I hate sleeping! Love screaming!

Why is it that most kids hate to sleep, and fight it like a monster? On the flip side, most adults, like me love to sleep, love to nap, will pay good money to relax. I would pay very good money for 1 night of sleep! it seems that someone very cute loves to be moving 24/7. Which is fine if the little person had an army of people to walk him around the streets of Hanoi in a baby carrier, but, for 1 little baby, these 2 adults are very tired. Not to mention it is 11pm and the construction workers across the street are jackhammering, sawing and hammering with a vengence. I should see if someone jackhammering would want to wear Dylan in a sling all night. He would probably love it!

We are otherwise exhausted, and very exhausted, and did I mention we are tired? We had our 1st interview with INS today (US government). All went well and now we just have to wait for Dylans visa. Tomorrow we will try to do some sightseeing, depending on how well tonight goes. Wish us luck....

Baby bootcamp and the miracle of the wooden crib

Well it seems I am not a spring chicken anymore. One 14ish pounder has put me to shame, This is why my posts are short and sweet. It is 1 am said baby is finally sleeping, I should be too, except for the jackhammer across the street. I think the operater of the #$@&%@!!! jackhammer should also be sleeping or slapped, but that is just my opinion.
More about Mr. D...He is not that big on sleeping that stuff is for the babies not him you know. I was not aware of this, silly me. He also is not a fan of pooping it seems. poor thing. He has been screaming bloody murder when ever he is not wrapped aroung your neck and jigged profoundly. Me not being a spring chicken can only do this for 12 hours straight, his father does not even come close to getting the movement right.
We thought he would hate the crib so we did not want one. We thought he would prefer the closeness of our love and warmth as opposed to a hard wooden crib. We, thank God were wrong, he sleeps, SLEEPS, as in Sleeps...in this crib, WHOHOO!!!
I need my friend and coworker Brian, to come here and give this kid an enema. He is so bound up, screaming in pain and straining, after 3 glycerine suppositories, a small rock hard ball was passed, there is more. Poor thing fell asleep pushing. The orphanage had him on 2 bowls a day of rice cerial, I will have to switch to fruit, He loves to taste his food, we gave him apples and blueberries tonight, hands and feet were going in appreciation, So much to love about thr kid. Jack hammer is on break, my turn to sleep. So exciting for me!

At last...

Well all I can say is... Thank you God! You have given us the sweetest, happiest baby. He was so well cared for. he is a perfect ray of sunshine. Happy smiling. He hugs, nestles his sweet little self into your arms and neck, He loves to be kissed and squeezed and he even opens his mouth to to kiss and gives kisses freely. We are in love, this child is amazing. It was long day,I will write more later.

Sooner that later.

Sooner than later he will be our little man, Em and Claire's little brother. We cannot know what tomorrow brings. We have spent the day whith Zubin, Nicoles baby, and he is just so mellow sweet and loves to smiles and coo. Then he eats, then he sleeps.
We wrapped all the gifts and are getting up and 4am to leave for Lang son by 5am. So we will have him in the morning. We are in a jet lagged fog of bliss. Cannot wait to fall deeper in love with our son. My husband had better share!

We Are Here!

26 hours from door to door and we are in here in Vietnam. Niclole and Karen were waiting for us at the hotel, It was like meeting long lost family. They took us to our room, it is clean and large with the most beautiful patio. We then met Kari and her husband, everyone is so nice. I fell like I could talk to them all night,

The trip was uneventful expect for a few little issues.
1=The car driver in NJ to NYC airport was a trainwreck. He smelled so bad like BO, and when he put the ac on, he blew his stink on me! It was like a Seinfield Eplisode. But then it gets so much better. He was FALLINg ASLEEP AT the WHEEL. OMG!!!Like in we are in the highway, he is going 75mph and we are feeling like we may die. Nodding off he nearly clips the center divider. we are in the back like Hey buddie. WTF!. I was mentally going over the fact that we were in this heavy duty ford expitition like the kind I think our governor was in, and making a note that the ones in that accident who were wearing their seatbelts lived! Even if we cashed we had 4 hours to fly! As long as I don't end up getting rolled near the driver and he gets his stink on me!
The 18 hour fight was tolerable due to an amazing amout of leg room and lots of good food
.
2 At a security check point in Bankok The Official picked up Chris's insulin syringes and smiling said"Yes I take OK"?
we say no you can't take no way, she still smiling says 'no needle I take, sorry!" Us ,not smiling say that Chris is a diabetic and will die, whip out our note, and are told to sit. WE sit and wait then we go the the plane with the needles. On the plane the bus driver and ramp operater comes to our seat and asks to look at 2 needles. THe pilot wants to see. Needles are shown to the pilot and returned. Everyone is happy, everyone is smiling.

We get the babies tomorrow and I cannot wait. I am on the balcony, the sun is coming up, the horns are honking, I hear roosters crowing in the apartment across from me. So wonderful, one day closer and 9000 miles nearer to my little man.

