WHEW! Where do I start?

It's been a while since I've posted so let me catch you up. On Thursday, Joshua started "waving bye-bye" & "giving five". He likes "low fives"; won't give a "high five" yet. Emalee Grace went to a roller skating birthday party Thursday afternoon so Joshua & I decided to tag along. It was our first outing other than to the MD & to get Caleb's haircut. He was good & seemed to enjoy it. He ate Cheerios & watched the girls skate. He was awake from 2pm - 8pm that afternoon which is the longest he has been awake @ a time yet! Needless to say, he slept well that night! On Friday, we took him to TC Thompson Children's Hospital to have blood drawn. He has to be tested for all kinds of diseases which he has already done & all were negative, but that was in Korea & he has to be tested in the US- just part of all international adoptions. He was brave & took it like a champ. Poor lil guy was wiped out Friday night! After skipping his afternoon nap, he went to bed at 6:15pm & slept until 9:00am!!! I was missing him Friday evening! I didn't realize when I put him down that I wouldn't see him again until morning. He stayed up this morning & is now taking an afternoon nap. So glad he's awake more during the day now! He's coming out of his shell & has even more personality!! He's such a fun little guy & we are soaking up every second with him!

Gotcha Day pics!

Joshua update

Father's Day was a great day. Lots of sweet time for Joshua & daddy. They started out the morning having a little breakfast on the back deck. We decided to wait another week before taking him to church. He's seen so many new faces over the last week!! Scott's parents came by for lunch & spent a little time with him, then just the 5 of us went to the pumpkin patch. He enjoyed the swings & sand box. He was exhausted when we got home & went to bed @ 7:15 after a nice warm bath.
On Monday morning, I actually got about an hour with him all by myself! I haven't had that yet. We played peek a boo & patty cake, read books, & snuggled. Only for an hour though, he had to go back down for a nap. He is still so tired. He slept 10am - 1pm, then rode out to Lookout Valley with me to meet my cousin Melissa. She lives in Illinois & was on her way to Atlanta. She brought me another car seat, a pac n play, umbrella stroller, lots of books & toys, Bjorn baby carrier, a grocery cart protector. Joshua & I hit the jackpot!! Thanks Melissa!! Of course when we got back home, he went down for another nap & slept 3:45 - 6:45. He ate mashed potatoes & green beans for dinner when he woke up. He loved them!! He made a huge mess & had so much fun eating them. Then, of course, bath & back to bed. He slept 9:30pm- 5:45am when he woke up & Scott gave him a bottle. They snuggled & talked a little while, then he went back to sleep until 8:30am. Not sure what all is store for today- so far he's had Cheerios & yogurt for breakfast, then, you guessed it, back to bed! (after a little play time first)

First few days home

We are settling in & doing very well. Wednesday night, our first night home, Joshua went to bed @ 7:15pm & slept until 9:00 am! He took a 2 hour nap in the am & a 3 hour nap in the pm. He is very playful & loves food. He likes finger foods. He loves Cheerios! He really enjoys his baths & had his first walk in the neighborhood last night (Friday night) which he seemed to enjoy. He went to the MD Friday am & was exhausted by last night. He slept 9pm to 9am & didn't wake up at all! He has slept through the night every night except Thurs when he was up from 2-3 am. We couldn't ask for better! He sleeps well, eats well, & is very playful! He responds to his name, Hyeon-jin so we are calling him Hyeon-jin & Joshua interchangably or Joshua Hyeon-jin until his learns Joshua. Caleb & Emalee Grace are very good with him (sometimes too good if you know what I mean). I have lots of help!! He is crawling all over the house & pulling up & cruising along the furniture. He will be walking soon! He's taking steps now with support. He is adjusting very well & we are loving every minute!!

Gotcha Day!

Joshua Hyeon-jin Rowe arrived in the Atlanta airport @ 12:40 am today. His flight was delayed by several hours but he made it in just fine. The 4 of us were able to get back to the gate to see him when he first got off the plane. We weren't sure if they would let us & assumed we would meet the escort @ baggage claim. When I asked, she hesitated & said they usually only let 1 person back but she would make an exception & let us all go. We were ecstatic!! I think she let us because it was midnight & there was no one else back there - Very special memories for the 4 of us as we stood @ the window & watched his plane pull into the gate. It was so quiet & still & just us. I can't even describe what it was like to see him. He is doing amazingly well. He is such a happy baby! It is 7:45 pm now & he just recently went down for the night. I can't imagine how exhausted he must be! We didn't make it back to the hotel until 3am & that was about 30 hours after his journey began. He was so happy in the airport & in the hotel. He was clapping his hands & drinking his bottle while we waited for the shuttle(@ the airport)to take us back to the hotel. When we got to the room, he crawled all over the place- fast!!! He was pulling up on the closet doors which were mirrored & he loved that! We all 5 finally got to bed around 4am & he slept until 10am.
This entire experience has been amazing! I have never felt as much true joy & love as I have over the past 24 hours. It is just unbelievable to me that I can love this child like I do considering I had never seen him before this morning. He is taking especially well to Scott - follows him all over the house! I have been praying the chorus to the song "Something Beautiful" by Need to Breathe for months now & God has answered that far more than I could have ever dreamed or imagined. The beauty of this experience is indescribable & I am sure all of my friends & family with me in Atlanta would agree. It is just impossible to put into words! The love from friends & family has been overwhelming! We came home to balloons on the mailbox & the front door, artwork by the Edwards children on the door, flowers on the table & dinner in the fridge. (Thanks Autumn!) Amazing, unbelievable experience that could only come from my loving Father. I have been surrounded by his hands, feet, & hearts & I am so thankful! Thanks so much for all the prayers! Believe me - they were felt & I feel confident that Joshua felt them too- he sure acted like it!

Atlanta Bound!

We are heading out to Atlanta shortly... We plan to spend the night there & will be home with him tomorrow. Keep us in your prayers & I will update with pics as soon as I get a chance! We are SO EXCITED! Can't believe his GOTCHA DAY is here!!!

So, what's his story?

Joshua was born to a 23 year old single woman who had no idea she was pregnant until her water broke & she went into labor @ 32 weeks. He has a diagnosis of birth asphyxia although we have received different reports concerning how long he went without oxygen. It couldn't have been long because he is developing so well. He was placed with Holt International Adoption Agency in Seoul, S Korea upon discharge from the hospital many weeks later. He has been living with a foster family since coming home from the hospital. He has an ear deformity that appears to be only cosmetic from the reports I have been given. He seems to be developing well. Hearing & vision are good. He will get plenty of work on that developmental delay living with 2 physical therapists & 2 active children! I am continually amazed at how much I can love this child that I have never even seen. Emalee Grace spent the afternoon swaddling her baby dolls in Joshua's room & reading to them in the rocking chair. So sweet! I am just riding the roller coaster of emotions until Gotcha Day. I have been on the highest highs & the lowest lows. That part is similar to pregnancy. Obviously hormones are not involved, but lots of emotions are! The devil raises his ugly head every now & then trying to convince me that this is not what we should be doing, but God always comforts me & confirms my decision. I have been amazed at how attentive God has been to the details in my life over the past few months. I have seen Him show up in so many ways that could only be Him. That is something Joshua has given me that he will probably never understand. Thank you all so much for your support & please continue to pray for our family. God Bless!