Yesterday afternoon we met with our doctor, and AJ’s future doctor, to review the medical history provided by SWS. I was very interested to hear what the doctor had to say, not that we hadnt already made up our minds about keeping him. Seeing a doctor to review the medical history is highly recommended anyway, and so we did it before officially accepting our referral.
I kind of get a little teary-eyed, thinking about my 4 month old child’s past. So short, and yet so terrible. And alone. My heart just breaks (which I know, is crazy, considering that I just ‘met’ him two days ago) thinking that he had to go through these things without his mom to comfort him. I mean, he’s actually been through more in his 4 months than I have in my entire life.
The least of which is being treated 3 times for conjunctivitus (pink eye). We can speculate that because he was in an orphanage from November to February that it just kept moving from one baby to another. Something as contagious as that is hard to keep under wraps. But there’s also the possibility that he’s being mis-diagnosed. Who knows.
Around New Years, while I was partying, my baby boy was getting surgery for a hernia. Our doctor said it wasnt a big deal, though it could happen again. Still, my baby was under anesthesia and had surgery when he was only 1 month old.
A month later, he was back in the hospital and diagnosed with pneumonia. Also not too big of a deal, considering that its winter and he was still in an orphanage. According to the symptoms, our doctor says he would have diagnosed him with brochitis instead. Either way, he was treated and recovered and two days later went into the care of his foster mother.
I pray that now that he is in foster care, he’ll have the opportunity to be healthier. It seems like so much going on for such a little guy and I feel bad for him. I want to hug him forever.

After spending hours on the phone with family and friends on Monday night, Steve and I went out to celebrate our baby. We decided to go to Build-a-Bear and build something for AJ. After a bit of deliberation (which would have taken hours longer, had Steve not been there) we decided to build a monkey and name him Kunyoung. Eventually it will be AJ’s monkey, but for now, it gives us something to love and hug until he comes home.

I have a lot to blog about. I could blog for a year, just about my past two days. I highly recommend The Call to anyone wanting to feel a whole new level of happy. I’ve never willingly (yet uncontrolably) cried so much in my life.
But for now, here are a couple more pictures of AJ. The 2nd one was a great surprise in our packet that arrived in the mail yesterday afternoon. I am so so in love.

In some ways, I dont want to post this so soon, because I want you all to read the amazingness of the last post. But, I know you’re impatient and anxious to hear the important stuff.
So, say hello to my sweet prince.

How cute is he? His given name is Kunyoung Park. We will name him Andrew James Kunyoung Australie and likely call him AJ. Though, once we meet him, he may strike us as more of an Andy or Drew. We’re keeping it open for now. But until the day we meet (and you thought I was whining about the wait before!?!) we’ll call him AJ.
AJ was born on November 20, 2006. When he was born, he weighed a little under 7 pounds. At his last recorded check up in February (at 12 weeks of age), he weighed 14 pounds (I think) and is almost 24 inches. My big boy!
I promise more info tomorrow, as we sort through the stuff they sent us. But for now, its a boy! And he’s mine!
Now, go read the entry below, because my God is awesome.

“O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights? Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” - Isaiah 40:27-31

I certainly feel powerless, and so I would like to believe that God will give me strength. All I have to do is ask, right? So it says, over and over:
“That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”” - 1Kings 3:5

“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”  -Matthew 18: 19-20

“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.” -John 15:16-17

“But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!” -John 15:7

” And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.” -1John 5:15

“Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him. And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.” -1John 21-23

“But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.” -James 1:6

““Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” -Matthew 7:7

Right. But if thats true… then why is it that I have asked REPEATEDLY for a baby and my prayers are still unanswered? I mean, how am I supposed to believe he will give me strength during this time (a time that can be entirely blamed on him) when he hasnt answered my first request?

Because of this.
“May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” -Ephesians 3:19-20

Thanks God. Sorry that I need a reminder every other second that this is waaaay bigger than I seem to think. I really truely believe that you have placed this desire in my heart and it is part of my calling. I want to glorify you. Because of that, I believe you will provide what I’ve asked (a baby, from Korea, in case you forgot ;)) in the time that you have chosen. I know your plan is far better than mine, and if I am to complete a good work, it is best if I follow your path. In the mean time, please help me to remember this prayer. Give me strength-

And right then. RIGHT THEN. They called.