Two Months at Home

Two Months at Home!

So, I've heard all of your cries for new photos and updates about our boys! :) We have been home a little over two months now. (Next week, it will be three months since we first met David - amazing!) Most days, we can barely remember our lives before David - he is so much a part of our family and our hearts. Other days, we think about the whirlwind that has been the last three months of our lives and wonder how on earth we are still standing! :) We know you all really just wanted to see how cute our sons are, but the proud Momma has to fill you in on all the details. So...here goes:

David is 11-1/2 months old this week - WOW! I can hardly believe that the tiny baby that I first held nearly three months ago will be one year old in a couple of weeks! He is hardly the same child that we first met, but I feel as though we are meeting the real David a little more each day. David has battled scabies in a mighty way this first year of his life. He also struggles with a severe form of eczema - a skin rash that breaks out periodically all over his little body. To put it simply, our sweet son itches. A lot. Almost all the time. Since we have been home, we have been for countless doctor visits and tried so many medications. It's been my full-time job the last couple of months to get him healthy. The good news is that he is definitely so much healthier than when we first met him. He is still a tiny guy, but not nearly as small as three months ago. He's gained about three pounds - might not seem like much, but to him, it's 20% of his total body weight! He eats like it too, with round-the-clock feedings about every 3 hours or so. Right now, I think he is taking about 40 oz. of formula a day, plus baby food! He had some catching up to do in the nourishment department, but I think he's definitely making a dent! Between the skin issues and the nighttime feedings, sleep has been a rare treat in our house since we've been home. (Thus, the very infrequent posts here - sorry!) I know though, it will only last for a season, and in time, David will be fully healthy and sleeping much better. Please forgive me, though, if it is a bleary-eyed season for me after close to three months of broken sleep! I'm taking the opportunity to blame all my typical craziness on lack of sleep right now - one of the benefits of being up at 2:00 a.m. on a regular basis!

So, aside from the health stuff, who is David? Well, he is such a tiny, feisty little fireplug! :) He is happy and smiling a lot of the time, and when he smiles, he really lights the place up! I finally caught a picture of him in the grass the other day that shows a glimpse of his real self. It's my favorite thus far. I'm pretty sure that he is going to be my mischief-maker, too, because there's always just a bit of a naughty twinkle in his eye! He is such a trooper, as he really fusses so little about his skin despite all the polka dots he continues to have. I think he learned early in life to find the bright side to his situation no matter what. Really, God has taught me a lot about my attitude from watching him. I wish that I could also be so constantly positive all the time! David is definitely a Momma's boy, and there is no place he would rather be than in my arms. I guess I won't complain too much about that one - my arms are a little tired occasionally, but my heart is full! :) He is still pretty uncertain around larger groups of people and with strangers. I am anxious for our friends and family to get to know the real David soon too, but I'm sure he's storing up plenty of mischief for them in years to come! :)

Will has been a great big brother so far. He started kindergarten in late-August. He goes half-days in the afternoons, so we still get to have some lazy-morning time with Mom and the boys. I'm really glad that Will isn't away full days yet. He has really gotten to know David better for being at home some. It also gives me a little more time to give him some extra attention, which I think is helping us through all the changes in our lives right now. When I stop to think about it, I am amazed at how Will has tolerated everything from Bill & I being away a whole month to having a new brother to starting school. Basically, his entire little world is different! Sure, we have had our days of tears and our days of testing behavior, but all in all, he has been a great kid, and I am so proud of him. He is a certainly a full-blown kid now - no more preschooler in him! He loves Legos, soccer, doing artwork, learning to read, and playing with his friends.

It's an unusual post for me to have so little news to report. Last year, not a month went by that we weren't travelling somewhere or going on some exciting adventure. This year, though, we've decided that our exciting adventure is right here under our roof! We've been to the zoo a couple of times, checked out a couple of baseball games, met up with our playgroup, hung out at the pool...all the basic everyday stuff. But, wow! Suddenly, with David in our lives, all the everyday stuff has become extraordinary! I think as a family, the four of us seem to all like it that way! :)

It hasn't always been easy since David's been home. I wanted to put in a special thank you to my lifelines, though. We have some dear, dear friends and family who have listened to me bellyache about tiredness, supported me through tears as we struggled to find a solution for David's skin, brought us dinners to our house when I was too exhausted to cook....the list of help just goes on and on. Our family, of course, tops that list, with their physical help when we first came home, and lately, the countless hours they've been available for phone chats. Our church group has also been so kind - both our Sunday School class and my Mom's Bible Study group. They have fed us physically and spiritually! :) My dear friend, Mai, is riding this journey of new babies with me, and I am so glad that we are taking this trip together! She's always there to cheer me up with a phone call, and her Mom has me hooked on Vietnamese Spring Rolls! Finally, there's my Adoptive Moms' group - Freshwater, as we call ourselves. They are a constant wealth of information, as many of them have been through these transitional times themselves. Most of all, they listen to me as I vent, encourage my heart, and pray for me regularly. I couldn't ask for more! :) If you are a part of this adoption experience, find a group of girls that can hold your hand and tell you that you are going to make it. You deserve it, and you will need it at some point. There are some special challenges to the adoption process. Don't miss out on the special blessings that include heart-friends like these!

For those of you blog-followers, I promise I won't be so long in posting next time! After all, we have a big birthday coming up soon! :) Keep in touch! For my dear blog-buddies still waiting to travel, I continue to pray for you regularly. You will make it, and it will be worth it in the end. "You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy!" - Psalm 30:11. I am praying that you will all be dancing soon!

At Long Last.....Photos! :)

Finding our Way to Normal!

Someone once said that "Normal is just a setting on my dryer!" I couldn't agree more! We are finding our way little by little towards the "NORMAL" setting in our lives...but we're not quite holding our breath for it yet! :) After a week of help and love from our extended family, we are now working on being just the four of us. In our lives, that includes:

• anywhere from 6-9 bottles a day, mostly taken at night
• sleeping in 2-3 hour increments (yes, for an entire month!)
• countless diaper changes (you could count them, but why?)
• loads of tiny, sweet laundry items to be washed
• more smiles than we could ever have asked for from both of our boys

Yes, it's an adjustment getting used to having two sons in our household. No, we wouldn't have it any other way. Will has been a great big brother. He loves to play with David, and is never too busy to help. He even patted David's leg and told him how proud he was when David had to get his first shots this week. Will said, "David was such a trooper! He did really good at the doctor!" I'd say Will has been quite a trooper this summer as well, and we couldn't be more proud of him.

David continues to be a joy. His health is continuing to improve, and little by little, his scabies sores are disappearing. It's fun to see his little personality start to shine as he plays with his toys, crawls all over the house, and is starting to try his hardest to pull up! He LOVES being held, and would prefer life best if I held him 25 hours a day. Needless to say, my ability to get things done is drastically reduced, but then, my required "to do" list is pretty short too: 1) Hold David, and 2) Love on Will. So, perhaps the laundry will continue to pile up and the delivery menus will get a lot of use, but that's okay with us! :)

Today is the one-month anniversary of our G&R date. David has officially been our son for an entire month! Cupcakes for everyone!

Home Sweet Home!

We arrived home the afternoon of July 3 to a great cheering crew at the OKC airport! Thanks to family, Clines, and Archers for a fun welcome! David did well....not so great on the flight from Hanoi to Tokyo, but then made up for it by being an absolute angel on the long leg from Tokyo to DFW. We were so, so glad to see friends and family and most of all, Will! :)

Sorry to be slow-on-the-post, so to speak, but the past few days have been a whirlwind of activities and emotions. We've had so much help from both sets of grandparents (Thanks, Everyone!) which we needed so much. I'll be honest, the jetlag is tough, and jetlag with a baby who wakes every two hours all night to eat is a bit of a challenge! We're definitely not feeling as young as when we stayed up all night in college, that's for sure. But, then, college was well, a LOT of years ago! :) I know this may rattle the adoption bonding cages a bit, but we recommend that those of you with babies soon to come home line up a little extra help the first couple of weeks that you are home. Sometimes it's just nice to have a home-cooked meal and clean laundry magically appear! Thanks again, Grandma and Gram!

