Where Zinnia is, where we are

Zinnia Kate



Our darling girl

 It is nearing the end of April and the process of bringing Zinnia home is moving right along (not fast enough, of course!) Our arms and hearts ache to hold her, to hear her, to see her, to smell her. We go to sleep with her in our prayers and thoughts, and we awaken with her foremost in our minds.  We know she will be with us soon, and so we happily wait with anticipation.

Zinnia was referred to us in February, after a shockingly short wait. I was sure when Bonnie, our social worker, called, it was to tell us we had some sort of problem with our paperwork. She was just as surprised as I was, she had called the Oregon office to confirm that a)we were indeed recieving our referral, and b)that our referral was a girl! Bonnie then sent her medical file that we reviewed with our Dr. She has a moderate VSD and a minor ASD (these are holes in her little heart). After we sent in another mountain of paperwork, Korea sent us her legals. This is a bundle of the most amazing papers I have ever seen. What they stand for and how beautiful they are physically. This entire process just blows me away! Starting with Zinnia's incredibly selfless and loving birth mother who chose life, and the country of Korea who cares to find the best place for their littlest ones, even if that means sending them to another country.



Zinnia's care package

 
We are sending out a care package on Monday for little Zinnia. We're sending a photo album with our photos in it, a blanket I embroidered with her Korean name, Ji seon. And in this photo is a locket with her pictures that I wear all the time that I am planning to give to her foster mother when we meet Zinnia.

On Monday our social worker is also going to contact Korea to see if they will send a photo or a video (!) of Zinnia and her new condition that has apparently arisen. On her latest WBC (well baby check) we were informed that she has a 'tip toeing' issue and is being referred to an orthopedic surgeon. Hmmmm. Guess we'll have to wait and see what that means, but in the meantime we are hope hope hoping for an updated photo! She is almost 9months old, I can't imagine how she has changed! And a video?? I would die! So, fingers crossed!


So, where are we now? One big hurdle, the I 600 (immigration), was approved April 7th. The last big hurdle is the EP (emmigration permit, issued by Korea, allowing Zinnia to leave Korea). I talked to the Oregon office and they expect us to be in the next batch of EP submissions, sometime in the first half of May. So if all goes according to plan, we will travel to Korea in June or July! You know we are praying HARD for her to be home for her first birthday, July 27th.



The Opitz Family....someone's missing....




Finn in the first game played at the new stadium




Oscar and his Godiva brownie sundae (nope, he didn't finish it)




Addie and her usual laughing self.