll keep his Bs up to As and Bs we'll take him in.  No sudden drop in grades to low Cs.  That won't get an insurance discount and no waiting to pull them up at the last.  He's been working hard, so we're going to give it a little more time and then take him in for the big step, for him AND mom.

He's really beginning to show us the person he's becoming.  He's judgmental to the point he doesn't necessary criticize others, but realizes what he doesn't want to do himself.  He just strong willed enough he might follow his own road.  He does care about his future and is growing there.  I like him as a person and that's a good thing for a parent to feel.  Not just because he's my son, but because of who he's becoming.  I hope the next 16 years are just as great for him and us.

Braceface Changes

The big one got the top teeth braces....and they should all come off in just a few short months.  The crossbite is GONE and the bottom teeth are straight and no more overbite.

The middle one got his completely off after just 15 months.  Since this child has had teeth as a baby I have never seen his two front teeth together until now.  Weird, but looks nice and no more crossbite for him either.  Wondering if this thing is genetic?

The day is over

and I'm glad,  It was just one of those unpleasant days where nothing seemed to go right and everything that could go wrong did.  Regardless, my life is good, so I really have nothing to complain about.  It was just a day that everything built up and I just stood in the kitchen and sighed.  Brian said the right thing though.  He said 'you look like you could use a hug' and then he hugged me.  After we ate, he told me to sit down, relax and watch Ellen and get my mind off of things.  I told him that even laughing at Ellen wasn't going to make me feel better tonight, but I've let it all wash away.  I'm done with today.  It's over.

YUM! (travel tip inside)

So when you travel to a country that speaks another language and especially one that doesn't use the same Romanized characters, it's a good idea to have cheatsheets of everything you can think of.  Food.

I have been enjoying browsing other people's blogs looking for restaurant ideas and especially food descriptions.  Then, I take the name of the food in English and Hangul and paste it into my handy dandy cheatsheet with a description.  If we go somewhere that has no English menus we can point and ask if they have those items.....things we know we're comfortable with.  This is what I have so far and it makes me HUNGRY.

Samgyeopsal – pork belly

Daegi bulgogi – pork bulgogi

Kimchi jjigae 김치 찌개– kimchi stew

Sundubu Jjigae 순두부 찌개- fiery bubbling cauldron of soft tofu, freshly cracked egg, chili peppers, inoki mushrooms, a couple clams, onions and deunjang (Korean miso) paste. Served with sticky rice.

Chapjae

Bibimbap 비빔밥

Raboggie 라볶이- rice cake in a sea of spicy pepper sauce augmented with odang (processed fish), cabbage, carrots, onions and leeks and ramen

Kimbap -Wonjo Kimbap 원조 김밥 -damuji (a yellow pickled sweet radish), processed ham, carrots, some green, maybe spinach, and cooked egg,  야채 김밥, Yachae Kimbap-veggies including carrots and spinach, 김치 김밥, Kimchi Kimbap-ham, eggs, carrots, radish, 계란말이 김밥, Kaeranmal Kimbap-rolled in a thin omelet, then sliced.

Dakkochi 닭꼬치 – chicken on skewers

Twigim – ojingeo (squid), goguma (sweet potato), yachae (vegetables)

Tteokbokki 떡볶이 – sauced rice cakes

Pajeon – pancakes

Galbi – short ribs

Pa dak 파닭 – chicken with honey, onions, etc.

No complaints

Today, I finally took Chase to the dr after noticing something on his chest a few weeks ago.  I already had a pretty good idea of what it was after I googled it and knew it shouldn't be too bad, but still thought the dr should see it. He agreed is pectus excavatum.  Basically, it's pigeon chest.  It looks like a long lump on his chest because the middle caves in a little.  Since we now know about it the dr just wanted a lung function test and xray as a baseline and he measured the dip.  Then, we can monitor it as he grows and know how much it changes.  It's only almost 1/2 inch deep now, so unless it suddenly gets to 1" or something we're good.  You couldn't even see it on the xray, so it has little chance of impacting his organs at this point.  Most kids that have it are born with it, so the dr felt bad saying he should have noticed at one of his annual appointments, but I assured him it was not there or noticeable in any way before now.  I had read that sometimes they randomly show up at adolescents when they start to really grow.  I think most of those are the milder cases, so I'm not too worried.  He said we could go to a chest specialists if we wanted to, but since he's not overly worried and I've read about it, I'm not overly worried either.  Still glad we know now, it's just better to keep an eye on it.