David's been a charmer through all of the changes this past week. He's been to multiple doctors about his scabies. Please feel free to e-mail me privately if you have scabies in your world as well - we are learning how to deal with it, and thanks to a series of medications, he is much improved now. Overall, though, despite his skin woes, he is a surprisingly feisty little man - gaining nearly a pound in weight in three weeks (I guess those round-the-clock feedings are paying off!), crawling across the living room, playing toys with his new big brother. We still feel as though we need to pinch ourselves occasionally to prove that this is not just a dream and he is really ours! "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gifts!"

We have plenty of shameless pride photos of our two boys at home, but we haven't spent the time necessary fiddling with cameras and computers to get them in the blog. Check back soon, but don't hold your breath if it's a few days before you see them - we're just too busy loving our kids right now! :)

Don't just survive....THRIVE!

Thank you to all of you who have sent your good wishes to us and followed our journey here in Vietnam.  Based on the number of e-mails I’ve been receiving, many of you adoptive families yet to travel are interested in some of the practicalities of living life in Vietnam.  So, after a month of experience, I am TOTALLY not qualified to answer! :)  Still, I will try to give you a few of my thoughts on how to not just survive but THRIVE during your stay in Vietnam.

First of all, though, I have to be a bit preachy.  You see, before you can begin to thrive in this country, you have to actually WANT to do so.  I know that seems beyond obvious, but it is not necessarily the prevailing attitude that Americans seem to exhibit here.  If you are only travelling to Vietnam to pick up your child and return home post haste, perhaps this post isn’t for you.  But, if you want to fall in love with this country, its people and customs, and most of all, the special part of your new son or daughter that is and forever will be Vietnamese, then read on:

1. Find SOMETHING good to say about everything that you see or do.  Instead of being scared of the hoards of scooters everywhere, play our game and try to pick out your favorite one each day.  Bill and I have developed scooter preferences by paying attention to their details, which seem to be a way of expressing Vietnamese personality.  Seriously, my friend Natasha gave one of the best pieces of advice on her blog that has helped us enormously during our time here:  do NOT complain about things that you cannot control EVER.  This rule includes heat, hunger, crying babies, surprise thunderstorms, spit-ups and full diapers, busy traffic….the list is endless.  Just don’t complain.  Period.
2. Find a way to eat Vietnamese food.  Really.  Now, I didn’t really care for much of the Vietnamese food that we had in the U.S. so this was a step of faith for me.  The food here is just so much better, fresher, and more wonderful than anything I attempted at home.  Here’s a list of  some of the favorites that Bill and I have found:  chicken with lemongrass and chili, stewed or braised pork in clay pot, chicken or pork with ginger sauce, five-spice rubbed beef or pork, fresh spring rolls, fried spring rolls (especially in the South – Can Tho is best), pho (especially in the North, although Pho 24 is just absolutely wonderful and inexpensive in both Hanoi and Saigon), anything served satay style – chicken, beef, pork, or meatball, anything served with cashews – they grow here and are so much nuttier than any in the U.S., braised chicken with ginger and lemon leaf (one of my absolute favorites).
3. I’m also going to list the foods that I have learned are also a big part of Vietnamese cuisine, even though they are not quintessentially Vietnamese.  They include:  croissants – any style, including plain, chocolate, ham and cheese stuffed, with nutella – they are soooo good any time of day, brick-oven pizza has been really tasty throughout the country, especially with fresh tomatoes, the French sandwiches and roasted tomato soup (again with those fresh tomatoes!), soda water with a squeeze of lime (very refreshing when it’s hot), the baguettes that are so soft, all sorts of beautiful pastries (our favorites are Opera cake, with chocolate and hazelnut fillings and the cheesecakes), and our all-time highlight of the trip, fresh coconut ice cream.  Simply not to be missed.
4. Hire a tour guide.  The guides are wonderful, friendly, and full of good information.  We’ve learned more about the history and culture of this country in a couple of days with a good guide than we would have in a year without one.  We’ll put in a plug for our travel agent, Tommy Nguyen, at Vietnam Luxury Travel (www.vietnamluxurytravel.com).  His staff has been so helpful.  We have been able to focus on enjoying the country rather than navigating the streets and buying the entrance tickets to sites, thanks to them.  They also arrange everything from hotels to Ha Long Bay trips.
5. Don’t hide inside.  I know it’s hard to get out with your new babies, but you’ll be glad you did.  Even if you just do something simple like taking a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake or hiring a cyclo for an hour to see the Old Quarter, you’ll be so glad to have the memories.  And of course, enjoy a bit of that great food while you’re out as well! :)  It’s always better NOT eaten in a hotel room!
6. Enjoy the shopping here.  The Vietnamese are so good with handmade items that we have focused there.  The list of choices is endless – lacquerware, bambooware, embroidery, quilts, silk clothing and purses, paintings, just to name a few.  Take some time away from the Tax Center in Saigon to browse the small shops and galleries on Dong Khoi – you won’t be disappointed.  Make sure to enjoy the thrill of the hunt in the Old Quarter in Hanoi, whether your goal is to find the funniest t-shirt, the most beautiful purse, or the cheapest DVD.  Don’t miss 44 Le Loi for smocking, embroidered children’s clothing and tablecloths in Saigon (less than 2 blocks from the Rex).  Also, don’t miss the Vietnam Quilt Shop at 16 Hang Tre or the entire streets of Hang Be, Ma May and Ly Quoc Su in the Old Quarter of Hanoi.
7. Take good care of yourself physically.  This trip is tiring, no doubt about it, so treat yourself well and you’ll make it better.  First, I would really recommend arriving  a couple of days before you are supposed to travel to your child’s orphanage if you possibly can.  Jet lag hit us the worst on Days 3 and 4, and I think it would be more special if you had passed that point prior to meeting your child and having your G&R.  Also, eat well (again, see the list above – this one just isn’t so hard in Vietnam!) and stay well-hydrated.  Finally, consider seriously whether or not you bring your other small children along on the trip.  The tiredness, jetlag, and emotional changes of a whole new world with a brand new child are extreme for an adult, yet alone a youngster.  Bill and I personally would not have had the physical strength to care for another child during this time.  God has been gracious to us, allowing our 5-year-old back in the U.S. to have a wonderful bonding time with his grandparents.  Even at his young age, he has learned so much about being thankful  for the times we have with our family and the lesson that all good things require a little  something sacrificial of us, including the great thing of having a new brother.  Lessons I hope he will take with him beyond just this time while we are away.

I hope that this list has been helpful to you.  I’m sure I’ve raised an eyebrow or two, but please remember that these are my own personal musings.  You and your families may come up with other answers as to how to love your time here, and I wish you that blessing!  As these are just personal opinions on my part, I am going to take the rare opportunity to close this blog to comments.  Please take what good you gleam from this post, toss any bad that you find, and most of all, fall in love with Vietnam!  :)

Saturdays in the Park!

