Ethical?

We search the definition of Ethical and ask the U.S Consulate what they define as ethical and it seems to not fall into our current situation. Now this is of course our interpretation of our current situation and what was heard on the last phone call.
Our sweet child who we called our daughter resides in an area of Vietnam the you do not find relinquished babies. Yes some regions allow it some do not. Our daughter was abandoned and the information on her abandonment was told to us on our trip. She was left in the hospital by her birth mother with a fake name and address. So why 14 months later have we still not gotten her we do not know. We do know another agency in the region is having NO trouble so we question if it really is the region but.... six months into it we are told they have gone to the address twice and its an empty lot no one knows who the person is they are looking for. You think she does not want to be found? Then we hear nothing for months no updates nothing. Finally in June we are told get your Visa its finally done but yes the saga goes on. It really isn't done after all and weeks go by no date. We are told they have to get to the region to file but then learn they found the mother. The needle in the hay stack.
With a broken heart we ask for a new referral and wait more. We tell the agency that we are moving forward and since we have paid ALL our fee's its time. Based on the U.S requirements of abandonment she is not eligible for adoption. We are almost 2 months from requesting a new referral and still nothing. Dragging their feet? We think so, as they issue new referrals to families and agreed to replace our referral two months ago nothing. Now we are told that the mother of this little girl we called our daughter cannot, will not for reasons of her own sign. She has a right and we do not judge her. We do judge our agency who has no accepted this and says they are sending her file to the DIA to have them release her. Why not months ago why now when you have a mother refusing to sign?
The U.S Embassy will not issue her a Visa she cannot be adopted under the conditions we are told so we sit more. We have asked for ALL our money back as they have collected interest and we have 17 months later paid and gotten nowhere.
So Ethical I ask? They know that if the facts they give are true she is not adoptable yet they 2 months later have given our new referrals and tell us to wait. Wait for what?

Up and Down

Over a month ago we were told that our referral of 13 months was stuck. We talked to the agency and had many discussions at home and agreed to accept a new referral as long as we can have a guarantee that if her papers ever clear we can adopt her. Sounded clear but then followed a few weeks of you will get an immediate referral and still nothing. In this time we got 1 yes one updated photo in 7 months time of our little girl. You mean they fixed her papers? No such luck. Then we got a copy of her birth certificate. I had asked for this before but never got it so now what? You mean hope? No they have no clue why it was sent to us. Still no change and no new referral. We heard they gave out 2 referrals in this time but we wait. Then we get a letter as if we just decided to do this and they have to see if they can transfer our dossier. I cannot imagine doing another dossier if she never becomes available can you? So nothing new and still waiting with many others who seem no less frustrated.
Now to our wonderful weather. How can anyone complain when you live in California? We have been lazy this summer and so enjoying it. The baby is now crawling everywhere and wants to stand up. We hope to make it to the County fair this week and we just bought tickets for the Skirball museum. They have Noah's Arc and it looks fantastic.
My big joy seems to be shopping at Costco though and there we found a cell phone that works in Vietnam. We do need to buy a sim card but this will give us a local Vietnam number which saves you from sitting in hotel rooms waiting for phone calls.
Hope your all having a great summer.

Every second counts

In a blink of an eye and today marks 4 months home with our sweet baby. She crawls all over and is determined to walk. I am not ready but she has this idea that she is. No need to sit as we can move fast to any object that will assist in getting her to the standing position. All at 9 months. We have 6 teeth with the last 4 coming in all in a weeks time. And the fun facts about my little angel...
Birthstone Opal (Hope)
Astrological Sign Scorpio
Flower Chrysanthemum
Year of the Dog
Starts Kindergarten 2012
Drives a Car 2022
Finish High School 2025
Graduates College 2029
Scary thing is that will all happen to soon. And my son
Astrological Sign Libra
Flower Calendula
Year of the Goat
Start Kindergarten 2009
Drives a car 2019
Finish High School 2022
Graduates College 2026

So as you see it will all come to fast so sit on the rug and play with your kids and give them the extra hug. The laundry will still be there tomorrow but they will be one day older and you may have missed something don't.