Good bye Larry Girl!!

As I said in the last post we had to stay at home on Christmas because our chocolate lab is very sick. We are pretty sure she is dying and thought it might happen today. This is very sad because we have had her for almost 17 years, Almost as long as our oldest child. She is a very good with the kids and they all love her very much. My children are devastated. We are bringing her to the vet in the morning, if she makes it through the night, and we expect them to want to put her to sleep!! This photo was taken today. Good bye Larry Girl!!




Edited: Well it happened naturally at 1:00 in the morning. At least it was not on Christmas. She passed away peacefully with her Daddy rubbing her head. It is a sad morning here for our kids and family. 17 years is a long time. It seems like it was just yesterday her and Pman were digging tunnels, searching for treasure, in our backyard in 29 Palms.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Christmas was wonderful!! It is so great to have all 5 children finally together and to be settled into our life. I just loved seeing the babies actually, kind of, understand the concept of Christmas and presents. Last year we only had them for less then 2 months and had only been home a few weeks, It was very overwhelming to say the least. So very different this year. They opened their presents and enjoyed the whole thing. They are so attached and settled in now. It is such a wonderful feeling. We stuck close to home today but I will talk about that in the next post because it is a downer. Merry Christmas to all our followers!!!

Christmas Eve 2008

The kids put out cookies and milk on Christmas Eve. They also left our traditional letter to Santa. It was so fun this year to read over the old letters left in the past by the big kids. It was a late night, We could not get the 3 little one's in bed before midnight. I tried but they were so full of energy, I thought Santa would never be able to come!!!

Decorating the tree 2008

We decorated the tree tonight, It was the first real tree for the babies. We got home a few days before Thanksgiving last year after being gone 5 weeks. I had no energy for the whole Holiday thing last year with 2 new babies adjusting and not sleeping. A lot has changed in the last year, Well it is 11:30 pm and they are still both up and running around so maybe not much has changed.

Adoption

Stay tuned for the before and after pictures at the end. I know quite a few of these Vietnam kiddos and follow some of their blogs.

The photo session from H@@L!!

So we got all the kids pictures professionally taken last week for my MIL. It was the babies first professionally done picture. Well needless to say, Now I know why we did not do it sooner. Khai and Meliah do not love people. They are doing much better in the last year but they need to know you for a while before they warm up to you. Meliah does not like ANYONE to hold her but Mommy. She is laying on my lap right now while I write this. She will not sleep at night unless I am laying beside her holding her, If I get up she screams. Yes, She is officially spoiled. Still I prefer this over the way she was when we first got her,NEGLECTED. Khai will allow more people to hold him then Meliah but still has his preference of Daddy,Mommy or Sissy. Anyway, I knew if Meliah was placed down to get her picture and saw me she would immediately cry. I handed her off to my MIL while they waited (I hid behind the clothes racks). She does fine with my MIL as long as I am not around. I thought Khai would be okay, Probably not smile, but be okay. Well, I was wrong. For the individual pictures, Meliah did okay but never smiled and Khai screamed his head off. Neither baby smiled for any of the group pictures either. I honestly have to say it was a waste of money, We could have done a better job at home. I mean, I really like having a picture of all the kids but it does not in any way reflect Meliah and Khai's real spirit. They are happy children that smile all day long. My MIL ordered a collage with all 5 individual pictures clustered around a group picture of all 5 kids, $250.00 and poor Khai is screaming his head off. Oh well, At least the big kids look great (But of course, I had just spent a million dollars on school pictures of all of them).

This photo session reminded me of the first day in Vietnam when we had just picked up the babies. We had just had our G&R and after a 4 hour bus ride back to the city we had to get their Visa pictures taken. They both kept crying when we tried to take their Visa pictures. The picture people kept telling us that they could not be crying in their Visa photos., It would not be accepted. WHAT!!! They had just met us that morning and we had taken them away from everything and anything that they had ever known, How were we supposed to do that? It took about 20 minutes but we finally got them to calm down enough to get a serious picture.

