Finding our Future

OY VEY

2009-09-29T20:12:00.000-07:00

That is what comes to mind with I realize that I do not post on here. Life goes by so fast that I seem to wonder where a month went when I blink. I am loving it but cant share just how much.
So in the last two months we have enjoyed summer, beach trips, park slides, museums, the zoo and best of all being together with all our kids.
School was a major hurdle and we finally make the big decision and Myles started kindergarten in a charter school. Nervous we were but what a fantastic decision and a great group of parents. A new school that has parents lined up to help in the class room is such a relief. I loved working with the kids at the end of the color week. After a week of working on colors they all got assigned a color and brought a food related to it. We had red so we made red cupcakes. Some of the foods were red strawberry, brown chocolate dipped strawberry, blue jelly bean, green pea (ok not a favorite), orange carrot, green grape, black olive. It truly was fun watching the kids change tables. I even got some great pictures.
We moved right into the Jewish new year and each year we talk about the services and say how it is the best. They seem to really impact you more and more as the years go on. If only my kids would appreciate it now as much as they will when they get older. Then came the day that seems to impact me the most. Yom Kippur our day to reflect. I sat there listening and the Rabbi said to take a moment to pray for someone close to you that may be ill or having hard times. I started crying as I thought of the tough times we have been having the last few months and then it hit me. I am sitting next to a man who has been a part of my life from the beginning. A dear friend of my parents. I felt guilt for being wrapped up in my self and that this was a day to put prayers and energy outside myself. This man is losing his wife. They wanted to send her home just days earlier on hospice. She is fighting the battle but the hurdles are huge. I realized though my hurdles seem so big some days they are always withing reach. Appreciate more of what you have.
And the speaker this year was the president of Bulgaria. He came to share with us why they were the only country to not follow orders and instead of filling box cars with thousands of jew and send them to their death they as a country stood fast and refused. Why we asked did you country refuse when all the rest gathered them and sent them to their death. He replied " Why not they were our neighbors, friends, class mates". It is told that 40,000 jews were saved because one country refused to follow the orders and sent empty box car after empty box car.
Today I am thankful for those who stood up to the evil and did not sacrifice their morals give up their friends and neighbors and saved so many lives. Thankful that I have such a wonderful family to begin another new year with. And thankful to have the mind to grow and make more of this year than I did in the past.
Happy New year and may yours also be full of rich growth, happy days and good health.

Expensive lesson learned

2009-08-03T08:35:00.000-07:00

It started with the first call at work that the dog was having a heart attack. I asked for a description and said it sounds like seizures get him the the hospital. Why does it never happen on a week day.
The puppy is 7 months old and having one seizure after another and we have no clue why but two scared little ones. Of course they hit you with $500 for shots and to stop the seizures. Then the questions trying to figure out what is going on.
Turns out the medication they put my son on for 9 months (which we have not gotten down him yet) ended up on the floor. My husband thought he picked it up but guess what the side affect is if the dog gets it. Massive onset of seizures and death. So I ask over and over did you pick it up? Are you sure you put it in the sink?
Did you know there is a poison control for animals?
I am on the phone in the emergency pet clinic and told to call. It says if your pet is having seizures hang up and go to and emergency clinic. Umm I am at one and they are telling me to call?
The estimates went up to almost $2000. Of course they put anything and everything they could think of on that list.
The antidote was not even at the clinic. I went to the hospital at 9:30 at night and told the emergency room that I needed to pharmacy. The possible cure was at the hospital and they were kind enough to help.
So said puppy is now home scared to death. Very tired from the seizures and the drugs used to stop them. Where is the medicine we are suppose to give my son? In the cabinet until I convince myself to try again...

Warm Days

2009-07-28T23:23:00.000-07:00

This so far has proven to be an amazing summer with my family. We make the most of our days and more of our nights. How fun life can be when you make the most of it with your children.
So what have we been up to? Down right fun.. and so much of it that we are exhausted daily. From working in the garden, trips to the park and of course the wonderful beach..

We have gone to the movies and visited friends..

Yes school starts in less then a month and I will have one entering 12th grade and one entering Kindergarten.

How life will change yet again so for now we just enjoy...

Tooth Fairy

2009-07-01T23:17:00.000-07:00

Yes my forgotten job has returned. So I broke out the best of the best and my 21 yr old wanted to know why no dust was left for her. Fairy dust that is and it is not easy to photograph. This may be because only those who have lost the tooth are able to see it? So here is what the tooth fairy has left

Said tooth has earned my little man $1.00 and a trip to the toy store for a tooth well taken care of and in good condition.

Mom I am not a kid anymore...

2009-07-01T15:51:00.001-07:00

Today it seems is when my son thinks he is no longer a kid. Hey I am a grown up look.

This is while he tells me to also take him to the doctor so he can get one more shot(the same kid who was terrified of shots) so he can start kindergarten. Boy they grow up to fast.

Summer has been great so far with a lot of pool time

We are growing our own veggies and loving it. So far we have zucchini and egg plant. The corn is growing as well as the tomatoes. Watermelon seeds have leaves and the cucumbers are sprouting. This has been so fun for us all.

And a new addition to the family. She is a osicat and as sweet as can be..

Patience

2009-06-19T22:32:00.001-07:00

That is what it seems Sierra needs when Myles is not done reading, looking or eating what his sister wants.
So today we stood in line to buy their cousins birthday gift. Myles found a book and wanted to share with me how the kitten meows. This is when Sierra gained interest and screamed for the book as it was hers. Myles looks up at me and say mom Sierra needs more patience. I wanted to ask if they sold it in the store as I had run so short of it today.
Reason one of being exhausted. A beautiful dog who gets me up at 5:30 each day as the neighbor fires up his new motorcycle. Yes she flips and I was sure was on her way out the bedroom window. This window is 3 stories up.

Another good reason I do not sleep is lack of room in my king size bed.

Postive.. Yes a big fat positive

2009-06-16T19:16:00.000-07:00

What a week. My daughter would tell you that this only happens in my house.

I have taken a full time job for now to get benifits. So that means I am now getting benifits for doing the hours I have been doing. This is a good thing. So a positive right?

And my sons t.b test a big fat positive. Yep they require the test to enter kindergarden and his is positive. So x-ray done and he is fine it is not active and my never have been. Now comes the fun part. We all had to get tested and 24 hours later we are happy to report nothing on anyone (ok it takes 3 days I know). Did you know the health department is called? My delema is they want him to take a pill once a day for 9 months. Are they kidding I forget vitamins argh.

So a bit stressed and I get a call today from my older daughter telling me to call Myles and see what is new. My baby is losing a tooth. He was getting his last teeth in when he was brought in that room 4 years ago and now he is starting to lose teeth. Slow this train down.

Oh and thanks to a dear friend for updating her blog. I loved it so much I jumped on the wagon and did a bit of tweaking.

Way to long....

2009-06-07T20:05:00.001-07:00

Life has been crazy but fun. I forget to write and for my kids I am sorry..
Happenings in our lives

Old friends reunited
New puppy
New kitten
Painted rooms
cookies
graduating preschool
visiting friends

We have been having so much fun and not writing a thing about it.

Blueberry picking was so much fun. The kids loved picking and mom loved eating.

... Mom can I bring him home???

Painted

swine?

Another use for peanut butter..

2009-04-06T17:06:00.000-07:00

So passover is upon us and my kitchen is a mess. Mix this with a hungry kid who wants peanut butter and jelly and you get...

So I went to make the asked for sandwich and open the container, turn to the island and woosh. Peanut butter all over his head. Now mind you through my laughs the same wonderful little boy had to wait while mom finds the camera.

They call it creamy...

Where did it go?

2009-03-21T21:53:00.000-07:00

Time that is and its going by way to fast. Is here a pause button or just a slow down mode? I cannot believe its two years today that I stood in Vietnam and a stranger handed me my daughter. Where has it gone? We have mastered crawling, walking, jumping, singing. I am amazed at this little wonder. How thankful I will be for ever. Better was spending the day with friends who celebrated their little girls two year birthday. She entered the orphanage just 4 days after my daughter came out. Did they sleep in the same bed?
So at this ripe old age of 2 what can we do..
Sing and I mean sing songs...
Count to 20
Sing the ABC's
Sing A is for apple all the way to Z is for zoo.
Best of all her smile, hugs and love for her whole family.
What will the next two year bring? More attitude I am sure.
We love you Sierra

The Pit

2009-03-12T12:06:00.001-07:00

That would be La Brea Tar pits. Yes sticky and gooey but what fun. We ventured off to see dinosaurs but learned they have none. They do have Fluffy though. That is the talk in my house. Fluffy is the Saber Tooth Tiger they found and are now cleaning the bones of. She (assuming sex by name) is the first one to be found with her mouth closed. How exciting to watch the paleontologist clean he bones of black gook.

What was even more fun was being with the kids and taking some of the best pictures yet. I am working on getting better but with a broken camera and lens it is hard :(.

And this would be fluffy. Arent they the cutest bones you have ever seen?

Why I love life

2009-03-10T00:30:00.001-07:00

And you?

2008-12-26T07:57:00.000-08:00

Things I have done are in bold type:

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a sol(to my kids only)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (The best thing I've ever done!)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance>
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (not my fault)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (my adoption book)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day.

Who's next?

Change is good

2008-11-05T22:50:00.000-08:00

As we all know it happened. This is the first election that I can remember where they showed so many people in the streets, so many tears of joy, so much hope. This one person has restored hope without even being sworn in. We have come out of our hole and elected a fine man who happens to have dark skin. I liked him before he won but more after he spoke last night. I cannot wait to see what he brings us in the next 4 years.
Sad also in all this is the prop 8 campaign. The hatred that came out of so many shocked me. They did not want their kids taught about gay marraige in school but they took them out of school to stand on a street corner to wave a sign saying yes on eight. On my way to preschool election day I saw so many kids on the corner yelling YES on 8. What are they being taught?

Now for my family. It is yellow today. Yes yellow as in mustard yellow. I have a son who is loved by all but right now he is on santas naughty list. He found the mustard and managed while I put the baby down for a nap to put it all over the place. I got to go to work and had to clean up a little. Poor daddy had to clean up a lot more.

Are they yours?

2008-10-27T08:05:00.001-07:00

I have always thought that my kids looking so different then my husband and I that it would be normal to have people ask if they are adopted. The one question I hate is are they brother and sister. I asked my daughter what people say to her when she is out with them and dont you think they ask " are they brother and sister?". This lead to a great discussion on what to say in front of the kids. I thought a good reply would be, they are my brother and sister as well.
So dont you think today we the kids and I stay in the car while dad runs into Baja Fresh for a quick buritto. He has only two hands and little coordination so he had to make more then one trip. I see this man making faces with Sierra whom he took with him on trip two and though odd. She is not feeling well and wanted nothing to do with him. Turns out it was the mans way of saying something to my husband to open the conversation which went like this.
stranger- Wow she is cute (her head us buried in dads shoulder)
Dad- Thank you
stranger- how old is she? is she adopted we adopted two boys from Korea
Dad-yes she is
Stranger- how old was she when you got her? We wanted to adopt again but we are to old.
Now this is right in front of my car and my son is asking who daddy is talking to. Wanting my lunch I replied without thought " I am sure it is someone who wants to know if your sister is adopted".
And my son says mommy go out and tell him I am too. I felt so much better. He got what I keep telling him. Be proud of where you come from but know that you are still very much a part of your father and I. Adoption is a process but his country is his heritage and I want him to be proud of where he is from.