Came home after the dr and grocery shopping (and lunch just Chase and I) and Cole had already fed the younger 3 like I asked him and the kitchen was cleaned.  They quickly unloaded the groceries without me saying a word.  Cole, Kaelin and Chelsi had even folded the whites like I asked.  I just had to wash, dry and fold the darks and make supper.  I barbequed some chicken, in the rain since it kind of snuck up on me and baked it for another hour.  That and some baked potatoes and steamed broccoli.....yum!  Chase just played outside with his friend D all afternoon.  When it wasn't down pouring they were either target practicing with their bb guns or playing football.  D is a grade under Chase, but they're almost the same age since Chase is the baby in his class.  J's been in a good mood all day and ate well tonight.

It's just one of those evenings when nothing outstanding happened, but you're just so content with things just the way they are.  It is SO nice when the kids help out so much.

Somber

I think that's how I describe my feeling right now.  This isn't happening to a close friend, but close enough that I feel awful, somber, sad, thankful, all rolled into one.

A friend found out after battling breast cancer just last year, cancer is back but in vertebrae and liver.  It's not good.  I think about their kids.  I think about her as a mom and how close she and the kids are to each other.  I just can't imagine and don't want to.  It's too sad and hard.

I woke up the day after I found out in such a good mood.  I couldn't figure out why and then I realized that it was because I was so thankful for the life I have.  I was not living her nightmare. 

I pray that there's some miracle.  That they're wrong.  That she survives so much longer than the statistics.  That somehow she beats it.  She's entirely too young.  They're entirely too young.  It's not right or fair. 

I'm just sad.

Finally February

While January wasn't awful, it just felt like it drug on forever.  I'm hoping February's a little better.  We seem to have gotten most of the bugs out of the house.  Everyone seems to be feeling better, though Cole still has a cough that real dry and hacky.  Of course, I always have a worry in the back of my head for his heart and that it's not the one symptom of failure.  Gotta trust the doctors though.

Jaemin's passport came in last week.  It only took 3 weeks from the day we went to the post office and we didn't get a request for any additional documentation.  YAY!

We're beginning week two of Cole's required 1 hour study nights.  There haven't been any grades entered, so we can't tell if it's going to help him or not.  Can't hurt, right?  It's not like his grades are really bad, just not as good as I know he's capable of.  I'm hoping to see what he can really do.  Then, we'll decide when he can go get his license after he turns 16. 

Otherwise, all is well.  I really love the boring life.  It means life is good.

When you feel that urge

to tell someone good job or thank you, do it!  It's so easy to forget about it and dismiss it...I do it a lot.  I just get busy and don't follow through with my thoughts and good intentions.

Tonight, I did and it made a difference.

I had just told my mom about some things that our middle school was doing and has been doing that makes things easier for the kids and parents.  I thought for once I'd email to let them know.  So even though I'm pretty sure our superintendent doesn't like me because of our previous engagements, I cc'd him because I thought he should also be aware.

Shortly after I emailed her (the principal) to thank her and the teachers, I got an email back saying that I had made her day.  She told me how bad the day had been and that she was questioning some things until she read my email and it was just what she needed.

What we do so impacts someone else.  When we're grouchy and lash out we set others on a course for being grouchy and upset for the day.  It passes on throughout everyone we and they intersect.  But, when we make someone's day and make them happy, they can pass that on instead.  I think we could all use that and I don't do it near enough.

A tooth gone, but replaced

Yep, already replaced and she just lost her very first tooth.  I ALWAYS take a picture of their very first lost tooth.  Usually you will see this nice black gap in their mouth.  No, not Chelsi.  That permanent tooth has been coming in since October and the baby tooth finally came out, but the permanent tooth is already fully in.  Still exciting.  She lost her first tooth.  Bad news is that the top one is still not out and it's permanent has been in since October too.  AND, a second permanent tooth is getting ready to come in on the bottom too.  Apparently, her permanent teeth have suddenly gotten in a hurry and baby teeth just don't want to let go.

So cute!

Jaemin is doing better with speech class.  He's been in it for a full year and is approved for another year of his IEP.  His teacher has helped us to understand him so much better.  He still gets hung up and can be hard to understand, so when he gets out a whole understandable sentence it is a big deal.

Last night I went to check on Jaemin in bed.  He was very still and quiet, so I thought he may be sleeping.  Sometimes though, he's just being quiet and still.  Those times he'll quietly reach out his arm because he wants a hug before I go.  Last night was no different, but he said something.  I couldn't understand him because he was whispering.  I had grabbed his hand instead of hugging him and asked him again what he said.  He said 'nice to meet you'.  I don't where he got that from, but it was pretty darn cute!