What really annoyed me was the woman running the computer to bring up the pictures to order. First she asked me, when we came in, if Meliah and Khai's pictures BELONGED in with ours. Yes, They are ALL mine. Then when she made the first collage for my MIL she grouped the 3 other blond hair, blue eyed children together (No Melia and Khai). She wanted to know what we thought and my MIL kept saying "But I want all the children together". So she just kept rearranging the pictures of 3 of my 5 kids, still not adding Meliah and Khai's pictures. She was clueless. I had to finally say "They are ALL 5 brothers and sisters & ALL mine!!".

Then after all that, They will not even have the pictures ready until the 22nd. So much for a family Christmas card. I guess it will have to be a happy holiday,New year card.

Meliah and Khai might be MOVING

We just put an offer in on our dream house. Wish us luck. We are competing against another offer and don't know which the seller will accept. Couple of outside photos above. It has the most awesome yard. We have been looking at houses for probably 2 years but could never find a yard that we liked better then the yard we have now. What we have now is 1.7 wooded acres that backs to a stream. Every time we would find a house we liked it was always on a smaller clear cut yard. I would miss my woods so much. The only way we would have considered giving up the woods was to be waterfront. We never found a waterfront house that we loved. This new house has 9 wooded acres. It is a private wrought iron gated lot that is absolutely beautiful. The owners paid a $150,000 to have all the grass removed and it naturally landscaped with wildflowers,paths,and dry stream beds. Khai will be upset because no more tractor rides to cut the lawn but with 8 acres we will have more then enough work and fun on the tractor. We knew as soon as we got the babies home we would need a bigger house. With 2 little babies comes a lot of stuff(In addition to 2 teenagers and one kindergartner).The house we have now is no where near small at 3,000 sq ft but the way it is set up does not work for us anymore. The new house is double the size with the potential of another 2,000 sq ft when we finish the lower level. The owners of new house built in a up market 4 years ago and are taking quite a loss. It is a relocation so I am hoping his loss is getting reimbursed by his company. It is weird because new house is only about 2 miles away from old house but second oldest had a fit about moving away from the area. My kids are so spoiled.

I am trying not to get my hopes up too much in case things do not work out. I think it might be too late for that.

Did I also mention that Hubby agreed to another adoption in the future as long as I agreed to move to a bigger house that could hold all of us. My hopes are that Vietnam opens to the US again by 2010. Stay tuned for future updates and news about the possible further expansion of our family (Oh I can't wait for the reaction of our families this time. Some of their heads might explode. Will they think we are crazier then when we announced we were adopting 2 babies at the same time?)

Please wish us luck with all our new and exciting paths that we are on.

My poor babies

Well we just got over major illess in our house for 8 solid days. I have never had kids that sick. Poor little Meliah was the worst. It started out with a 102-103 fever thaat would not come down no matter how much medicine I gave her .Then the blisters appeared everywhere. In her mouth,in her throat,on her lips,on her chest.She could not eat any food for 8 days and was not able to take her bottle. I had to feed her liquids from a medicine dropper. That was all she consumed for 8 days. She was lethargic and laid on my shoulder 24 hours a day. She literally would not let me put her down for 8 days. She did not smile and did not play.It was terrible. Khai got it but nowhere as bad as his sister. He was still able to drink his bottle and consume some soft foods.It was not easy having two babies this sick.I spent many days sitting in the recliner with both babies laying on top of me. Thankfully they are now back to their old selves.
Meliah did officially wean herself from the bottle during her illness.I am not so happy about this but she won't have anything to do with it now.She looks at it like it is going to hurt her.

Can you look at these faces and not want to make a difference?

Adoption Awareness Month- My story

With it being adoption awareness month and I think it is important for me to post on something so close to my heart.

As most of you know my life changed in 2006 when we finally made the move to start our adoption. It is something that I had thought about for over 10 years. The seed was planted in my mind and grew in my mind and heart for over 10 years. I was one of those people that watched adoption story on TLC and always took a second glance at the store when I saw what looked to be a family grown through adoption. I never thought my desire to adopt would ever become a reality. For years and years we never seemed to be in the position to make it so. When I had looked into adoption in my early 20's I was drawn to China and went no farther. I knew they had a minimum age limit of 30 years old and thought that applied to all countries (I now know that's not true). I put it on the back burner and out of mind until I was in my 30's. After a tough pregnancy with my third child we thought we were done. A few years later we both decided we wanted one more child.