Gratitude.....

I would like to take a minute to thank the awesome women in my life...

First there is my mom...what t can I say...I love her so!


My mother has been there for me through everything. And I mean everything. No one on this planet has loved me more than her. She is the #1 fan of me, more than me. I have never been so lucky to have such a wonderful mother as her. She has shown me love, thick and thin, sickness and health. She is- till death do us part. I am amazed at her courage and spark. Thank you mom for always being there for me. For easing the pain, so all your hugs and kisses. I love you so so much! I would have never made it to number 3 if it was not for your help. You are such a terrific grandma to Em and Claire. I am so blessed to have you here to know Dylan, you are the answer to all my prayers. I am the mom I am because of you! You are such a fun person!

The next amazing woman in my life is my Aunt Irene...

She is also there for me no matter what. She is like a 2nd mother to me. My children are also blessed to have her in their life. She is my Fathers sister, raised during the depression. She has been my role model for working. Ever since I remember I always waited for her to come home from work. Her work ethic is awesome! Never sick, always there, working hard, being the best you can be. She taught me about financial freedom. Always a saver, but so generous to me. She has helped me bring Dylan home. I am so blessed that he will know you as well. What you have given me in this world is security, a sense of what is essential. You taught me to work my butt off! I love you for that...

And these little ladies? What can I say...

Emily and Claire, you have given me the greatest gift of all. You have given me the gift of being your mom. Plain and simple my greatest blessing in this world... Knowing and loving these 2 girls! They humble me, make me proud, make me crazy, drop me to my knees with joy. I have never ever had such an experience that makes me feel so alive. You both are beautiful, strong girls and I am blessed to have you as my daughters. You are going to give Dylan so much love and attention. I cannot wait to see you as role models in his life.
Emily, Claire, Aunt Irene and Mom... I love you all.. I am grateful for your influence in my life. Thank you... I love you!

A few days and counting...

Today is my last shift at work. I am beyond happy. I have decided to take off 12 weeks unpaid leave. The only hard part is the UNPAID!. There are no other options for adoptive parents. I also need a rest form taking care of other people. I think I have a tiny amount of career burn out (happens in nursing), so I plan to savor the time with my kids and new baby.

The house is chaos. I have a mound of stuff on the dinning room table that has to somehow make it into 3 medium and 1 small suitcase. Also I think I need to go and get some more tee shirts as I have been told to cover up the armpits (I love the sleeveless look!).

We brought craft items for the older kids in the orphanage, and gifts for the care takers and local officials. I also made a photo book of us to give to the birthmom. We have sponsored a 12 year old boy so we got him some stuff as well. I think I am going to have a hard time being away from my girls for 3 weeks. My youngest is stressing a bit, and I will need to spend every last minute here with them but...they just want to watch TV!!!

Packin the Bags!!

Well... WE ARE GOING TO VIETNAM!!!!!!

I mean it we have the tickets and everything! We are leaving on Sat Aug 25th, after a refreshing 18 hours of pure in flight joy we will be landing in Bangkok, then another 2 hours to Hanoi. We will arrive at 8pm, and get himself on Monday the 27th. This seems surreal, like something I would read on on other people's blogs. I really am amazed. How could I be so lucky?

Of course now I am wondering what I am going to do with myself on a flight that long. Most people would fret about scary things, but I worry about being bored, no leg room, no exercise, backaches, nothing to do, I am such a child and need to grow up. Anyone who knows me know I suffer from adult ADHD. I am a nut and a half!!

All kidding aside I am thankful to have the luxury of a 10 day notice. I have so much to do and cannot wait to savor every minute of it. Nicole, Karen and Erika I cannot wait to hug you all! Karey and Sandi I am blessed to have you to travel with, Such amazing people, for such an incredible experience.

Shirley-your 3am prayer group works miracles. You knew I needed a lift, a confirmation. Praise God, he is giving me the greatest gift. I will get my butt to church this Sunday!

I'm bored, so bored!

Ho hum. Here I am waiting to confirm my loose travel date. I am wearied, feelin dull, uninspired. None of my little "tricks" are working for me anymore....

...I check the phones, cell and home line, check my emails, check other people's blog. When I have confirmed that NOTHING is going on, I find something else to do. Something else is cleaning, running, playing or hanging out wih the girls, going to the gym, planning my attire for Vietnam (including shoes), checking airfares, reading, and looking travel stuff for Vietnam, and planning on cutting more of my hair! Not always in that order. So everyone out there who thought I might be a deep, spiritual person...sorry! That deep stuff will come back, I just need to hold my son. That's all. I just need to know when.

If we were M+M's

Thanks to my fellow blogger Jen, I was able to pass some more time and visualize what my family would look like as candy.
Dylan

Chris...this really looks like him!

Claire

Emily

Me!

