Back and Busy!

We returned to the states a couple weeks ago, and if the lack of posts is any indication of how it's been since, then you'll know that we have been busy.  Upon returning, we spent 3 days at Jess's parents, living out of a suitcase.  Then we boarded ANOTHER plane and went to Kansas City to meet with the board of directors for Kids International Ministries, and to enjoy the annual KIM golf outing.  A bit of praise- we have been accepted into the KIM family, and are now on the official ministry staff!  After 5 days in KC, we flew back to Jess's parents' house and stayed for 2 days again.  Then it was up to Russ's parents' house so that Russ could be in his cousin Jayson's wedding.  After a week in Warren, it's back to Jess's house for a baby shower- and that's where we are now, still living out of a suitcase.

It's been a whirlwind tour of northwest PA, and we haven't really had time to slow down and take a breath, but it's been awesome to see all of the people that we've missed so dearly while in Korea.  The little munchkin is growing and changing so much, and we've been doing our best to document it.   Here's a little sample of what's happening at this very moment while I type:

Anyway, we have yet to get into a routine, but we hope to establish a regular blog update schedule and to get to work on a monthly email newsletter, as well as a bi-monthly or quarterly paper newsletter.  If you'd like to receive either of those, please email us at rtphillips@gmail.com.  Thanks!

All packed up and ready to go

It's time.  We have one final day in Korea and then we leave first thing in the morning on Tuesday.  We are so very excited to see our friends and family back home, but it's hard to leave a place like this.  For all of its quirks, we love Korea. 

So here's to you, Land of Kimchi.

Here's to you, oh land of bad drivers.  We secretly like to drive just like you.

Here's to you, oh land of the men who pee on the side of the road.  We envy your freedom.

Here's to you, oh land of people who absolutely adore my daughter.

Here's to you, oh land of delicious dishes like Kal Guk Su and Dok Galbi.

Here's to you, oh land that tries really hard to learn at least a little bit of English so you can sell things to the me-gooks.

Here's to you, oh land with pizza topped with corn and sweet potatoes.  

Here's to you, oh wonderful country that has embraced us and loved us.

We will miss you!

It is done....

Welp, the school year is officially over. The students are gone, and the hallways are empty. Today was a day of sadness and joy mixed with hugs, tears, and laughter. Jess and I shared our last moments, maybe ever, with the students we've grown so close to over the last two years.

It was a little hectic at times, with Micaiah with us. But the students absolutely love her and we were glad to have her at the school with us. At the end of the day, with about 10 minutes left, I knew the time was drawing near. I had been waiting for this moment for a long time- half in want, half in dread. When it came time for the students to file out of the classroom for the last time, I knelt down and hugged each one as they left. To each of them, I said, "Goodbye (name), I love you and I'll miss you. Thank you for being my student." It wasn't so bad for the first few, emotional yes, but I was still going strong. But when Lucy came up to get her hug, I just couldn't do it anymore. The tears came, and they came abundantly. The remaining students, and some stragglers in the hall were a little bit surprised by it. The remaining third graders who hadn't received their hugs yet were affected as well, and showed extra affection.

It was bittersweet for sure. Maybe more bitter than sweet, but either way, it's done. I'll always have a place in my heart for those kids.

Join with us to sponsor a child for a year! Go to http://rtphillips.chipin.com/sponsor-a-kim-child for details!

More Micaiah Pictures

Our little diva. Or Thelma and Louise.. you decide.

She took the pacifier for the first time!! Hooray for free pinkies!

Micaiah and Mommy!

Smiley baby!

Micaiah and Daddy!

Micaiah is here!!!

It's been a long time since we've written... and we don't feel bad about that at all! We've been super busy the last week or so because OUR DAUGHTER MICAIAH LAYNE PHILLIPS ARRIVED! YIPEE!!!

On May 8, Jess and I went to a school banquet in Seoul. Jess has been having contractions for a couple months now, but the ones she was having at the banquet were a bit different. Stronger and very consistent. After the banquet at about 5, we decided to go to the local birthing clinic to get checked out to see if it was labor or not. At the clinic, Jess's mucus plug came out, which was a clear sign that yep, it was time. The doctor there confirmed our suspicions and it was back to Seoul for us.

We waited out about a billion more painful contractions in a little labor room at Samsung Hospital from 7pm until 5am when Jess just couldn't take the pain from the frequency, strength and duration of the contractions. She opted to get an epidural, which was a blessing. We finally got about 10 minutes of sleep! The whole time, we sat there watching Micaiah's heartrate and Jess's contractions on a monitor. At about 4am, the nurses put Jess on oxygen because the baby's heartrate showed that she was under a lot of stress. If that were to keep up for a couple more hours, Jess would have had to have a C-Section. We prayed about it, and God answered quickly. It had taken 12 hours for Jess to get from 1 to 3 cm dilated, but after the epidural, she quickly progressed and at 11am, she was at 9cm. A little pitocin pushed her the rest of the way and Micaiah was born at 11:32am, May 9th-- Mother's Day, also Micaiah's due date.

God's timing in this whole endeavor is nothing short of miraculous. Months back, the doctor told us that Jess was in danger of having pre-term labor. We fully expected her to go a month early. But she kept on. Finally, due to time constraints, we told the doctor that we wanted to be induced on May 10th. This was because we were going to be leaving 4 weeks from that time, and it takes 3 to get a passport for a baby. Also, Jess has relatives who have birthdays May 8, 10, 11, and 12. So it was very unlikely at this point that Micaiah would have her own birthday. A small prayer request, but it meant something to Jess nonetheless. On top of it all, we didn't really want to be induced at all- it was a last option type of thing for us.

Buuuut, God is good. He put Jess into labor at just the right time so that we wouldn't have to induce, Micaiah would get her own birthday, she was born on her due date (only 5% of babies are actually born on their due date!), and to top it off, she was born on Mother's Day. Also, we leave Korea on June 8th. Korean law says that if a child is in Korea for more than 30 days, you have to get them a Korean visa and an alien registration card. Well.. Micaiah was born May 9th- one day less than a month before we leave. No Korean visa for her. Blessing after blessing. God is good, He answers prayer!

From Micaiah to her cousins