Terrible or Not

2008-10-25T23:22:00.000-07:00

Haa... I sit here trying to type a post about my soon to be two year old. The little girl who was so quiet when I met her and now has spunk and a set of lungs.
Even with the battle of croup that has made from not only long nights but days..
So I took a moment to read a friends blog and she puts my name down and tags me. Seven things wow...

1. I have not eaten meat in 31 years. Do not miss a hamburger and have no memory of eating one. In the old days before chicken or fish at mc Donald's I ordered a Big Mac without the meat. The guy behind the counter would yell "Big Mac hold the cow".

2. I am a boob specialist. Gee wont be telling my kids that anytime soon. Working at Victoria Secret and run the front desk. Not my calling boobs are.

3. My house is a wreck. Trying to organize things has lead to a major mess. You inspire me Nicole. I have enough fabric for dozens of quilts. Time to put one together.

4. I love to bake hate to cook. Will attach my pumpkin bread recipe at the bottom. Make pumpkin pancakes at preschool that the kids love.

5. We are done expanding our family. Tough words but so right for our family. Sierra is meant to be the baby.

6. My dream has always been to live out in the country. A farm with animals.

7. I have 5 wonderful (ok they can be brats) kids and 2 step kids. My step kids have children the same ages of my kids.

Pumpkin Bread
Pumpkin Bread

3 cups suggar
3 ½ cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup oil
2/3 cup water
4 eggs
2 c canned pumpkin
½ cup chopped dates
½ cup chopped nuts
Chocolate chips
Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Make a well and place remaining ingredients into the well. Mix and place in well greased pans. Bake at 350 degree preheated oven for 1 to 1 ½ hours. Makes 3 small or 2 large loaves. 12 juice can.

2008-09-09T22:22:00.001-07:00

What a sad week. It actually started over a month ago when our obnoxious neighbor called animal control. See we are abusing our dog the one we love. Let loose in the house and whom the baby think is a big stuff animal. His weight loss came fast and with kids under tow and teenagers I noticed it but did not find the time to run to the Vet. We did take him in and spent $500 to learn little. He had lost weight (since we told them first do they charge less?) and they took blood that did not look awful at all. We went home and spoiled him. Hot dogs, puppy food, love and care and more weight loss. I panicked and asked Chuck to take him in. See he can manage the kids and do and any news much better so why not? Back to the vet and $500 more and still nothing. They tried to x-ray him but he got to excited so they asked us to bring him in early and let him relax before they tried the next day.
I took him in Friday morning and she wanted to just take an x-ray. I said no he needs to relax first as the doctor ordered so please don't stress him out. I am thankful I did as when the call came I was with my kids and able to fall apart in company. They said the cancer was everywhere. I was asking about worms in his stools and if that could be it how could it be cancer and we were losing him. How long? and it only gets worse. It was time now. We asked if we could take him home and say our goodbyes ( this is with huge tears as I type this) and we did. We a family of loving children held, cried, fed and just enjoyed our last hours. Our sweet baby is gone. At peace but gone... He passed 16 years to the day that I lost my sister. What a tough day...

Do children know? She is wiping his eyes did he know? We bid you goodbye for now but we will one day be together again...

A Childs Rights Campaign

2008-05-21T17:08:00.000-07:00

Do you even think this came from our agency? Not at all...

May 21, 2008
Dear Families and Friends, Simply put, the orphaned and vulnerable children of Vietnam need your help. Please join us on June 2nd by contacting Members of Congress and urging them to join the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Co-Chairs and sign their letter to Secretary Condoleezza Rice in support of the recommendations found in A Child’s Right Campaign for Vietnam."
A Pending Crisis
The U.S. Department of State has expressed concerns related to corruptive practices associated with intercountry adoption between the U.S. and Vietnam. In response to their concerns, the Department of State will allow the functional closure of adoptions on September 1, 2008 and thereby end one of the most basic of human rights: the right to a safe, permanent and loving family.
Not only will those orphans eligible for adoption continue to suffer the detriments of orphanage life, so will thousands of other orphans and vulnerable children. This is because the service providers engaged in finding U.S. families for Vietnamese orphans also provide a myriad of services to the most vulnerable of children.
As a result, the end of intercountry adoption with Vietnam also brings the end of social services such as family preservation and counseling. It also marks the end of humanitarian services such as educational sponsorships, clean water programs and many health related initiatives.
End Corruption, Not a Child’s Right to a Family
While Joint Council shares in many of the Department of State’s concerns, we believe the solution is not the termination of adoption and elimination of a child’s right to a family. Joint Council, its Member Organizations, NGO’s including Ethica—a leading voice for ethical adoption, the Vietnamese government and Members of the United States Congress firmly believe that the solution is a rational child-centered approach designed to strengthen services, regulate providers and prosecute violators.
A Child’s Right Campaign for Vietnam
In response to the looming crisis facing the children of Vietnam, Joint Council today--May 21, 2008—initiates A Child’s Right Campaign for Vietnam. A Child’s Right Campaign for Vietnam proposes a series of rational recommendations that
address the issues of abuse, protect the integrity of Vietnamese families and ensure the right of every child to a permanent, safe and loving family. The overriding goal of this campaign is very simple: to end corruption, but not a child’s right to a family.
As part of this campaign Joint Council delivered a letter to the Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCA) Co-Chairs: Senator Mary Landrieu; Senator Norm Coleman; Congressman James Oberstar and Congresswoman Ginny Brown- Waite requesting their immediate assistance. We have asked the CCA and all Members of Congress to support the recommendations found within A Child’s Right Campaign for Vietnam and to work with the Governments of the United States and Vietnam to ensure that an MOA is in place on September 1, 2008.
The Department of State has expressed intent to negotiate and implement a new MOA with the Government of Vietnam. Joint Council applauds the long-term goals of the Department of State, yet finds the short-term path unacceptable. It is clear that the intent is also to allow the current MOA to expire while seeking a new agreement sometime in the future. By all estimates, the Department of State’s current path would result in the functional elimination of services, including adoption, for two years or more!
Finding such a scenario intolerable, we ask for your immediate support of this Campaign. The following page details how you can help us avoid this pending crisis. Only with your active participation will the children of Vietnam have a right to join a permanent, safe and loving family through ethical, professional and legal adoption.
On behalf of the orphaned and vulnerable children of Vietnam, those of us who work to serve their needs and the Joint Council on International Children’s Services, we extend our sincere appreciation for your coming efforts.
Sincerely,
Thomas DiFilipo
President / CEO

A new path

2007-11-13T13:03:00.000-08:00

We have celebrated two big birthdays in our house and made some big decisions. First to my 4 yr old son who is the light of our lives. From the day that we met you as a quiet shy little boy in the orphanage with temperatures below zero outside, to this wonderful little boy I can say you have helped me grow so much. You have taught me how to love beyond the borders, play at all hours and enjoy it, and most of all you have brought a special bond in our family. You walked the day we met you but you now run with a smile from ear to ear. Your life is lived on the glass is full there is no 1/2 in your days. If only we could post an ad that says your ok and thank you for such a wonderful son.
And baby Sierra who is now 1. Your smile never seems to fade. Even when you are getting new teeth (8 so far) you seem to smile. Now if we can get you to play with your toys not your brothers. You manage to find anything your brother does as funny including taking your toys away from you.
Yes we are blessed and with this we decided to pull our current dossier and look at some choices we have made. Focus on what we have and enjoy. Our children all of them are the light of our lives and tough journeys have taken us to them but we need our next journey to be easier. That said we have chosen for many reasons NOT to work with the agency that we did to bring Sierra home. Many things have come to light that make us and many others question the integrity of our agency. Are they really out for the best interest of the children? Many say no and this has made us read, talk and listen. With this we have chosen to not risk an ethical adoption to have another child in our family.
We are hoping the two wrong decisions we made in choosing and agency for Vietnam will lead us to the one right as we purse one more child. Our wait will surly be longer but well worth the wait when we will know that the agency we have chosen is ETHICAL.

Did you know?

2007-10-08T20:39:00.000-07:00

My mother always says if she cannot find me she can call one of two stores and have me paged and I will answer. Since having an infant home one of those stores is less visited and I am sure they miss me but the 24 hours in my day seems to have shorten lately. Sorry Home Depot but the kids come first. Now my second store is Costco. See they opened so many that its not something you do once a month and spend hundreds of dollars in one trip. Ok so it seems I still do not get out under what I call the $100 club but I can go in for a few items now. So while killing time waiting for the pharmacy who did not understand crabby kids or even crabby mommy I found something....

Ground Saigon Cinnamon and by the picture can you tell I bought it :). So two trips to Vietnam and one which I spent 3 weeks in Saigon and I had no clue. Do you agree though that Ground Saigon Cinnamon sounds so much better then Ground Ho Chi Minh cinnamon? Now the history lesson.. The bottle reads Ground Saigon Cinnamon with a map of Vietnam on it with Ho Chi Minh City and below it says... Cinnamon trees are nurtured for 20 years prior to harvest in the tropical highlands of Vietnam, our Ground Saigon Cinnamon rewards cooks with a sweet-hot flavor unmatched by any other cinnamon. So why did I not see this delicacy in Vietnam?

On the adoption front.. well we told our agency months ago we wanted a new referral or our money back. We were told a new referral would come and it didn't. Not only that but families who have not paid the fee's we have have gotten referrals. So we ask the DIA to move our dossier to another agency and this is what they are told.. We are informed by Faith International that they are activating our old case. So does this mean the same thing to you? I took it as they took ALL our money and then blew us off. They even wrote that they would give our money back and NOTHING. Don't be shocked we are not. I have called a few agencies who have said stay clear do not go forward with that child if they are going to send her file to the DIA for them to fix it.

So nothing new we wait as they collect more money from families, refuse to give us a referral or our money back and we keep letting the U.S Embassy know where we stand with them.