We've been back in Hanoi, enjoying a relaxing and quiet time with David this week.  So what have we been doing to fill our days lately?  Here's a list of some of the highlights:

• Took a walk through the Old Quarter and a tour of a Hanoi tube house.  It was so interesting to see the simple furnishings and kitchen that a family of six uses for their daily living.  The house is at 87 Ma May Street, and admission is a whopping 5,000 dong (about 30 cents!)  Go spend your wad and see it - we recommend it highly to better understand Vietnamese daily life.
• Made a trip out for groceries and laundry.  Grocery stores are not at every major intersection here in Hanoi the way they are at home, so it's a real excursion to get normal chores done.  The laundry was sooooo worth it though - only $15 to wash and fold a large suitcase worth of stuff!  Wish we could figure out how to import that one to the U.S. - I'd bring it just for you, Shelly and Sheila! :)
• Took a long walk all the way around Hoan Kiem Lake on Saturday night.  There were so many families out, eating ice cream, playing badminton, enjoying the cooler weather, as it had rained that afternoon.  David slept peacefully in his carrier the entire time.  What a beautiful evening!
• Had a fantastic Italian dinner at Leone d'Oro's across from the Opera House, courtesy of the Clines' suggestion!
• Enjoyed a night out for Bill to hear the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra at the Hanoi Opera House - my birthday gift to him!  Besides, any time that you can hear the Symphony for $12/ticket, you just gotta go!
• Took a long taxi ride around town to see some different parts of the city and to go to a very modern Hanoi shopping mall.  We had a great time looking at all the clothing and fashion that is trendy here, but our very favorite part was the appliance store.  Bill loved the big t.v.'s (of course, it's a guy thing) and Paula was amazed by the tiny kitchen appliances.  Most Vietnamese do not have any refrigeration in their homes.  The wealthiest have a fridge that is about 24" wide by about 4 feet tall.  Most Vietnamese cook outdoors on a homemade stove/grill (made often from a large coffee can or a clay flower pot and fired with either wood kindling or charcoal).  The wealthiest Vietnamese go to the appliance store and buy either a single flat hot plate or a small wok-style electric skillet and perhaps a rice cooker.  That's about it! :)  Definitely not the typical HGTV dream kitchen, but it seems to work amazingly well here!
• Went for dinner with some new friends at the Green Tangerine Restaurant on Hang Be Street.  Wonderful food, wonderful atmosphere, wonderful conversation!  Thanks Heather and Paul for a great evening!  By the way, their sweet Dylan is also from the Vinh Long orphanage, and they had their G&R just a few days after ours!

We've posted some more photo highlights below.  Of course, our favorite times have been spent just playing with David and enjoying his happy smile.  You may notice in the close-up photo that he has quite a little rash on his face right now.  We saw a Western Doctor this week, and she believes it is a reaction to the strong medicine that we had to use to treat his scabies.  He continues to amaze us, though, by smiling and cooing despite all the polka dots! :)  

We'll be heading home in just two days!  We have loved our time here in Vietnam, and now we are so excited and ready to introduce David to big brother Will and the rest of the family!  Don't be surprised if we don't post again for a bit; we will be too busy just being a happy family having a Happy 4th of July at home!

Hanoi Highlights

Visa - it's exactly where we want to be! :)

Today was a really big day for us!  We got ourselves all dressed up and went to the U.S. Embassy.  We paid our fees and had a very cursory (like 2 minutes) interview with an Immigration Officer.  Bill gave an official sworn statement as the primary petitioner that all the papers presented were true and correct to the best of his knowledge.  The officer then stamped a little claim check, not at all unlike a car valet receipt, and told us that David's Visa would be ready any time after 4:30 p.m.  Just like that, it was finished!  The process of adopting is not a short trip, so it seems a little surreal to have David in hand, let alone all of his papers necessary to return to the U.S.

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Now we get to sit back and relax - literally.  On the wise counsel of our adoption agency, we had previously booked our return flight to leave on July 2 and land on July 3, allowing us plenty of time for any hiccups along the way.  God has been so gracious that our entire process has been accomplished without any paperwork issues, so we are finished a few days early.  We are not planning to change our flights though.  Instead, we are going to take it easy and enjoy the beauty of Hanoi, the air-conditioning and great care of the Hilton, and get to know our son.

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We're also going to let him get to know us.  You see, his little world is one big ball of changes right now.  After all, he had lived his entire young life in a kind and caring but very rural orphanage.  Suddenly, these two smiling faces (a.k.a., Bill and me) pick him up and whisk him into a world of cities, scooters, sights and sounds.  David has been an absolute trooper, hanging pretty tough despite all the changes.  The extra few days of quiet will do him a lot of good though, before we ask a huge task of him as we load him onto an airplane for 8,600 miles and 12 time zones!  (Hopefully, sitting close to us on the planes won't be a huge task for our fellow fliers!)  

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Thank you all for your prayers and support for us during this entire multi-year process.  Please continue to pray us all the way home.  We ask that you would pray for David's health right now - he has a nasty case of scabies that causes skin issues for him.  He is also working hard to adjust to life on Western formula and baby food, so pray for his little tummy to stay well.  Pray for wisdom for us as parents as we are trying to learn his schedule and world and to help him feel safe and secure with us.  

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I've posted some first-week highlight photos below.  Sorry it took so long to get them on the blog.  Our internet is much slower here, our eyes are a bit bleary from being awake nights with an infant, and our hands are more full taking care of our new son!  Most of all, though, our hearts have grown to hold even more love for another sweet boy! :)  Praise be to God, from Whom all blessings flow!

Meeting David!

Back in Saigon with our Son!

So sorry we have been blog-delinquent!  You see, our lives changed dramatically on Thursday morning when David became our son!  He's been our son in our hearts for so long, and now, our dream has come true and he is our son legally in the eyes of Vietnam.  

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How do you describe David?  Words can hardly contain all the joy he is already bringing to us.  If I were to sum it up in one phrase, he is a tiny little ball of happiness!  Tiny definitely describes him physically; though almost 9 months old, he weighs 13.5 lb.  He is wearing the 6-months clothes that I brought for him and they are about twice as big as he is! :)  We're rolling sleeves and pantlegs bigtime! :)  Although he is tiny, he is just about the happiest kid I've seen in awhile.  He loves to be held and snuggled, and he already lights up like a Christmas Tree every time he sees Bill or me.  Literally, this morning I was greeted like a soldier coming home from war after I returned from taking a 10-minute shower! :)  

David's size doesn't in any way relate to his development either; though he's so tiny, he can roll over both directions, sit up, and crawl across the room.  If his Momma wasn't dressing him in oversized clothes, he could crawl across the room in about 20 seconds, but the extra padding seems to slow him down a bit! :)  He is also babbling a lot and seems to have some important things to tell us, judging by the way he raises his eyebrows and bobs his head when he talks.  I hauled American toys 8,600 miles over here, and of course, his favorite things to play with are the cardboard boxes his bottles came in and the vinyl bag I use to store his bottles! :)  Typical kid!

We are enjoying a quiet weekend here in Saigon now that all of our paperwork and doctor's visit are finished.  What a blessing too - the paperwork in the U.S. was tedious, but it's a little exhausting with a baby in tow that wants to be held constantly!  For you soon-to-travel families, make sure to bring a baby carrier - it's worth every penny you spend on it! :)  David falls asleep well in his too, so it's a good way to start naptimes.

Monday afternoon, we will fly to Hanoi.  We expect to be there a week, finishing David's paperwork at the U.S. Embassy and getting final approval to bring this boy home!  If all goes well, David will be an American citizen when we land back in the U.S. just in time for the Fourth of July! :)  Hot dogs, burgers, BBQ, ice cream, and apple pie for everyone, I say! (Can you tell we've eaten a lot of Vietnamese food this past month?  I love the food here, but boy will my Dad's brisket be a treat as well!  Absence truly does make the heart grow fonder!)

Will, we miss you, but are so, so glad that you are having fun in Oklahoma.  Enjoy your trips to the pool and all the outings.  Can't wait to see your Indiana Jones Legos!  I know you will especially enjoy Grandparent Palooza next weekend - four grandparents (plus Ron & Gaile, almost surrogates as well!) and one kid!  Let the spoiling begin! :)  

Xin Chao from Saigon!

"Xin Chao" is Vietnamese for "Hello", so Hello from Saigon! :)  We are settled in at the Rex hotel now here in Saigon.  The first part of our trip is finished, and now we begin the grand finale - meeting David and bringing him home!  

