Finale!!

It has been a busy couple of months! The girls are doing great.

Sarah has exploded in words and talks all day long, and sometimes in her sleep. She is always asking "what are you doing?" She loves her baby dolls and new kitty. We named the kitty patches. She loves to play dress up, wearing dresses and dress shoes. No more tenny shoes for her. She has to have her hair done everyday also. I am getting better at it.

Abby picked up quick on sign language and was so cute. They did find that her left ear drum was not vibrating. She had surgery on Nov. 12th and it was a success. There was just too much fluid and scar tissue in her ears to prevent them from working properly. The day after surgery she started to talk. Her new word today is beep beep! Since bringing her home she has gotten 8 teeth. Plus she had to have 2 root canals on her front teeth, for the bottle rot. They are so white and pretty, her smile is more radiant now.

On the 12th of October we had the girls sealed to our forever family in the Vernal Utah Temple. As you can see in the picture they looked like little angels.What a special day for us as a family, to know that they will be with us forever, not only in this life but in the next life for eternity.

This will be my last post to the blog. I am so busy with these two little girls. I want to spend all of my time with them.

Thank you for following our journey, what a journey it has been. We have loved the ride and will have to see what the future holds for us.

Blessings

Our forever family.

We had the girls blessed in church, using there traditional Vietnamese outfits. Sarah on the left and Abby on the right.

An update!!

I am finally able to get to the computer for an update. The girls are adjusting well and are feeling better.

It took 2 rounds of antibotics to finally get Abby's ear infections to some what go away. We see a specialist tomorrow. She still has fluid in her ears and has failed her hearing test. We are not too worried. She has started to talk more, so we know she can hear. I will let you know how that goes.

Sarah is better and talking up a storm. She had ear infections when we got home and then came down with a bad case of pnemonia(sp) and we almost had to put her in the hospital. She is a trooper and we used the time for lots of bonding and snuggling.

They are finally sleeping through the night, 10-12 hours, yes!! Both mom and dad, oh and the boys are thrilled by this new step.

I had forgotten how busy toddlers can be and how quickly they can make a mess. But they are so worth it.

My boys have been amazing with the girls. They are so helpful and play so well with them.

My dial up connection is sooo slow lately that I am unable to load up pictures. I will try again tomorrow.

sick girls

We took the girls to the dr. yesterday and found out that Abby has a double ear infection and Sarah has one ear infected. But no fevers, he thinks this is a chronic infection and we may have to do tubes in there ears. Plus he thinks the elevation has some to do with everything, we live at 5400 ft compared to sea level (0r close).

We did have a little better of a night, Sarah only woke once and abby was coughing so bad that she kept throwing up, so she was up most of the night.

We did use music playing all night and I think that helped, plus we rearanged our room so that the girls could see us if they woke up and knew we would be there. Plus the sedative helped that the dr gave us.

we are hoping for a better night tonight, nap time went better. I stayed in the room the entire time, and slept too, so that when they woke they knew I would still be there for them. No startaling crys.

thank you all for your calls of support and words of advice. It was much appreciated.

sleeping issues, advice needed

We are having huge sleeping issues at our house. I know some must be jet lag but there is more to it.

The girls go to sleep fine but wake up 1-2 hours later and scream until about 4 am then will go to sleep for a couple of hours.

We have tried calming tablets, co sleeping, rocking, singing you name it and nothing is working. They were not having these issues in vietnam, any suggestions? Please leave a comment if you have been through this and could offer any help.

Matt and I are exhausted and are desperate.

We are Home!!

We are home. Traveling went better then expected, but we are exhausted and adjusting. I will post pictures soon.

Sarah has adjusted to the time change but Abby is struggling and is so tired she will not sleep for more then 1/2 hour at a time with hours inbetween.

They are having a ball with the boys. In two weeks when they go back to school life will be different around our house.

Matt and I are struggling with jet lag. But once abby starts adjusting a sleeping better it will help us so we can sleep too.

We are so grateful to be home.

thursday August 2nd!

First of all we want to wish a few people happy birthday, Doug, Don and Cortnie!

It rained off and on most of the day today, so I stayed in with the girls and we played and had fun while matt went for a ride on a motor bike to go shopping.

We are having computer issues, so I will not be writing again until we get to the states. Thus no pictures today. I have to wait forever to use the lobby internet, and weekends are impossible plus with internet issues during the weekend.

We are leaving on a Jet plane and don't know when we will be back again. Keep us in your prayers that the girls will travel well and that we will be safe. I can't wait to see my boys again.

The count down to coming home is on. We have a few things left to do and then to finish packing.

See you all when we get home!!

Wednesday August 1st

water puppet theater

view outside of our hotel window

It has been a busy day for us. The day first started by getting up late. We had to be at the SOS clinic by 8:30 and we did not wake up until 8. I know bad habbits. We are in trouble when we get home, matt has be at work at 5 am. He doesn't have to go back until a week after we get home.

We had to be at the SOS clinic to have the DNA test done to see if they are sisters. They decided afterall to have it done. It should only take a few days, probablly by Monday. We are looking at it as just another step in the process. They had to draw blood, they say it is more accurate. They say from the test we will be able to tell if they have the same parents, same mother or any relation to each other, like cousins. Abby screamed and fought it, I guess you could hear her in the waiting area. Sarah just cried but didn't try to fight it.

