Adoption and US History

Progress

2011-05-19T20:43:00.001-04:00

Ireland: “Big strides made in Vietnam’s adoption service”

Ethica posted this article on their website. I hope that other countries, especially the US, are willing to look at the positive progress that Vietnam has made to meet the Hague Convention. I also hope that Vietnam finishs what they start and meet the needs of the countries so that the children there can find families. I know of many that are very anxious to adopt another from their beautiful country.

Recent Pictures

2011-05-16T07:27:00.000-04:00

Hopefully, someone is reading this from my husband's class, so I am adding some past posts with updates on us. Adding a few recent Jacob pictures.....

2 Years

2011-05-07T06:53:00.011-04:00

This picture was soon after we were in the van on our way back to Hanoi. At this point, Jacob had been legally ours for less than an hour. Now that we have had him for 2 years, we know that he LOVES to sleep, so this really was a glimpse of life with him.

It seems like we were just in Vietnam, waiting to meet our son. After nearly 2 years of the process, the moment was finally there.

Oh how he has changed. He is still small for his size. He is the height of a 2 yo and still lighter than one. Size 2T pants are still the best for him, but he needs the waist cinched in has much as possible to keep them up. He uses all the length though.

He was such a serious little boy the day we met him....

G & R Day

But he is all smiles and giggles now!

2 years later

We have discovered that he knows all of his letters and most of their sounds as well! We did NOTHING with him other than he likes to watch the Leap Frog movies at daycare and at home.

Jacob is such a sweetie and we are SO in love!

The 1st time I held him

Jacob is THREE

2011-03-06T17:00:00.000-05:00

Poor Kid

2011-01-17T17:10:00.000-05:00

I was doing things around the house this afternoon when I found this....

My Boys

2011-01-02T23:30:00.000-05:00

Jacob's new talent that Abram caught on video

Christmas 2010

2010-12-25T19:07:00.002-05:00

Jacob wasn't sure he wanted to wake up for Santa & presents

She is a GREAT big sister!

Abram received more than just clothes...I promise!

Christmas Eve

2010-12-24T22:10:00.000-05:00

We took these pictures for Grandma JoAnn in CT. She bought this outfit for Jacob last Christmas, but it was too big on him. It is an 18 month. He is now 33 months. While it was a little short, it was still a MUCH better fit this year!

Abram is 9....WOW

2010-12-19T21:06:00.000-05:00

He is such a mixture of 2 kids! He can be the sweetest, most cuddly kid. Kind, sweet, and gentle. On the other hand, he can be SO wired and active. Bouncing on the couch when something excited him or makes him happy. Our new couch shows the effects!!

Some of my favorite pictures of him....

Halloween 2010

2010-10-28T22:16:00.000-04:00

Big Sister to the Rescue

Is Anyone Out There??

2010-10-24T00:16:00.000-04:00

If you are still coming here to check on us, PLEASE leave me a comment. If people still visit this site, I will keep it updated better....PROMISE!!

Tumblebus

2010-09-23T21:16:00.001-04:00

Jacob's class at daycare does Tumblebus weekly and he LOVES it!! It is owned and run by a former student of mine from student teaching. We knew we recognized each other for years when we ran into each other around town, but we FINALLY figured out where this year!

He goes around the house doing somersaults

Chow Hounds

2010-01-01T23:17:00.000-05:00

2009-12-27T13:33:00.000-05:00

Christmas 2009

2009-12-25T21:36:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T00:15:00.000-05:00

7 Months

2009-12-07T04:00:00.000-05:00

Number of months since...

we traveled half way around the world

our lives changed for the better

the fulfillment of a dream to adopt

our prayers were answered

our dreams came true

our broken hearts were healed a bit

we first held our new son

Getting Big

2009-12-06T23:00:00.000-05:00

Another month older and even more in love!

Jacob is 21 months old today and his vocabulary continues to EXPLODE! I am amazed of all the words that he repeats, but also the ones that he uses on his own! Please and Thank You, at the appropriate times, occasionally. I have heard an "Excuse Me"! "What's That?" is another big one...A LOT. "NO" is a big one for him, but now he is using it to tell us he doesn't want something instead of shoving us away or swatting at whatever we are offering to him.

I am still amazed just how happy he is. He is such a giggler. I wonder if he was like in the orphanage. Did he feel that sense of happiness and joy while he was playing with his nanny or the other kids? Did any of them know just how ticklish he is in his belly, or the hip crease of his legs? Did they know how much he LOVES music and to dance?

Tomorrow marks 7 months since we have had him.
Still amazed just how far he has come.

