Friday, February 16, 2007
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Good news today....
Today was a good day. Brooklyn's Doctor Appointment went very well. She was given some medicine that is helping with the discomfort of the rashes on her skin. The Doctor actually said the best thing for her is taking her home to the US. There we will have her see a specialist if needed, but so far she seams to be clearing up. She still has a cold and is congested but we are giving her medicine for that as well. We also found out today they the minor glitch in the paper work was actually for another family here and they have gotten everything taken care of. Our approvals are done and now we are only waiting on the Passports for the babies, and the exit medical evaluation. We are to receive them on the 23rd then we have our final interview and receive our visa's for our children. If everything goes well, we are on schedule.
Today after the doctor’s appointment we walked around with another family here Mary Beth and Rob, they are from Oregon and are very nice. The third family is from Louisiana, Reagan and Brad, and they are great as well.
We went to a large park it was nice although clean for the area.... it still was a bit messy. It cost 2000 VND to get in..... I guess I should give the conversion rate. Currently $100.00 USD is worth 1,580,000 VND so needless to say if you plan everything accordingly and stay away from the International Areas your money can go very far here. The monthly earnings on average for a worker here is around 1,000,000 VND per month. So things in the Vietnamese markets are very affordable.
Brad and I walked to the CitiMarket in the International area to get some things yo can get else where, like ketchup.... Believe it or not my son’s favorite food is not a big item here in Vietnam. Dakota would have major issues here:)
We use Taxis a lot but they try and rip you off every chance they get except for a few companies that caterer to our Hotel. Now that we know the area better they are having a harder time pulling it off but they do try, I have had attempted twice, I am almost sure, a pick pocking on myself. I have been using a special pouch to carry everything in while here, other wise I am sure I be looking for my wallet.... :)
The children here love Americans and love to come up to us and say" Hello" most of them are taking English and love the chance to use it. The grandma's are always having the little ones wave to us when we walk by.
I have seen some interesting items for sale to eat, yet again another discussion for another day....
If I had to give a one word description of walking in Hanoi, I would say" Frogger" like the old game. You jump around traffic and hope not to get hit. The drive on the streets, sidewalks, in to the stores, everywhere, and the signals are either suggestions or pretty lights, for no one uses them.
I would truly love to come back someday. I miss my family and would have loved to have them here to see the differences. The two other families here with us have been great and it has truly made this adventure dealable, and a couple of times I would have told you that was impossible.
The Chinese New year is almost here and everything sill shut down for 6 days or more. We will try and capture everything and send back home pictures.
Hope everyone is doing well, and I think Angie may give an update later as well.
Jac
Today after the doctor’s appointment we walked around with another family here Mary Beth and Rob, they are from Oregon and are very nice. The third family is from Louisiana, Reagan and Brad, and they are great as well.
We went to a large park it was nice although clean for the area.... it still was a bit messy. It cost 2000 VND to get in..... I guess I should give the conversion rate. Currently $100.00 USD is worth 1,580,000 VND so needless to say if you plan everything accordingly and stay away from the International Areas your money can go very far here. The monthly earnings on average for a worker here is around 1,000,000 VND per month. So things in the Vietnamese markets are very affordable.
Brad and I walked to the CitiMarket in the International area to get some things yo can get else where, like ketchup.... Believe it or not my son’s favorite food is not a big item here in Vietnam. Dakota would have major issues here:)
We use Taxis a lot but they try and rip you off every chance they get except for a few companies that caterer to our Hotel. Now that we know the area better they are having a harder time pulling it off but they do try, I have had attempted twice, I am almost sure, a pick pocking on myself. I have been using a special pouch to carry everything in while here, other wise I am sure I be looking for my wallet.... :)
The children here love Americans and love to come up to us and say" Hello" most of them are taking English and love the chance to use it. The grandma's are always having the little ones wave to us when we walk by.
I have seen some interesting items for sale to eat, yet again another discussion for another day....
If I had to give a one word description of walking in Hanoi, I would say" Frogger" like the old game. You jump around traffic and hope not to get hit. The drive on the streets, sidewalks, in to the stores, everywhere, and the signals are either suggestions or pretty lights, for no one uses them.
I would truly love to come back someday. I miss my family and would have loved to have them here to see the differences. The two other families here with us have been great and it has truly made this adventure dealable, and a couple of times I would have told you that was impossible.
The Chinese New year is almost here and everything sill shut down for 6 days or more. We will try and capture everything and send back home pictures.
Hope everyone is doing well, and I think Angie may give an update later as well.
Jac
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Another day :)
Today we had Brooklyn's Dr Appointment. It went well, although we have a follow up appointment tomorrow. We took her to the French Hospital, the best in the area, they were very thorough. She was given medication for her congestion, her rash, and her cough. She also had chest x-ray to insure her lungs and heart were well, and everything came back good. The appointment tomorrow is with a dermatologist for her skin rash and she shows some scaring from a previous skin condition. Nothing serious just us being cautious new parents wanting to insure everything is ok for her……
We just received a call from our local agency contact letting us know there may be a small issue with something in our home study....... and that it should be ok and not cause any delays. Looks like another stressful night. Small things can turn into huge issues, but we will pray about it and hope it gets cleared up fast. We won’t even know what the true issue is for at least a couple of days.