We have a few more days here, so we are taking in the sights and vegging. The girls are feeling better.

We went to the puppet theater again tonight and then took a cyclo ride to dinner and then home. It was nice, but very humid today.

We have given Abby a new name, we call her the energizer bunny. She goes and goes, always on the move. Only wants to be held for a second but then wants back down to run. I am getting worried about the airplane, there is no where to run. She also has no fear, she climbs and jumps off of this without a thought. She makes me nervous.

Sarah is a bit more shy but is more silly and is a mother hen to Abby. Her new English words are "all gone", done and bye. She understands a lot more then she can talk.

Tuesday July 31st

we have our passports with visa's glued inside. It is official, we can leave the country!

What a relief it is to know that everything is finalized and we can leave and bring the girls home with us.

We had another lazy day. Sarah had a rough night, she was not feeling well. By lunch time she was doing better.

So we worked on packing all day. I am not sure how we are going to get it all home. We have bought too many things, so many great buys.

We have more great news, the last family in our group got there approval today and had there 2nd interview. They get there visa for grace tomorrow, they leave on the same flight as us on friday. We are all ready to go home and bring our new children with us.

What an amazing journey it has been. One full of struggles, joy, hearache, miracles and one that has taught us faith and that we are not alone. We have been blessed with supportive family and friends. We have learned the power of prayer, how to exercise and rely on our faith, that our testimony's are priceless and that Heavenly Father has a plan for us all, one that we may not understand but is perfect in the end.

We will miss Viet Nam when we leave, it has given us two amazing little girls, but we are grateful to live in America. What an amazing world has been creative. People are the same everywhere, just because we are americans does not make us better or the color of our skin. We are all the same. Viet Nam is beautiful, the people love the children and work so hard for so little. They are in survival mode. If only all the people in the world worked so hard, or would share with those that are not so well off. I hope someday to bring the girls back here to see this country for what is really is, where they came from and who they are.

We will spend the next two days learning all that we can about Viet Nam so that we can share with the girls what a wonderful time we had, and how much we have enjoyed it here. Plus we want to share with everyone at home a little peace of heaven we have found.

Monday July 30th

We took a cyclo ride today home from lunch. The girls loved it and laughed the entire ride home.

So what do you think, do they look like sisters?

What a wonderful day it has been! The weather was great, not too hot or humid. The girls were full of smiles and giggles. Oh and the embassy called "We have been approved"!!

Yes you read that right. They decided to process the girls as individuals and have approved them to receive a visa. We went to the embassy for our 2nd interview, which is cake. Basically you pay for the visa, then they do a quick review of the file and documents and you sign a form. They give you a piece of paper saying to come pack the next business day at 4 pm and pick up the visa.

All the flights are booked on wednesday or thursday, so we are unable to come home a few days early. So we will be coming home on our original schedule on Friday. We are just so blessed and happy to be coming home with the girls on time and together.

Thank you to everyone for there thoughts and prayers. We have felt them and your strength.

We are grateful to our Heavenly father for the many blessing he as given us, especially for our boys and now our girls.

I was organizing some more today before our embassy appointment. The suitcase handle broke and a piece of metal inside the suitcase cut my hand. After the appointment is it was still bleeding, so I went to the SOS international clinic to have it checked out. There was a metal sliver in it and I needed stitches. They did not have a local antiseptic so i opted for the steri strip just to hold it closed.

Please keep the Hallock family in your prayers, they are a family in our group that has not yet received approval, plus there little girl grace, who they have adopted here has been sick.

Sunday July 29th

this is abby's favorite place in the hotel, siting on the safe, she will not let anyone take her off or sit with her. She is definately a mover and climber. If she is not moving, she is not happy, even in her sleep. The plane ride home should be interesting.

Sarah fell asleep this afternoon, it looks very uncomfortable but every time we moved her, she went back to this possition

Abby feeling much better this evening

Sarah is not feeling very good

We had another lazy day. The girls are not feeling well, we had a rough night so we took it easy today. Hopefully tonight will be better. Matt and I are tired.

I think this evening they were feeling a little better. They decided to unload the closet shelves where we have the clothes and played dress up. They put the clothes on themselves. Matt and I were quite entertained.

We did venture out for meals and a little stroll after dinner. It wasn't quite as hot or humid today. Abby decided today at dinner that table food is good. When we picked her up from the orphanage 2 weeks ago she had not had solids and was only on the bottle. She ate rice today and really liked it. We have tried since we got her but she would only eat a bit or two but today she really ate.

I forgot to mention how big the girls are. During there medical exams, they were very healthy. Sarah is a little small, but healthy, she weights 24.2 pounds. She wears 2t tops and 18 months pants are still a little big. Abby is very heathy and is big for a 17 month old as of asian standards, she weights 22.6 pounds. She wears 18 month tops and 12 month pants but these will not fit her for long.

I decided this morning that we all will be coming home on Friday, so I started to pack and get things organized. We have complete faith that Heavenly Father is in control and that we will be able to return home on friday all together and be reunited as a family.

Hoping for good news tomorrow from the embassy.

Saturday July 28th

Today was a lazy day. The girls have not been feeling well, runny noses and coughs. We decided to take it easy.