Lucky Ones

2009-11-21T16:07:00.000-05:00

People often say how lucky the babies that we adopted are, but we are the lucky ones that a family and 2 countries trusted us with these precious children! Jacob is such an easy going guy. Yes, he is a little spoiled, as pointed out by someone yesterday afternoon, but not too much. He likes to be held right after he is picked up from daycare. He won't walk to the car or anywhere. That is OK. I love the look on his face when he realizes that we are there to pick him up. He is also very independent and plays well with the kids and himself.

Today, we are all busy around the house, doing laundry and getting things done. I turned around to find this...

I found Abram asleep on the kitchen floor before when he was little. At least Jacob thought to bring a pillow!!

Sorry

2009-11-08T12:03:00.002-05:00

Not sure if anyone reads this blog anymore, but I realized today that I haven't updated it in a while, so I will today. I will put up a bunch of posts from this summer today. Keep an eye out for them!!

6 Months

2009-11-07T08:15:00.000-05:00

We have had Jacob for 6 months today.

He seems like he has always been a part of our family. I still cannot believe that he is ours, at times. He is such a happy little boy and that fact warms my heart! He is such a smiler, also. His laugh makes me teary-eyed. He has such a wonderful giggle.

He is also a very sensitive child at times. There have been numerous occassions that a simple (but "stern"), No-No, reduces him to tears. Deep, heart-wrenching sobs sometimes. Ones where cuddling with him isn't even an instant fix. It breaks your heart, but he is SO cute when he pouts!

Like I said yesterday, we are SO in love with this face....

20 Months Old

2009-11-06T21:58:00.000-05:00

What can I say...

He is a card...

And we are SO in love with him!!

5 Months

2009-10-07T12:21:00.000-04:00

Jacob has been a member of our family for 5 months today. Thinking of Zachary and Allison also. I can’t believe that we have had them a short 5 months when it seems like they fit right in and belong in our families so well! The last 5 months have been a blur in so many ways. It was a full summer off for our family, something that is rare for us, because of my job. We moved 4 miles down the road and are feeling quite settled in our new home. Yes, there is some more unpacking/organizing that I still need to do, but we are comfortable. The new school year has gone very well.

Like I posted last week, Jacob is really adjusting well to daycare and really enjoys going. He is so happy when we get there. This morning, he crawled right into his highchair when we arrived and was ready to kiss us goodbye! It is nice to know he is so happy there.

I am often amazed that after all the very serious pictures that we received of him the 10 months that we waited to travel for him, his most common face now looks like this....

19 Months Old

2009-10-06T16:27:00.000-04:00

Boy ~ time flies! Our little guy is getting so big. His height is clearly in the 18 month range, but he is still thin. His ribs don’t stick out so much though, so we can see where the 3+lbs went!

His personality is really showing through. He is usually such a happy, smiley baby, but when he wants something, he lets you know! His language is coming along also. I still think that his comprehension is wonderful and he is beginning to say more and more. He is very influenced by his surroundings. While visiting my parents this summer, he said “doggy”, “puppy”, and “buddy” while with their dog. Seeing them in books didn’t get the same reaction though. We were talking to our neighbor this weekend and he became SO excited to see and pet her dog. He was saying “puppy” all day!

He is still pretty shy around strangers though. He can warm up to some, but it takes time. The bribe of a lollipop didn’t get the giver a smile yesterday. We were in the mall on Friday and he stayed by me, but 2 older women said how cute he was and he was smiling and flirting with them! Yesterday the appliance repairman was playing catch with him and he really was having fun! He even let his godmother pick him up.

Fall Day

2009-10-05T14:15:00.000-04:00

One of the perks of my job is that I work 4 days a week and have a 4 day weekend every other one...until this year. Our schedule this year is HORRIBLE!! We have many 5 day weeks and rarely any 4 day weekends. This was my last Monday off until mid-January. Jacob and I were outside enjoying it!!!

As I posted before, my camera seems broken. I will definitely have to buy a new one soon. I borrowed one from a friend though to take some pictures of a large tree in our front yard that should be coming down this week. While we were out there, I was snapping pictures of him....

It is Official...

2009-09-22T08:32:00.000-04:00

Jacob LOVES daycare

When we walked in this morning, we said Good Morning to his teacher and then he immediately starting pointing to his high chair. I put him in and asked for a kiss. He puckered right up and began to wave Good-bye!

Glad to know that he is happy there.