The flight from Hoi An/Danang to Saigon is only one hour, but it feels as though you have travelled to a whole new world.  Saigon feels like a very large American city, but Bill & I can't agree which one it is most like.  Bill says Saigon reminds him of New York, with all the hustle and bustle and the fact that it never slows down much at night.  I think of the Las Vegas strip a little here, with all the neon lights and a bit of glitz.  Saigon is the most Western of all the cities in Vietnam, with a melting pot of architecture, restaurants, and people.  We seemed to be the only Americans in the other parts of Vietnam.  In Saigon, on the other hand, we are one of many, and we were able to have spaghetti, pizza, and Diet Coke today for lunch.  I even bought Maybelline lipstick yesterday at the mall across the street from our hotel.  Having experienced several parts of Vietnam, I have to say though, that what you gain in convenience in Saigon, you lose a bit in culture and charm.  Saigon's new, it's modern, it's sleek - it's just a little low on history and beauty compared with other parts of the country.

On Saturday when we arrived here, we toured the downtown area a little bit and saw some of the beautiful buildings here.  We went by the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post office, and the local market here.  We had intended to tour Reunification Palace on Sunday, but it was closed due to the funeral of a previous Vietnamese Prime Minister.  Instead, we went to Saigon's Chinatown and saw the throngs of cheap products that you can buy there.  We also enjoyed wandering through some of the interesting shops and galleries in downtown.  Sunday night, Bill & I had dinner on a boat cruise on the Saigon River, which runs adjacent to the downtown area.  It was a great view of the lights of the city and a great way to finish our touring time.

Tomorrow, we will head down to Vinh Long and Can Tho.  Vinh Long is a small, rural town without Western hotels or restaurants safe for the tummy, so we'll stay in Can Tho across the river.  Can Tho is the fourth largest city in the country (after Saigon, Hanoi, and Danang).  The other three adoption families here right now all have children at the Can Tho orphanage, so we'll be able to spend some of the evenings with them.  We'll ferry back and forth across the river to visit the orphanage until David's G&R ceremony on Thursday morning.  If all goes smoothly, we will travel back to Saigon with David on Thursday afternoon and fly to Hanoi on Monday, June 23.  

Next post:  David! :)

The Charm of Hoi An

A View of Hue

Hue and Hoi An - Part 2

Hoi An
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Note to readers: I posted these blogs about Hue and Hoi An at the same time. Sorry for the delay, we have had limited internet access. Start with the one below about Hue, then move on to this one!
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We drove from Hue to Hoi An, crossing the mountains at Hai Van Pass – literally translated Pass of the Ocean Clouds. The road is the Vietnamese Route 1 – interestingly, the same as the other side of the Pacific along the California coastline. The road winds along the coast, through rice patties with views of the ocean and little fishing villages beyond. You pass the little town of Lang Co, where we stopped for a break and took pictures of the aquariums of fresh seafood where you can pick and eat! They have prawns here that are as long as from my hand to my elbow! Past Lang Co, we headed up the pass across the mountains. The road is lush and pretty, with greenery growing everywhere – very tropical. For those of you wondering, I did great despite my tendency towards carsickness, probably because you only drive about 20 mph max and because my Mom and Leigh B. have been praying for my tummy! J Seriously, the road is lovely and in good condition, although it is very steep (8% grade) and filled with switchbacks and hairpin curves. We enjoyed the drive during the day, but I kept thinking how scary it must’ve been for the U.S. military that defended it during the War – literally, every turn was a spot for ambush from the Viet Kong. Even today, it’s probably pretty hairy when it’s wet, as indicated by the number of altars along the way built to the god of not dying in a car crash!
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After the pass, we reached Danang – today a bustling industrial town and major seaport, during the War a large base for US operations and the well-known China Beach. If Hue is a picture of Vietnam’s past, Danang may be its future – tons of industrial factories making everything from LG washing machines to Crocs shoes. The beach is also a skyline of tower cranes right now, building resorts as far as you can see. Some of the travel magazines call Danang “the next Hawaii” and I understand why, because there are high-rise beachfront resorts and condos, as well as ultra-luxurious spa-type lush resorts being built everywhere. Twenty years ago, the land along the beachfront from Danang to Hoi An (about 20 miles) was so worthless that it was only used as cemeteries – nothing grew and everything flooded there. Now, it’s a tourism goldmine!
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There’s good reason for all the building, because the beach is gorgeous. It reminded Bill & me of the Florida panhandle – wide, white beaches, blue ocean with low surf great for swimming, jet-skiing and fishing. It is even better here, though, because there are mountain views as well. Amazingly pretty!
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Hoi An is charming. The people here are craftsmen – very talented at all sorts of handcrafts. We stopped at a marble factory, where they carve ornate marble and jade sculptures. We toured a ceramics village, where clay is still mixed by feet (stomping to soften and mix it, sort of like old-time wine production) and then pottery is formed and fired. Very pretty people, but very, very poor – the mechanized production of dishes and steel cookware has left them almost penniless, and it shows. A highlight for us was to stop at a silk factory, where we toured to see all the way from the silkworms through the production of the silk, the huge rooms of looms, and then the finished fabric. We splurged on some handmade, custom clothing there – Bill bought silk shirts and had a suit and a blazer made, I had two silk blouses and two skirts made. (The highest-quality, hand-made, silk blouse with gorgeous embroidery cost me $30 – what a deal!)
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Hoi An was an ancient seaport, and it feels like a melting pot here. We walked the town (no cars allowed in town) and saw a Japanese-style covered bridge, a Chinese clan meeting house, and a 400-year-old typical Hoi An Vietnamese home. Really neat! Just like in most of Vietnam, the front of each house is a shop or restaurant, selling anything from handmade jewelry to clothes to paintings. The back of the house and the second story are where the family lives. Most Vietnamese still sleep on a bamboo mat, although many put the mat on a solid wood bed frame now instead of on the ground – still not our cushy American beds! Most Vietnamese also still cook behind their homes unless it rains, often on a wood-fired small stove. Propane is available, but is still pretty expensive, so they try to save money and cook over wood fire instead.
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Even though the cooking is simple, the food is incredible – really the best we’ve had so far in Vietnam. Hoi An specializes in rice vermicelli noodles, often served stir-fried with a sauce of peanuts, lime juice, chilies, and soy sauce. They’re topped with pork or shrimp, bamboo sprouts, and lots of mint and cilantro. Tasty! My favorite here is the wontons – a large wonton (like 4-inches square) deep fried crispy and served with diced vegetables on top. So good! Will would love it here because they always serve the fried wontons with the meals – he calls them “Chinese Chips” when we order take-out at home, and they are his favorite part of the meal! The first night, we had dinner at a lovely restaurant on their outdoor patio under a bamboo-thatched roof. A few minutes into dinner, a huge thunderstorm came up, but we stayed totally dry, enjoying our dinner while listening to the rain on the roof and enjoying the coolness the rain brings – really a wonderful evening!
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We also went for a walk on the beach, Bill swam in the ocean just to say he’d done the beach on both sides of the Pacific, I sat under a bamboo-thatched umbrella and sipped fruit juice – all included with our hotel room! Like I said, it’s the next Hawaii! :) I can’t even begin to describe how beautiful the flowers are on our hotel grounds, so I’ll post pictures instead. Let’s just say, there are so many flowers here and they put them everywhere – on the bed, on the bathroom counter, even in the toilets! :)
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Later today, we will drive back to Danang and fly to Saigon. We will tour there for a couple of days, and then meet up with our Dillon group to go see David! :) We had a special surprise, as many of the Dillon families received their travel approvals this week, including our dear friends from OKC, Mai & Chad. They are meeting us Monday in Saigon, and we are thrilled! :) Their son is in Can Tho, where we will spend our nights, across the Mekong River from where David is in Vinh Long. My heart already races at the idea that we are maybe 4-5 days from meeting him for the first time!
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Off to catch our flight to Saigon! More to come soon!