We heard about a great restaurant close to our hotel that we ventured out to for lunch called "La". It was really nice, and for about 8 dollars we all had lunch. I only noticed Vietnamese food on the menu but so good.

We ran into a new family from your agency that just arrived in Vietnam today. They will pick up there daughter on Monday. They are from Oregon.

We met Trish , Ted and their two girls at KFC for a farewell dinner. They leave tomorrow for home, which is florida. We will really miss them, it has been a lot of fun to do things together, plus our girls play so well together.

no pictures today, hopefully the girls are feeling better tomorrow.

boys: we miss you and love you!!

Friday July 27th

The girls enjoying their bath, sarah on the left and Abby on the right

Hanoi Opera House

Museum of History

They have the neatest looking tree's here!

What a friday it has been!

We were startled awake at about 5am with Sarah screaming. But she was not in her bed, some how she fell between the bed and the end table head down, all we could see were her feet. It would have made a great picture. We had put a barrier between her and the edge of the bed but somehow she got around that.

We went to see a few sights, the Hanoi opera house and the museum of History. The opera house was beautiful but the museum had a lot to be desired.

We then came back to our room. We talked to the boys. When we got off the phone, I was very homesick. I miss them so much.

Just after talking with the boys our hotel phone rang and it was the US Embassy, they did not have good news for us. They do not believe that the girls are sisters. They have started an investigation and believe they are not siblings and that there was false documentation going on. They required us to come down immediately. We called our agency and they came and got us and brought us to the embassy.

When we got there, we asked the embassy to process the girls as individuals and not siblings. We will find out, hopefully monday, if they will do that. If not then we will have to have a DNA test done. If that has to happen then we will be here longer then originally planned. They have started there investigation. We are hoping he was just trying to tell us the worst case situation and that it will not happen for us.

It was really hard at first, but we are ok now. We know things will happen how they are meant to. Our faith is just being tested once again. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Thursday, July 26th

Nzoc with the girls

Temple of Literature

We had a fun day today. It was a little cooler. We started out the day doing a little shopping, then we took an outrageous priced taxi to the temple of literature. We came back to the hotel after lunch and had nap time. Then we went to the water puppet theater and out to dinner. A busy day but fun.

The temple of Literature was beautiful. The grounds we so nice and peaceful. The architechure(sp) was unbelievable. We met a young girl there, Nzoc. She wanted to practice her english. She was pretty good for 14. She was so happy for the girls. She gave them necklaces that represent happiness and so they will never forget where they have come from.

The girls loved the water puppet theater. Abby laughed and danced in my lap, Sarah was memorized. I really liked it, I just wish I understood. We think we will go back and see it again and video it to show those at home.

We went with Trish, Ted, Michelle, Sean and there children. We had a good time. Sean and Michelle are headed home tomorrow, have a save trip.

We did not get our call today from the Embassy, so the earliest we would get visa's at this point is Monday. Hopefully tomorrow.

Wednesday July 25th

Enjoying our boat ride to at Ha Long Bay!

Abby blowing kisses

inside the cave

one of the many rock formations in the water

view from the opening to the cave

We just got back from my birthday dinner. We went to KFC. It was really good. It tasted the same. The coleslaw looked a little questionable, so we passed on that. The girls like chicken and potatoes. Thank goodness, those are staples in our house.

They had a play land and the girls had there first try on a slide. Abby is a daredevil and has no fear. Sarah was not so sure about the entire thing. The funniest part about the whole trip so far, happened at KFC tonight. During dinner a lady sat there and stared at us the entire time, when we got up to leave she came up and had someone translate for her. She wanted her daughter to touch a "white american", i happened to be the chosen one.

Trish and Ted went with us, they even brought me a birthday cake and bought us sundae's. It was a lot of fun. It will be sad to leave and know they live in Florida and we live in Utah. We would have a lot of fun together. The have made the stay here in Hanoi a lot of fun. We have a lot of common interests and there girls and ours play so well together. They leave on Sunday.

Sarah is talking more and more everyday. Today's new words were, Sammy, Jacob, Nathan, mommy and potty(we are so happy about this one). She doesn't use them very frequently but we are making progress.

Abby has learned to blow kisses and it is so cute. She is into everything. I was so embarrassed earlier. The hotel staff came to our room to bring laundry and it was a disaster, she takes everything out of the drawers and off the tables. But she has fun.

I feel like myself again, I think the antibotics are working and I feel so much better.

Good thoughts for tomorrow that we and the rest of our group will get our calls for our 2nd interview and that we will get flights out early.

Have a great day!

Wednesday July 25th

Happy Birthday to me!

it has been a few days since i have written. I have been sick. I am feeling a little better today.

Monday we went to Ha long Bay. It was beautiful and breath taking. I just wish I felt better. Abby got car sick on the way back but other then that they were so good. We might make it after all on the flight home.

I think the best part of the trip was as we were hiking up the hill to the caves and the tour guide was carrying Sarah, I was too weak to carry anything. Matt was at the back with Abby and helping me. When we reached the top Sarah pointed to us and started talking in Vietnamese. The tour guide translated, she said,"That is my dad". It was priceless. She knows who we are. both girls have attached really well, it is amazing.

then on the way home in the van she looked at matt and said "Hi, Dad!" Oh how I wish I had the video camera going.

