Emma's Gotcha Day Video

Friday, August 28, 2009

Emma Update

I was so excited to see a packet in the mail today from our agency. It was Emma's six month check-up details. We were thrilled to see that she continues to thrive with her foster family. She is definitely growing and doing well. At six months, she is 20 lbs and 27 inches long!!! Yes, 27 inches. And for those of you who are out of the baby loop, she's in the 95th percentile in height on the US charts. Gran said, "I knew she was created for your family," referring to the fact that the three Johnsons are not small in stature. Emma is also eating well as you can see by her weight. I have been buying clothes (just can't help myself) and a dear lady at church told me that I would need bigger clothes...I am taking them back tomorrow to exchange for a larger size! If anyone needs 6-12 months, you can find a replenished stock at Gymboree tomorrow! All of Emma's blood work came back great as well. Her thyroid levels are good and she is will continue on her medicine. The Korean doctor suggested that she be taken off of her medication around the age of three to see if the thyroid would begin to work on its own. We'll be checking into this more as we will see a pediatric specialist when she comes home.

Chase is playing baseball this weekend with a traveling team, so we will be at the ballpark tomorrow. That will at least help pass the time. Everywhere I look, I see a sweet little girl and I just long for Emma to be here. I am trying to take advantage of these last few months as a family of 3, but it is so hard when your heart knows you are a family of four!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

A Few Pictures...

If the video pictures are too small, here's a few of her room

Chase is working on a picture for the green frame...
I made the hangers for her bows. If you have a little girl and would like one, contact me.

I wanted to use the paper lanterns along with the Korean canvas painting that a family member is doing to bring part of her culture to the room.

Here's the bedding we picked out. Not too girly girl, but also kinda Asian (well if you're from Kentucky, you probably think so.. ;o)


I love this... It demonstrates exactly what we think about our sweet little girl.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Nursery: Before and After

Emma's nursery is almost finished! It is still a work in progress, but we are ready for our little girl to come! A family member is going to paint a canvas with a Korean theme to go above the crib and we are going to add a chair in the room for rocking Emma back to sleep (or sleeping in ourselves!!!). See the video to get a look at what we've done...

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Getting the Nursery Ready

Needless to say, it's been a busy weekend! We have been trying to clean out the guest room that will be Emma's nursery for the past week. We finally got it cleaned out on Saturday morning and were ready to paint. In just one day: painted two coats of paint on Emma's room, changed the outlets and light switches, added furniture, accessories, replaced the blinds, hung curtains and rod, fixed the bedding on her crib, and the list goes on... Let's just say HGTV would have been proud! There are still a few finishing touches, but I will post pictures soon. I can't wait to have our sweet girl Emma home to enjoy her new room. I just love to go in there and sit and think about all the wonderful memories that will be made there.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

I600 Update

Well, it's so hard to wait. Everyone said it would be and it is. My heart breaks to think Emma is so many miles away and I am missing each day that passes never again to get it back. I hold on to knowing that this is a snapshot in time and soon (although it feels like eternity) we will all be a forever family. As I write, I can't help but wonder what she is doing... It's lunch time there, I hope she's having a good day.

We received an update on our I600. It has been received and should be processed with 3-6 weeks. As soon as we get approval, paperwork will be sent to Korea for processing, or at least that is the way I understand it. At any rate, our agency told us to be prepared for 3-4 months. I pray sooner than later. As for now, we have a room to get ready. This weekend will be dedicated to getting the nursery prepared for her arrival. I hope to at least get it cleaned out! It has been the guest room until now and we have some organizing to do. Anyone bored this weekend? Come over to the Johnson's and pick out something to take home with you from the guest bedroom!

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Legals have arrived... and left!!!

Things are moving along. We received our legals on Friday and they are off to the USCIS office in Louisville. Our acceptance paperwork should be in Korea by now as well. Little Emma is one step closer to coming home to her forever family.