In 2005 I had a life and death scare that rocked us to our core. I was a week pre-op for a breast reduction and my pre-op blood work came back BAD. The surgeon called me and told me the surgery was off and to get to a DR tomorrow because I was very sick. When I went to the Dr the next day he said my white blood cell count was off the chart and there was only one explanation for it to be this sky high. He told me it was leukemia and the numbers showed I was very sick. I had to get to the oncologist right away. I was shocked. I could not believe this was happening. I was 34 yrs old and my life passed before my eyes. I did not sleep for weeks. I spent all night staring at my 2 yr old and crying because I would not see her grow up. It was the worst weeks of my life. All the things ran through my mind that I had never done and would always regret. All the things I had put on the back burner because I could do them tomorrow or next year. Now it didn't look like there would be a next year. In the mean time the oncologist ran full bodyscans and additional blood work.

Call it a maricle, Call it a lab screw up, We will never know. 2 weeks later my white blood cell count was back in normal range. The oncologist said after months running blood work it had to have been lab error. I did not have leukemia ( We did during the process find large nodules on my thyroid that were potentially cancerous and I had to have half of my Thyroid immediately removed. It was not cancer)

Talk about being handed your life back. During those 2 weeks nothing mattered to me but my family. I felt like going 24 hours a day so I could fill every minute with them. I didn't want to sleep because I knew I could never get those moments back. It didn't matter how much money I had in the bank, what kind of car I drove, how much I weighed or if the bills were paid on time. Talk about getting your priorities straight. Nothing like a near death experience to do it for you.

That is when we decided no more waiting till tomorrow what can be done today. No regrets.

We had been blessed with a generous life and it was our time to give back. Stop talking and start doing. Pay it forward as they would say. There was a child (or two) out there who needed a family and we wanted another child.


If you make a difference to one person, then that one person is enough.
Based on the story by Loren Eisley...

I awoke early, as I often did, just before sunrise to walk by the ocean's edge and greet the new day. As I moved through the misty dawn, I focused on a faint, far away motion. I saw a youth, bending and reaching and flailing arms, dancing on the beach, no doubt in celebration of the perfect day soon to begin. As I approached, I sadly realized that the youth was not dancing to the bay, but rather bending to sift through the debris left by the night's tide, stopping now and then to pick up a starfish and then standing, to heave it back into the sea.
I asked the youth the purpose of the effort. "The tide has washed the starfish onto the beach and they cannot return to the sea by themselves," the youth replied. "When the sun rises, they will die, unless I throw them back to the sea." As the youth explained, I surveyed the vast expanse of beach, strectching in both directions beyond my sight. Starfish littered the shore in numbers beyond calculation. The hopelessness of the youth's plan became clear to me and I countered, "But there are more starfish on this beach than you can ever save before the sun is up. Surely you cannot expect to make a difference." The youth paused briefly to consider my words, bent to pick up a starfish and threw it as far as possible. Turning to me he simply said, "I made a difference to that one."

I left the boy and went home, deep in thought of what the boy had said. I returned to the beach and spent the rest of the day helping the boy throw starfish in to the sea.

Please, If you have ever been drawn to make a difference in a childs life make the move now. Do not wait one more single day. I promise you that your life will be filled with more riches then you could ever imagine.

Pregnancy and adoption

So I was in need of a brain MRI (Will get into that later when I know more) but Dr would not okay it because I have not had a period in 5 months. I reassure him I am not pregnant (Have been 6 times, I think I know what it feels like) but he makes me go for blood drawn pregnancy test anyway. When I get to the lab the technician really floored me. She could not understand the writing so shes like "Your sure you are right?". I'm like "What?" Pregnant?""NO, I told my Dr I wasn't but he is making me do this". I was like "I don't think husband would be too happy since we just adopted Twins." Then here she goes with the typical stereotypical thoughts about adoption. She's like "Well then you know you ARE because that's what always happens after you adopt."