Those that are coming, I know it is hot here but take the trip to Ha Long bay. You will not regret it, I am so glad we went even though I was not feeling well.
On tuesday, matt picked up the girl's passports. Then later that afternoon we went to the SOS, international clinic, and had the girl's medical evaluation done for there visas. This is reguired. The next step is to have our 2nd US Embassy appointment. that could happen anyday, I am hoping by the 1st of August by the latest, or we will not make our flight home by the 3rd, because it is a morning flight and visas are usually not ready until one full business day later at 4 pm.

I will post more pictures when I feel better.

I miss you boys!

Sunday July 22nd

weaving the silk fabric

delivery bike

silk worms

It is hard to believe that we left our home 10 days ago. At times it feels like it was just yesterday but then there are times it feels like we have been gone for so long and are never going to go home. We are missing America. I feel truly blessed to have the oppurtunity to live in America. It does have a different feel to it. The oppurtunities that are available to us and the freedom. I miss my boys.

Our religious beliefs have come up a few times here, people are shocked that we do not drink coffee or tea, they are always asking why. Then some ask if we are Mormon because we are from Utah. I have not had anyone say anything negative about it. I thought a lot about the perpetual education program that our church has, it is a program that lets people from poverty countries get an education, in return they go back to there countries and help it become a better place and have the chance to feed themselves and there families. I wish the gospel was in Vietnam right now, so many people could take advantage of the program and help there families.

At lunch today our waitress asked if our girls were from Vietnam after we said yes she asked from what orphanage. We told her bavi and she said that she was raised in Pho tu (sp) and is an orphan. My heart broke for her. She is a beautiful girl but it was so nice that she has a good job and is making something of herself.

We had a lazy day. Matt is feeling better but we wanted to take it easy. We are going to Ha Long bay with everyone in our group tomorrow, we are leaving at 7am and will be back at 8 pm. It will be a long day, a test to see how the girls are going to do on the airplane.

Saturday July 21st

We went as a group to the silk village to day. It was ok, but very hot. I found some of the same prices around our hotel.

We spent the rest of the day sitting at the hotel, cooling off and having down time. I think we will do the same tomorrow.

Matt is sick, I am waiting for morning to see if he is any better. If not then we will take him to the SOS, International clinic. He has a cough that has settled in his chest and has become very painful.

The girls are doing great, they play so well together. If one wakes up first the other sits by their bed and waits for them to wake up and when they even see an eye start to move they scream and make sure they are all the way up.

On Saturday's and Sundays the internet connections are not the greatest. I will post more pictures when it is better.

We are headed to the Ha Long Bay on Monday for a day trip. This is the last time would have the chance until next weekend to go. We need to be in Hanoi starting tuesday.

We have been told that we have a busy day on Tuesday. We have to pick up passports in the morning, then have the girls medicals and anytime after that we are ready for the embassy to call for our 2nd interview. This is when it is the hardest to be patients, waiting for the embassy to call for the 2nd interview.

We have found it really helps to go out for the morning, shop and sightsee and then crash at the hotel for the afternoon to cool off and to have play time for the girls. Then we venture out for dinner and then call it a day. This has really helped time go by and to not be so homesick. Forcing ourselves to get out of the hotel has been the best.

Friday July 20th, the rest of the story

the girls hidding together in the end table

this lady goes to each street vendor and sells them meat, cuts off what they want then goes on to the next. Hungry any one?

beautiful kites/ street vendors

The indoor market

We had our 1st embassy appointment. the guy was very nice and informative. he first explained to all of the families the process of what they look for and with our paper work then explained what some of the problems that could arrise. He then told us not to expect to be procressed at the same time due to different situations.

We were then taken individually (as families) into a room. He asked about the orphanage, how the girls ended up in the orphanage, if we had been asked to give extra money since coming to Vietnam for the adoption, how long the process has taken us and if we think they are really sisters. they then took pictures of our girls to examine and see if they are indeed sisters, I am not sure how that will prove it I have sister that I look nothing like, oh well we will see. He then told us that we should expect to take a little long cause we have two but that we should hear from them with in a week for our 2nd interview.

I feel for one of our families in the group, the embassy was not able to find there finger prints and something was wrong with there homestudy and they have to have an addendum done and resubmit it. Hopefully they will we able to have it done by Monday and get things going so it will not put them back too long.

We went to dinner with everyone last night at Al Frensco's. The food was great but it took forever. Our girls were tired, they had a short nap due to the embassy appointment. It was great to go as a group and see everyone.

We decided to rent a van tomorrow and go to the silk village. All 17 of us are going for the 1/2 day trip.

The girls play so well together. They love hidding in small places and just laugh. The beds are just low enough to the ground that they can climb under but that we can't. They think it is the funniest thing.

We have another mystery on our hands. We came back from shopping yesterday and found more things missing from our room, our dragon fruit was gone. It is getting old to have things disapear, to the point that Matt said if something else goes missing then we are changing hotels. We have still never found our credit cards and my drivers license.

Have a great weekend!

Friday July 20th

Just a quick note to let everyone know that we got a call from the embassy and we have our first appointment in less then two hours.