Hue and Hoi An - Part 1

Hue and Hoi An
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Hue and Hoi An are smaller Vietnamese cities, lying closer to the center of the country. Though they are only maybe 50-60 miles apart, they are almost two different worlds.
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Hue is the old imperial city, where the last kings of Vietnam lived. In the early-1800’s, the king of Vietnam moved the capital of the country from Hanoi to Hue, to a more central geography for better control of the entire country and to be farther away from the threat of Chinese invasion. The past still looms large in Hue, and most of the tourist sites relate to the king. We toured the remains of the imperial palace and stood on the top of the wall where the king would address all of the people. We also toured the tomb of Ming Mang – considered one of the fairest and best of the Vietnamese kings. It’s not a tomb in the way we think as Americans; rather, it is a beautiful acreage, with ornate gardens and several buildings all surrounded by a high stone wall. King Ming Mang was said to have had 500 wives and 142 children (at least, though with 500 wives, how could you really keep track!). When he died, all of his wives and children moved to the tomb site to live out the rest of their lives. Although one of his sons became the new king, keeping all the jealous brothers, sisters, and mothers nearby evidently was not an option!
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Hue is also linked to the past in another strong way. It is the closest significantly-sized city to the heart of the fighting of the Vietnam War. We took a boat ride a couple of miles up the river from Hue, and we were only maybe 20 miles from the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) and could still see remnants of the Ho Chi Minh Trail on the mountain in front of us. There are reminders of the war all around Hue – concrete bunkers, old military bunkhouses, and lots of stories of the war. It’s amazing how close we were to it all – only 15-20 miles from Quan Tri, maybe 50 miles from the border to Laos. Our guide was 8 years old when Saigon fell, and he remembers much about the war. Hue was strongly sympathetic to the South and very allied to the American forces there, so life was hard for them after the war ended. Although the area seems to have a good future with lots of industry and manufacturing building nearby and promising tourism with the Imperial and military sites, the past will always be near in Hue.
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The Hue festival was going on while we were in town. The city was at its prettiest, with silk lotus flowers and lanterns hung in all the trees. Hue is cut in half by the Perfume River, and the heart of town lies along its banks. There were huge silk lotus flowers (bigger than a boat) floating in the river that lit up at night. The bridges across the river were all lit up as well – really enchanting, especially looking down from our 12th floor hotel room. The festival was a week of music and dance troupes from around the world. There were also boat races during the day, where teams of paddlers (think crew in a Vietnamese bamboo boat!) would race on the river. Each village could submit one team to race, and the winners received $500 U.S. and a pig! There were lots of people sitting on the shore watching the races when we took our boat tour up the Perfume River.
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Hoi An is next!

Ha Long Bay!

A view of Hanoi

Ha Long Bay

How do you describe Ha Long Bay?  There just aren’t words.  Now, keep in mind that Bill & I grew up in Colorado, hiking in the Rockies.  We’ve travelled just about everywhere in the U.S. but there is nothing, nothing, nothing we’ve ever seen as beautiful as this place.  The rocks, the greenery, the peaceful waters – it’s just indescribable. 

We booked an overnight cruise on a boat in Ha Long Bay.  We arrived about noon, boarded the boat, and were absolutely floored.  It looked nice in the website pictures, but it is the most beautiful  hotel we’ve ever stayed in.  The floors are teak wood, the walls and ceilings paneled in bamboo.  The dining room has silk tablecloths and hotel china.  The staterooms are queen-sized beds with fluffy hotel linens and full-sized bathrooms and showers.  So luxurious!

We had lunch on the boat while sailing to our first stop.  First stop was an island with a beach and lookout tower.  The tower was 400 VERY steep steps up, but really worth the climb.  You could see the whole bay from up there!  Okay, I admit, Bill made it to the top of the 400 steps – I stopped at an intermediate landing at 250 – still really great! :)  He keeps telling me he’s one up on me though, at the top of the world! 

We sailed on a bit more, and then anchored for the night.  Bill & I had made arrangements for a two-person kayak.  We kayaked for about an hour or so, through a couple of caves and to a hidden lake, completely surrounded by one of the Ha Long islands.  It was just about the coolest thing we’ve ever done!  We saw sea eagles swooping down over us to catch fish straight from the bay.  One of the caves had a lot of bats too – yikes!  Little mouse-sized ones, but still!  Our guide went first and chased them out, but the bat-thought was definitely on my mind! :)  When we got half-way inside, Bill says, “Boy, I bet there are a lot of snakes and spiders in here too!” just to be mean to me!  No more Indiana Jones movies for him for awhile!

We swam a little, and then had a nice Vietnamese dinner of fresh fish and seafood on the boat.  Prawns were the size of your hand, I swear!  So good! 

In the morning, we had coffee and croissants, and then went to tour another island to tour a really big cave there.  It’s like 10,000 square meters – really big!  We came back to a huge brunch on the boat and some free time to write this post while sailing back to Ha Long Town.

On the way to and from Ha Long Bay, we stopped at Dong Trieu ceramic and pottery village for some major shopping.  This village is all staffed by disabled children and street children.  The village supports them as well as trains them to the highest level in all sorts of Vietnamese handwork – jade carving, marble carving, jewelry making, embroidery, lacquer ware, silk-making and embroidery, and woodcarving.  It is just literally room after room after room of beautiful, unusual things made by these kids.  They are beyond talented.  Suffice it say, we already have to buy a new suitcase! :)  Please, please, please stop here though if you travel to Ha Long Bay!  It’s so great because it provides for those who most need it and it is a quick and easy way to hit a lot of the highlights all at once.  All prices are in US dollars, and you really don’t bargain here, which is great for me.  I love this country so much, I keep wanting to pay more for what I buy, rather than less, so I stink at the bargaining!

 Tonight we are off to Hoa Sua – a recommendation of the Clines, our resident Hanoi experts! :)  It is a French restaurant that is also run as a training center for disadvantaged young people.  Our tour guide said he thinks it is some of the best Western food in Hanoi as well.  We’ll let ya know! :)

P.S. - I posted two posts at the same time, so read about Hanoi below, if you haven't done so yet! 

Touring Hanoi

I’m totally enchanted with Hanoi!  It’s a mix of old and new everywhere – literally.  On the same street, you can buy either a brand-new, state-of-the-art LG washing machine (your drooling, Shelly Cline!) or a freshly-butchered pig!  There are thousands of little shops everywhere, each its own little Mom-&-Pop place with its own little niche.  Usually they only sell one or two items in each place – might be copier paper, might be kites, might be shoes, and might be copper wire.  But it’s their specialty, and they seem to make a happy living at it.  All the shopkeepers sit  on little plastic step stools in front of their shops, eating noodles, playing with their children, maybe shucking corn for tonight’s dinner, talking together.  It’s really peaceful in the midst of the big-city chaos.

Because Hanoi is a really BIG city.  It feels bigger here than Chicago to me.  Not bigger as in skyscrapers, bigger as in waaaaay more people.  There are people and motorscooters and cars everywhere.  The streets are very, very full with everyone just living there lives – going to the market for food (so gorgeous, I think I may never shop at my sad little grocery store again!), running errands, delivering goods…you name it.

We spent the first half of our tour day in Hanoi visiting the major sites.  We saw the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh’s house, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Hanoi Hilton Prison (really creepy!), Hoan Kiem Lake, The Red Bridge and a Temple by the Lake.  It sounds like a lot, but really everything is only packed into the downtown area – only about maybe one or two square miles, so you can get to all of it really quickly.  (We also had a tour guide who knew where he was going to make it happen too!)  I wish I could describe everything to you, but I just don’t have that much typing time!  My general impression is that it is all beautiful, and it is so much better with a guide to tell you the stories behind the buildings.  There is so much history, pride, and tradition here in Hanoi – it is reminded Bill & I constantly of how you feel when you visit Washington D.C. 

Late in the afternoon, we went to the Water Puppet Theater.  It’s neat to see – basically, the puppets are controlled with really long bamboo sticks submerged under a pool of water, so it looks like the puppets are floating on the pool.  The puppet show is accompanied by traditional Vietnamese singers and musicians, playing instruments similar to an autoharp, a mandolin, and big kettle drums.  They sing the stories that the puppets are acting out in Vietnamese, sort of like an opera.  The sound is sort of beautiful and eerie all at the same time.  It must be a tourist favorite, because there were a ton of charter buses parked in front, and we were NOT the only Americans there! :)

More to tell you later!  Ha Long Bay is next!