YEAH SURE!!! Well THANK YOU technician lady!! Could you make any more assumptions about my life and my adoption?

Why is it that people do not understand that not all people adopt because they can not conceive. Not everyone who adopts is sitting at home praying to get pregnant. Some of us choose to build our family through adoption even though we can conceive "OUR OWN". I don't think any of us (No matter what our reasons) consider it a second choice like most of the general public seems to view adoption. My babies are NOT a second choice, They were my first choice for my 4th and 5th child. I do not secretly wish I had conceived and carried "MY OWN" babies instead. Meliah and Khai were very much planned and wanted.

It was actually very scary. I would have embrace a pregnancy if it had been positive but in now way was I hoping it was. I have said it before and I will again. I am done birthing babies, but not necessarily done having children (Unless of course someone higher then me has a surprise in store for me). As of now, I plan and choose for all my future children (If there is anymore) to join our family through adoption. That is a choice I am making not something I am settling for.

P.S. It was negative!!

P.S.S. Watched Sex and the City movie last night and now know why everybody makes this assumption .

Tragedy In Vietnam

I am saddened to read about the flooding in Northern Vietnam. What a tragedy in my childrens birth country. I am so thankful to have my children home and safe in my arms. I deeply loved the sweet people of Vietnam and it breaks my heart think of those poor people who already have so little suffering through such a tragedy. My heart and prayers go out to them and all the children of Vietnam. Let's pray for no more deaths. Below is an article :



HANOI, Vietnam - Forecasters predicted more rain for northern Vietnam on Tuesday as authorities said the death toll from days of flooding had risen to at least 66.
Eighteen of the deaths were in the capital Hanoi which has been lashed for days by the heaviest rainfall for 20 years, authorities said.
More rain was expected in Hanoi and several northern provinces Tuesday, but weather forecasters said it would be lighter than the downpours that soaked the capital over the weekend.
That would provide welcome relief to residents of Hanoi, where many streets were under three feet (a meter) of water and scores of businesses remained shuttered.
"I have been stuck in my house for the past three days," said Nguyen Manh Hung, a businessman who lives on a street in southern Hanoi where water reached his waist. "It's unbelievable to see people navigating the street in boats and by horse-drawn carriages."
Vietnamese television quoted Hanoi Mayor Nguyen The Thao as saying it would take the city four or five days to pump excess water into the Red River _ longer if heavy rains resume.
More than 20 inches (500 millimeters) of rain have fallen on the city, the heaviest in more than two decades.
Authorities reported six deaths in the northern provinces of Vinh Phuc, Bac Giang and Thai Nguyen on Monday.
The central Nghe An province was worst-hit after 10 more bodies were recovered Monday, bringing the death toll there to 22, said provincial disaster official Nguyen Dinh Thuy.
Rains continued to fall in the province, preventing rescue workers from accessing affected areas, Thuy said.
"Water is everywhere. Many parts of the province are still isolated," said Thuy. "We have to use motorboats to rush food aid to villagers, who have been in hunger for several days."
Floods have inundated more than 100,000 homes across northern and central Vietnam, the national committee for flood and storm control said on its Web site.
More than 590,000 acres (240,000 hectares) of rice and vegetables have been destroyed and about 100 miles (170 kilometers) of rural roads damaged, it said.

Happy Halloween!!!

This is our second halloween together but first year of good old fashioned USA trick or treating. Last year on Halloween was our 1st full day as a family. I remember a lot of adjusting going on. We had our hands full and knew it. I dragged 2 halloween costumes all the way to Vietnam from the states and neither one got worn for even 2 seconds. Meliah and Khai would not let us put them down for 2 seconds much less dress them up in stupid costumes.

This year was great. They both were very grumpy when we first dressed them. Meliah tried to rip her tinkerbell costume off and Khai refused to put on his dinosaur hood. Oh fun!! They both were grumpy the whole time I was trying to take pictures and clinging to us for dear life. I never did get a good picture of them all together. Finally Meliah started to adjust but when I tried to put her in the stroller she was having none of it. I finally dug out the old Moby sling that we have not used in forever. It felt like Vietnam all over again (I carried Meliah for night and day in this sling in Vietnam). Khai still was not in a good mood so Dad said they would catch up. I had to carry Meliah a whole mile around the block in the sling. She snuggled all up and was asleep by the third house. The sleeping tinkerbell was so cute. Khai never did catch up with us but went out with his MomMom. She said he jumped right in the stroller and had a ball. No grumping. It was a good night and the kids eventually had a blast.