Do you have a glass I will pour

2007-09-26T16:47:00.000-07:00

A drink is needed for this discussion. Even for those of us who do not drink it is required. A seat should also be comfortable and padded. My husband gave no warning to any of this just said are you ready? Ready for what? He proceeds your not going to believe this.. Ok so I have both little ones and two teens with me so that is clear, I even have two of the 3 cars, am at home a quick brain check and I am thinking what fired? Do tell is this on purpose the pause and the continued you wont believe this while I have checked off all my worst case scenario's and have them all in order.... He called Faith International Adoption you know the agency who gave us a referral June 12, 2006. No your eyes did not blur at all it says 2006 because that is how long ago they gave us a soft referral. We got the get your Visa call June 2007 and nothing more. They took our money and promised us in July a very quick referral in the north when it fell apart again. Nothing and more ignored calls. August arrives and all of a sudden they are working again on our referral from last year. We took their earlier advice and asked for the money back. Thousands upon thousands they have. The DIA is going to fix it the mother wont sign. So caught up??? Now why I need a drink and you can join me .. Dear Husband calls and said "you offered our money back and wrote two letters asking for it in writing but you have not sent the money... When should we expect it back?..... Her papers have cleared the DIA do you still want her?. Right the same place you told me it cleared what 3 months ago and never went to file a G and R? Smart hubby says great but if her mom did not sign how will the U.S approve her? Oh but we will not know if she will be approved till your there and apply for the I 600. Are they kidding or is this a continuing nightmare? I am not traveling half way around the world to receive this child and be told by the U.S it is unethical. We went and saw her in December and had her for 3 weeks. Spent 3 days back and forth at the SOS clinic with 104.5 fever and then had to return her to the orphanage. Only to be accused of possibly doing something to her by the person running the program to another family. They abruptly took her from the women and said "we need to check her out to see if she is ok". Ok? Yes we walked for 3 straight days while she could not breath spent hundreds of dollars at the SOS she is ok thanks to us.
So in 9 months we have gotten no updates on her and 1 picture. This sweet little girl remains in a orphanage 1 yr longer then she should have been and missed so much. Our hearts try to heal, we try to fill the void but they just continue to dig at us.....
So where we are
472 days from referral
1 yr 3 months and 15 days
679,680 minutes
11,328 hours

BUT WHO THE HECK IS COUNTING ANYWAY.. NOT THEM THEY ACT LIKE ITS BEEN A DAY OR TWO

In search of bigger wings

2007-09-18T21:21:00.000-07:00

Time has flown and our patience went with the time. Yes we have been left with NO alternative but to ask for our money back. Large amounts at that and hopefully since we feel they have not kept to their word so far this may be different. Why would we think so you ask? Trust which we have instilled in them for the better part of 18 months. We trusted that you sign with an agency pay your fee's and wait that you will get what they promise. A referral... a child. That did not happen and for the last 18 months we have been on a ride that the twilight zone could not have written. A referral of a precious baby girl that never cleared. Told to prepare for travel then sorry they found her mother 15 months later. New referrals promised and never given. We sit here 18 months later no closer,and more heart broken that an agency is allowed to work in adoption when they do this. Did they forget to tell us that more then 19 months into this they can just decide not to let us adopt with NO reason. Request that you pay your fee's only to give you nothing?
We have worked with another agency and brought our little girl home and they will tell you that we are honest, ethical, caring people. They enjoyed working with us enough that they in their own words look forward to us adopting from them again. So as you see it is not US. Yes we have not always had patience. We have had questions but no different than anyone else. So it is with the saddest of hearts that we move forward with another agency. See our little girl is and always be in our hearts. The referral they promised us did not happen and we see no end. If she should ever become available we have informed the U.S Embassy and we are also informing the DIA that we are approved and still want her.
We do look forward to returning to Vietnam and working with our agency once again. Our experience both in Vietnam and in he U.S was excellent.
Please say a prayer for the little girl stuck in an orphanage. She deserves more....

Ethical?

2007-08-20T08:03:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-07T10:03:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-02T22:35:00.000-07:00

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.

Long Weekends

2007-07-30T00:22:00.000-07:00

This has to be the longest weekend I can remember. It all started out so quiet and boy did it become a weekend to remember. Our choice of puppies changed when I got a call from a friend. Being a German Shepard family I was asked if I looked at the rescue site. Sure I have searched this site as a better way to bring a dog into my parents home. See mom does not get the computer at all. I post things here for her to see ie: the dog pictures. She could not figure out for her life (love you mom) how to view them so I posted here and she only hits Internet explorer. Yes my blog is her home page.

So Saturday morning I leave my quiet home with hubby and 2 kids and we are off to the rescue place. About 1 hour later we arrive and are shown the most magnificent animals. Most being over a year and large dogs I begin to worry can my mom handle it. Several yes several hours later we leave with a 7 month old Shepard. She is missing her tail, just removed at the vets due to infection. Could we take them all, you bet we considered it.

So back home to my house 1/2 hr west of my parents to get the crate. More time in the car poor kids and we choose to relax a bit then head back. I swore off the car for the remainder of the weekend.

Ok so I must have forgotten that part as I decided to visit my sisters grave and leave her a nice present. So off Sunday morning to the cemetery with 2 kids and a good hour drive. Yes what was I thinking. This is when you say yep she asked for it. We arrive I set up my gift and the phone rings. One hour away the other direction my son 17 is being rushed to the hospital after a motorcycle accident and a broken arm. I cannot be more thankful for an easy baby as she behaved all day so well for me. Extra hugs tonight.

I can tell you I am so tired but at 12:30 cannot fall asleep I so look forward to a quiet week. Who said having 7 kids was easy?

On the adoption front I have to comment on the referral issue. Back on the top of the list would be nice. Since we should have been then I guess we should have gotten the last referral we did not. We did ask a few weeks ago where we are on the list since ALL the families before us are home or moved on. So we gave up our referral after 13 months in one region to accept a referral in another as they suggested and we know nothing. We do know the one and only person is taking a vacation in August. He said the month of August but the agency says a week. We do know that in the last 2 weeks we have gotten little to nothing from the agency. Still in the dark and still waiting. Still hoping that one day we will get our little girl in Can Tho.

How do you choose?

2007-07-25T17:28:00.000-07:00

Danger

2007-07-19T08:27:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine leaving home and thinking your house and animals are safe to return to this.

What I am not getting is the little yellow card stapled to a little wooden stick on the empty lot behind us. It is warning for the second year in a row that the owner must clean his lot by June 1st. I am sure they write which year, or sure hope so. This year they moved the tag to the left about 10 feet. Still weeds and it is now July 19th if you think it is so dangerous maybe you should clean the lot?

The weather is perfect as usual in California. We get a nice breeze in the afternoon that cools things down quite fast. I have been busy trying to talk my tomatoes to grow and found something in one of my pots.....

Yet you got it a watermelon. I do not have a lot of room to grow but figured why they heck not try to grow them in pots. So I have 1 cucumber, 2 watermelon, Chinese eggplant (they grown in anything) tomatoes, lemons, peaches, apples. All in a small space.

On the adoption front. You better sit for this one as I am still sitting and trying to make sense of this whole thing. Yes it gets worse but better has to come some day. We are told that dispite being abandoned with a fake name and address for the mother that they have found her. What does this mean you ask? Who knows as we really have no information. I dont even think they know what is going on to be truthful. So decisions are being made, information exchanged and hopefully we will have answers soon. If we go on the LIST again where are we? I do wonder this as we are technically ahead of anyone else since we signed long before but as you know nothing goes as we would assume here.

So what do you think the bottom or top of the list for a referral? Should we pay more since the fee's are higher?

Is this not patient?

2007-07-11T21:59:00.000-07:00

So we are almost there. Yes just 2 hours away and we are going to hit 13. Yes it can be it has been and it will be 13 whole months since we got the referral of a 3 month old baby. Do I care that she is 16 months old today? Only that she has spent way more time in a orphanage then she needed to. Bitter? Not at all because that would mean he wins. Has my love changed for this little girl who I call my daughter? Not at all. If you ask how many kids I have you will hear 8 yes it is 8 and has been since we brought the baby home. See we got number 7 just a short 13 months ago and she holds a special place in my heart.
Now you ask why 13 months? I can tell you what we are told and I can show you the 2" thick binder with EVERY yes every email we have printed and saved. Do they make sense at all? Nope and worse is the one who suffers is a baby. I am sorry if I sound bitter but really I am not just hurt that this little person is missing out on so much. Hugs, Kisses, ABC's and even sand. Yes sand at the park at the beach or just in her shoes. How sad that someone is so selfish to put her needs aside and carry a grudge, get even, or just have a temper tantrum.
What we do know is this. About 3 weeks ago my husband got a call to get the Visa. Her papers were done. We waited for the G and R and checked in but heard no one made it to her Provence. They are busy. A family wrote the only facilitator left the country to try to start adoptions in another country. Again more families still no time. Then the letter. They always come from the same person and always have a nasty tone to them. More accusations and more hatred all warped up in an email. How this person has such hatred in him amazes me but I don't. I feel sorry for him that he uses children as pawns to stroke his ego. My husband then calls and asks the person who gave him the information who said in a nut shell.... Yes I told you to get a Visa but I don't remember telling you her papers are done. Oh well 13 months later and we are no closer how SAD.
I do appreciate the support and all the letters I got about the nasty email on the yahoo group. I assure you not only am I kind, courteous but I CARE. I will not defend myself but will say a child suffers from the lies one spreads and I will not partake in that game.
Congratulations to my friends who got referrals this month. Your children are beautiful and will bring you such joy.
Our youngest is now 8 months old and crawls. She has also figured out how to get what she wants. First the lip rolls in and the pout. Then the tears start to run and she cries. How dare you forget about me is the look. It is my children all 8 who have given me the strength to get through this. They are the ones who make every day bright. You have blessed us and we are forever grateful.
To my children thank you for the gift you have made my life so much better so much fuller and so much more loved.

The dark side

2007-07-05T20:37:00.000-07:00

We have had such a wonderful time this summer so far. The forth was great and having our oldest meet his sister on the forth for the first time just adds to a wonderful day. Now mind you he has 3 children of his own and his children are older then their aunt but who is counting anyway?

I am so frustrated with our agency of our adoption though. You hear patience for so long and then learn that they just don't seem to care. Ok is this new? Not at all but heck at least hide it. We feel lied to for the last three weeks and wonder when or if it will ever end. This poor child suffers for what? Ok explanation sorry. First 3 weeks ago (approx) we are told her papers are done and they would go to her region to file the G and R. They have not to our knowledge yet and why you ask? Busy with other families? Seems not from what I learned from another family. She spent what 2 weeks in Vietnam and only saw the man running it 3 times. They told us over and over he was going this week now next week and it turns out he left Vietnam to go to Thailand (what a parent who just adopted said) to start a new program. Though happy for the kids you have to be kidding me.. Then we know he is back today and dear hubby calls and is told he isn't in. What they forgot to tell us is he is not in for YOU. See on a yahoo group they post that they called and spoke to him today.

My view of it all is the agency we got S. from is that much better then I ever though. They answered calls,emails and cared. They became our friends and us theirs. So CHOOSE WISELY. Our daughter suffers for what?

The ants go marching on

2007-07-01T08:16:00.000-07:00

Picnics are fun no matter what but this one is special. Each year we get together as a group to show our kids off. These kids are special as they are from Kazakhstan and though most don't look alike they share a country few know of. We enjoy the arts and crafts, group photos and chatting. And I must laugh as we celebrate our adoption in 90 plus temps we think back to arriving in Almaty in below zero temperatures.

The kids had a blast and loved the games and bounce house. No matter how hot it gets you can still get the kids to jump run and play its amazing.

On the adoption front. Seems our agency who told us two weeks ago that papers were finally done a year later and they had to file for a G and R... Well they have not found the time to do just that and still nothing. They are to busy with other families it seems. This may have to do with the fact these families paid $3000 more to get a referral in the North. Who knows but the wait continues.

