Home Sweet Home

We made it home after a long but not too bad flight. The jetlag is a bit rough but everyone is doing great and we are all very happy to be together. Lucy Linh seems to be feeling more and more secure with her new environment and has had lots of entertainment from three eager 6 year olds! She continues to be happy, curious and content and is taking all of her new life in with some big, bright, brown eyes. She and Sean have had an extremely smooth introduction and he has been an amazing soul through all of this.

American soil, quiet streets and walking in the woods all feel so good and I am thankful that this process is behind us and we can all just enjoy being together.

Just some pictures....

Just enjoying some lunch....

AA won a Tet Prize.

Hanging out by the pool.

I'm pretty happy.

MOPEDS!

What they manage to cart on their bikes is unbelievable.

You have to sit in the bath!

AA walking sassy to go into G&R ceremony!

Learning to swim!

A few pictures of Lucy Linh's first swim. I dunked her and she did great!

Oh What a Week!

It has been a week since we got Lucy Linh and I cannot imagine life without her. We have had a great week and I think we have all really appreciated the time together without the "normal" responsibilities of life. I think it is safe to say that we officially have spoiled Lucy Linh and that she loves to be watched and held! She is happy and content when either happens and gets fussy if she is tired or hungry. It will be interesting to see how she does at home.

Here are some pictures of the doctor's visit -- I wrote about this in the previous post and it still stands out as one of the most gratitude provoking experiences I have ever had. The doctor visit itself was also interesting: I could not fully communicate with him and there was not much involved in the check up (Dr. Jimbo, we look forward to a check up with you when we get home!). But Lucy Linh thought it was quite fun sitting on the scale. The nurses were laughing because she was so big for the scale and they were used to much smaller babies who were not happy to be placed there. Lucy Linh thought it was quite fun!

The Giving & Receiving ceremony last Wednesday was interesting. We went to a government office where there are many things going on related to immigration and justice. We were told to dress nicely so we did and we stood out for sure. We went behind a glass petition area with the orphanage director and highest governemnet officical for adoption. I had to sign several papers and as I was signing one set Lucy Linh reached up and grasped the papers in a wad! They all got a little bent out of shape and helped me release her grip and asked that I pass her over to mom. Shew -- lighten up! Anyway, I signed, we were positioned for a picture and then we were done. She was "ours"! After we were done, Annie Allen looked at me and asked, "Was that it? Why did we have to get all dressed up?"

Thursday night one of Chase's friends that lives here had us out to her house for dinner. She had a traditional Vietnamese meal and it was so much fun to see how they live and to eat some safe "real" food. They have 2 boys so AA had some fun playing and we enjoyed ourselves a ton. It was so nice of her to have us!

Friday we went to Cu Chi Tunnels which was really fun and interesting. We got to explore and learn all about a 250 km network of tunnels that the Vitenamese army used during the war. Fascinating! Annie Allen and I (and LL) went down in one tunnel and it was crazy! So small and we were crawling on our hands and knees. The tunnels were purposely kept small so that the Vietnamese could get in and out yet too small for the American army. They had underground "hospital", kitchen, supply rooms, etc. We also saw all of the traps they made and we thought they were ingenious. It was an hour or so drive out and we some very rural parts of HCMC. Seeing the typical rice fields and the workers and a rubber tree farm was neat also. A few pictures...

Friday afternoon I went to get LL passport and that felt great. Another "step" in the process and the final step in the Vietnamese part of the adoption. Mom and Annie Allen (the social beings!) went to two Tet/Chinese New Year's parties. It is a really big deal here and they celebrate for 10 days. The city is being decorated and a whole street shut down to build (including brick walls and grass/flowered areas) a display. There are bright yellow flowers, lights and characters all over the place. The first party they had a Dragon Dance and mom says the longest buffet table she has ever seen. The second one was great fun becasue Annie Allen's number was called and she won first prize! She was very happy. I was so happy that she and mom were out having so much fun!

Saturday and Sunday we went to a downtown Saigon/HCMC for some good food, a little shopping and poking around and then some pool time after naps. Lucy Linh has been swimming and hanging out by the pool comes easily to her.

Monday we left HCMC to come to Hanoi for the rest of our time. Everyone did great on the flight and we saw some interesting parts of this city on our way from airport. We have not had a chance to explore yet but the initial feeling is very different from HCMC. More village feeling and there is a huge lake here. The same moped and traffic craziness exists for sure. Also the same constant background noise of honking horns! We are looking forward to getting out and checking some of it out today.

We had to come to Hanoi because this is where the US Embassy is located. I will go tomorrow for my Embassy interview and hopfully (if the interview goes well and the paperwork is processed

smoothly) get LL's visa by the end of the day Wednesday. I am really hopeful that this is smooth as I am ready for the real last step in this process. Our flight is scheduled for Thursday morning. I think we are all beginning to look forward to the comforts of home. Maybe not the jet lag but everything else! Annie Allen has watched more TV than normal and misses her friends but overall is doing great. She has been such a big girl. Mom has been a real trooper and is so very good with both AA and LL. She is so easy and calm with both of them and has been going with the flow of whatever needs to happen when. She has also been so tolerant of some very simple (if you even call it that) eating. It will be nice for both of us I am sure to have some good meals with vegetables and fruit.