1st Haircut

2009-09-21T18:00:00.000-04:00

We have been saying for awhile that Jacob needed a haircut. He was looking quite shaggy. I made an appointment for yesterday. It was our first time with our new hairdresser. I had wished that I had known when our other was leaving and that I had gotten Jacob into her, just for sentimental reasons, but the new one did a good job. We let his see Abram and I get our cuts first and then we had him sit on my lap. I did thing that I was sad that I hadn’t thought to bring my camera to record the event, but it was a CRAZY day and I didn’t. Another regret…what’s new?! He did pretty well. I think it came out pretty good. 1 shorter piece in front, but since we sweep his “bangs” to the side, I figured it would be OK.

We get home and I ask my husband his thoughts and he said he didn’t like it. I asked why and he said that it was shorter than he was expecting and he wasn’t there to see it. I was heartbroken. I had been discussing the fact that we were going today and I had even spoken to him on the way to the appointment. He was home. He could have met us there. I mentioned to him that he could get the older kids and meet Jacob and I there (he had his 18mth appt). We agreed that it wasn’t necessary since I had to drive right by the kids’ school to get to the mall. I feel bad though. If he was there, he would have seen it and taken pictures.

Before...

After…

I finally borrowed a camera from a friend for another purpose,
but I took some cute shots of Jacob also!

18 Month Check-up

2009-09-21T08:36:00.000-04:00

Jacob had his appointment today. He was seen by our regular doctor who is back from his FMLA. It was great to see him and to have Jacob seen by someone we know and trust.

He was very happy for Jacob and how he has grown. He said that he is doing very well. Jacob received 3 shots.

He was 21lbs 7.2oz and 31.5"

Looking Back...

2009-09-18T21:00:00.000-04:00

Tonight, I have been reading over my blog the weeks before we traveled to Vietnam, as well as our time there. It is so neat to read my reactions to things and to think back to those days when things were so uncertain. 4-5 months later, in many ways, that time seems to far away. I have been meaning to post some of my reactions and feelings of those days and I promise that I will soon.

Reposting a few things that are SO much more meaningful to me now though...

The most emotional moment for me, more than even seeing Jacob for the first time, was when when we walked into the Justice Department meeting room and I first saw his birthmom. It was startling to see her in person. Like I posted here, what do you say to the woman who gave you her child? How do you look her in the eyes after you see and hear her cry? That was when I cried that day. All I could tell her was that we were SO grateful and that we would always love him and take care of him. She and her Mom told us that they knew we would give him a good life. I told them of our other children...that he would have older siblings, like herself. I hope she has found peace again, after that emotional day.

and a quote....

"We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life. But those who make their journey home across time & miles, growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them, are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us by God's very own hands."

~ Kristi Larson ~

1st Popsicle

2009-08-16T17:23:00.000-04:00

Video by Abram.....

Jacob is getting Teeth #9 & #10
top 1st molars

1st Corn on the Cob

2009-08-13T18:00:00.000-04:00

Caught Red Handed

2009-08-08T22:06:00.000-04:00

Baby Einstien

2009-08-08T16:04:00.000-04:00

Is a hit!

sorry our TV room is so dark

My parents bought my sister's boys the entire set. I have asked her if she would mind sharing a few with us, because we have watched this one quite a bit already!

Has It Only Been....

2009-08-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

3 months?!

It seems like Jacob has been a part of our family for much longer. As another member of our travel group said, our 2 weeks in Vietnam were a simplier time. It was our time to focus on this little boy that was entrusted to us...a time we truly enjoyed.

Jacob has so naturally fit into our family, like he has always belonged with us. He was meant to be ours, for that I am sure. I always knew that once we had him, I wouldn't "care" what it took to get him there. That was true with our other children, as well.

Of course, he was walking when we met him. Watching video of those first days, you can see just how much better he is getting at it and how new it still was then. VERY soon after getting home, we discovered that he was fairly proficient at going up stairs on his knees. Coming down backwards soon followed!

Jacob still eats just about anything that you place in front of him. Mangos are still the BIGGEST hit and we cater to it as much as possible in Central PA. We stocked up on a lot of mango products while in CT last month. Trader J*e's and Cost*co!!

Jacob continues to say more words. This is the area that we watch the most, not that we are at all concerned. He babbles A LOT. He develops new words as needed. At my parents, "doggie" and "Buddy" were needed and used often. "Daddy" and "ah oh" are staples! "Momma/Mommy" have been heard, but they are still rare. "Pappy" was said a lot yesterday while we were visiting my in-laws. His comprehension is through the roof though. He understands everything. His version of Yeah and shaking his head No are common.