Up and Down

2007-06-21T16:47:00.000-07:00

They say adoption is a roller coaster ride. This one is the worst roller coaster I can ever imagine then. I had resolved not to call the agency or write after several emails that would make one wonder why we are still working to get our daughter. We have put personal feelings aside and worked hard to get her.
This became the DH job to call or write them. I just learned after we returned home from Vietnam without our daughter that it was better for our whole family if I let him handle it. So last week he was excited that after all the emails a full book of them and contact with the U.S
Embassy several times, our daughters papers were done and they only needed to head down to the region to get the date. Easy right?
We have learned nothing with this is easy and again they did not do as they promised. They have ONE yes ONE staff person for all of Vietnam and he is to busy to get our date 1 year and 9 days later. I know it is far from Hanoi to HCMC but please we have waited so long from referral and your family's your with waited what 6 weeks? I am truly happy for these families but you would think the agency would at least have someone to get the date for all the families who have waited so much longer in the South.
So back to the same no date and no return phone call from the director of our agency. Guess its easier to just let someone else in the agency tell you that they still have NO DATE for you.

Ok something to be thankful for. My kids that are home I know and they are wonderful and I cannot imagine life without them.

Ahhh she is mine

2007-06-20T21:47:00.000-07:00

We all worry in adoption about attachment. How long till they know we are mom. I have to say though I know Sierra was not attached from day one she was comfortable. She did not cry and slept through the night. One thing she did was suck her thumb though. Something others think is cute but as an adoptive mom it has a different meaning to me. I noticed it about a month ago and I thought she sucked it because she had to when she was hungry. We have gained over 2 1/2 pounds since home so she is not hungry so why still suck our thumb? This is when it dawned on me attachment. My daughter only sucks her thumb when she is really tired and fighting sleep. I noticed about 1 month ago that she was hardly sucking her thumb, this made me pay attention to when she did. When she is tired and a few times when someone else was holding her.

What my daughter also learned is how to control mom. I have never let my kids cry it out. As teens they are fine and no more spoiled then the rest. They needed me when they cried and I provided. Miss Sierra figured out if she cries mom caves in. Bed time has gotten later and later so what is a mother to do? I now lay down with her and she falls right to sleep. Amazing we are bonded (said with tears in my eyes). This little 7 month old has that sparkle in her eyes when I walk back in a room. That little giggle when she gets her way. Spoiled is ok she is my baby and I am her mom.

Making room

2007-06-15T21:10:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful day with my two little ones. I so thought it was going to be long and hard to have no preschool and high school out. We still wake up early but somewhere I found more energy to play and clean up the mess. I wonder why no one invented a bulldozer for the house to clean up after 3 year olds though. It is amazing how many toys he can play with in one day and how many non toys he can make into toys and play with. Right now we are on a search with a flashlight before story time. You wind the flashlight and it works. Did you ever know that a flashlight can fly?

I am wondering how easy it will be with 3 children under 4 though. I did this before but I think it was one over 4 and 2 under :). Ok not by much but wow 3 kids that close together is going to make me skinny (a girl can hope)

So more encouraging news about Mai. She is 15 months old and we last saw her 6 months ago. Not a day goes by that we do not think of her and wish she was in our arms. So we hear it is possible that I may be back in Vietnam. I she will not remember us but with time hopefully she will remember the feeling of being loved again. We saw such changes in the 3 weeks we had her and I hope some of those things grew with her. At 9 months old she had no teeth and we are so sorry we missed her first tooth. Wow I am getting excited that we may actually get to see her again.

Do we buy another crib? What do you do with a 15 month old? Myles slept with us so who knows. Here is Sierra's room which the girls will share. Will have to take a better picture since I added a few things from our trip to Vietnam.

Could it be the heat?

2007-06-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

So today we got our fingerprints done. We enter the USCIS office and they first ask for your paper that gives you permission to get fingerprinted. Then they ask you for I.D, this is where you wonder who teaches these people before they are put out to work. I hand the lady my passport, a legal identification. Now you have to know the USCIS, you will not get out of there without someone giving you a problem. This could be the chair you sat in or that you stood and did not sit. But who would think that your U.S Passport is not identification. She wants a drivers license. Easy but I lost my wallet in this house somewhere and have not found the time to look for that wonderful place I put it. She then tells me she wants California identification ummm. You have to just laugh. I have the paper sending me there, have my passport and they want what? Funny was she took the passport in the end but made no sense why it was not good to start.
Then I get home to an email from Faith International, the agency that has kept me waiting 1 year from referral for our daughter. This one says you need to send us a check made out to the USCIS office to get fingerprinted. We will send it to them and they will in turn give you an appointment. Oh then after all this they will send an updated 171H. Now you go figure this could take what 4 weeks at the soonest. What in heavens name happened to M's papers are done and they are trying to get a G and R? Should I ask what year they plain on doing this? So we just learned they have no intentions of giving us our daughter in the near future and the wait continues. ONE YEAR IS NOT ENOUGH....
Now to our regular program station... We have hit summer and it is hot outside. It is now that time of the year to find indoor activities. Some of you do this for winter but with little ones I do this in the afternoon in the summer. Today we made sand pails with foam animals and a mail box/bug catcher. Says hotter tomorrow so any good indoor activities with a 3 1/2 yr old and 7 month old?

What day is it?

2007-06-12T20:20:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it is June. June 12th to be exact and one year since we got the referral of our daughter R. One year ago today that we found an email of a precious 3 month old that is now 15 months old and still has no mom. My heart breaks for her and all the time she has missed being hugged, kissed, read to. At times we have given up hope and other times when asked to move on was said NO. Then today a call that says are you still interested. Wonder who reads my letters to the agency saying we would not take our money back. Or the letters that said we would not transfer our file we wanted R. So one year later our baby now 15 months old has clear papers. If everyone would pray that we get a G and R and that we come up with the money to travel we would appreciate it.
RYLEE-ANN we are so much closer to getting you. The last 5 1/2 months have been so hard without you and we have not forgotten you at all.

Rejected.

2007-05-25T21:21:00.000-07:00

What a great day, I took the kids to see Elmo/Sesame Street live. Everyone comment on how the baby almost 7 months old was just as into it as the 3 and 4 year old in our group. She didn't miss a beat and forget the nap. Now mind you we have had a rough 2 days as we are working on this one stubborn tooth. She is drooling, fussy and down right not happy about this teething thing.
So why rejected you ask? After a wonderful day with the kids my son and I are sitting and winding down. A commercial comes on for Olive Garden and I hint "wow mommy would love to go there for dinner". Ok so nothing I then said would you like to take mommy out to dinner to that restaurant? His reply "I don't have a car". I figure next best and I say but you do have a bike. "It does not have two seats though".

HOTELS

2007-05-17T15:48:00.000-07:00

As many know we made a change in hotels while in Vietnam. Many factors played into this but we were not comfortable and when you wake up and EVERYTHING is damp its time. So pictures of our two rooms.

Hong Ngoc

Melia... Add central Air and a real mattress I will work on getting the living room photo to load sorry...

Who makes the decision

2007-05-15T18:16:00.000-07:00

After many months of waiting now 11 from referral we are no closer to getting our daughter we met in Nov/Dec in Can Tho. We are saddened that nothing has progressed and worse we have not gotten an update on her or any photos since shortly after we returned home. We are so happy with our little girl home with us through another agency since April 4th but still have this void. The few emails have given us no hope and then the last email. They offered to send our file to the agency who got our daughter home and part of our money. They referred to the agency by name (which was never posted on this blog) several times. We really don't want part of our money or part back over a year later or to have our dossier trashed or transferred to another agency. What we really want is our daughter.
So the dilemma is when do you realize your not going to get this baby? Is 11 months long enough to ask for a new referral or do you wait longer? Will I regret it forever if I give up hope? All this has kept me waiting and waiting. At no point have we given up hope but all of a sudden they say change agencies, wait longer (unknown time) or take a possible new referral?
If they could give us updates, news something this would help but we only know what they tell us, they say they are looking for the family of a baby abandoned in the hospital. So a needle in a haystack. Five months after seeing her and nothing. Now what?

It's a Girl

2007-05-06T22:24:00.000-07:00

8pds 2 oz of pure healthy baby girl. Add ten fingers and toes and you have Kaycia our newest addition to the family. Your asking but wait you just got home with Sierra right? Ahh this little bundle is my stepdaughters new baby born today. Our family seems to be growing in all directions. Welcome baby Kaycia to our family.

Are they efficient???

2007-05-01T21:30:00.000-07:00

I opened my mail the other day to find that our government has become more efficient. Now if they could work on the time between interview that would be great. So our littlest addition now has a Certificate of Citizenship. This took under 4 weeks wow.
The letter that came with it and what being a citizen is did not fit an infant but one day she will appreciate it and the stamp of our president.
In the time home we have changed so much that I am amazed. I never thought I would want my child to cry but it brings joy to know that my daughter learned so fast that I will come to her or feed her the moment she needs it. She looks for me when someone else has her and best of all cuddles.
Now if only we could get the other agency to give us our child. We spent 3 weeks with her and fell in love and they just want to give her to another family. The letters from them shock anyone who reads them. Please pray we can bring her home we miss her.

I told you so

2007-04-23T17:20:00.000-07:00

So as we approach week 3 home I have to say our daughter is as close to perfect as one will get. The first two weeks were full of running all over. This all started out with very hard stools that led us for an x-ray. The x-ray of a 5 month old moving showed something which I asked "could this be at all because she was moving?". This led us to an ultrasound. No I should tell you I went to school for this and she has beautiful insides :). I felt good leaving the hospital as I did not see a thing that while the tech was busy taking pictures and measuring. So off to the gastroenterologist who said she was beautiful. Ok he also said everything looked good but he wanted to do stool samples YUCK...
Turns out after going off regular formula to the pre digested (way to expensive) she got diarrhea and bad gas. I then tried soy and in less then 24 hours the hard and I mean hard stools returned and blood again. Ok so we are not on Enfimil Nutramigen and doing better. Odd was the 2 weeks in Vietnam with her on regular formula she was fine.
So you think we are done yet? No way my pediatrician is gonna find something. Our daughter has a funny shaped head that in the last 4 weeks has changed. Most baby's have flat heads while hers is flat on the side. Yes another doctor. We were referred to Children's Hospital Los Angeles and they got her in right away since our doctor told them her soft spot was fused. Seems the top Neurosurgeon spent time in Vietnam as he talked more about Vietnam with me then the baby since he said she is FINE again :). I so wanted to call my pediatrician and say told you so...
So we are now looking for a new pediatrician and enjoying our 3rd week home with our daughter. She is a doll and full of smiles. Thank you Vietnam for my little treasure we are in ahh.

Fed Ex

2007-04-14T16:40:00.000-07:00

I have finally gotten the time to get more pictures of Vietnam off my camera. We almost missed the Fed Ex truck at our hotel.. my favorite...

Today we took our first trip to the zoo. Yes we wanted to sleep through most of it but we did manage to get a little bit in..

and our new toy ...

Our littlest U.S Citizen

2007-04-13T19:16:00.000-07:00

We got it. Can you believe that we have been home one week and we have a U.S Passport for the baby already. I went to the Federal Building today and it was ready and waiting. Now if only the first agency would call we can return to get our daughter. Not sure how Sierra will like going back since she has learned a few things like attention :) but we hope that we get our daughter out of Can Tho. It is over 10 months from referral and today's email said the Provence is moving ahead. Wonder why we hear NOTHING from Faith then.
Now onto better news our wonderful weather. Can you beleive its so nice we wear t-shirts and pants out and its snowing elsewhere.