Make a Wish

I haven't heard back that everything's a go, but I can't imagine it is.  His wish is pretty darn simple.

We tried and tried to think of something else and couldn't, so Cole is sticking with his wish to go on a shopping spree.  He doesn't really want to stick with one store, etc., etc. so we got his questions squared away with Make a Wish.  For instance, he was thinking he could buy his hunting rifle, but no firearms, etc. are allowed.  He has now decided he wants to shop at Bass Pro and Walmart.  He wants his own laptop instead of the 6 year old Toshiba he shares with the other kids, so now I think he's pretty content with his wish.  It will just be a day trip, so nothing terrible expensive for Make a Wish considering our family size.

I hope it really is special for him.  Hopefully, we'll hear something soon that it's at least fully approved this time.  We did tell them to change the dates so we can do it after our Korea trip.

And the price is right....enough

Not really, but what are you going to do.  I was hoping Brian's brace for his leg would be closer to $300, but it was $470 out of pocket.  Brian started to tell the lady we would think about it and I motioned for him to say yes.  He needs it.  It would really do him some good.  I think it's worth it.  We would do it for the kids any day, so why shouldn't he?

Pretty soon, his walk will get much prettier.  Luckily, he hasn't worn his newer tennis shoes much at all.  She said he shouldn't wear any of his older ones with it because they'll have a wear pattern and the brace won't work as well. 

5 years later

I went with Brian to an appointment Friday.  I finally talked him into at least seeing what they can do for him with an orthotic/prosthesis.  Tomorrow is 5 years since his accident.  It seems like yesterday until I realize that it really has been 5 whole years.  The lady at the DME (durable medical equipment) was really shocked at how well he was doing.  She was trying to help him put on the brace she wanted him to try and she said well you know how these work from therapy, right?  He then told her he was completely paralyzed at one time and by the time his legs worked his hands still did not.  The therapist always had to do everything for him.

So, he tried on the ground reaction brace, made with the same material prosthetic feet are made for runners who are amputees and it was shocking.  I actually started to cry, though I shut it off as quick as a could.  I knew it would embarrass him, but I really couldn't help it.  She asked me to watch Brian walk up and down the hall with it on and he almost had no gait difference.  I mean it was different, but his leg to leg gait wasn't so different anymore.  He wasn't swinging his leg out so far to keep his toes from dragging along.  It just looked more fluid.  She said this is why these braces are so helpful.  When your nerves that do work tell your brain it doesn't have to work so hard to pick everything up and swing your feet out, you can walk with more ease and not get so tired.  Amazing, a little piece of metal that goes just below your knee and down and around your foot. 

She sent us off saying they would contact my insurance and get everything squared away and let us know this week how much it will be since I'm in the high deductible plan.  Trust me, well worth it. 
I asked him if he saw himself wearing it and at first he said not in shorts, but then, he said maybe.  He, in his mind, still sees himself the way he walked for 33 years of his life.  He has no idea that it's not the brace that will draw attention or draw new attention anyways.  He starting to walk moreso with a limp that people do see.  And he won't have to be so tired trying so hard to cover it up by trying really hard to walk as normal as he can.  It's not admitting defeat, it's just moving on.

I can't wait 'til we get it.  A girl at work's son has it for CP and she says it's the least expensive of the braces since it doesn't have to be casted to your body, so I'm hoping around $300, but I may be really shocked.  Either way, if it makes things better, it's so worth it.  I just can't believe how much our lives have changed in the last 5 years.

SEOUL!!!

Finally.  We have saved and saved and saved for over 7 years.  I have gathered things we would need over the years to keep from spending all at once.  I have watched fares for over 2 years.  I have researched where we would want to go and checked information on the hotels. 

Finally, it's real.  Of course, I'll feel better once we're on that plane, but we have hotel reservations at Fraser Place Central for a two bedroom premier room, which is AWESOME!  We get a breakfast buffet every morning, which is great, even though there is a Paris Baguette nearby.  Today, I held my breath and bought the airline tickets.  That is literally the biggest purchase I'll ever put on my credit card.  I had to check the balance first to make sure it wouldn't get maxed out over the limit.  I had to even call them to let them know there would be a very large purchase coming through.  But, I did it!

