I thought I would use this time to answer a few frequently asked questions that Nathan and I get about our adoption process, but first, I have some exciting news! Last Friday we received in the mail approval to get the home study process started. This was at the end of a day that I had "whined" to my Mother about not hearing any news for a whole week about "my baby." She asked if I had checked my mail (how do Mom's know this stuff?)...I hadn't, but when I got home there it was not one, but two pieces of mail from Dillon International! Question 1 - Do you want a boy or a girl?
We actually don't have a preference as to the gender of our baby. Which is a good thing because Dillon requests that we don't have a preference since we are first time parents. 70% of the babies adopted internationally from South Korea are boys.
Question 2 - Do you have to travel to South Korea to pick up your baby?
We have the option to travel to South Korea to pick up our baby or to have the baby escorted to us (probably to Tulsa). The flight to South Korea is about 30 hours and the stay in South Korea is only a few days. At this time we are leaning toward having the baby escorted so that only one person has jet lag, not three.
Question 3 - Does South Korea have a one child policy like China?
No, there is no one child policy.
Question 4 - Why are the babies available for adoption?
The reasons are probably very similar to the reasons a baby would be available in the United States for adoption.
Question 5 - Why are there more boy babies available for adoption from South Korea?
To the best of our understanding, South Korea has domestic adoption. Just like in the United States, the girl babies are preferred for adoption, for whatever reason. Nathan and I feel that all babies, regardless of gender, are a gift and a reward from God.
Question 6 - When do you expect to have your baby home?
The Dillon website says that we can expect to wait about a year. We are hopeful that we will have the baby home by this time next year.
Question 8 - How old will your baby be?
In South Korea, the babies are not allowed to leave the country for adoption until they are 5 months old. We expect our baby to be about 8-12 months upon homecoming.
Question 9 - Do you have names picked out?
Yes, but nothing set in stone.
Do you have a question that I have not answered? If so, feel free to post it and I will do my best to answer. Like many of you, we are learning about adoption and we may not have all the answers.
Thank you for your interest, it means a lot to us to see everyone keeping up with us through this blog.
10 comments:
During 30 years, I hated Korea for rejecting their kids now, I hate white people for buying Korean kids.
Live the Korean kids in Korea where they belong! Stop international adoption in Korea! Let Korea evolve in the adoption area. There is nothing christian in removing a child from his birth country.
Ok, who is Kim?! Kim needs to get Jesus up in her heart! I love you Emily and I am so glad you are adopting a baby from Korea.
AJL
Kim has Jesus in heart and Kim is praying Jesus so that the born again christian stop buying the babies. Kim is asking God to stop international adoption. Int. adoption is a SIN. Every child deserve a home is truth but not the whole truth. Every child deserve to be raised in his birth country.
Emily and Nathan,
What exciting news about the progress in your adoption. One step further, yeah :) I can't wait for this little bundle of joy to get her for us all to love on and hold. It is neat to see how God has placed it on your hearts to adopt internationally and how God has been in this process every step of the way and we know He will continue to be it every step of the way!! Love to you both!!!
Seriously Kim, get a life and leave my friends alone. You are so mean! This cracks me up, really....it is like a blogger bully. Who would have ever thought. Wow!
AJL
Hey, y'all! Kudos to the excellent jump through the home study hoop! You're getting there, and it won't be long! I think adoption, no matter the area, the people, whether you're the adoptee, like we are, or the one desiring to adopt, is an amazing process. That being said, we are all human and make many mistakes. I was wondering if Kim is a child of adoption, or if she has seen an injustice through adoption. I'm sorry to read her angst over the process and I wish she really knew your hearts, and our hearts, as part of your family who will make this child a part of our family. The only thing we can do is pray for Kim, pray for this child and pray, as we parents do, that we raise our children to know Him. Do not be discouraged, and Kim, feel free to jump on over to my blog. I'd love to "talk" with you.
Emily and Nathan, You are following God's plan for you by adopting from Korea. God will give you great rewards. Don't let Kim discourage you from your goal. We love you guys.For some people it's hard to see outside of your own box most of the time. One year will fly by and you will be holding that amazing little bundle in your arms! How exciting!!
I loved your post! It answered lots of things I've always wondered... I can't wait to see pictures of your sweet little bundle God is going to give you. Let's all pray for Kim - yikes!
Emily, feel free to email or call if you get freaked out about the home study. I kept telling myself it was no big deal, but secretly I was stressing. Then it really wasn't a big deal! On our drive to LR for the interviews, I told Matt I felt like we were going to see Barbara Walters, and she was going to make me cry. And yep... I cried. First thing out, our SW went into some hard stuff. But I cried, she cried, and we got through it. All good. The actual home visit part was the easiest thing of all. You guys will do great. It won't be long and you, too, will be cleaning up a little boy's (or girl's) busted lip from running on the sidewalk (like I just did)! :)
I do have some questions, Emily. It's obvious, to me, that there was a lot of thought and prayer in the decision to adopt. How did you arrive at the decision to adopt a child from Korea? Was it something that you were led to do specifically? Or, was it what God revealed to you by the way things often unfold when we ask for God's will for our lives?
I'm so excited you and Nathan! There has to be so much anticipation and joy in this awesome process. You all remain in my thoughts and prayers.
On another note, I have a couple of thoughts that I would like to direct to "Kim" the mystery poster. Your comment that there is nothing Christian in removing a child from his/her birth country, is in my not so humble opinion, more than a smidge naive and short sighted. What matters most is that a child is provided with love, stability, and a nurturing enviroment. Which is worse....to be loved and appreciated in another country or to live a life of isolation, poverty and in institutions or orphanages in the country of birth? I don't know where the anger and hostility comes from in regard to the crosshairs currently directed at Nathan and Emily, but know that you will be in my prayers. May the love of God and the peace that comes from the death of His Son, Jesus Christ be with you always.
Heather
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