Hello from Hanoi!

We’ve made it to Hanoi!  After a couple of long days on airplanes, we have arrived in Hanoi!  We flew from OKC to Chicago, Chicago to Tokyo (12-hr flight), and then Tokyo to Hanoi (5-hr flight).  Our flight from Chicago to Tokyo was a 777 – the biggest of the commercial airplanes, and every single seat was full.  It is amazing to think that there are probably 500 people on your plane.  The service was great, but there’s just no getting around the fact that 12 hours is a LONG time to be on the plane!

We’re settled for a couple of days here in Hanoi.  Tomorrow, we are taking a tour of some of the major sites in the city – Ho Kiem Lake, Ho Chi Minh’s Masoleum, the Hanoi Hilton Prison Site, the One Pillar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature.  We’ll round out the day with a ride in a cyclo (think peddle-cab or rickshaw on a bike) and a Water Puppet Theater show.  Should be a whirlwind, but a good way to get to see the grandness of Old Hanoi.

Thanks for all your prayers for our flight and smooth arrival.  All baggage arrived and cleared customs easily.

We’ll try to get some photos posted before we leave for Ha Long Bay if we can!

Hello from Chicago!

So, we’re finally off! I’m writing this post from the airplane, somewhere between Oklahoma City and Chicago. We flew out this afternoon, will spend the night at the airport hotel in Chicago, and then, the real adventure begins! I admit to being a little misty-eyed when I said goodbye to Will today – it’s a big step to leave him for this long. My McDonald’s girls keep reminding me that it’s probably a bigger step for me than for him – he’ll love his Grandparent time, VBS, and T-Ball games. I know he’ll have a few hard days through at some point this month, but it was definitely the right choice for us that he stayed at home. I miss you, Buggy, but I hope you are having a great time! Have fun at the circus this weekend!
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A few thoughts after 5 SOLID days of packing for my adoption buddies still on the wait:

• Really, really, really do EVERYTHING you can ahead of time! I know that we are flying out faster than many families, but the amount of work necessary to get everything together for two adults and a baby is gargantuan! Wow, we travel a lot in the States, so I know that planning is necessary, and I am really an organizer by nature, but I was a little overwhelmed by it all at times this past weekend.
• Go through your travel documents and adoption papers BEFORE you get your I-600 pre-approval. I had procrastinated on this part, and once the adrenaline started to rush, I struggled to concentrate on all the forms and procedures.
• Use PackMates/SpaceBags for your clothes, diapers, soft baby gear…anything squishy at all. I’ve never used them for our big trips here in the U.S. before, but I guarantee I will from now on. I bet they saved us at least 40% of the packing space. Translation: fewer suitcases to take, more opportunity to buy stuff to bring home!!! :) Thanks for the tip, Clines and Archers!
• Make sure to compile all of your prescriptions and fill them early. I already had the prescriptions, but not the medicines. Some need to be taken a week before travel, and that was pretty hard for us to accomplish. I didn’t count on the local CVS needing several days to fill them, since they don’t exactly stock anti-typhoid meds on a regular basis!
• If you carry gifts for the orphanage or adoption staff, buy things that are squishy and easy to pack. Sounds logical, but I purchased many small leather portfolios as gifts that were a bugger to get in the suitcases!
• I ordered a Mei Tai Baby Carrier, and tried it out on little Kaden this past week. It was actually not uncomfortable, and I am NOT a baby-carrier person. (Happy Birthday, little Kaden, by the way!) An added bonus: with its baseball fabric, it’s actually pretty darn cute!It does take about 4 weeks to arrive though, so order early. You have my permission to shop!
• Most of all, plan a little fun for yourselves along the way. We had a really special family time Saturday night when we took will to a fondue restaurant for the first time. He loved it, and it was a much-needed break from the packing and papers to spend a last, great evening just the three of us before we left.

Next post……Hanoi! Bill checked the weather there - it's 87 degrees today - feels like 103 with the humidity. Kinda like OKC in July! :)

Leavin' on a Jet Plane!

Well, it's been a whirlwind weekend, to say the least! Bill & I have officially taken the plunge and purchased a tour of Vietnam for the ten days leading up to the start of our adoption process. Translation: we leave on Wednesday night - June 4!!!!! Wednesday, as in 2 DAYS FROM NOW!

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We are flying into Hanoi and will land there on Fri, 6/6. (Don't even get me going on trying to explain the travel times and time zone changes. Just know that we are the opposite of you - exactly 12 hours different when we are in Vietnam.)

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We will be touring Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hue, Hoi An, and Saigon. In Hanoi, we will get a tour of the city and some of the tourist highlights in the Old Quarter for a couple of days. Then, we are both so excited to spend the night on a Vietnamese Junk boat (see the photo below) in Ha Long Bay and watch the sunrise over the ocean. We'll then fly to Hue, the original imperial city of Vietnam and see the beautiful architecture. Hue is the culinary capitol of the country, so I'm especially excited to try the food there. My travel books say the best chefs at the best restaurants in Hanoi and Saigon all trained in Hue - we'll let you know! :) We'll also take a boat ride up the Perfume River in Hue.

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From Hue, we will drive over Hai Van Pass to Hoi An. The drive overlooks the China Sea - supposed to be beautiful and strikingly similar to Route 1 in California. We'll visit China Beach - a popular R&R spot for American soldiers during the Vietnam war. Hoi An is home to the silk and tailoring industry of Vietnam, and Bill is looking forward to having a suit or two custom made there for a fraction of U.S. costs. (Eat your heart out, Wade Speas - the man with the custom suits!!! :) ) I am personally going to shop shamelessly in Hoi An, as it is known for handcrafts, including embroidery, silk linens, and pottery. I've personally never met handmade pottery I didn't like, so I expect to enjoy Hoi An a lot!

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Finally, we will fly to Saigon, where we will spend two days seeing the sights of the city. We'll meet up with our adoption group about 6/16 - 6/17 and get ready to meet David!

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And now for the star attraction......David! :) We are scheduled for our Giving & Receiving Ceremony on 6/19. (For you non-adoption folks, the G&R is when we officially take possession of David - Vietnam gives him to us, and we receive him! From then on he is ours!!!) We'll probably be in David's province, Vinh Long, for a day or two before the G&R.

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After G&R, we'll head back to Saigon for some adoption necessities (translation: more paperwork!). Then, we will fly to Hanoi to complete our final paperwork at the U.S. embassy before returning home. If everything goes smoothly, we would love to be home just in time for the Fourth of July, but don't be too surprised if we don't make it back until sometime the next week. After all, we know that everyone enjoys a vacation in July - including airline staff! :)

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Check back often! We promise to try to update the blog with travel photos and stories when we're not out having the trip of a lifetime!

WE'RE GOING TO VIETNAM!!!!!

By this time next week, this boat is where we'll be!!!!! We are going to Vietnam!!!!!

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We received our I-600 approval this morning at 4:18 a.m. David, sweet boy, HERE COME MOM & DAD!!!!

Thanks be to God for opening the doors and offering us floodgates of blessing! Please continue to pray for all my friends of the heart, who are continuing to wait for their sweet children to come home. Our hearts are with you all!

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Suddenly, there are only about 800 things running through my mind that need to be completed! I've never been so willing to be so busy in my life! :) Keep checking back - more information to come!

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"I will thank You, God, forever, because of what you have done. In the presence of the faithful I will proclaim Your name, for it is good!!!!" - Psalm 52:9

Happy Mother's Day to Me!

Happy Mother's Day to Me!

We've already had a busy Mother's Day Weekend! Yesterday was a big day in our house, as Will officially graduated from Preschool! His class had a little choir concert and graduation ceremony - too cute! I still can't believe that he is old enough to be done with preschool, but now we have the diploma to prove it. Onward and upward to Kindergarten!