Ending the first week of daycare and it too has gone very well. Not always the happiest when I leave, but always happily playing when I come for him in the afternoon. He naps well and plays with the other kids also. We were thinking that this is the environment that he was used to....LOTS of other little kids around him! They are always amazed how he can put away the food, in his little frame!

It has been a tiring week though....looking forward to the weekend!!!

Getting Big

2009-08-06T19:50:00.001-04:00

Jacob is 17 month old today

He continues to be just a joy for our family. He has fit in very smoothly. I am sitting in the bathroom while he takes a bath (gotta love wireless!!). He is having ball playing with his stacking cups and the bubbles....babbling up a storm. His smile is contagious!! I cannot believe what a happy baby he is. For all the seriousness we saw while we waited to travel, we have been greatly rewarded with a happy, smiley baby! He was taken such GREAT care of. Many people are surprised to learn that he spent the first 14 months of his life in an orphanage, based on how well he is doing. It amazes us also!!

Tomorrow is another big milestone for us, so make sure you come back...

Not tonight's bath, but still adorable!!

Jacob VanHa

2009-08-04T19:58:00.000-04:00

It is official!!

The courthouse called this morning to say that all the paperwork was in order and filed. They will send his birth certificate and other official paperwork soon and CONGRATULATIONS!!

Too Cute

2009-07-22T00:03:00.000-04:00

Comparison

2009-07-19T00:01:00.000-04:00

Referral picture at 4 months

10 months later
The day we met

2 months later
1 year since we first saw his face

What a Year!

2009-07-11T23:59:00.002-04:00

A year ago today, we received THE best news....we had our 2nd son! I called our caseworker to make sure she received a fax I had sent her earlier when she said she was glad I called because she had news. We had a new son! I was driving, so I missed most of the information, but I did know it was a 4 month old baby boy and he was to be ours!

We had to wait a little while, but then we saw these....

We had waited A LOT longer for our referral than others, 175 days from being logged in, but I believed that our day would come and it did...in perfect timing!

A year later, after an LONG 10 month wait to travel, we have had him 2+ months and he is an active and smiley 16 month old and WE ARE IN LOVE!!!!

2 Months

2009-07-07T07:40:00.000-04:00

I cannot believe that we have had Jacob for 2 months today. It seems like he has been a part of our family for much longer though. In many ways, he has been a part of our family since we saw his face for the first time, nearly a year ago. 10 months and 5 sets of pictures until the day FINALLY arrived that we would actually see him in person.....

He wasn't too sure of us when he first saw us.
His nanny was the only one he wanted.

Our first night together....
he was a little like a deer caught in the headlights

2 Months later and I think he feels like he belongs with us....

I know we do!!!

Are You Still Reading??

2009-07-05T15:20:00.002-04:00

I am not sure if my husband's students or fellow staff are still reading this blog. If you are and would like me to update it more, leave us a comment or email us (bottom of sidebar).

"New" Pictures

2009-06-22T11:21:00.001-04:00

Written by my wife....

I set up a group for those we traveled with so we could download and share our photos with each other. We were constantly snapping pictures of each other while we were there, especially the day we picked up the babies. These are a couple of the ones that jumped out at me....

The first moment I saw Jacob (nanny doing the "Asian Squat"). Not sure how they balance like that, but even Jacob can do it well! SO cute.

Click to make them bigger.

Halong Bay trip....3hrs at the back of the van.
We were airborne at times!!

The Lang Son boys....Zachary and Jacob

Again...with Zachary's Dad, Brian

The Hylands

The Barnetts

Marie and I

They did NOT want their pictures taken!!

Good shot of us....boy was it humid that night

So cool....someone took pictures of the food at the buffet that last night. Jerry??

Stuck in a HUGE downpour....we all bought a lot from that shop during our stay

A gorgeous shot while we waited out the downpour

Jacob's Formal Pictures

2009-06-19T23:20:00.000-04:00

Isn't He Cute?!

2009-06-17T23:20:00.000-04:00

Formal Pictures

2009-06-10T23:19:00.001-04:00

1 Month

2009-06-07T23:18:00.001-04:00

We have had Jacob 1 month today!!!
The above picture is from his Baptism yesterday

He is Flexible

2009-05-27T12:08:00.002-04:00

Poem By A Friend

2009-05-22T23:14:00.000-04:00

Little boy, all alone,

with nobody to call his own.

A family waits a world away,

the months drag by, long day by day.

The pictures show up now and then.

The family wonders time and again.

Who dries his tears, who holds him tight,

you tucks him into bed at night?

Who reads him books, who sings him songs,

and comforts him when something's wrong?

The little boy he does not know,

this family who loves him so.

Their love so strong, their faith so deep,

safe in their hearts, this boy they keep.