See what a little shopping and sightseeing will do for ones out look. We found some great buys on tie's, bags, and fans.

We will update later and let you know how the first appointment went.

christie

thursday, July 19th

Abby - nap time

Sarah - nap time

dragon fruit - it looks like a poppy seed muffin inside

the girls hidding under the desk

Hoan Kiem lake

We have had a great day. We met up with Trish and went to Hoa Lo Prison Museum. it is amazing to learn about history and how people have been treated in prison, it is heart wrenching. i walked away feeling that the women prisoners were treated worse then the men.





We then went to visit Trish's hotel room. I walked away wishing I could affort the extra and then I would have moved in a heart beat. How nice it would be to have a kitchen, washer and dryer, couch, soft bed, swimming pool and so on. I am not complaining, it is just hard to live out of a hotel for a long period of time with little children. So those families that are about to travel, if I had the extra I would go to the Sommerset. Yes it is nice to be around the other families but it is also only a less then 10 min cab ride away let alone phone call. Just my 2 cents worth.





We did receive sad news today. The other two families in our group got there first appointments with the embassy tomorrow. By hear say, they were under the impression that our paper work was not in order yet. I am not sure if this is true or not, but it was hard to hear that we were not going to be having our first interview this week. I know what is the difference in one business day or two. I am trying to let it run off my back and go with the flow. so what are we going to do instead, shopping and sight seeing.





the girls did great today. We had a lot of fun and just enjoyed eachother, getting to know each other.

Wednesday July 18th

We did a little shopping today and went for a walk. The girls like the strollers and Abby took a nap this morning in hers.

Matt and I are very tired today. Abby is teething and not a happy camper. She doesn't want to be held or put down or eat. We are not sure what to do. I am sure that the other hotel guests are not too happy with her, as she just screams. all I can say is that we are not looking forward to the 30 hour trip home.

They are sleeping peacefully now so Matt and I need to also. We are worn out and exhausted. I will post more pictures tomorrow.

We have plans to meet up with trish tomorrow and go to the water puppet theater. We are also going to try and find KFC. we are getting homesick and think that a little American food might help.
Boys: It was great talking to you yesterday. I have a great trip to Washington to see Grandma. We will call soon. we love and miss you.

Tuesday July 17th

Ticklish!! Sarah 3 years!
Don't you just want to pinch them! Abby 17 months!

Making it official!!!

Today we had our Giving and receiving ceremony. that is where we sign official documents for the Vietnamese government finalizing our adoption. According to Vietnam the adoption is final and the girls are offically ours. When the vietnamese government official wanted to hold them, Sarah would not go to them but abby was more then willing.

The meeting was short and to the point. We agreed to take care of them and send yearly update to Vietnam with pictures about how they are doing.

Matt went this morning to the passport office and applied for the girls passports. We can pick them up in one week.

While matt was gone the girls and I had breakfast and got to know each other. It was interesting, Sarah kept looking for Matt. She was all smiles when he came back. It is funny now, sarah only wants matt's and abby only wants me. That will work great for the long plane ride home.

We took them to dinner today and it was hilarious. Sarah ate like there was no tomorrow, she is definately a clean person. we have not had an accident all day. She has kept dry. We do not understand what we are saying but she gets a look and we know to take her in. The hotel director come to room to day and noticed she was talking Vietnamese and thought it was cute, then left but came immediately back and told us she was telling us she needed to use the restroom. We are starting to understand each other.

We were told not to make any plans until friday afternoon so that we can be open to having our first meeting with the US embasy by then hopefully. We do have cell phone here so that we do not have to say at the hotel and wait for them to call. We just have to stay in the city.

Before we can come home there are certian step and things that have to be done:

1: receive the girls - done

2: giving and receiving ceremony - done

3: apply for passports with photos - done

4: have first embasy interview for the girls visas -

5: pick up passports - we will pick them up on the 24th

6: medical exams - tenativally planned for the 24th

7: 2nd interview at the US embasy for visa

8: pick up the girls visas - 1 full business day after the 2nd interview

9: go home!!!!

Hopefully this will all be completed by the 3rd of August when are ticket are scheduled to return home.

We have had a rough day, I lost my money pouch. Thank goodness my passport was not in it and no money. But my credit cards and drivers license were. I thought my enter/exit papers were in it too but they were not, Matt had that too. We caused quite a panic here but all is well. I have not idea what happened to it. I do not recall taking it out of the hotel, I used it last on Sunday night and hadn't seen it since. I tore the room apart 4 times. I know it will show up when least expected. I feel bad I think the hotel misundertood me. I am doing good. First I offend the orphanage now the hotel. Hopefully I can be on my best behavior and not offend the US embasy. Boy this country is going to be glad when I leave. But the good news is, the hotel now has safes in there rooms. I felt horrible about it. They are not cheap. Me and my blonde moments.

Monday July 16th

back to at the hotel

this is Sarah

this is Abigail

We have the girls! It was very different then we had ever imagined. We came around the corner at the orphanage and saw Sarah first, she is so tiny and she immediately turned away from us. Then we noticed Abigail in the crib close by, she is bigger then we thought, they look almost the same size. I picked up Abigail and she started to scream and wanted nothing to do with us. Matt put his hands out for Sarah and she went immediately to him and clung to him and would not let go. Abby would not come back to me after they changed her clothes.


