HAPPY 4TH AND MADISON'S BIRTHDAY!

Today is Saturday July 5, at 6:45 am. Yesterday was a good day. In the morning we took at taxi to the Kyobo Book Center it was amazing, too bad it was mostly Korean. I picked up a few childrens books for Noah that was in English and Korean, and a few CD's with Korean childrens music. Madison of course bought a Disney Princess coloring book that is in Korean. Then we came back to the guesthouse and got to see Noah.

It was really hard today, he was scared of Jamie, and me, then his foster mom gave us some of his snacks to feed him, He would eat them from Madison, and slowly Jamie and myself. I fed him a bottle, and he kept touching my face which his foster mom says he does when he is content, and happy. She said he is beginning to like my face.

Our social worker asked if we are picking him up Monday morning, and I asked if we could have him Sunday night, and she said yes, so we get him FOREVER Sunday at 4:00pm. Once we have him we can't leave the guesthouse until we leave for the airport, but that will be ok because we are really going to need that time, and time when we get home to get adjusted. It is going to be EXTREMELY hard on Noah. His foster mom said when he was sick, that the foster mom's can't stay with him when they are in the hospital, and he was very stressed, and since then when he gets stressed he pulls his hair. That is something we are going to have to work on when we get home, keeping him calm, and knowing that he is loved.

I started to cry after she said we could have him Sunday night, because the foster mom was very sad. We were both crying, actually all of us were. I looked at here when the social worker walked out of the room, and said Kamsahamnida (thank you) and touched Noah's hair and said I know she loved him, and she took my hand and we just cried. It was very very emotional. She asked for us to please send her pictures ,and of course we will. She is the only mother he has known for 9 months and they loved him, just like her own children. She gave us a note in Korean that we will need to have translated, hopefully we will be able to soon. She gave us a hanbok which is the traditional Korean dress, it is BEAUTIFUL. She gave us his little blankie that we gave him, and his towel from home to help with his transition. Also two packs of his snacks and his favorite toy which is a stuffed winnie the pooh. Tomorrow will be extremely hard, and the Senior Dr. Kim will pray over Noah, before he is given to us. they say it is extremely hard on the foster mom then, as well as us.

After our meeting we met Allen, and went to eat.....at the Outback....it was horrible, and now I think I am a little sick. Hopefully will be better by tomorrow, or I will start the antibiotics that the Dr sent from home. We met back here at the guesthouse and picked up the other couple Jessica and Josh, and headed towards the subway. We went to Yangsan, and it took us 3 hours to get there, but we made it, we weren't lost it was just a TON of walking. Madison has been phenomanal. She walked the whole time, never complaining, just loving it! Allen was able to get us onto the Army base there, not the one he is stationed at but another one. None of us had ever been on a military base before, so that was really neat. What was the greatest, is that while we are here in Seoul, Korea, we were able to celebrate the Independance of our Country on the Military base with our soldiers and saw a fabulous fireworks display. The only thing missing was the Hot Air Balloons! Then we had to hurry back to the guesthouse because they lock the doors at 11:00pm and we were worried since it took us 3 hrs to walk and take the subway, that we would be late. We decided to take a cab, thinking it would be about 50000 won ($50) but we would split the cost. So we got in the taxi, and was home in less than 10 MIN....we couldn't believe it. It cost less than $6 total....today we are only using a taxi!

We are going to try to do something nice for Madison's Birthday but not sure what yet, and we would like to tour the DMZ line tomorrow morning before we get Noah. I will try to update at least one more time before we come home, but if not we will be home Monday! Lisa-remind Buster to bring the carseat ! OH and Noah's FM said he loves to be in the car, BUT has never been in a carseat, so I am sure we are in for it!

Our love to everyone, and please keep us in your prayers, as we receive Noah, and travel home, also for his foster family, and him and Madison as we transition to a family of 4!