A brother and a son to be,

they wait and wait so patiently.

And then one day the stars align,

they pack their bags, it's finally time!

The journey begun so long ago

is almost done, it's time to go!

Hold on, sweet boy, here they come,

your days alone are almost done.

Welcome Jacob, to this family who,

surely was chosen by God just for you.

You're right where you were meant to be,

alone no more,

you complete this family.

~ Edie Rossborough

We Are Doing Great

2009-05-19T23:41:00.001-04:00

People have been asking for an update.....

Jacob continues to be a happy go lucky baby. He smiles, giggles, and loves to play with the kids. They are doing great with him also. They LOVE to do things for him. Sometimes a little too much, but I do think it is sweet. He is still eating really well and sleeping well also. This was the 2nd night that he let me lay him down in the pack and play, He slept through the night last night...praying for the same tonight!

No ill effects of jet lag either...We were WHIPPED Saturday night, but since then, we have been good. Fingers crossed that it all continues. I guess after the long wait, we were blessed with an easy, cuddly baby.

We Are In Love

2009-05-19T00:10:00.000-04:00

We Are Home!!!

2009-05-17T18:34:00.004-04:00

After all the long flights, we arrived at Dulles to find a dear friend (Carol) waiting for us. My parents were late with the kids. In the end though, it worked out great because it was a wonderful sight to see our kids running across the terminal to us! Jacob was such a trooper on the flights. I will say that the 14 hr flight seemed to go A LOT faster with a toddler in tow. Clearing Customs and Immigration was also a breeze.

Amazing Quote

2009-05-17T14:50:00.001-04:00

LOL

2009-05-13T02:03:00.000-04:00

This is a common sight here in Vietnam....

I LOVE the pictures at Saigon Today

Dinner Out

2009-05-12T12:09:00.003-04:00

The 3 families took our in-country staff out to dinner tonight. This was the last time we will all be together also, because the Barnetts are hoping to leave early. The Hylands and us are planning a day trip to Halong Bay.

Our staff recommended a traditional Vietnamese buffet and it was delicious! It was so nice to sit down with them, knowing that everyone worked out and we were all set and could relax, breath, and have some laughs!

We had a great time. These 2 men were our lifeline to our children for all of these months. They were the ones who checked on them and took the wonderful pictures that we were so happy to receive over the last 10 months. We could never thank them enough for what they have done for our children and for the hundreds of other children who they helped in the process of finding homes.

Passport & Visa ~ CHECK!!

2009-05-12T11:21:00.000-04:00

We had our Embassy appointment this afternoon and our visas were ready later in the afternoon!! 6 days from babies to visas, including a weekend!

That means we are free to go home, but we are keeping oour Friday flights, for a variety of reasons. So is the family at our hotel with us. We are all off to Halong Bay still.

Temple of Literature

2009-05-12T09:00:00.000-04:00

When we first arrived, it was cooler and a bit breezy. It was very nice to walk on the grounds a bit. Then more people arrived and it began to get warmer...OK...HOT when the sun finally came out.

Medical Exam...CHECK

2009-05-11T02:36:00.000-04:00

Jacob had his medical exam at the SOS International Clinic this morning. He weighed 18.8lbs and was 30.7" long. According to the CDC, he fell off the chart for weight and is 50th% for height. I knew he was thin. According to the agency, he was 19lbs 2 months ago, but he is walking now. The doctor said he looks good and confirmed that it is Mongolian spots on his back and butt.

Tomorrow is our appointment with the Embassy for Jacob's visa. Then WE ARE DONE!!!! Less than a week from baby to visa!!!

Happy Boy

2009-05-11T01:48:00.000-04:00

Sorry it is sideways, I didn't realize I couldn;t hold the camera sideways until it was too late

Smiley

2009-05-10T18:57:00.001-04:00

Jacob's personality is really beginning to come out!! He is smiling a lot more and has been down and playing more. He slept 8 hours last night and is now up for the day at 4:30. Considering that we have his medical appt this morning though, an early start to the day is OK, especially if we can get the kids to get online and we can Skype with them before breakfast!

Day 8

2009-05-10T11:38:00.001-04:00

Today, we went to Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. We also went to the Military Muesum

We also went to the Memorial House
this is a representation of what a fancy house
would have looked liked years ago

Museum of Ethnology

2009-05-09T04:42:00.000-04:00

Today, we and another Adoptive Mom and her son went to the Museum of Ethnology. It was nice to learn more about Jacob's ethnicity (Nung), or Zachary's (Tay).