They asked for clothes for the girls and laughed at us. Abby's bearly fits and sarah swims in hers. Then they asked for shoe, which i did not have. Socks were not good enough. We were planning on buying them after we got them so they would fit. This did not go over well. The director of the orphanage was a little upset over it and told us we needed to go. I felt horrible but I wasn't sure what they expected from us. How was I suppose to know what size shoe they were wearing? So we started things off to a bad start with them and had to promise that when we went to the giving and recieving ceremony tomorrow that we would have shoes for them.


We left immediately, we were maybe there for 30 but I doubt it. I am truely sorry to all the waiting families. do to everything going on I was not able to get pictures of you children. We were told be would be there for 1 1/2 hours but we offended I think and were asked to leave. Cherrie did get pictures of lost of babies thought. Again I know you were all looking forward to them and i am sorry.

As we entered the van to leave Sarah was holding onto Matt so tightly and abby was screaming in my arms. loan, Dr. Hongs neice took abby who immediately stopped crying and feel a sleep in her arms. She held her the 1 1/2 hour drive home. Sarah feel asleep in Matt's arms with her hand grasping his shirt. Everytime we would go over a bump she would grab tighter.


I cried the entire way home, it was hard knowing they did not want me. I was prepared for it before we went but it did not make it easier.


We got back to Hanoi and got there passport photo's taken. We decided that I would take sarah and matt would take abby. Sarah reluctantly went with me, as long as Matt was with in sight and Abby went right to Matt.

Back at the hotel we had them first looked at by cherrie who is an RN and she said not scabbies or lice. We were thrilled. We went up to our room and gave them bathes and played with toys. They love there toys and play pretty good together. We were shocked when Sarah started to talk and talk and talk. We have another talker on our hands. Then she started to smile and laugh.

Things we have found out about Abby:


she is big for her age

she is a mover, walking really well and climbing

she does not like to be held when having a bottle

loves her stacking toys

has taken to a sippy cup really good

she loves to share

we are concerned about her teeth, she has bottle rot on three that I can see

she has an eye infection


Things we have found out about Sarah:
she is not shy or quiet

she hates the sippy cup

she very picky about food and drink

she does not like mom only dad

she is potty trained, only if matt takes her, bonus for mom

she sucks her middle and ring finger

she is very posesive about her things

she is very ticklish




Matt is going in the morning to apply for there passports and then tomorrow after noon we are having our giving and recieving ceremony, which everything will be finalized on the Vietnamese side of thing, they will be offically ours tomorrow.

Sunday July 15th

We have had a fun day exploring the city and people watching. What an amazing country and City. I am loving it.

Our flight from Salt Lake City to San Francisco was the worst. We were in the very last row next to the bathrooms. Thank goodness I hadn't eatten for a few hours or I would have lost it. I swear every person on the plain had to use the bathroom, one guy was a little out of it and actually fell on me. Needless to say I was thrilled that it was our shortest flight.

We got to San Francisco and had to leave securtiy and go to the China Airline desk and get tickets issued, I guess this is standard. Then go back through security again. I really like China Airline. The seats were roomy, (this is even coming from a plus sized girl) and the service was excellent and great food. The 13 hours definately went by fast and we even got some sleep in, about 8 hours, in shifts.

In Taipei, Tiawain we again had to leave and go back through security, something I am not understanding. The flight from tiawan to Hanoi seemed the longest, not that it was bad we were just anxious to get there. The food again was great. I had to laugh though, a lady sitting next to me was very impatient with me. When deboarding she thought I wasn't going fast enough and climbed over the seat to get out and then proceeded to push me all the way up the walk way and into the terminal, I just laughed, we didn't gain any time at all.

The heat hits you like a brick wall, especially the humidity. But when you live in Utah and have the dry heat you would expect it.

We are traveling with two others who are with our agency. Tammy and Issac are from Oregon and getting an 11 month old girl. Heather is from Oregon also and is getting a 6 month old. We have had a lot of fun shopping and eatting together. Heather lost one of her suitcases and we are hoping it comes today.

The hotel is great but small. We are staying at the Lucky Star. The staff is very helpful. We lost power and ac today. They went out and bought us a fan to help with the heat. When they came to fix the ac, the guy was wearing dress shoes and took them off the climb on the chair but quickly needed to run and get something so he said something in Vietnamese and grabed my sandles and took off. Obviously we are very friendly and comfortable with each other to the point we are sharing shoes. We had a good laugh over that.

We went to the Kiki that is a few doors down for dinner last night and loved it. The food was great and a huge menu, we could have lunch and dinner there for the 3 weeks and not try everything. Matt says way not eat there every time, it is close, service is great and he likes it. I just think he is afraid to go somewhere else. But they did tell me they would even bring us take out to our room for no extra charge once we get the girls.

They did ask me what the girls names were and told them. They looked at me really funny and asked me to spell it. Then corrected me on the pronunciation. They all laughed and thought it was so funny that I did not know how to say my own childs name. I am not feeling like a good mom right now.

We have a meeting in a few minutes to discuss the process and schedules. Hopefully tomorrow we will get the girls.

i will post pictures as soon as the internet is working in our room.