Will is playing soccer again this spring. Today was a special day for him, because he scored his first goal! I don't think you could put a bigger smile on a kid's face if you tried! We're so proud of him - he's learned so much, and most of all, had such a good time. He's been so encouraging and kind to all the kids on his team - what a fun, fun age!

Bill and Will gave me the best Mother's Day present this weekend - a finished baby's room! We spend all afternoon on Saturday completing the finishing touches on David's room. Thank you guys, for making me feel like we are really ready to welcome our little guy home! :) In my current nesting phase, it is really a load off of my mind to know that this project is complete. Now, we're just praying that USCIS will soon approve our I-600 application, and we'll be on to packing! :)

Enjoy the photos, everyone!

New Every Morning!

What a blessing it was this week to receive a new photo of David! Just when I was feeling the most down, I opened my e-mail and found this smiling face that makes all the worries, frustration - yes, even dealing with USCIS - so worthwhile! He's six months old in this picture, and it has been so fun to see his smile and his bright eyes, to get a glimpse into his sweet personality! We also got a report that he is up to 12-1/2 lb now - growing healthy and strong. What more could a mama 8,602 miles away from her sweet boy want than to know that he is happy and healthy right now? :)

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We still don't have any news to report about the new DNA requirements. We promise to let you know as soon as we know anything, if you promise to keep praying for everyone involved in the process. I can say that we have felt upheld by your prayers this week. Though we do not have any answers, God is providing the little bits of mercy we need when we need them - this new photo, a kind word from friends or family, a loving hug from my great husband, an e-mail from a fellow adoptive parent. I guess that's what God promises in Hebrews 4:16, when Paul writes, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." I'm not so sure I'm feeling the confidence thing yet, but we are finding the grace, little by little.

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My favorite hymn of all time is "Great is Thy Faithfulness." It is based on Lamentations 3:22-24, which says,

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"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;

Therefore, I will wait for Him."

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One of the most interesting things about this beautiful promise is that it is stuck right in the middle of the book of Lamentations - five long chapters of weeping and wailing. The entire book is the cries and anguish - the Laments - of a man (Jeremiah) who feels he and his People have lost their Hope. And yet, in the middle of it all, there is this reminder that God is Faithful. Somehow, this week, God has been quietly reminding me in the midst of all of our chaos, He is Faithful. Each morning this week, I'm feeling new compassions - just right for that particular day. So, like Jeremiah, today I will say, "The LORD is my portion; therefore, I will wait for Him."

Raining In My Heart

We have had some scary news in Adoption World this past week. For reasons that I can't even begin to understand or explain, the U.S. Government has decided to require some potential adoptive families to provide DNA testing for their children and their children's known birthparents. In a practical matter, this means locating birthparents, convincing them to travel hours from their home to Saigon, be reunited with their child (whom they lovingly chose to give for adoption, and I can only imagine they ache for every second of the day.) These sweet people will likely be questioned and then will have to submit DNA to prove that they were in fact, this child's birthparent. As though the tears on their face and the anguish in their hearts wouldn't indicate that bond.

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Intolerable. Shameful. Awful. There are not enough words to describe the horror we feel at our government subjecting these kind people to this sort of treatment. It will certainly slow down the adoption process for everyone. It may end the adoption process for some, if birthparents cannot be located or chose not to participate. It is just wrong.

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Of course, there are the adoptive families - families just like us, who feel as though they have been hung upside down by their toenails emotionally. They wonder if this requirement will be possible, if they will ever be able to hold their children. We are most definitely in this category. Until this week, we only ever questioned "When" we might have David in our arms. Now we ache at the reality that we must wonder "If" we will ever have David in our arms.

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No, we do not have any final confirmation from the U.S. government if they will require this test in our case. Cruel, crazy irony requires that we must wait to even know if we are a part of this wrong or not. Please, please pray. Pray for birthparents who are hurting, for adoptive parents who are hurting, for future siblings who are hurting - don't even get me started on my fears of explaining our situation to Will. Most of all, though, pray for the children, who are the ones hurt most of all.

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Although I grew up in Colorado, my second home is Lubbock, Texas - the birthplace of legendary rock-and-roller Buddy Holly. His song, "Raining in My Heart" has been sticking in my head the past few days. Here's how it goes:

"The sun is out, the sky is blue,

There's not a cloud to spoil the view,

But it's raining.....Raining in my Heart.

The weatherman says clear today,

He doesn't know you've gone away,

And it's raining....Raining in my Heart."

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Kind of corny, I know, but it's the best way to describe my zombie-lifestyle since we got this news. It's spring, the trees are all in bloom, and yet....it's raining for me. I get up in the morning, make my way through my routine, go to preschool and soccer games and Starbucks, and yet....it's raining for me. I try to pretend that this news is just another delay, just another pile of paperwork, and yet....it's raining for me.

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Today I sat through church, smiled at folks in the halls, took Will to Sunday School, and yet....it was raining for me. That is, until our church choir sang an anthem today that was really a rearrangement of a simple little verse in Scripture:

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"But Thou, O LORD art a shield for me; my glory and the lifter up of my head." - Psalm 3:3

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Somehow, this one little verse just struck both Bill and me. God is our SHIELD - He protects us. God is our GLORY - He brings goodness and honor from the dishonorable. Most of all for me this week, God is the LIFTER OF MY HEAD. My head's been hanging pretty low this week. Please, LORD, I ask for you to lift it up.

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Dear Friends and Family, please pray this verse for our family this week. Pray that God will be our shield and protect all of us - Bill, Will, and me in OKC, and David in Vinh Long. Pray that God will be our glory in this situation - that He will bring goodness from this misery. Pray that He will be the Lifter of our heads, when we feel down. For my dear adoption buddies, I will be praying this without ceasing this week for you too.

A new Dawn!

I found this picture of a sunrise in the seaside town of Hoi An, Vietnam. I like the peacefulness, the hope, the promise that you can feel in this shot - like a new day is just arising, not yet filled with worries and frets, still crystal clear to become whatever we make of it.

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Life's been feeling a bit like this picture the last couple of weeks. We are finally starting to make our way into the Spring - warmer weather, the end to the myriad of illnesses that we've seen this winter (we hope!) & the excitement of looking forward to travelling to get David soon. It's been a bit of a long Winter this year - perhaps that makes the Spring feel all the more promising, like a fresh page ready for a new story. David turned six months old this week, and the reality of his being a part of our family becomes more true each day. Each little milestone keeps reminding me of how excited I am to have him here soon - next Easter as he toddles through the grass, next baseball season, when we gather as a family of four to cheer on our Cubs, next Spring, when he tries out the new swingset we are building in the backyard.

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It's amazing to think how much change will occur in our lives in the next few months! Next week, I will go to register my sweet, young Will for KINDERGARTEN! How can he possibly be old enough for real school already? I'm sure that he will do wonderfully - but his Mama may be a bit misty-eyed at the prospect of the end of his babyhood era. (I think his Daddy is a bit misty-eyed about that one too, by the way!) Still, the winds of change blow, and he keeps growing up. I even registered him for his first day-camp today. It's probably no big deal, just a half-a-day for two weeks at the zoo here in town - but STILL! It's Camp! No parents! Wow! His summer will be full of "little boy" stuff - the first T-ball team, swimming lessons, bible school, Redhawks games, soccer camp.

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Amazing to think that Will is the same tiny one I bundled in my arms just five years ago. Perhaps some of my nostalgia comes from his asking to look at his baby pictures a lot lately in preparation for David's arrival. He asks me, "What did I look like when I was my brother's age?" at least every couple of weeks, and I go on the hunt for more photos, more computer files to show him. He climbs into my lap in front of the computer and we peek at all the baby pictures. He smiles and laughs at his roley-poley toes, his first Halloween costume, riding in his first wagon with Max the Dog. I smile and laugh as I remember all those little moments...and look forward to the ones to come.

