Surgery is a Go - I-600 Moving No Where - Where's Some Good News???

OK - How much can a person take? I ask this because if you read this blog and others there's news to report:

1. My DH is having major back surgery this Friday - he can't experience the joy with me of traveling to Vietnam to bring our daughter home!

2. Babies are dying in the orphanages in Vietnam (it's the coldest winter in 50 years) - received word today that our daughter is fine - some great news!

3. The approval of the I-600 process isn't forward much - families are waiting way beyond the 60 day wait time - 80 days+ so far - when, on when will our daughter be cleared to come home...

Enough is enough - bring on some good news!!!

Surgery Delayed a Week...

For those reading this, my DH surgery was delayed until Feb. 29 - this is good news because it gives us more time to get the home ready for his recovery and the arrival of our daughter (who has to plan this out 6 weeks in advance??). But, it pushes his recovery back and it runs right up against our 60 day window for travel. As our US Embassy is slow, slow, slow to approve I-600's and travel, we should be fine and he should be back to driving and feeling well before I travel. But, there's a little part of me that is somehow hoping for a speedy I-600 approval (guess I should just be patient).

All Quiet on the Midwestern Front!

No news to report.

Been thinking that I should fill readers in about something BIG...

For those who don't know, my husband was in a severe car accident about a year ago - his spinal injuries are progressing and now make it impossible for him to travel along to Vietnam for our adoption journey. On one hand it's totally depressing but the "half full glass of me" says it's ok as our son has someone to stay in the USA with him to share the experience with and get ready to welcome our daughter home.

We're busy getting ready for a major surgery for him that is scheduled for next week some time (waiting on the final date) so I may be lax in posting. Know that I will do my best to check in on everyone. His recovery will take 2-3 months - we're hoping that he's driving and feeling pretty OK by the time I head overseas (seeking pals there to share the adventure with) so that we're well on the road to recovery and ready to welcome our little girl home.

Is the timing perfect - NO WAY - but God only gives you what you can handle and what will make you stronger. Check back on the surgery date as we sure could use the power of prayer soon!

Love to all...

Happy Valentines Day Little One!

Spent the entire day thinking of our little one every time I saw someone wearing a heart or red clothing. I figured if we can't be there with her, why not remember her every minute of the day.

Wishing everyone who reads this post a very special day filled with thoughts of your family - may we all be united together soon!

Mid-Month and No News Yet

Don't expect anything for a while and most of Vietnam is shut down for Tet. Focusing on other things and need some help with projects - here's the scoop:

1. Northern Vietnam has seen the coldest winter in 50 (yes, that's 50) years! Our little one is in an orphanage that is very, very cold. Our agency is 1/2 way there with raising funds to put in new floors - we're $3,000 short. If anyone would like to donate, contact me for the foundation details. A great cause, a great tax deduction...

2. We're also working with a group of parents about to travel there to raise funds to furnish a library and provide simple toys to the older children housed in the school for the deaf that is located within our orphanage. A donation of $1.25 will provide a Vietnamese Harry Potter book and a donation of $110 will cover the costs of shipping a box to Vietnam - so every donation - small or large - can make a difference.

Again, contact us for details on how you can support the foundation associated with our agency or contact us as we'll be shipping a couple of boxes with us and welcome any donations of items or support you can provide.

We'll be sure to post while in Vietnam the pictures of how your donations made a difference in the lives of these wonderful children so far away... But very near in our hearts!

Happy Tet - The Year of the Rat!

For those who seek information, here's what Tet is:

The most important holiday celebrated in Vietnam, and indeed by Vietnamese people worldwide, is Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. Tet is commonly described as Christmas, Thanksgiving and your birthday all celebrated at once. It's very similar to the Chinese New Year.

Now for the Rats part - it's rats for us as their government and our US locations over there shut down for what we thought was the 3 day celebration - it turns out they shut down and folks go off visiting family for about 1 1/2 weeks!

So, nothing happens in the processing of our adoption paperwork - who knows how long it will take them to get back in the work swing of things!

Snow, Snow, Snow...

We're in the Midwest - hammered by snow! More than 12 inches and it just doesn't stop - actually we've had 18 inches in the past week -if that isn't a sign of global warming, I don't know what is!

It's Tet in Vietnam (Happy New Year to most of Asia) so no news for at least a week or so - major bummer!

Trying to keep busy with work (that never ends, except our global company is a little quieter thanks to Tet) and snow days off from school for our son - 2 in the past week - he's totally excited about this!, and just usual family stuff.

Looking forward to the weekend and crossing off some more of the TO DO list before we travel to Vietnam - this weekend - decisions on redecorating our son's bedroom and more closet cleaning...

P.S. - Anyone have any suggestions on good lightweight luggage for travel - been online researching this and could use some advice...

Get Used to It - No News!

It's gonna be a while before approval!  With Tet happening and the entire country shutting down for at least 1 1/2 weeks, nothing is going to happen.

Additionally, we're hearing of long delays in the supposed 60 day approval process - some are waiting now 75 days for approval - YUK!!!

Why can't our US Government get their act together and bring these waiting families together! What just drives us crazy is that it's not the Vietnam government causing the problems, but our own US government!  Now I see why so many folks believe in the effort to privatize parts of our government!  Would your work operate this inefficiently and still be in business - somehow I really doubt it!

Weekend Update - crossing things off the list of projects - basement remodel nearly complete with the bathroom remodel done!, 2 closets cleaned!  Next up - redecorating our son's bedroom as he's moving to a new big boy room!

Hang in there everyone - it's going to be a longer wait that we expected (so what else in new - we could have had 3 babies via birth in the time it takes to add 1 child thru adoption to our family) - what a concept!