Resident Alien?

2007-04-12T06:43:00.001-07:00

My daughter is no alien is all I could think...
My husband and I went to the Federal building to get an immediate passport. Now your asking what in heavens name would I want to travel again for.
One year ago we signed with Faith International and asked for a girl. On June 12, 2006 we were referred a beautiful baby girl who was 3 months old. We named her Rylee-ann. Months of waiting and promises of travel it never came. In November we were told that all was signed and how they paid to fly one official from Hanoi to HCMC to sign the final paper. We traveled to Vietnam in Nov/Dec and found that all the papers were not done and signed. What we were blessed with though it having 3 weeks with our daughter. We returned home to nasty emails from our agency and no new information on the missing paper and to date still nasty emails and no information on our daughter. So back to the passport.. We hope to get our daughter and in order for me to travel Sierra needs a passport (sorry cant leave her home).
So we have a 12pm appointment and around 2:30 they call us to the window. I had over our adoption papers and she examines her passport (from Vietnam) and adoption papers and says in a nasty voice..."Where is the resident alien card". I explained she is on a IR3 and an automatic citizen and does not get a resident alien card. She snapped and wanted the court order.. Gee we have been home one week think we have been to court? I explained the IR3 is automatic as of 2003 and she needs none of this and I got yelled at.."I know the law SIT".
Do we not pay there salaries in our taxes? And are they hired only if they are rude? So we are called back up in 15 min and now asked where the court order is.. Ahh progress??? I said "I am so sorry the US Embassy in Hanoi handed me all these papers and said it was all I needed to get a SS#,Passport and even readopt. I was told I don't need to readopt to just do a name change, that is not what I want though I want a Passport.
We were finally told to come back Friday morning to pick up her passport so do you think she still needs that resident alien card?
So we are set and there is no reason 10 months have passed and they will not release our daughter. I never thought I would say this but I want to go back to Vietnam....

What a week can do...

2007-04-11T09:24:00.000-07:00

Tonight it will mark one week that we are home. What we have learned in a week is cry and mom comes... The best was watching her 3 yr old brother goof off yesterday and the laughter. It was the first time she has really laughed and she could not get enough of watching him be silly.
We had our first x-ray which led us for an ultrasound this morning. I was told to not feed her this morning and amazing how well she behaved. The ultrasound went fast since she was so good and the results come tomorrow. From her doctor visit Thursday to the follow up (ear infection) Tuesday she gained 1/2 a pound.
How we have adjusted? We now sleep through the night, have everyone on California time and just love having a baby back in our home. Our home is cluttered with playpens, changing tables and activity centers not to mention Thomas the train sets, trucks and trains. We are happy :)

We are home

2007-04-06T09:42:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday we called at 1 and they knew me by name. I was told to be there at 2pm and the Visa would be ready. Taxi packed kids loaded and off to the Embassy we headed. By this post title you can tell we got our Visa in record time and headed to the airport. We did meet a family there one of many who have waited 2 weeks and still no second call so we are more ecstatic that we chose the right agency.
Our flight was first to Taipei where we got off the plane and I managed to get two kids a stroller and 4 carry on to another terminal. Where I was told where to go. Ok lost and you can see me with a baby in the carrier, double stroller packed with a 3 year old and 3 of the 4 carry ons. The other I drag along as I push the stroller. Someone had sympathy as they sent me to the wrong place and this nice gentleman closed his counter and helped me down a hall around a corner to an elevator to check in with EVA.
The flight from Taipei to Los Angels 11 hours 30 minutes of which Myles slept about 9 or more and the baby slept most of. The bassinet is a lifesaver and the staff were wonderful.
Los Angeles was not bad and they actually pulled me from the line to process Sierras papers. She officially became a citizen at 8:50pm Wednesday.
Sierra is fantastic, right on schedule eating and doing what she should be. She is teething and has a cold but otherwise our pediatrician is very pleased with her.
For Myles who is not adjusting to time :( he sleeps all day and stays up watching t.v all night.
Pictures tomorrow. We are enjoying laying on clean carpet and playing with toys..

We got the call

2007-04-02T20:33:00.000-07:00

We go for our Visa appointment today this is amazing. We have been here 2 weeks and 1 day and we get to go home with our DAUGHTER. This has been amazing and we are so excited to be going home to our family.

So at 3:15 we head to the U.S Embassy. I have a 3 year old, 5 month old as of yesterday and a stack of papers. I am ready if they need more. You enter the building and go through a metal detector. Them its to the office and you stand in line to pay for your visa, cost $380. Cost of Visa to Vietnam $45. We are then called up to the window asked to sign a few papers (no clue what I signed) swear that the information is true and correct (again what information?) and we are given a card to come back the next day.

I asked if she comes home on an IR3 and you want the difference? IR3 is if both parents of a married couple saw the baby prior to or during the adoption process. IR4 would be if I had only seen her and Chuck did not at all in Vietnam. More questions as he now thinks no because Chuck was not at the G and R. I explained the form states that it is at the adoption or during, more calls and I am told that he will call me at the hotel to let me know.

I did get the call at 5:45 and she is an automatic citizen upon entry IR3 hurray. I have to say though they have a reputation for being hard and making parents cry they have been very kind to me. When we had a problem they did everything in their power to help fix it. I was even given the officers personal cell phone if I needed to get a hold of him after hours.

So Vietnam we bid you goodbye and thank you for this wonderful experience and our amazing daughter. We hope to return one day to bring home our daughter with the other agency but its now close to 10 months from referral and we only get letters telling us we cannot talk nothing about our daughter.

Los Angeles here we come.

No call

2007-04-02T06:29:00.000-07:00

So at 2pm today I left to take my daughter to the airport and I think I have cried since. I did not know I would miss her this much (ok yes I did). I can only think how grateful I am that she spent the 2 weeks with me and thank her for making this trip. My selfish side wants her here with me now. Sorry more tears I think I just need to go home. I miss you all. Sweetie have a safe flight and I cannot wait to see you again.

WOW.....

2007-04-01T17:20:00.000-07:00

Today started early. Here in Vietnam we usually are not out the door and doing things at 8am. Our groups was to pick us up at 8:10 a.m. but by standards so far this could mean up to 9a.m. They arrived and a little panic set in as the van would not fit all the families but the assured us we were only being transferred to the other hotel and would get a larger vehicle. We were actually on the road by 9 a.m which surprised me, our destination HaLong Bay

HaLong means descending dragon. A reference to the enormous beast that is said to have careered into the sea at this point, cutting the bay from the rocks. According to another myth, the islands are dragons, sent by the gods to impede the progress of an invasion flotilla. This was the site of two famous sea battles, in the 10th and 13th centuries.

It took us 3 hrs to drive and of the 8 babies all did quite well. We arrived at 12 and boarded the boat.

I think Myles was on cloud nine. A real boat mom this is to much fun.

We heard lunch was served on the boat but had no clue. The first brought out french fries and my kids were excited then 4 shrimp (each table had 4 people). It was quite good but when the snow crab came with eyes looking at me I had to think of something else. This went on and cucumbers, squid salad, whole fish (mom it was looking at us) spring rolls came it seemed like no one could possibly eat that much food.

I am proud to say I took the tinest of a bite to say I tried it and ok I didnt so the others at the table ate it.

Next we will look for an apartment

2007-03-31T03:05:00.000-07:00

So I have found a job...

So my daughter takes the picture and turns around to walk with me and the lady calls her to tell her she forgot the baby. You just have to laugh at what they must be thinking. The bananas I bought from the lady were expensive too and we don't eat them.

We have not seen sun since we got here but it is hot. I want to know when the sun is coming out and they say 2 months. That with the narrow streets and the high buildings it makes it look darker all the time. Trust me it does not stop my daughter from shopping though.

Our papers are in Hoi Chi Minh City why are we not?

2007-03-30T06:55:00.000-07:00

So its official our papers went to HCMC to have the consulate investigate all the i's and t's of our adoption and if they are all dotted and crossed we will get a call for our Visa appointment next week. Lets hope for few delays as this is common it seems here.

I went back to the Embassy this morning to deliver a very important piece of paper. Our local USCIS changed our 171H the same day while my husband stood there and cabled it back to Hanoi so I can get the baby out. I did check out a few apartments in case we do not get out (just kidding). Now the hard part was getting there. I took a taxi and asked for the Embassy easy right? Nope it appears there are two buildings and I needed the consular section. So if I need the consular section and made it there eventually why are my papers sent across the country to the consular section in HCMC. So I am at the embassy and they direct me to the right office. Down the street then left. I ask a police officer if I am going right and he points in the wrong direction. Go figure but then again you have to see the streets here.

So who has the right of way. They did sit there for a bit jammed and you just have to stand and stare its nuts.

keep these streets in mind next time you complain of traffic. This is light.

And your last picture is formula street. I do not know how they make money when streets are all the same product. Formula street, clothes street, liquor street and on. I did not find coffin street but heard they have one.

My feet are so tired

2007-03-29T09:13:00.000-07:00

WE GOT OUR PASSPORT NOW WE JUST NEED A VISA

So where have we been? Busy seeing all we can and enjoying.

First I have to post a picture of our laundry. You wonder why right? I sent laundry out which I limit due to the cost but when it came back in this basket folded clean, stain removed with a rose on top I just had to take a picture.

My kids better not expect this at home...

Now this one is at the museum of ethnograpie. An amazing museum that taught us a lot about the area our daughter was from..

Fishing baskets. But what makes it so great is the bike they are on top of. Could someone really ride the bike with this many baskets?

And my favorite is my little guy who loves his sister. He wanted to feed her but when he was done he announced "she is done she had enough".

Close of a week begining of a new life

2007-03-26T05:56:00.000-07:00

Today was our last day with daddy so we tried to see, do and enjoy. It gets real edgy when you know that your going to be on your own ok my daughter has been fantastic it was just weird knowing your staying and they are going where you want to be.

So today we ventured out and my little ham wanted to have pictures taken of him. I bought the hat from a street vendor who was to be honest driving me nuts. One dollar one no thank you two for one dollar. No thank you. One dollar one it went on and on. I bought two then it was 2 dollars for the big one. End of this I had 2 small one large. Little did I know one was a blue tie one a pink. He told me as he said one was for him and the other for sierra baby.

So where we went today, everywhere our feet took us.

And then we got attacked. Ok felt like it. Circled by 100's ok my husband said 30 people all wanting to touch the kids, pushing to take a picture it was a bit scary. I cannot imagine being a movie star they were out of control.

Executive Decision

2007-03-25T16:45:00.000-07:00

We changed hotels today. We now have unreal views and air conditioning. My daughter is on a real bed too so this made her real happy. The other hotel was nice and the staff loved the kids but the lack of a real mattress and the second bed on the floor was what did us in. So we are now on the 19th floor with views that are non stop.
Our last hotel had blocked out windows that looked into an alley so you can see why we are happy.

The sun has not been out the whole time we are here and though it gets warm I hear that its like this for 2 more months. Not what I thought after HCMC.