Local Market

2009-05-08T03:48:00.001-04:00

I found this small, local market down an alley half a block from our hotel. It is very interesting. Quite an experience! Fish that are still breathing and watching how quickly these women can butcher a large piece of meat, with minimal tools and space! ENJOY

We Have a New Son

2009-05-07T21:46:00.000-04:00

He is a good baby who was VERY attached to his nanny. So far, so good.

Beautiful

2009-05-06T11:44:00.001-04:00

Gifts to Bring

2009-05-06T11:38:00.004-04:00

OK....1 More Milestone

2009-05-06T11:05:00.004-04:00

Jacob is 14 months old
This is his LAST night in an orphanage.
It is also my last night has a Mother of 2.

After nearly 2 years...
we are going to get our son tomorrow.

Please say a prayer for the 6 of us.
For safe travels and for settled stomachs.
Between the excitement and the car ride,
and the way a few have felt the last few days,

we could use them!

Day 2

2009-05-04T22:10:00.008-04:00

We went to Hoa Lo Prison, better known as the Hanoi Hilton. This is the prison famous for houseing US pilots shot down during the Vietnamese War. Most famous, of course, would be John McCain, former Republican Presidential Candidate and pilot during the War. His aircraft was shot down in 1967 and he then was held for approximately 6 years at the Hanoi Hilton, where he faced the extreme conditions, including torture. A few of the photos show McCain, along with some of the other pilots, at Christmas time (purely for propaganda). There are also a few photos of the pilots' release in 1973.

We have visited a lot of prisons from Jamestown to St Augustine, FL (oldest prison in America). This one appeared to have some of the worst conditions, including those from the 1600 and 1700. You might also note the French guillotine and photo of severed heads. It seems much of this prison museum is dedicated to showing the cruelity of the French oppression of the Vietnamese during the first half of the 1900's.

Video of the walls outside
you can hear the traffic in the background

Our Final Milestone

2009-05-03T11:25:00.000-04:00

23 months since we started this journey
The End is in sight

Day 1

2009-05-03T11:16:00.006-04:00

We ate breakfast in the hotel and ran into 3 other families that are here from our agency. 1 will travel for their baby boy with us and the other 2 already have their new daughters.

We were soon off to a large multi-floored shopping center where we bought some snacks and diapers. My wife and I went out for dinner (good pizza!) and took some pictures of the area and the activities going on in it...

3 Down...

2009-05-02T12:47:00.001-04:00

WE ARE HERE!!!!

It is after 11PM here and we just checked into our room. The flight to Seoul wasn't too bad. The layover there went quickly.

ALL of our bags arrived FINALLY. It took a little while for them to show up in baggage claim. One of our suitcases was ripped a little and a box I was bringing over for someone broke in some places, but I think it basically stayed intact.

I am off to take a shower and we are going to bed. I will set up our laptop tonight and will try to use it more tomorrow. OK Peanut? We love you guys!!

Hanoi Airport

2009-05-02T12:00:00.003-04:00

When we landed, the first thing we noticed was the humidity!!

Also ~ we quickly noticed that it was NO WHERE as nice as Seoul was. It is a much older airport and very basic. Mrs. Mellott found it pretty surreal that we were actually here. Also, all of the men in military uniforms was a bit overwhelming!

All of that was in direct contrast to the freedom and openness of the Incheon Airport. There was no place to eat, no place to shop, no place to sit. Just lines at the Customs, manned by the military guards.

Incheon (Inchon) Airport

2009-05-02T11:08:00.001-04:00

After a 14+ hour flight, we landed at Incheon Airport, near Seoul, South Korea. This is where we tranfered to our last couple of hours of flight, into Hanoi, Vietnam.

Incheon is famous from the Korean Conflict for the September 15, 1950 landing by the 1st Marine Division. If you are in my History classes, we talked about this a week or so ago, as Stage III of the Korean Conflict. MacArthur landed the Marines here, in a surprise move against the Communist, North Korean forces. This was the "D Day" of the Forgotten War, and a wildly successful landing, to boot!

On a cultural note....the Incheon Airport is BEAUTIFUL. Shopping, eating establishments, very high end!
Also ~ Korean Air, whom we had never heard of before took us from Dulles to Incheon. We flew on a LARGE 777. They took GREAT care of us! 2 full meals, LOTS of citrus juice, water, wine (which as you know Mr Mellott didn't have!), peanuts, fruit, etc. Good leg room and in-flight movies....he watched 4, including Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino. He hopes to see Valkyrie on the way home.

This was Mrs. Mellott's lunch
...not enough meat for Mr. Mellott!!