Thank you all for staying in touch and I apologize that we have not been able to reply to all of the kind emails. Our internet access has been spotty but we are grateful for all of the love and support being sent our way. Thank you, Thank you!!!!!

Thursday 1/15/09

I have had trouble getting onto my blog to update it so I will get in as much as possible…

We are doing great and we are enjoying our time in Viet Nam. It has been a combination of continuing to do all the steps of the adoption process as well as exploring some of HCMC.

Tuesday we had some time to just be around here and get a feel for Lucy Linh. She is so much fun and is doing great! She has been sleeping very well, eating well, has an easy and content disposition, a great giggle and many awesome expressions, does not like her diaper or clothes changed (except Nana seems to have some magic and doesn’t have to wrestle her like I do), is bright eyed and loves seeing the city from the Baby Bjourn, fits perfectly on my hip and is very snuggly! She gives these sweet little lovey hugs and is so darn cute when she finds her stubby thumb and falls sound asleep. We took her swimming Tuesday afternoon and she was happy and splashing around in the water. She shows signs of a little fiery spirit and as Sean says, thank goodness, she will need it in our house of girls!

Annie Allen is doing great and loves to entertain and hold Lucy Linh. She is happy to be a big sister for sure and has been very mature about it all (so far J). It is such a joy to see her little being grow into a new role and to watch her experience this new way of life. She is a BIG help!

Nana is so much fun and so great! She has met and made friends with many people in our “complex” and has been so easy going. She is an amazing soothing force for both Lucy Linh and has been a huge help and allowed Annie Allen to have lots of fun! In fact they are at a Chinese New Year party as I type. Note – the second one for the night. They had to rush through one to “make it” to the next one. Those two have so much fun together!

Wednesday was an amazing experience – I went to the medical appointment which is required by the US for our Visa appointment at the US Embassy in Hanoi. We went to a clinic which was behind a hospital which deserves a whole other blog entry – wow I am grateful for the US medical care. I walked in and rounded the corner to the waiting area and looked up to about 20 American or Canadian families with newly adopted babies. I felt like I had just walked onto a stage with a spot light on Lucy Linh in the Baby Bjourn – “How old is she?” “What orphanage is she from?” “She looks so healthy.” I found myself getting red and the tears were beginning to well up in my eyes as I looked around at their babies – they were so very small, dazed, covered in scabies. My arms wrapped around Lucy Linh tighter and the next emotion that flooded my body was gratitude – I knew she was a strong, healthy child when I first held her but I had no idea what was at the other end of the spectrum. It was a spiritual experience where I felt like there was an IV in my arms and a fluid of gratitude was being pumped into my body. I do not take for granted that it is apparent that Lucy Linh was loved and cared for in her orphanage.

The rest of the day was busy with passport pictures for Lucy Linh, the Giving and Receiving ceremony and applying for her passport. It was a crazy day and I felt like it was a whirlwind. The G&R was not very meaningful but was purposeful – Lucy Linh was officially signed over to us from the VN government. So that felt awesome but I have to say, there was not much of a ceremony to it.

Impression of Viet Nam: Loud and busy all day and night! There is a constant background noise of horns, cars and moped; Tons of mopeds; People seem to be very nice and pleasant; Big new buildings next to shacks selling a few select items cooked in the homes; Tiny little businesses stacked one next to another; Medians with lush, green plants and bushes and an irrigation system on a road with more pot holes than you can imagine; Hundreds of electricity lines loosely hung on a pole (absolutely no system or organization or safety precautions)…

Things we have seen on mopeds: Women in high heels dressed fancy; Matching face masks and aprons; Large concrete planter balanced over a man’s head; A huge door; 20 foot poles; Large plastic bag of raw meet; A plastic bin of live seafood; Huge trees with the root balls and all; 4 adults on one scooter…we could go on but it is such a different way of living.

We are doing great and making our way here…mostly just enjoying our time together and that we are finally all together.

A few pictures…

Amazing.

Today was a truly amazing experience. I am having a hard time finding any words that work. My heart is so full of love! I am still absorbing it all for sure but so very happy to have Lucy Linh in our arms. I felt like my heart would explode when they first brought her in an handed her to me. So far all is well and she seems healthy, happy and active. I find myself falling more and more in love with her as minutes pass together.

Annie Allen is keeps checking in on her while she is napping. I think she is very satisfied to finally be a big sister. I admit, I have gone in several times myself and just smile at her curled up sound asleep. Her chubby cheeks and thighs also easily bring a grin. I could post 100 pictures but here are just a few... okay, more than a few but I couldn't stop myself :-)!



Handing her to me...



Nana and Lucy Linh (check out the striped purple socks!)...

Big Sister....

She is solid and very squeezable!