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You see, I am so blessed to have so many new memories ahead! As I look at photos of Will learning to crawl, my heart imagines the fun of experiencing it all over again with David. As I watch Will growing before my eyes, I think about the first time he will get a hit on the T-ball team, his smile so big his face can barely contain it. I picture the look on his Dad's face as he holds both sons in his lap, cheering on the football games this fall. I even look a bit forward to wiping away a few of the tears on that first day of kindergarten -- the few sad ones that come from the end of one era and the buckets of proud ones that come from the promise of a new one.

Kinda like that sunrise in Hoi An -- not yet full of worries and frets, still crystal clear to become whatever we make of it.

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"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy...being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus....And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God." (Philippians 1:3-6,9-11)

Chuc Mung Nam Moi! (Happy New Year!)

Catching up!

So, I admit I've been neglecting my blogging duties lately. Unfortunately, it seems like the entire state of Oklahoma has been plagued by just about every really YUCKY illness this winter - and we've had our share of them in the Cook household. For the last four weeks, either Will or I have been sick every single week - bronchitis, laryngitis, stomach flu, cold, respiratory infection - UGH!!!!! At least no one in our household has had the flu yet - a major accomplishment, considering that it is just flying around town right now. We are really ready for Spring --- a chance to get out of the house, to get working in the yard, and most of all, to get everyone really well!

Illness aside, February hasn't been a total loss. We got to enjoy our first Tet celebrations this year. Tet is the major holiday in Vietnam celebrating the New Year. We've all loved learning more about the Vietnamese culture during this time, as well as getting to know some of the other Vietnamese adoption families here in OKC. We went to a party with lots of our adoption gang at our friends Kerrie & Joey's house. Kerrie did an amazing job of decorating their home for the party, complete with lanterns, New Year's activities for the kids, and even Year of the Rat cupcakes. We also got to enjoy a nice sampling of Vietnamese dishes - pho, grilled pork, traditional soups, spring rolls. You can see lots of fun photos from that party at their site: http://www.zakmakesthree.blogspot.com/. I'm a bit late with this post, so you'll have to scroll down to see the party pictures. Make sure and take some time to check out the pictures of Zak, Cole, and Dylan - three of the kiddos here in OKC that have been home about a year. When I close my eyes and imagine what our lives might be like in a year, I always seem to think about these three fun little boys and their families!

The highlight of our New Year's celebration was attending our first Vietnamese Dragon Dance. Our friends, Mai & Chad, live in our same subdivision and received a referral for their little boy the same day we received our referral of David. We are so excited to get to have an immediate Vietnamese buddy just a few blocks away! :) Mai is Vietnamese as well, so she has been such a fantastic resource for us - always full of patience to teach us about Vietnamese culture, food, lifestyle. We love the fact that the blessings of this adoption process continue to abound, as we not only get to add this beautiful baby to our home, but have added so many wonderful new friends to our lives as well.

So, Mai & Chad hosted us for a Dragon Dance at Mai's insurance office in the heart of the Vietnamese District of Oklahoma City. (By the way, the March issue of Southern Living magazine has a story about the VN District in OKC - worth a look!) A Dragon Dance is a tradition where dancers in dragon costume dance their way through a home or business to bring in good fortunes for the New Year. Will's buddies, Kiley & Kenna Cline, joined us to watch the dance & feed oranges to the dragon. We also experienced our first Vietnamese fireworks, which were quite honestly, the loudest thing I had ever heard in my life! Bill says that for those in the know, you could describe it as roughly 5,000 M-80's being lit off in very rapid progression. It was something to see and to hear! :) Mai also fed us fantastic Vietnamese pork sandwiches - think really tender roast pork with marinated cucumbers, carrots, and soy sauce all served on a french baguette - YUM! I'd definitely order them again in Vietnam. We got to try some Vietnamese sweets too - sesame candy, dried ginger, sweet potatoes, and coconut strings. All in all, a really great day. We can't wait for next year!

Finally, we got some great new news today about David. We received an update on his height and weight. On Feb. 14, he was 4-1/2 months old, 11-1/2 lb. and a whopping 25 inches long. It's so good to know that he is healthy and growing well right now as he is away from us. David turns five months old tomorrow - Happy 26th Day little man! Cupcakes for everyone!

More Milestones!

We mailed off all of our acceptance papers this week for David's referral. We've filled out a LOT of papers and forms during this process, so it was great to do some paperwork that was actually enjoyable! :) Funny, what a difference that little guy's face makes in our outlook!

All of our paperwork should arrive with our agency on Monday, 1/28/08. In a slightly eerie coincidence, we mailed off our preliminary application to start our adoption process last year on 1/28/07. What a year it's been! It's fun to imagine what 1/28/09 might have to offer for us - hopefully, a totally normal, run-of-the-mill day at home with our two sons. Something to look forward to!

David's four-month birthday was also this weekend. I bet he is really starting to smile now. I hope so - I hope he is happy and content during this waiting time. Will's birthday is on Dec. 3, so when he was a baby, we celebrated Third Day every month. Nothing fancy, but some little treat just to mark the day - maybe an ice cream cone or a new pair of tiny shoes or a picnic in the park. So, I guess maybe we'll revive the tradition. David's birthday is the 26th, so Twenty-Sixth Day may become a regular occurrence in our house! This weekend, we all celebrated by sharing a big chocolate cupcake at one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants - Will's choice. I imagine 26th Day will be popular with both of the boys!

Introducing Our Son!

Introducing Our Son!

We are so pleased to introduce you to our new son, David! He is 3-1/2 months old, and is located in Vinh Long, Vietnam right now. He was born a healthy 6.6 lbs and 19-1/2 inches long. We expect to travel to Vietnam to bring him home with us some time this summer.

How do you describe what it is like to see your child for the first time? Somehow words just don't really seem to really do it justice. Excited? Elated? Thrilled? Thankful? Yes, and yet so much more. I didn't know that it was actually physically possible to both laugh and cry at the same time, and yet, when we first heard about David, that is exactly what I did! We were so relieved to know that our hopes for this adoption would be fulfilled. We were so glad to be able to tell Will about his new brother. We are so thankful to God, from Whom all real blessings flow. Most of all, we are so exicted to have this little boy as our son!

The picture above was taken about a week after David was born. I'm sure that he has already grown and changed in the past few months. I can only imagine how he might look today. I wonder if he is starting to smile a bit. I dream about the sounds of his little coo first thing in the morning as he lies in bed. I think about his sweet little hands and feet, the smell of his hair. I wonder if he likes his bath or if he wails all the way through it.

Yet, I am at peace knowing that my God, who provided this amazing son for us, will count every hair on his head the next few months. My God, who has cared for me throughout my life, will tenderly care for David too. I thank God for blessing me with a peace that passes understanding on this one. I struggled the last few months wondering if our desire for another child would ever be filled. Now, I just thank the One who has filled that desire.

Play Day with Kiley & Kenna!

My friend Shelly's girls came to our house this week for some play time! For you non-adoption folks out there, Shelly, David, and two of their daughters have been in Vietnam since Dec. 21. They hope to come home next week with their new son, Kaden. You can follow their trip at http://www.bringinghomebrother.blogspot.com/.

I figured that when we are half-way around the world, I will probably be dying for a glimpse of Will's face. I figured that Shelly & David are ready to see their biddies, even if it's just some quick snapshots. So, the pictures below are for you! :)

The kids had a great day! We did a craft project, ate PB&J, and played a lot of toys. Kenna and Will built with Legos for about an hour and a half in the afternoon - I even got to sit down and read a chapter in my new book! :) Both Kenna & Kiley played "flying to Vietnam" with the airplane and airport - and both of them acted out hugging their new little brother at the OKC airport. Too cute! Seriously, they are doing so great - Shelly's Mom is just a rockstar in my book for keeping all the balls in the air the last few weeks.

Can't wait to see you guys home safely in Oklahoma! Will says it's time for Kaden to get a Redhawks t-shirt!