Dulles International

2009-05-01T11:38:00.004-04:00

As we sit in the waiting area of Korean Air, we are looking at pictures from the 60's when President Kennedy was here to dedicate Dulles International Airport.

This airport is named after John Foster Dulles, former Secretary of State under President Eisenhower. He is one of the main architects of the foreign policy known as "Massive Retaliation". This is the theory that Eisenhower was operating under when he threatened Mao Ze Dong to bring the Korean Conflict to a swift end, after his 1952 Presidental victory.

Dulles was much smaller in 1962. Looks to be twice as big now. The photos of the automobiles on the access road leading to the airport are also interesting-BIG tail fins!

1 Flight Down....

2009-05-01T09:16:00.003-04:00

2 more to go!

We are at Dulles International Airport.
History lesson above
We are at our gate 5 hrs early!

Our view...

We flew here on a 34 seat plane...It was very loud!!

This is what we are bringing halfway around the world....

We are happy that we won't see the 3 large ones (and the box) until we land in Hanoi!!!

On a Jet Plane...

2009-05-01T06:00:00.000-04:00

Our first flight should be taking off when this posts.
I cannot believe that it is finally happening.
We will be in Vietnam...

...in 29 hours

OMG ~ FINALLY!!!!!

2009-04-29T07:21:00.000-04:00

Our I-600 Approval was in my Inbox this morning!
It wasn't there when I last checked at 3AM

THANK YOU GOD!!!
Here we come Jacob!!!

What Are We In For??

2009-04-29T00:34:00.001-04:00

As I stand in my Pennsylvania kitchen checking my email AGAIN, waiting for a VERY important overseas email, I am thinking how muggy it is in here. SO I decide to head to my blog and the weather link and see what it will be like this weekend in Hanoi.

This is Sunday's forecast.....

Unseasonably hot with partial sunshine.
Winds from the N at 6 mph.
High: 100 °F Realfeel®: 116 °F

Oh My Word!!!

And Then There Was One....

2009-04-27T07:07:00.000-04:00

The 2nd family that we are traveling with received their Approval last night.

The Embassy did acknowledge that they received the cable from the NVC of our approved amended home study though, so it shouldn't be long now.

PRAYING that they Approve us before we leave this week, especially since they will be closed Thursday and Friday for a Vietnamese holiday.

Tickets are Bought!!

2009-04-25T22:47:00.002-04:00

It is official....

We are leaving THIS Friday, May 1st.

We will have to get up REALLY early and we will make it to our hotel around 11PM Saturday, their time. It is going to be a LONG trip! We will have 2 layovers in Dulles and Korea. When we come home, we are going to end at Dulles to save the layover. PRAYING that my Dad is here with the kids, like he is supposed to be, so he can come and get us.

More Progress....

2009-04-24T21:18:00.000-04:00

I spoke to a supervisor at the NVC tonight (Jake) and he said that our amended home study approval/I-171H was received (USCIS FedEx'd it last Friday) and in the system.

More importantly.....

It was forward to Vietnam TODAY!!!

Yes, the time is approaching...

2009-04-19T22:39:00.001-04:00

The ticker to the right is correct (OK, it might be a day too early), but regardless, 2 weeks from now, we should be in Vietnam!! I am waiting on official confirmation from our agency on these dates, but as of the end of this week, the plan was to be in Vietnam by the 4th!!

We have a travel agent looking into air fares...SCARY! The prices and the fact that we are FINALLY planning on leaving. We are still in need of some prayers that a last piece of the puzzle is settled soon, maybe even this week!!

A few more days of work and then I will be off until the new school year (August for me!). Pray that I get everything done in the next 11 days! This week is going to be WILD, but I am hoping to be fairly settled by the end of next weekend. This includes my 11 year old's Science Project!!!

My husband was telling me that he is leaving the Vietnam War section of his curriculum for his sub (probably a retired colleague). I hope we are able to post some cool pictures and videos from our trip for the classes.

OK ~ This is your chance.... Who is reading this blog?? PLEASE post us a comment.

Saga Continues...

2009-04-13T17:00:00.000-04:00

Just when we should be in the packing stage....

Last Wednesday, the Embassy emailed that after reviewing our file (I was happy to hear that they were looking at it), they determined that we need an amended home study because our child was no longer an "infant". He was 13 months old on April 6th. Luckily, other adoptive parents from our agency said that this could be an issue, so I had one done the end of February. I received a copy and another was sent to our local USCIS (US Citizenship & Immigration Serives) office.

I know the officer received it since they called our homestudy agency requesting other documents. I sent them a month or so ago. Now we are waiting to hear that the age change has been approved. From that office, it is off to another government office before that office notifies the Embassy in Vietnam.