We used East West Travel Agency in Chicago and Cathy was SO SO nice and didn't shoo me like some of the other agents when I asked 20 million questions.  She's very attentive to everything.  They even have a Seoul contact number, so we should be good either way, regardless of where we are.  And comparably she got us the best fares of anyone I called.  So, we're going to go all out and fly Korean Air.  Each of us will have our own tv screen and be able to watch whatever movie we choose or the kids can watch kid shows or listen to music.  Each seat also has a USB charger and outlet so the kids can charge their iPods the whole 13 hour flight from Chicago to Seoul and be fully entertained.  Most of the other flights said there was only one meal offered during the flight time, but they're feeding us twice, plus they overwhelm with snacks during the flight.  Our travel agent even emailed me so she could put in the kids' meal requests.  They can choose between an adult Korean meal or a kids meal (spaghetti, pizza, hamburger, etc.).  Jaemin is getting the kids meal and the girls are having bibimbap!

Cathy put us in great seats on the first flight to Chicago, so we're sitting in front of and back of each other and then she will select our exact seats for Korean Air about 90 days before the flight.  You can't do it until then. 

Now the agencies are all working to talk to the foster mothers to see if they can visit with us on our non-planned days.  Jaemin's has already said she's ready to see him.  I can't wait for them all to see the kids and how big they've gotten.  I can't wait to see our big boys in this new environment.  Chase asked me this morning if planes fly above the clouds. I told him it will and he just said 'that is awesome' with that little girly voice on the awesome like boys do. 

The girls have drawn pictures for their Korean mother's files.  I've written my letter.  I printed off the portraits I took this fall of all of them and put their Korean names on them and their ages so I can frame for their foster mothers as a gift.  Then, we'll leave one in their Korean mothers' files as well.  Now I just pray no one gets sick or anything before the trip.

YAY!!

LONG....Update

I've just been too busy and tired over the holidays to even try to get on here.  The less computer time the better and this blog sometimes is just too much.  Though I know I want to keep my journal up, so I always come back.

My brother FINALLY made it back for Christmas. They were only able to stay a few days due to the occurrences and Jaemin already misses E.  He thinks he should be at grandma and papas all the time.

We also finally heard back from Make a Wish on Cole's wish to go to Korea.  They told us Korea said no.  I found that a little hard to believe as she got more into the story of it, but what can you say?  She said Korea said there were political things going on though both her and I didn't know of anything.  She then said she told Korea Make a Wish that they would just the assist for us to go to Korea and Korea would only serve as an emergency contact if we had anything happen medically.  She said Korea said no to that as well.  That's where I wondered if it was true or just a reason to say no without saying it was just too big of a wish.  Their saying is no wish is too big, but that's really not true.  Not logically and realistically, but it would have been great if they would have told us and Cole last March when he wished it.  Then, she proceeded to tell me he could either rewish totally since no one knows what happened to his wish granters or he could go with his 2nd choice of a Cabela's shopping spree.  Here's the kicker.  She explained to me how it would work and we'd end up responsible for some of the costs.  They're web site says theses wishes are granted without families having to pay for anything so there would be no worries.  I'm NOT okay with this.  We are emptying our savings to go to Korea....yep, that's right we're going anyways....after 7 full years of saving for it, we can't afford to pay for meals, etc. so he can go there.  He's tried to think of a different wish but hasn't been able to.  It's been so stressful we're thinking of telling them to forget it.

Onto Korea.  We scaled our plans back A LOT.  There will be no birth city trip and it will be a little shorter, but we should be able to squeeze in everything we want to do and see and especially the foster mothers.  We have our tickets on hold.  I just have to call this week after I move things off my credit card so it doesn't max out (pay it down is what I mean), and I can get our airfare.  We are barely getting tickets anyways.  I was told in the fall to wait until January or February by every agent I called and suddenly by December all of the fares were gone or almost gone and only expensive ones left.  We found another Korean agent in Chicago who was able to get a pretty decent rate on Korean Air, so we stayed in my budget thanks to her.  We'll nail down the hotel and fare details this week.  I already have reservations at Fraser Place Central like last time, but I want to see if we can get a little better rate before things are final.  Every dollar counts on this huge trip and most of the dollars are in the $15000 hotel and airfare portion of the budget.

But, we have an itinerary made, emails sent to the agencies so they can contact the foster mothers.  Gift list started.  Baggage figured out.  Maps and directions to everywhere!  Reminders on my calendar for what we can't do yet.  Passport application for Jaemin ready to go.  And a growing list of things we will still need to have before we go.