Thank you everyone for you emails and prayers. It gives us strength to know that you all are waiting for us back home.
Well we have to get up early to go back to the hospital tomorrow so I will write more when we get back.
Dakota and Austin,
We miss and love you both very much.
Good Night,
Jac
We just received a call from our local agency contact letting us know there may be a small issue with something in our home study....... and that it should be ok and not cause any delays. Looks like another stressful night. Small things can turn into huge issues, but we will pray about it and hope it gets cleared up fast. We won’t even know what the true issue is for at least a couple of days.
Thank you everyone for you emails and prayers. It gives us strength to know that you all are waiting for us back home.
Well we have to get up early to go back to the hospital tomorrow so I will write more when we get back.
Dakota and Austin,
We miss and love you both very much.
Good Night,
Jac
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Short update..
Today was a long day. We had to go get Brooklyn her passport photo and then off to the American Embassy, which was nothing like I thought it would be. a long story for another day :) Now we wait for the passports and the second interview.
Today Brooklyn was feeling a little ill so we have set up an appointment at the French hospital tomorrow. Nothing serious just being cautions parents. She is really all and all doing well.
Its late so today's update will be a short one. :)
We love and miss you all,
Jac
Today Brooklyn was feeling a little ill so we have set up an appointment at the French hospital tomorrow. Nothing serious just being cautions parents. She is really all and all doing well.
Its late so today's update will be a short one. :)
We love and miss you all,
Jac
Monday, February 12, 2007
She is truly a blessing,
Today was the day and everything went well. It was an early morning. We were on the road by 6:00 am for our two hour drive to Thai Nguyen Provence. It was an amazing drive in that we truly do not know how blessed we are to live where we do. It’s hard to put into words the life that most people here have to live, but I can tell you that they are some of the hardest working people I have ever seen.
We got to the orphanage but we were not aloud to go in past the front room. The older children there have to work around the orphanage and the caretakers live on the property. They brought us our Daughter as well as the other two children being adopted today. It was an indescribable moment. She is truly a beautiful child. She is very small and was a little overwhelmed by the stimulation of noise, and being held. It’s amazing how well she is adjusting to us. She coos and smiles and is very alert, although we were very concerned when we first received her. It may have also been that when we received her that maybe she had just woken up. Brooklyn, although Angie is now questioning the name as she is unsure if it fits her……… who knowsJ, is 3 months and 3 days old.
I can only send a few pics but I hope to get more to everyone soon.
After the Orphanage we had to go to the Provence Government Building where we had the Giving and Receiving ceremony. It was a little stressful as they had a slight mess up on everyone’s paperwork, which we have been told will be ok…… we shall see. It was a great moment as this is where the government official says” This is now your child……..” They also reiterated our responsibility to report back to the Vietnamese government on the condition of our children to them twice a year until the age of 3 then every year after until the age of 18. They take this very serious as I really believe they want to know and take great pride in the success of the children they place.
After that it was back on the road to Hanoi to the Passport office, another long wait and more paper work, and then finally back to the hotel for a long awaited rest. We gave her a much needed bath and put some fresh cloths on her. She was soooo good today: ), I think she’s a Daddy’s girl…..lol.
We were very very lucky that we are able to get in to the US embassy tomorrow for our first interview. We will not be able to have the second until we get her passport on the 23rd, so we are hoping to get in for that on the 24th if all goes well.
She is truly a blessing,
We got to the orphanage but we were not aloud to go in past the front room. The older children there have to work around the orphanage and the caretakers live on the property. They brought us our Daughter as well as the other two children being adopted today. It was an indescribable moment. She is truly a beautiful child. She is very small and was a little overwhelmed by the stimulation of noise, and being held. It’s amazing how well she is adjusting to us. She coos and smiles and is very alert, although we were very concerned when we first received her. It may have also been that when we received her that maybe she had just woken up. Brooklyn, although Angie is now questioning the name as she is unsure if it fits her……… who knowsJ, is 3 months and 3 days old.
I can only send a few pics but I hope to get more to everyone soon.
After the Orphanage we had to go to the Provence Government Building where we had the Giving and Receiving ceremony. It was a little stressful as they had a slight mess up on everyone’s paperwork, which we have been told will be ok…… we shall see. It was a great moment as this is where the government official says” This is now your child……..” They also reiterated our responsibility to report back to the Vietnamese government on the condition of our children to them twice a year until the age of 3 then every year after until the age of 18. They take this very serious as I really believe they want to know and take great pride in the success of the children they place.
After that it was back on the road to Hanoi to the Passport office, another long wait and more paper work, and then finally back to the hotel for a long awaited rest. We gave her a much needed bath and put some fresh cloths on her. She was soooo good today: ), I think she’s a Daddy’s girl…..lol.
We were very very lucky that we are able to get in to the US embassy tomorrow for our first interview. We will not be able to have the second until we get her passport on the 23rd, so we are hoping to get in for that on the 24th if all goes well.
She is truly a blessing,
Jac
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