This can prove to be hours of fun, you can even make a movie with you, as an M+M, as the star.
Try it at M+M fun on my links to the right!

Back to waiting, we are home!

Well, we came home yesterday. I wish we had more time. The girls always seem to bicker and fight. I guess that is normal for sisters. I am an only child so it upsets me. I came home to a very wound up dog! He ran around like a crazy animal he was so happy to see us he could not settle. He is my constant companion and we always take him with us, but the hotel had no pet rooms available.

So, we get home and my big lumbering maniac (not my husband) dog lacerates his paw in the yard, bleeds all over the kitchen floor, 70 pounds of frantic muscle pumping blood everywhere. The other calm dog decides to help by lapping up the blood on the floor, while the kids are now stepping and tracking blood everywhere as well. Four of us work hard to clean, dress, and apply a pressure dressing to the paw. It was not easy. Poor Mr. Frantic (the dog), kept me up all night, sniffing, and cuddling with me. Husband had to sleep on the couch because the dog could not get close enough to me. I guess weims really do get serious separation anxiety. The paw seems to be okay this morning.

The mini break also gave me practice to blog away from home. We also were able to use I chat. This is apple's way to video conference by computer. Very cool, and worked very well. After seeing myself in the picture I now really hate my hair. WHat was I thinking???? I need my ponytail back!!!

On the adoption front...I heard from the AGENCY and the news is still not what I wanted to hear. I looks like maybe we might go the Vietnam around Aug 27th. Which will most likely get pushed back a few more weeks! I am crushed. We pushed our real vacation plans back to Aug 24th, because the Aug 17th plans were cutting it too close. So I lost the original time off from work, will loose this slot, and our 3rd back up of Sept 14th will most likely be cancelled as well. I don't care about myself, but I wanted the kids to have some fun. Plus they are starting school! This feels like a merry go round. We go no where, just a lot of up and down. The AGENCY also needs more documents fom me, at this point we are just done. So much for the 8-12 weeks estimate we were told almost 14 weeks ago. I guess I just have to realize I am powerless, and have no control, and just need to breathe, and drink red wine!

Big Crow Mountain

Claire getting ready to hike.


signing in at the trail head


Natures play ground


Posing at the summit


Claire loves to gather flowers


Emily clearly loves to hike!


We sat back and enjoyed the clouds



Nothing can compare to hiking the mountains with kids. Especially my kids. Claire was happy today, collecting flowers, holding my hand. Em on the other hand was, well, cranky. She was miserable the entire way up, on the top, missing the view. Everyone was a "butt", or something equally as bad. Pre teeness has kicked in full swing. At least Claire just lets go and has a 1 hour tantrum, Em's mood can really wear you down. She did perk up on the way down. Charming. She is funny at the lake and the pool, any male person wearing a speedo is quite a conversation piece. Claire calls it swim model wear, Emily calls speedo's wrong. I think I agree with Emily!

We had a great day, despite my horrid passion for the moutains. We ended the day with the movie Underdog. Very G rated and cute. Walking back I kept trying to sing "Good Morning Baltimore", and dance. It was awesome to see how much I embarrassed the kids. They were priceless because they really thought I was going to sing and dance in the street. I had them going...if I only knew the words. I always wanted life to be a musical.

Greetings from Lake Placid

With our plans to be in Vietnam late July or early August foiled, I decided I was foolish placing our lives on hold for the unknown. So squeezing my 12 hour shifts to the beginning of 1 week and the end of the following I was able to manage 5 off in a row without taking any vacation time. We are very understaffed at work so this was a blessing. I will have to pay when I get home but...

So I packed up some bags and two great kids... off to our favorite spot in the world, Lake Placid. We come up 2-3 times, a year and just love it. We stay at this great hotel on Mirror Lake, nestled in the heart of the alpine-like village. Shopping, food, ice cream, movies, red wine for mommy, swimming, kayaking, and the most awe inspiring mountain trails ever! This is a girls only weekend, I have a chance to be with my favorite 2 people in the universe. I feel so blessed that they crave my company and fight over who gets to sleep with me! I feel like a celebrity.

Today we swam and went paddeling in the lake, ate, shopped and more swimming. Now we are all chillin, they are enjoying watching the Disney Channel. I think they could enjoy that 24/7, as long as food was delivered to their chairs. We all bought books, Claire is reading Children of the Lamp, Em is reading the the latest Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and I am LOVING Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Cannot put it down.

So everyone, I feel I am back to reality. This adoption is not an easy road, but as I look up and see these 2 amazing girls, I am speechless. For the grace of God we are a family, we belong to each other, love each other, no matter what. I watch them grow every day, nothing short of a miracle, a leap of faith that gave us each other. As the days go by I know sometimes I miss the big picture, I often miss the point, I take things for granted and live in my comfort zone. But I am only human, and for this moment I am just a mom who loves and cherishes her kids.




Claire is playing ring toss on Em's legs!