I told you so

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

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

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?

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...

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

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

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

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.....

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

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?

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

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

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

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.

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

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...

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

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

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

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.....