Trying to remain faithful and trusting God to have this FINALLY work out, but it is hard. It is SO out of our hands. We have called some people that we think can help us, so now we have to wait and PRAY.

I will say that the Embassy has been GREAT about replying to my emails. They need the official notification from the American side, but they have reassured me that everything else looks good with our case (our DNA results arrived today/Monday).

DNA is a MATCH!!!!

2009-04-08T09:11:00.002-04:00

99.99%
The results are on their way back to Vietnam!

HOP for Leukemia & Lymphoma

2009-04-07T21:22:00.009-04:00

Abram will be hopping on April 24th.

All money due by May 7th.

If you are interested in supporting Abram for this GREAT cause,

email me (in sidebar).

Milestone

2009-04-06T21:34:00.003-04:00

Our baby is 13 months old today.

Another Month

2009-04-03T11:23:00.001-04:00

22 Months
since we started
this process

Samples

2009-03-30T13:13:00.002-04:00

I just received word that our samples are at the lab here in the US! Hoping for results within a week!

We began to go through the clothes that we had planned to pack. We had to separate out all the clothes that he will be too big for now. There were some things that we bought in the first year, when we thought he would be 6-8 months when we got him.

According to the measurements that we received last week, he is in 9-12 month clothes, depending on the brand. That is what we will be taking with us, as well as a few of the larger sizes, I think.

Bracelet

2009-03-27T22:31:00.001-04:00

I have heard of many of the Lang Son babies (including Shannon's Trey) having these bracelets on in their photos or when they go to get them, but it wasn't until this last set of pictures that we could see that Jacob has one as well. I am SO happy. That will be another piece of his history that he will have.

Shannon was told this about them by another adoptive parent.... the bracelet is a Buddhist belief used to protect them from evil spirits. It is basically a piece of string with all these little hollowed out bamboo pieces on it. The Nannies make them.

Visas

2009-03-27T22:11:00.001-04:00

I just checked FedEx and our visas
have left the Consulate!!
They completed them in 2 days.
We should have them back on Monday.

The Consulate has always done us well with paperwork.
They are FAST!!

Stats

2009-03-26T18:24:00.002-04:00

We received new measurements today

Assuming they were taken in the last week or so
He was a little over a year old

Weight ~ 8.7kg/19lbs (<5th%tile)
Length ~ 71cm/28" (<5th%tile)
Head ~ 46cm/18.1" (<5th%tile)

PROGRESS

2009-03-19T12:27:00.002-04:00

Our DNA testing has been scheduled for

March 26th

That would have been my brother's birthday

2009-03-17T10:03:00.003-04:00

Another...

2009-03-11T20:22:00.001-04:00

8 Months

Since

We Saw

Your Face

Nice to know we are making progress
to actually touch it!

Remember....

2009-03-07T22:40:00.001-05:00

WOO HOO

2009-03-06T15:00:00.003-05:00

I was just notified that our DNA kits
are at the Embassy in Vietnam!!

The tests are scheduled for 1 day a week.
Hoping it is our time soon.

1 Year

2009-03-03T12:03:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Jacob

We are sorry that we can't be with you, but know how much we love you.

Acknowledgement

2009-03-03T06:41:00.002-05:00

I woke to our acknowledgement of receipt of our I-600 by the US Embassy in Ho Chi Minh City. We will get our DNA kit sent to Vietnam today and then the waiting begins!!

230 Days

2009-02-26T22:30:00.000-05:00

It has been a trek, but we heard today that our visa application for Jacob is FINALLY in Vietnam and should be filed by the end of the week. As I type this, it is 10:30AM in Vietnam.

It has been over 7 months since we first saw Jacob's face. He will be a year old next week.

Now we wait to be acknowledged by the Embassy. This should take about a week. At that time, they will also request a DNA sample. This proves that the woman that gave Jacob up is actually his birthmother, with the rights to do so. Within the day, the kit will be mailed to the Embassy in Vietnam. They schedule the appointment. That has been running fairly quickly for most families and I am praying that it is the same for us. The sample is then mailed back to the US. 2 weeks for results. They will be emailed to us and then mailed back to the Embassy in Vietnam. 2 weeks and we should get our approval to travel.

Countdown

2009-02-25T22:42:00.001-05:00

Adoption Tax Credit

2009-02-25T21:48:00.001-05:00

This year the
2009 Federal Adoption Tax Credit is $12,150
but the tax credit is set to expire in December 2010
unless Congress votes to continue it.

Write your Representative today
Write your Senator today