After 40 hours we have made it!

we are in hanoi, what an amazing country and the heat is something else.

we are exhausted and need food and sleep. I will post pictures and all about our travels tomorrow.

I am some what speachless, cultraul shock has set in adn I have realized that we are so blessed to have been born in the United States but that we have taken so much for granted and are ungrateful for all that Heavenly Father has given us and blessed us with.

We have a meeting tomorrow to find out more information but we were told that we should get the girls on Monday morning.

Matt did great on the flight, no back pain. What a blessing that was.

our bags are packed, we're ready to go!!

I can't not believe we are finally leaving to go and get the girls. We will leave our house in 7 hours! I am going to be a mom of 5 kids. That kind of scares me but we will just take it one day at a time.

I hope I have not forgotten anything, if so hopefully we will not need it.

We should get the girls on Monday or Tuesday. I will update the blog often, or as often as I am able while in Vietnam.

Please keep us in your prayers, for save travels, that we will remain healthy and that the girls will know that we love them and want the best for them, that Matt's back does well on the flights and while in Vietnam. Especially that the boys will have the time of their lives while at both Grandma's and will miss me a little but not too much!

We will be home on the 3rd of August if all goes well. It takes 3 weeks to process everything. We need to get passports for the girls, medical exams and two interviews with the USA embassy and then have there visa's issued.

Wish us luck!!!

2 days!

We are leaving in two days! It still seems so unreal.

Matt is off for a month after today. We are grateful to his employer for allowing us this time.

It is really getting hard to think of leaving the boys for just over 3 weeks. They have been sick this weekend and that makes it so much harder to leave them when they are sick. Thank you to both of our parents for being so willing and excited to watch the boys for us. It helps knowing they will be having so much fun and are loved.

I am procrastinating like usual and am not ready, close but not quite there!

The final stretch

I can not believe that we only have 4 days and 3 hours to go until we leave our house. I am getting so excited and a little nervous.

I have the donations for the orphanage, the girls, the boys and all medications packed. I have a few misc. items that I still need and then to pack Matt and I and we are ready to go. My house is almost finished being deep cleaned too.

I got all the quilts tied I just need to bind them and we are done with that. Nothing like procrastinating until the last few days and hours. I do work better under pressure.

Matt is off this weekend and it has been nice to spend time together as a family. The boys have done lots of fishing and they all learned how to cast. They practices all night yesterday and have gotten pretty good. The entire neighborhood was there audience and the boys loved to show off. It really was a lot of fun.

We were also able to attend the temple together one last time before we leave. We are so blessed to have one in our city, it is like having a little piece of heaven on earth. I also had the opportunity to go back to the temple Saturday morning while the boys went fishing. A friend of mine and her family were sealed together forever. It was beautiful. I can not wait to have the girls here and for us to have the opportunity to have the girls sealed to us for time and all eternity.

Christie

Have a

TEN - what a wonderful number!!

We leave in 10 days!! Can you believe it,10 days!!! It still seems so unreal to me, I feel like I am walking around in a bubble. Maybe someone needs to pinch me and wake me up.

Plus our agency got 10 new referral today!! WOW, I was shocked by that number, last time there were only 3. Congradulations new mom's and dad's.

I got 1 1/2 quilts tied today. I still have 2 1/2 to go. I should be done tomorrow.

I have made my list and am checking it and packing twice (ok it seems that way). I am not a light packer. I have no doubt that I have way too much packed and that I will not even need a 1/4 of it. But I guess it is better to be safe then sorry. It is not like I can jump in the car and drive to Wally World and pick something up. That would be an expensive Wally World trip.

10 more busy fun filled days with my boys.

christie

Sweet 16!!!

We are leaving in 16 days!! We got our plane tickets in the mail today and it made it all so real. It has seemed like a dream for so long and then to see there names on plane tickets, it melted my heart.

I am finding myself so full of emotions lately, especially nervous. I just can't believe we have been so blessed. I so grateful to our Heavenly Father and his undeniable hand in all of this.

I had better get busy and finish deep cleaning my house and finishing the girls room.

Christie

We have tickets!!!

We found a flight schedule that is perfect and within (under) our budget. It was so exciting and it is feeling so real. I can not believe we are leaving in 19 days.

We will leave on the 12th of July at 9Pm and get home roughly 3 weeks later, hopefully sooner if we are able to get their passports and visas processed early. But we are planning on not being home until the first week of August.

I realized yesterday that I will celebrate my 32nd birthday in Vietnam. How cool is that? The best part is that I am getting two daughters for my birthday, one couldn't ask for more.

We are planning on keeping everyone informed of our journey and travels on here while we are gone. But being a different country who know how everything will work and how life will be with two toddlers. Thank you to Megan and Rich who will be our backup posters for us if we are unable to log on and post updates, we appreciate it.

19 days and lots to do, got to go.

christie

I love Wednesday's!!!!

We received our travel call at 9 pm tonight. The entire conversation was maybe 1 min. I was so shocked that I was speechless, I know a shocker. But now I have lots of questions? Ha Ha

We have to be in Hanoi on the 14th of July.

Here we come girls!!!