This weekend has been busy. I spent Friday evening with some girlfriends from church. We had a wonderful time eating and talking. After dinner, we went to the movies. It was a much needed girls night out.

This afternoon we went furniture shopping. I am happy to report that we have finally found furniture. I will post pictures as soon as I get the room finished... We registered at Toys R Us tonight as well. Things should be all set for miss Emma to come. Please pray that she arrives before Thanksgiving. Oh, how thankful we are to know she is our little girl.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Our Little Girl's Name...

After much thought and consideration, we have decided to name our little girl

Emma Yeirin Johnson

We thought we would have several more months to finalize a name for her. Emma is such a beautiful and classic name. We know a couple of other Emmas, but they are adorable and sweet just like our Emma! When I saw her face, I knew she looked like an Emma, at least to me. So, Emma Yeirin Johnson, we hope you love your new name as much as we do! How amazing to be a mother of two: Chase and Emma. Thank you God for the wonderful way in which you bless our family. I am in awe at Your grace and immeasurable love. Please watch over Emma as we wait for her arrival. Be with her foster mother and help her to nurture Emma. In Your name, Amen.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Happy 6 months Yeirin!


We wanted to wish our sweet girl happy six months today! We hope you had a wonderful day sweetie and we can't wait to share many more special moments with you. Oh, how we wish we could hold you and kiss your sweet cheeks! May you be happy and may your foster mother take great care of you until you are united with your forever family. We love you so much!

~Hugs and Kisses from Daddy, Mommy, and Big Brother~

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Introducing Yeirin Kang


We are excited to announce we will be the forever parents of beautiful Yeirin Kang. Her name means bright and pure. She will be 6 months old tomorrow. As you can tell from the pictures she is growing and eating well! Chase is so excited and loves his little sister. Since the referral came earlier than expected, we haven't fully decided on a name. We will let you know when we do!

This week has been indescribable. Words can't begin to express the amazing way God has worked this week. Our journey, which we initially thought would take much longer will be complete much sooner than expected. Yeirin should be here by the middle of November! What an awesome Christmas preset!

There are so many ways in which God has worked this week. Let me explain: On Thursday of last week, I found out about a teaching position that had been posted just that day. Due to traveling requirements of my current position, I pursued the teaching opening in hopes of being able to be back into the classroom. I have missed the kiddos. This position would also give me more time to spend with our family and great hours for when a baby comes, which we were expecting in January-April. On Monday, we get a referral for a little girl (about 5 months earlier than expected!). God's timing is perfect! Since Yeirin will be here in November, a teaching position would give me a chance to take time off and spend with her. I officially accepted the position on Wednesday.

On another note, we received conflicting information about the spot on Yeirin's right shoulder. Two different doctors were confident they knew what it was and they gave two different answers! We were torn because we knew one of diagnosis would cause Yeirin to have surgery and possibly multiple surgeries. Ryan and I talked during the two hour drive to Danville and just were torn about what it would mean for her. After arriving at the Adoption agency, the director felt that the place in question would not be something as serious as one of the doctors suggested because she felt the doctors in Korea would have disclosed that information. Before Yeirin leaves Korea, she will be seen by an American doctor and if the Korean doctors do not disclose information, she would not be able to travel. In ten years, this has never happened with the agency we are working with. So, we left with intentions to have the Adoption agency seek additional information from the Korean welfare society about this spot. Here's how good God is: On the way home I began to look over the child study again. In Korea, they use A4 paper which is longer than a normal sheet of paper. When we received Yeirin's orginal documents, they were faxed on regular paper. At the bottom of one of her medical documents, which was cut off during the fax to us, the doctors had conducted a ultrasound of the location on her back and determined it was a birthmark, which is what our pediatrician suggested as well. I was overcome with excitement and emotion. It was as if God knew we needed that information in order to make a strong decision to make His little girl part of our family. Oh, God is good! Needless to say, that was the confirmation we needed!

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