2007-03-23T15:15:00.000-07:00

We went on a great adventure today to Bat Trang. We drove through the town and entered a dirt road. It was amazing and true Vietnam. On this dirt road we are driving is a canopy set up and a man cutting hair. Farther down I guess two men had to go to the bathroom so they just pull over and relieve themselves. The road is narrow and they honk like someone is listening (they don’t) as you pass on curves and pray that your going to make it to your destination. One right turn and your in Pottery village. What an amazing little town of one pottery shop after another. We were taken into the first shop and up 4 flights of stairs to watch them make and paint cups/bowls. This turned out to be well worth the trip and we so enjoyed going from one shop to the next. The picture above is a mans bike with his goods on it. We found the seat but not the pedals. Wish I had seen him pedal up.
After arriving back we went for another walk. You have to be careful of where your going as the streets do not run even and we learned fast how easy you can go in the wrong direction and end up at the opposite end of where your headed. I think Myles is shopped out as he falls asleep each day on our shopping trips. Today we tried to keep him up for as long as we could. I think it was later then yesterday so maybe I will not be getting up at 3am again.
I left the kids at the hotel and ventured out to get water. We use a lot as we boil water to clean the bottles. I make it to the corner and turn and here is a lady with her 5-6 yr old son who also had to go to the bathroom so right there he is going into the gutter. Thank goodness Myles was asleep at the hotel with Alyssa-lauren I would not want to have to convince him he could not do that too.
We got so many smiles today what a change already. She loves playing with her hands and loves to make noises. She loves sucking her thumb and could care less which one as long as she gets one in her mouth. She slept through daddy coming in but he will get his share tomorrow.

Rain Drops

2007-03-22T19:26:00.000-07:00

It is raining again and my umbrella is home. As in California where it never rains. Seems I did a much better job packing the first time and not needing any of it then I have this time.

We have had the baby two days and just got her schedule. Hmm glad I had an idea what to do before. So at 4 1/2 months old this is her schedule.

5 times formula (per day)

60/ml each time

9pm bedtime

sleeping through the night

10-11am nap

3-4 pm nap

When she cries put her on your shoulder and massage her back....

So I look at my bottle and realize I am feeding her to much. she gets only 2 oz 5 times a day and I am probably way over stimulating her as well. Thank goodness I didn't know what I was doing.

Here she is...

2007-03-22T04:04:00.000-07:00

This is a short post because the import part is showing you Sierra. The picture is at the Giving and Receiving ceremony. We now look forward to our appointment next week so we can bring her home...

One interview down

2007-03-21T21:02:00.000-07:00

We have the baby and had our first appointment this morning. We applied for her passport and have another appointment on Thursday to pick it up. We also have our first interview with the U. S Embassy on Tuesday at 3pm. This sounds like progress and we hope to be home soon. Meaning no change on our tickets or get out a day or two earlier, which I sure hope to be.
Sierra is HUGE. Yes you got that right but we will not have a weight till next week at our medical exam.
Myles is doing great and loves HIS baby. He asked where Rylee-ann is and we told him we are still trying. Have heard nothing from that agency at all since the last email that was only full of threats so we have no clue where we stand.
Today's forecast RAIN. I packed for hot not cold argh...

2 days early

2007-03-21T06:40:00.000-07:00

We got her she is our and now we wait for papers to be done so we can bring her home to you. Exhausted is what we are so this is going to be short. More tomorrow but after a long day and long drive we need sleep. She looks twice the size of the other baby's that are only 2 weeks younger then her.
:)

Hoi Chi Minh but in Hanoi

2007-03-20T00:36:00.000-07:00

Today we woke up and thank goodness we had an excuse that our hair looked so bad. The power went out, not that power would help at this point. We learned that curly is all we will get with some frizz.. And you wonder why we lose power???

Breakfast was at candlelight but they did have some things we were able to recognize. the pineapple is better here then home. It is so neat eating and watching the traffic pass you buy. Our only problem so far is any street vendor catches Alyssa-Laurens eye and she thinks we should buy from them because they are sad.
We met the staff and off to Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. Talk about lines, Disneyland they have you beat. We wound in and out to where they take your stroller first and purse but you are told to keep your money. If I understood right it was be back by 12 or was it 12:30. You then continue down the line around corners and past buildings to the next security that you go through. This time they scan your camera and give you a bag. What is the bag for is all I could think. Two turns and a block over is where they take your camera. Not close yet but getting there we reach the building and walk up the stairs and into a cold room with guards. It is a casket looking shrine with what would be Hoi Chi Minh inside (wax?).

Now remember I told you it was 12 or 12:30? Well we did not get back in time and our guide had no clue which way to go let alone how to figure it out. I kept pointing that way she went this way instead. Ok I knew it was wrong finally I headed my way and we found the building but it was closed.. Locked up dark as in they all left. Not a problem they will come back after lunch right? Turns out WRONG. They were waiting for us outside and not happy at all they have the afternoon off. Phew we got our stroller and my purse.

This is only the start and what an amazing town. Don't get me wrong I loved Hoi Chi Minh city but this is smaller streets and a different atmosphere.

And to end our day we took a walk to the lake. We got back before dark so as you can tell its still early but we are now 14 hours ahead (daylight savings is not observed here thank goodness or it would be 15 hrs). So by 4 pm my man was out cold.....

Where are we????

2007-03-19T01:36:00.000-07:00

Wow talk about tired. We arrived into Hanoi safe and less quite a few tears It was one emotional send off no wonder my daughter and I are so exhausted. Grandma and Grandpa rushed to see us off and finally at 11:30 we parted to the security gates. I thought I was going alone as my daughter did not want to let her sister go.
The flight was very long but good. Myles slept for quite a while on the first leg (the long one). Now its only 20 to 4 in the afternoon here and I am so tired and of course he is awake. We were met by our agency staff and taken to our hotel. How you find the street is beyond me as I am sure we went in circles for 5 minutes to just get here.
Tomorrow is another day and we are exhausted so more tomorrow.
Bye from Hanoi

They said be flexable

2007-03-15T21:56:00.000-07:00

So as I pack the last of my things I get a call from our agency.... You have to be kidding is my thought but heck what is an extra 5 days. It seems that our giving and receiving is moved to Friday and I tried to change my flight but as usual they are all booked. How is it that every flight into Hanoi Vietnam is booked from Monday through Wednesday. So we go as planned and get to site see. They will also help arrange for a few excursions. I am getting so excited. Now the bad news :) I did manage to get my husband on a flight to come in on Friday and leave Sunday. Why you ask? The baby is an automatic citizen if he sees her before the completion of our adoption. This makes our life easier and we do not have to see our social worker again for 1 full year this way. So the bad news is I got him on our frequent flier miles but he travels first class. Now does this sound fair to you? I thought not. I am so jealous we are flying deluxe class...

Is she still sick?

2007-03-15T13:17:00.000-07:00

I have tried for one week to get my daughter out of school and on independent studies to no avail. It seems she does not qualify because our school district does not like independent studies. Sad but she is going no matter what. They seem to want me to leave her with anyone and I mean anyone and say it is a law that I send her to school. How about home schooling? Oh they are against that as well.
So our bags are almost packed, my 14 yr old is going with me as well as my 3 year old. No you did not miss it my husband is staying home. Can he call her in sick each day?
So tickets, passport, visa all here but the power of attorney has not gotten out of San Francisco.
I am so looking forward to getting there and holding our daughter.

One last paper

2007-03-12T22:41:00.000-07:00

We had to get one more paper since Chuck is not traveling with me, his power of attorney giving me permission to make the decisions in Vietnam. Now if they would let me sneak in an extra child while there don't think twice I would :) it does not specify much on it. So first thing this morning the notary, then to the County office in Van Nuys to pay $9 to tell someone that the notary is real. Do I wish I had a camera today. I get to Van Nuys and park (a miracle on its own) and head inside. Turns out I missed the girl who gives us the gold seal she went on a Mint break. Yeah you read that right the sign said "15 Mint Break". I so wanted to ask 20 minutes later how her mints were. You then take this document to the Secretary of State's office in L.A and another $26 dollars later they will certify the county is real. Add parking and my document so far has cost me $41 dollars. Don't worry the Consulate of Vietnam gets it next for another $50 dollars and the Express mail at $14.95 each way runs you at $120.90 least they could do is add another baby in the deal.
And now the packing they say light. If I am allowed 6 suitcases (2 per person) is taking only 4 light? What worries me is what my 14 year old is planning on packing this may go up to 6.

Can it be true?

2007-03-11T23:24:00.000-07:00

We have not posted as it seemed all our posts were taken back to the first agency as well as a family who took the pictures of our girls off our page and inquired about adopting them. Sorry for the inconvenience but I had no other way to log our journey and not have it get taken back to our first agency.

So the good news is we got a call Feb 27th. This person is singing "Your going to Vietnam" over and over. Ok I knew this.. right its in the end of March most likely April. WHAT???? Be there by March 19th your kidding. I don't think I quite got it all day. We are getting Sierra this is real.

WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU....

Wow I have a lot of work ahead of me.....

The close of another month

2007-01-26T10:34:00.000-08:00

Wow can you believe January is almost over? I feel like the months just flash by. Good news is that my crib is suppose to arrive in February. I am now working on the bedding. This is what I want (for today at least)

Now alls we need is a baby to put in this room.
We did get an email today from our agency. Nothing new on travel at all. Seems they are working on getting new orphanages but somehow that does not make this any easier as we approach 8 months from referral. What surprised me though is the email of travel expenses. I thought this was illegal in Vietnam. Our orphanage donation goes to the agency not the orphanage, we pay for a car and driver (wasn't that our international fee's?) and told to give $150-200 to the orphanage director $100 to the assistant director and $20 to each nanny being 5-10. This does not include the donations I made already of brand new clothes, formula (23 cans) toys, T.V they asked for.
The family that traveled with me in December said it was over $5000 by the time they were done WOW.

Long W. eekends

2007-01-22T14:25:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful weekend painting and building a shelf for the babies room. I thought I would just do the basic and not buy a new crib and bedding until we got home with no baby.. I bought a new crib and think I found the bedding I want. Here is the crib (not our room though)

I painted the room green and yellow. Now for the problem.

We got an email today from the agency. Now remember its 7 1/2 months from referral and we hear little to nothing from them but be patient. Today they said they wanted a check for $140 sent to them so they could make an appointment to update our fingerprints. Hello they do not expire till May 15, 2007 are they kidding? That is 11 months from referral and they do not expect us to have our baby home? No reason given just send the money, only we do not live in their state and they did not do our home study. So will we ever get this little one home to use her crib.....

They said it never rains in California.. How about snow?

2007-01-19T22:36:00.000-08:00

What a week we have had here. We go from hot and windy to rain and then the unbelievable SNOW. Yep it snowed at the beach amazing. At least it was not enough to cause total havoc but enough to say California got snow.
This is when I am so grateful that I have a fireplace in my room too. You cannot turn it on when its hot outside and you have the air conditioner on it really is silly but on chilly nights its so nice to just have a fire in your room and your relaxing and the kids are asleep.
It has been an interesting month and I decided after my return from Vietnam that I did not like my job anymore. No I still like being a mom I just didn't like working at the store anymore. So I quit and boy the manager was not happy. So two weeks later I decided to apply at a store I walked by in the mall and filled out the paper. The manager took it spoke to me for a few minutes and asked me to call this number to answer questions. She said as long as you pass you have a job. Ok now the question I have is who would not pass. Would you steal? No Would you take drugs while at work? No Would you let someone who stole have a second chance? No More drug questions more questions about stealing. Does anyone actually say yeis I am a drug addict and I steal?
Still no news on the baby. She is getting older and missing out on so much. Not one email from the agency but we did get an email from the US Embassy in Hanoi. Tet is coming up and if we do not hear soon we will not go before march. My baby will be one in March.