Annie Allen absorbing it all as they are handing Lucy Linh to me.

Her crib and home for first 9 months...

This was clearly her main caregiver...this sweet woman was very emotional; although my heart ached for her, it also made me feel warm that Lucy Linh was so clearly loved by her.

Leaving her "home" for good...

She found her stubby thumb, stuck it in her mouth and feel fast asleep on the ride home -- sitting up!

They are having fun getting to know each other....

Wow it has been a while since I have done bottles :-)!

I have already found some fun tickle spots!

I will close for now...I am truly, truly blessed.

Peace to you all.

Tomorrow

We are getting picked up tomorrow at 9:30 am to go to the orphange. I have imagined this day for so long...it feels very surreal. I am ready to meet little Lucy Linh and will post about her as soon as I can.

Thank you for all of your sweet emails and comments! Off to bed for some sleep.

We DID it!

We crossed a street! We actually crossed 3 streets! And oddly enough -- it was very exhilerating. I love that about travel -- an everyday accomplishment at home can be such a huge accomplsihment in a new place. We were all giggly from fear after we got to the other side. After exchanging money, we hopped in a cab and flew threw town to a huge market that sold food, crafts, clothes, etc. It was massive and the smells were very overpowering. Annie Allen looked at mom and said -- "Nana, just keep breathing through your mouth!" The first stall we walked past was selling pigs noses to eat. Yuck! Then there were the little frogs --dead, to cook (maybe?) and eat. I thought AA would pass out! There were beautiful fruits and vegetables as well. People seem freindly and very interested in Annie Allen. She gets a little nervous with people staring at her but so far she is handling everything so well. Mom is also -- after our crazy trip from the airport I thought we really would not leave the hotel grounds -- but her curosity got the best of her and before we knew it, she was leading the way across the street! This is an adventure of many forms...more to come I am sure.

Holy Mopeds!

Well...not sure what to say except HOLY MOPEDS! I heard it was CRAZY but that is an understatement. Within 5 minutes of our ride from the airport, I looked over and AA and mom had their eyes covered with "Bun-Bun" -- AA's eyes were huge the rest of time when she was looking! Our entrance into Vietnam was far from smooth -- so much for the relaxing morning in Hong Kong! I was about to pull out extra money to get our visas but it helped that AA was laid out on the chair looking like she was about to puke. I had to take some very deep breaths and tell myself that my skin is thick enough to do this -- it is only the begining! I really do not think I will get mom to leave the hotel grounds. Not that I am very interested in doing so right now myself -- AA has spotted the pool and there is a restaurant right there and a little convenient store so at least tomorrow we will be settle in and get our bearings.

Hong Kong

Our stop over in Hong Kong has been great! We had a great, full day yesterday after a good night sleep (after not much sleep at all on the 16 hour plane ride!). We went to Victoria Peak on mainland HK and had great views. Then did a little walking and shopping before heading back across the harbour. We had lunch a great hole in the wall noodle place and it was so much fun to come out of the bathroom to see mom and AA's bright blonde heads standing out like sore thumbs in a sea of dark hair and bodies! AA keeps noting people staring at her...no wonder! Her skin and hair and youth are not commonly seen here. We walked Kwaloon Park and then visited the famous Peninsula Hotel followed by afternoon tea and sweets at our hotel. We had a yummy dinner at NOBU -- a restaurant that AA remembers very well from the first time we came here. She devoured the "crunchy shrimp."

Mom and Annie Allen are both doing so well. They are such good sports and have been so positive about things...the flight was very long and started with an hour and 20 miniute delay sitting on the runway in New York. But we just settled in as best we could and watched a lot of movies.

Tomorrow we go to Vietnam so more from there....

Thank you for the support

I am so blessed! Thank you to many of you who called or emailed to wish us well before we left...It was so nice to hear from so many dear friends and family and I appreciate you keeping up with our journey. I am sorry that I couldn't get back with everyone before we left. It got kind of crazy there at the end :-).

I feel so grateful for how much love and support I have had throughtout this whole process. Thank you all!

Here we go!

Now it's time...we leave this Wednesday January 7 and will go to Hong Kong for a few days before heading to Ho Chi Minh City January 10. We have a day to settle in and then we get to meet Lucy Linh on Monday, January 12! My mom has been such a sport and is on go with her bags packed. Annie Allen has officially crossed the threshold of patience and understanding for her little body and finds herself just plain ready to get Lucy Linh. As she says so plainly, "I am frustrated that we don't have Lucy yet." We are literally counting the days now. If all goes smoothly, we should return on Friday, January 23.

I feel such a mixture of excitement, nervousness, courage, fear, energy, and fatigue -- all held gently by a sense of peace and "its all okay" feeling. I find myself mentally incorporating Lucy Linh into our days recently and preparing myself as much as I can for less sleep. Sean and I have tried to have some good quality time before we leave as both know that going back to the baby phase will affect our adult time greatly.

So we are off and I am continually grateful for all of the love, support and encouargement of so many! Thank you and more later from Hong Kong and VN....