Happy 1 year Anniversary!!

Now : Oct 2008Then : October 31st 2007

Well today is that special day. The day that seemed like it would never come and we waited endlessly for. The day I hoped for for over 10 years but never thought would become a reality. The day that we flew half way around the world for. The day I felt such joy and bittersweet sorrow (For the birth families) at the same time. The day a year ago that changed our lives forever.

What more can I say? We have been blessed to have been chosen to parent these 2 wonderful children. A better match could not have been made. I am looking forward to many more years of looking into those dark eyes and knowing that we were meant to be together. This was not fate, It was our destiny. They were born to be our children, As we were meant to be their parents. It is so amazing how this can happen half way around the world and you can be lead to each other. It is more amazing then even the power of birth.

Meliah and Khai: I hope you will always feel secure in this love and know you were very much wanted by MANY.

Happy Forever Family Day Meliah and Khai!!!

Here is my post from last year:

http://wwwjourneytoourdestiny.blogspot.com/2007/11/october-31st.html

And the Montage I made to remember that trip forever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3gG_U9cuJY

No,No,No

Well the babies vocabulary is taking off like crazy the past 2 weeks(As you can see from Backpack post). I am just totally amazed. They had a handful of words before this but now it seems like they are repeating so many things we say out of the blue. There is also no guessing "Did they just say ???". It is clear as day.

Now Khai has been shacking his head Yes and No to questions for months. His answer is always accurate compared to Meliah who shakes her head No about everything. Well just today his new word became GUESS WHAT??? NO. His new FAVORITE WORD??? NO. He says No about everything. Watch the movie. I don't think he means it. I hope NOT:(

Backpack

Meliah's big sister was playing with her and trying to put a backpack on her. All of a sudden out of the blue she says "Backpack" clear as day. We made her say it over and over and I ran and got the camera. Now she never watches Dora so I don't know how she would know this word (But her big sister did start Kindergarten).

Our week in review

Adoption By Accident

So funny and true. Who would have known how HARD an adoption could be. Not for the faint of heart. It seemed like it would be sooo easy. I want a child(children) ,they need a family . What else??

Don't we wish it could be this easy!!


Adoption by Accident

--Honey, sit down. I have some news for you.
--What is it?
--Well, I don't know how to say this, so I'll just come out with it. I went out to the mailbox today and ... well, we got an I-171H.
--A what?!? An I-171H? As in, we're going to have another baby?!?
--It looks that way.
--But how? We've been so careful! I put away all the blank I-600A forms. Didn't you hide our homestudy update?
--Of course I did. But don't forget, there was that one night ...
--What night? (Pauses) Oh, that night. But it was only once. We were just messing around. I didn't print clearly. I didn't even use ink! (Pauses again) But it was kind of fun.
--(Giggles) it was, wasn't it? I'll never forget how cute you looked getting your fingerprints.
--So now we've got our I-171H, eh? But that doesn't always mean you'll adopt, does it? I mean, shouldn't you see the agency or something, make sure everything's okay?
--I already did.
--And?
--I'm five documents along.
--Five documents! And they're all notarized, certified and authenticated okay?
--Just great. There was one small scare when the agency couldn't see the notary's middle initial, but it showed up just fine under the magnifying glass.
--Thank God. And you honey? Are you feeling okay?
--I'm feeling fine. As long as I know you're happy about this.
--Happy? I'm thrilled! It's always a shock at first when something like this happens, but of course I'm happy!


Thanks Dawn

Double Trouble

So we are watching the Simpson's tonight and realize the babies are missing. We run around looking for them and this is what we finally find. Her brother was her partner in crime but was just standing by watching. We have no idea how she got up there. What do you think she was thinking? Look how happy.