Did I miss thatEMail?

2007-01-11T16:47:00.001-08:00

Ok so our little girl is 10 months old today. We are ok with the fact we wanted an infant as young as possible but not ok with 7 months of waiting. Did you know that most of the staff at our agency seems to be gone.
I am searching for the email that says the program director from Vietnam is gone. I guess its lost did you get it? I did get another email today that says they have new pictures of her. This time only 2 and I cannot open any of them. Odd was we have a new program director she signed it as if I knew. Said she is cute here are the pictures.
I so hoped it was the call to get her :(.
Oh tried to reply to a comment but I cant, is this even possible? My daughter is in Can Tho, do you have a referral?

I held off for so long too....

2007-01-10T22:28:00.000-08:00

So I didnt write about our 3 weeks in Vietnam and I wrote little when we got home. Today I just felt it was time to write. Can you believe that I got pictures within an hour of my post. Ok yep I cried but she is smiling which she learned in the 3 weeks we had her. Her hands are open not in a fist also something that changed in the 3 weeks. Only thing wrong is the agency said nothing other then here are pictures we took. No news? No date? Ok more tears. My baby needs me..

THE PICTURE HAS BEEN REMOVED SINCE IT HAS BEEN COPIED FROM MY PAGE AS WELL AS ANOTHER. SORRY

One thing I learned in this process is DON'T ASK who is in the picture with her. That is how we fell in love with the 11 year old. So anyone looking for an older child? They are all so beautiful....

Time moves so slow

2007-01-10T14:43:00.000-08:00

We are now 2 days away from the 7th month of knowing about a little girl who lives so far away but is such a big piece of my heart. Why we cannot hold or touch her we do not know. We do know we had the most wonderful 3 weeks with her but now we just cry. Our agency as you can guess has nothing to say. No phone calls no emails nothing. Business as usual except for us. They have cashed our check taken our hearts and say patience? Our baby is 10 months old tomorrow and will not be with us.
My heart is broken and another family plugs away telling others how great this agency is and how they side with them. How do you side with anyone when you do not know the facts. It is our intent to heal these broken hearts and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I miss my house

2006-12-20T06:14:00.000-08:00

Ok its been 3 weeks and I know Ho Chi Minh city by the back of my hand. I can tell the taxi driver which way to go when they try to take you in circles. I can negotiate a good price on items we now need to lug home but ..... I cannot get them to release the baby. It is over 6 months from referral and we have watched families come and go. Both with our agency and not. What gets me most is that those traveling got referrals months after us, and the other family stuck with us. No more answers then when we left just wait and be patient. I would not wish this on anyone. We miss home and our family and want our daughter as a part of that family dont they get it.

So does the phone ring?

2006-12-13T07:07:00.000-08:00

6 months later and not a step closer

2006-12-11T01:47:00.000-08:00

Today it is 6 months since we got the referral of our beautiful girl. She is now 9 months old and we are not one step closer to getting her home. This is so very sad. Then to make your wait worse your agency says your only waiting 3 months. Does this include the time they lost all the papers in Vietnam? Who would ever imagine this would be the outcome, sure not us. It saddens us to see so many who signed long after us and who got referrals so long after us completing their adoptions. Congratulations to them and we are sorry we are not more excited. Hoping this is the week of more news and less Typhoons in Vietnam.

Beautiful Weekends

2006-11-19T07:22:00.000-08:00

How can you ask for nicer weather. That is one thing about California, you can always find a weekend to just walk on the beach during fall and winter. The weather is perfect. Yesterday my mom and I went to meet my brother and we had a great picnic in the park. I had not seen my brother in a long time an on his way through we found a few hours to enjoy each others company and a piece of cheesecake.
I did find time to shop and decided though its lugging a stroller with me I really need to. If I end up alone I will have 2 kids one stroller and if she hates the carrier I am in trouble sooooo. I found a 15% off coupon online for Babies R Us and will buy the double stroller today. I figure at worst it could carry the diaper bag for me :).
Now to the bigger news. I have gone back and forth with our agency. Return phone calls are not happening for the last month, we have gotten a few emails, one saying go ahead and get your Visa which we did apply for. With holidays and such they are slower so in a crunch you can be in trouble. We did find it faster and cheaper again in the San Francisco Consulate so we applied there. It is $45 for a 30 day Visa. We then booked our flight and hope to at least visit our daughter and make headway on a giving and receiving. After we arrive it will approach our 6 months since we got our referral. Very frustrating.
So one more week and we will see you in Saigon.

Where is the Visa

2006-11-16T09:16:00.000-08:00

I went to apply yesterday for our Visa and the man kept telling my I cannot use the money order with my Visa. It was to funny as he meant I could not pay for the money order with my Visa. I was not going to but wanted to apply for my Visa to enter Vietnam and he just missed the whole thing. It is now 1 week since they our agency got the last signature as per my email on Friday from the director. So do you think we have a giving and receiving? It is going to be 6 months from referral if they don't hurry. We have been on the phone with airlines and hope to secure a ticket today for the end of the month. It is our hopes that by then he will have the date or they will once I arrive but its way to long and we need to be with our daughter.
Ok so bags are getting packed and weighted but the controversy over how much each can weight. I have two duffel bags with donations, clothes, soft toys and formula. The remainder of formula is in my suitcase. Packing for 2 children is not easy either as I know my sons size but the baby's is a mystery as I have asked for her weight but have not gotten that for awhile.
It is going to be 90 degrees here today so I should get outside and enjoy it before it gets to hot.

Are we there yet????

2006-11-09T11:24:00.000-08:00

The weather is warm and its just wonderful outside now if we had a baby to walk around with and share all the pretty trees. It is now creeping up on 5 months from referral and still nothing. Each week it's next week we will hear, who said this would be easy. We got new pictures and I think this is just getting harder by the day. I don't talk to anyone about it anymore since I know little to nothing. Ok frustrated we are. My husband offered ok I asked to go there and just wait it out there. Guess what ?? He said Yes. So we called the agency and are on day 4 of no return call :(. So instead I will share our pictures we got a couple of weeks ago.

So now do you know why the wait is so hard? We watch her grow up through pictures. Ok break time tears again..

Falling leaves

2006-10-27T12:52:00.000-07:00

Our trees are so confused at this point. They do not know if they should lose their leaves or just keep them all year. It is now the end of October and it is so warm outside. Most of my trees do not lose their leaves but those that do are green and full. Unless we have a change in weather real fast these Halloween costumes can be worn as is. I never got how they could make them so thin and sleeveless when it is in October. I guess the original designers of costumes lived in California and forgot its October and suppose to be cold.
We are happy to hear more travel news for families but again we are no closer. Wait Wait Wait.... I heard our papers cleared so long ago but they sit. It is 4.5 months and counting :(
Have a great weekend.. Happy Halloween

No more Diapers

2006-10-24T13:37:00.000-07:00

Well we took the plunge and took Myles out of his diapers Saturday. It did not go to well as his father seemed to get him to the toilet after he went quite a few times. We are happy to day Sunday went much better. We did wonder though as he wanted to go pee pee but even through Monday still no poop. Well that poop cost me $29 dollars today. Four days later he finally went on the toilet hurray. So I am excited to announce I will only have one child in diapers at a time in our home, this was a concern as dirty diapers are not something we like.
The weather is wonderful and we are spending lots of time outdoors. Only problem with this is Myles loves to dig. He moves the rocks from one pile to the next. How can I possibly get rid of them if he enjoys them so much. Wonder how he will do in the snow since it seems like summer here all the time. If all goes well after we return from Vietnam we hope to visit Mammoth.
Still no new news from our agency. They are sending us the travel information but still no dates. Patience is all we hear, five months later at that.

If only I had put my time to better use.

2006-10-21T23:24:00.000-07:00

I got an email today that we should be getting news hopefully this week I will read the email again 10 times to make sure I got it right. It seems that two of us are ready to go in our province. Now you can read past posts this wait has been anything but easy and here I will say oh no I don't have anything done. The packed bags got unpacked when we flew to Missouri and since it was a longer wait I do not think we have the right size clothes. This could also pose a problem due to the conference in Vietnam but I cannot wait longer this is way to hard. So we are hoping, praying its finally going to happen and though we thought we would travel with more families at least it seems two of us are there.
So if that is not enough I am working on my house and figuring our where to put the wonderful wood pieces my brother makes. First thing I got was a jewelry/keepsake box.

Then my clocks...... Yes clocks

So in the mail came my 4th clock. They are all different wood and I love them all but am running out of places to hang them. I have not taken pictures of the new one but will this week.

2006-10-15T09:19:00.000-07:00

Its now over 4 months since we got our referral and still no news. We just are told be patient. Now how is it that for 2 months of any day now and patience belong in the same sentence? We are frustrated and wish we knew if this is really going to happen. So far 9 months after getting their license they have 3 families in country and no completed adoptions.
In the mean time our busy life goes on. We hope to have the kids bathroom done this week. I found some great fish tiles in Missouri to add to what I had so incentive. Thank goodness we have 4 bathrooms in our home, taking one out has not been a major issue yet.
I got my latest purchase last week for Mai. I ordered a Mai Tai over 1 month ago and the first never showed up so they had to make it all over again and send it to me. When my daughter brings back my camera I will take pictures.
Happy Sunday all.......

Farewell

2006-10-12T21:03:00.000-07:00

I have never been to Missouri before but so far the people we have met have been wonderful. It is so different than home here but we have been treated so warmly by everyone. Ok so not one store :) but heck they cannot be perfect.
We met some wonderful people from Life Goes On after we arrived and I want to thank them personally for their compassion and care your wonderful people.
So do you think my kids took advantage of this? I cannot imagine how my mom will survive when we travel to Vietnam. It seems either she called the kids or the kids called her and they went shopping today. I know what this means, department stores. Homecoming is this weekend do they not give notice? Odd how this always works that my mom gets talked into looking for 1 yep 1 dress and I hear jeans, shoes, shirts seemed to jump into the picture.
We head home Saturday morning.

2006-10-12T05:25:00.002-07:00

I have not written in awhile took a break from the whole adoption hoping that it would make the wait easier. It hasn't at all and we still wait with no real news on when we will travel. Seems they know little at our agency.
Yesterday was 4 months since we got our referral. My packing skills were put to a test on Tuesday night though. I had bags packed and thought we were ready for this. I got a call and now have a pile on my bedroom floor to deal with as we had 6 hours to get a flight out and we are now in Missouri. We made it to the airport and thankfully though we took the red eye Myles did great on the plane slept a lot so we hope he will do the same to Vietnam. I don't think we my husband and I were prepared for how bad thing were when we arrived as we got a phone call and just booked a flight but with the saddest heart I announce that we lost my mother in law at 5:05pm yesterday. We met an amazing team of 3 who stayed with our family by her bed and we now pray for the family who awaited a liver and pray that our loss turned in to their future. Our flight home was for Saturday night but we think we are going to take the flight early tomorrow home earlier.