Difficult news to swallow:(

Today we received a call from our agency. I thought we were getting travel dates but unfortunately no. We have been paper ready for 12 weeks and still nothing. The hard part was that two families who only received there referral on the 16th of May got travel dates, 4 weeks. That was really hard to swallow, but I just sobbed instead. I am happy for them but very jealous and ok angry.

this too shall pass

new pictures!!!

We received new pictures of the girls today!! Thank you to Tiffany, who picked up her Lyla, for getting us pictures.

They are getting so big and adorable!!

We found out that the younger one, Abigail is a riot. They say that she walks around like she owns the place. She is going to fit right into our home.

The older one, sarah just woke up from a nap and wasn't too happy.

No news on travel yet, but hopefully soon.

Christie

Today is a hard day

Today is one of those hard adoptions days. Today was the day I had my heart set on making sure I had my girls in my arms. I know it is silly and international adoption is unpredictable and we have been advised not to make those mini goals or dates but in reality it does happen.

Why June 1st? As of today my girls have been in the orphanage for one year. I know it isn't the end of the world but for some reason I wanted to get them home before today. I have heard wonderful things about the orphanage that the girls are in. Everyone that I have talked with has said that their babies that have come from that orphanage have been on target for weight and skills. Plus that their attachments have gone smoothly.

I think what makes it even harder is that I don't know when I am going. If I had a date I think it would have made it a little easier. I am thinking we won't travel until July now. Just a few set backs, more paperwork was required last week. I am not sure if that means they have to be sent to Vietnam and translated then logged in. I hope that doesn't mean the travel time wait has to start all over. It has been 9 weeks. But with the new system in Vietnam, no one is sure on the time frame for travel anymore.

Have a great weekend!

christie

Guessing Contest!!!

We are having a contest. Who ever guesses out travel date ( the date that we are required to be in country) will get a special prize, something from Vietnam. One hint, usually families are required to be in country on a Sunday.

click on comments below to leave us your guess or email us.

Happy guessing!!

Christie

A few more weeks:(

We were informed this week that they are still working on our girls paper work. It will be a few more week, at the earliest, before we even get a travel date.

We are sad but at least it will happen.

One family that we thought would travel with us, found out this week that there daughters paperwork has cleared and will be traveling on June 7Th. I was really hoping to travel with them. They were also getting a toddler and they were from the same orphanage. We could have had play dates.

We know the earliest that we would travel would be father's day weekend. We will post when we find out.

Christie

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

I first would like to tell my own mother how much I appreciate her. She is someone I hope to become some day. I wish I would have taken more time while growing up to listen and learn from her. I hate being 14 hours away from her. She has always been supportive of me and my crazy ideas, never tried to talk me out of them or make the decision for me. She has been through a lot, but was strong and full of faith and determination. Thank you mom, I love you.

I have also been blessed with a wonderful mother in law. I don't show my appreciation enough. She raised a wonderful, loving, caring and thoughtful son, that I love dearly. She is very talented. Thank you for your help and love and for such a wonderful son who is the love of my life and such a wonderful father.

I know that Mother's day is more of an Westernized Holiday. But I think often of my girls birth mother. I wonder how she is and if she thinks of them and aches for them. The details of how they ended up in the orphanage are not important. What a sacrifice she has made. I pray that she will be given peace in her heart knowing that they will be loved and cared for. I wish for someday, that the girls may meet her and feel of her love for them. I know these girls are meant to come into our home, I just wish that it was not tinted with sadness. The sadness of someone else's lost. I will always hold a special place in my heart for her.

Christie

waiting, waiting and more waiting

Waiting is definitely the hardest part. I thought waiting for the background check was hard, then I thought waiting for the I171-H was tough but seriously waiting for travel dates is going to do me in.

I am a planner and organizer. This is my worst nightmare. I have no control over this and that is hard for me to let go of and relax.

I worry so much about the girls. That they are healthy, being loved and about attachment with us when we get there.

I know they have had a lot of sadness in there short lives and need time to greive but I want them to know that we will always be there for them and love them. I am really worried about there reactions towards us when we get to the orphanage.

We will not be getting travel news this week. Hopefully in the next few weeks we will.

We are going to finish the girls room this weekend. I did find a great buy this past weekend. I went yard selling and found a gently used crib for $10.00. I was thrilled. My neighbor gave us a crib for free also.

I will post a picture this weekend after we get it done.

Christie

Video of the girls

We received a email today with video of the girls. It is short but so priceless.

Video of the girls

I hope you enjoy!!

Christie and family

I am in love!!

We received new pictures of the girls yesterday. Sarah (the older one) was looking at the photo album that we had sent over. It made it so real. They really are ours. I can't wait to hold them and let them know they are loved.

Thank you to Tammy, who took the album to them, spent time with them, took pictures and emailed them to us, all during the time she received her own daughter. Thank you.

I am so in love with them and I have only seen pictures. It seems different to me. When I was pregnant with the boys yes you get to see ultrasound but you feel them move. I was so afraid that it would be a hard transition and wondered about instant love, but it has already happened.

I know these girls are meant to be with our family. Heavenly Father's plan is amazing. I think in the near future I need to share our adoption process with everyone. It would not have worked how it has without our Heavenly Father's hand in it.

We still have not heard of travel news. I am thinking at the earliest would be memorial weekend or beginning of June.

We will let everyone know as soon as we get the call.

Have a great day!!

christie