This is a long week....

2006-09-09T21:11:00.000-07:00

I went shopping again. If not there some orphanage is going to get a lot of clothes..

These are just a few of the outfits I bought to give to the orphanage this week. I made sure I got more then pink but heck those boys look so cute in pink. Ok so that did not end my shopping though. I plan ahead.....

Yes a snowman suit. It fits 0-9 months and I think just a picture in it is worth the $2.00. Yep it was a whole 2 dollars as most of the clothes you see are under $3. I bought long sleeve onsies today for $2.00. There are 2 in the pack. Now you see my problem, such a deal how can you turn it down. They keep making things lower and lower and form a Karrie pile at Babies R Us.

How early do you pack

2006-09-03T08:14:00.000-07:00

Holiday weekend meant a good time to go through things paint rooms and tile bathrooms. All on the list and only a little done so far as Sunday approaches. It must be the beautiful weather and any excuse to go outside.
I had a change of heart on colors so the babies room is now white. Ok its the primer but its white anyway. I hope to have the final decision made today so we can get some color on the walls. My mother what's to know if the square footage on the house is less since I paint the rooms so much. Nothing like a fresh coat of paint.
Also going to tackle the kids bathroom. I am tiling he counter since I had the builder put in white tile and my husband who preped it for me did not make it level this time. This does create more work but it will get done.
More like it has to before I leave to get our baby. Speaking of which we know little and wish someone would tell us for sure we are going in September.
If your by your local Toys R Us today check out the sales on clearance clothing . I say this laughing because I just bought about 20 more outfits to take over.
Have a great day......

They better hurry or I will have 10 Suit cases

2006-08-31T16:14:00.000-07:00

School started hurray. The kids are back in school and yet I still feel I don't have enough time each day. Maybe once Myles starts pre school in a week. My 18 year old is home to much though and requires a lot of attention so this could be a cause too. I think my husband is not talking to me again after the latest arrival. Do you need updates on on home studies when your family grows. My daughter brought a kitten to live here. DH says and who takes care of this animal? Umm :).....
They told me last year they needed shoes and I collected over 60 new pairs of shoes for the orphanage. This time we learned they do not get enough formula. Yeah you got it right but not 60 cans yet. I think closer to 30 though hurray.

Then it was clothes they always need clothes and you could not even imagine the great sales I find. So this is only a small dent on what I have purchased. My husband looked at me as though you bought all this for Rylee-ann. Nope its to leave there.

So now that I have all this stuff do you think they could send me already? I wonder how long they can tell one family they are waiting on the call to set the G&R date. I sure hope it comes soon I am running out of room for my clothes.

Ok its Monday in Vietnam

2006-08-27T23:54:00.000-07:00

My brain is always 14 hour ahead. I even gave my agency permission to call me at 3am if that is when the notice comes that we can get our daughter. It is a bit hard when one says plan on September travel (do they know that is 4 days away) and then the other person in the office says plan on October/November travel. Yes you read this right as you can see its a guess. I never thought waiting would be so hard but it is. So today I found so many shirts/jumpers and other items on sale at Babies R Us and bought as much as I could. More tomorrow and I sure hope the orphanage likes them. I bought crayola crayon packets ok 40 of them, markers and paper to give to the older kids. My thought was if it breaks you tear the paper off but if I got pencils and they broke they would end up in the trash. I want to bring a few toys to hang from cribs as well.
So do you see my suitcase expanding already? Here I thought I would go lighter this time around haha...
Now lets get the phone ringing I cant wait forever to get my daughter :)

Where did the week go.....

2006-08-25T07:15:00.000-07:00

Can you believe another week has passed and summer is coming to an end? School officially starts next week but the freshmen go to school this morning to get their books, schedules and buy there year books. Ok so what is with the cost of year books anyway? If you want to just buy a year book its $70 till next week that is, if you want to attend football games add to that. So the check for today is $110 without P.E. clothes thank goodness she is taking dance. I am sure they will want special shoes and outfit that will cost me more then PE clothes :).
We are headed out to the Asian Garden Mall today as I need to feel like I am getting closer to Vietnam. I will take picture and post later.
Superman has made his appearance in my house and we have had to buy several of these pj's as he will not go to his normal clothes. I did try to tell him that Clark Kent changes to regular clothes but he will have none of it. Now if he could use his super powers to clean the house for me that would be great. Myles better known as Superman will start school in September.
My purchase getting me closer to Rylee-ann this past week is her car seat.

It has the best ratings and seeing she is so small the Britax seemed to big so it is being put aside a bit. So now that I have her car seat do you think someone can call me and tell me to pick her up? I am told we should know something in the next week or so.

Have a great day.....

Movie to see

2006-08-16T12:34:00.000-07:00

My daughter invited me out to a movie last night. I have to say since Myles joined us we do not see movies that often unless they are power hero's, animated kids who sing, or the little bear who gets in trouble (curious George). I am not so sure this was the movie to see when you are awaiting travel news but "World Trade Center" is what we saw. My daughter has offered to baby sit so I can take my husband. I am not sure anyone walked out with a dry eye but I will say it was good.
On the adoption front no more news. We are being told that things are moving along and hopefully travel will come in September. Do they know how hard it is to look at a picture know its your child and not be able to even touch her? Then I read this on the internet.
When you go to the orphanage you should be very polite to everyone you meet. The person who has been taking care of your child may want to hold him/her for most of the time you are there. Please let her do this. She has taken care of your child and this will be the last time she will see him/her. Give her a few last moments. She may also show you how to hold and feed your baby. Again, let her do this. You will soon be on your way home and you can do what ever you please. You have the rest of your life with your child; she has only a few more minutes.
This cannot be an easy job and I sure hope I find a way to thank them properly for caring for our daughter.

Sunday is a new week?

2006-08-13T21:12:00.001-07:00

I am so ready to start a new week. Our family seems to have had a tough week. My ex sister in law and Aunt to my kids lost her battle to breast caner and my children had to try again to understand losing a family member. Than my father decided to scare us and ended up in the emergency room and then the hospital. Though he was released the next day it was only to have him return Tuesday for a pace maker. So as you see I needed a new week.
When the going gets tough take out your referral pictures. Do not go in the baby's room and realize you have nothing ready though :). I have bought toys and clothes but have not gotten the necessary items. Why wait? I still think I is this real?
Ok my favorite thing is the zoo which I have not been to in a few weeks but this is a picture of the elephant at my last visit. I did not know that they played in water but this elephant had the best time. Have you ever seen an elephant take a bath?

And my purchases today is a new doll for Rylee-ann. I wonder if I will be able to take any of these things with me? I am going to buy a few like it to give to the orphanage to hang on the cribs for the babies though.

2006-08-09T08:45:00.000-07:00

Over and over I go back to the same picture. Is she real or a doll? I have asked our agency about getting formula to the orphanage as it seems they are all small and do not get enough food. All that were checked were low on weight which is a concern.
So does this look like a doll? I am also enquiring about the girl holding her. Is she in the orphanage is she available? Hopefully we will learn this soon.

2006-08-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

Ok so I get pictures of our daughter and a few extras and first I say what in heavens name is that? I guess I deserve a trip to Hawaii or at least somewhere that has coconuts. What ever happened to that brown fuzzy thing I see in the market. So I ask my husband what is it and he says the outside of a coconut. Has he been to Hawaii without me?

I do like the green on it though and wonder how that would look with pink on the walls in the baby's room. I better start this week as time is flying and I really need to have more then clothes for her. I have bought way to many outfits and way to many toys. My husband wants to know if they allow full size carry on because I keep telling him this is a toy for the long flight home.

Referrals

2006-08-04T23:27:00.000-07:00

I think today has been one of the better days. When you read other families posting their referrals it just makes it more real. From the beginning I have watched one families blog and you would think it was my child. She talked about her baby then all of a sudden nothing. How do you write someone asking what happened. Well today she posted pictures and I feel like I got my referral all over again. Congratulations I am so happy you got your beautiful daughter. I am sure from reading your blog you both will make wonderful parents.

I hesitated putting much on our referral scared you can say but now reading a few others we are happy to announce Rylee-ann Mai who is in Can Tho. We got so many pictures the other day and some of her medical. Now if only we could get more. Can you imagine I got on the phone and insisted (ok asked nice... begged) to get my daughter formula. It seems she is anemic and in need of good formula. The orphanage does all they can I am sure but can we not do more? I await news that they can do this for me and all the babies there that need this.

2006-08-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

Wow how the weeks fly but we are not closer to Vietnam. I keep reading others pages and get so excited. We decided to finally do the baby's room this weekend now to choose a color. My daughter is moving down stairs and chose green for her room. I want to know when normal colors will appear in my home though.
Can you believe Halloween costumes are out and I found the cutest lady bug. Hope it brings good luck and that we have her by then.

2006-07-13T14:32:00.000-07:00

As of July 10, 2006 we have our official referral of our daughter Rylee-ann Faith Mai Mikulus. We have had her picture for a month but until this week we were unsure if we would really get her.
Does this mean we can officially buy clothes? Paint her room and get ready for an infant again. I sure hope so because Monday night I bought an outfit.

Our daughter resides in Vietnam being well taken care of in an orphanage. She is now 4 months old and our last weight was at 3 months and she was 9 pounds. Can I send some formula? She is beautiful and we cannot wait to actually touch her. We are told a total of 4 months to travel and without knowing we have passed the first month.

I sat here last night thinking wow a mom again and the quilt squares meant something. They now are for someone how exciting. I cannot wait to get all my squares and make her quilt.

More waiting

2006-06-21T10:42:00.000-07:00

So the weeks go by as we still have little on our adoption. We thought we were going to have to start over when our dossier was pulled. Wait was it really? I guess it depends on who you speak to at the agency. Last we heard it was not then we got an email asking if we were interested in a girl. Of course we are, didn't we sign on with you and pay you to find her.
I took on a part time job nights to help with the added expenses and make a few dollars to spend in Vietnam for gifts but I spend what I make on baby stuff. Ok so choosing a baby store to work in may not have been that wise.
Congratulations Doug and thanks for making me an Aunt, cant wait to find out if its a boy or girl.
Hoping to hear more about the girl so CALL ME...

2006-06-13T00:02:00.000-07:00

Ok its been a long two weeks and lots going on. We first had major miscommunication with our agency. Teach me to not go to the top. We got many things worked out but also learned a lot about the process in the mean time. Nothing good comes easy right? So I guess fear made me take all the baby clothes back to costs that were under 12 months size. They will offer me a boy right? No I told them not to call me with a boy that we really wanted a girl and if they offered a boy we would take it. So the pink dresses went back and I moved up to 12 months. Seems you cannot get young referrals anymore if you talk to some agencies.
Now on to my fun new job. I wanted to make a few extra dollars to help dh support this adoption process. We considered two and I really thought nights would help. And what do you think I chose yeah Baby's R US.
This customer comes in one is 2 months pregnant one is 4 months pregnant to register. Ok am I losing it?
Ok enough ranting its time to get things in order around here. We are waiting on a girl so lets get to the rooms.
Have a great night.

Journey to Rylee-ann

2006-05-12T15:11:00.000-07:00