Building our Family Through International Adoption

Married and Blessed

2008-08-31T07:12:00.002-04:00

I havent posted in so long. We have had a wonderful summer. On August 21st I married the love of my life. We eloped in Florida got married on the beach. We brought the kids and took them to Disney afterwards. It was a great trip. All is well here. This picture is of the kids on wedding day.

One Year Old

2008-06-29T16:39:00.002-04:00

What an amazing past 3 months it has been. We are having so much fun and I am feeling really blessed. Tai turned 1 this past thursday. What an extraordinary guy he is. He has added so much to our family. The girls love him up every day. He is walking like a mad man now. He went from taking a few steps end of May to running across the living room now. Here are some pictures.

New Post

2008-05-25T05:41:00.003-04:00

I have been absolutely terrible about keeping my blog up to date since getting home with Tai so I figured it was time for a post. Everyone is doing really well. Tai is doing great! He took his first steps 2 days ago. He is such a happy guy and I swear he has the best sense of humor I have ever seen. He loves his big sisters so much and they are really good with him. I am so thankful to have him.

We're Home

2008-03-30T07:04:00.004-04:00

What an amazing trip. We got home on Thursday morning. The trip ended up being 8 days which was wonderful. I am so glad to finally have Tai home. He is great and I am loving him so much. I will post more about the trip later, but we stayed at the Hong Ngic which I would highly recommend.The staff is beyond amazing and they became like family real fast. Tai adored them. Staying in the heart of the Old Quarter was perfect. The flight home was really tough. I definintely think traveling alone made the trip more difficult than it needed to be.
Tai is adjusting beautifully and he is a happy little guy. The girls are eating him up and he thinks they are the greatest. I'll post more pics later.

2008-03-20T09:23:00.003-04:00

Having a great ime in Hanoi. Tai is doing really well. He smiled at me when he woke up this morning and he is laughing a lot today. I am exhauseted, I forgot what having a 9 month old is like. But I am blissfully exhauted :) Today we went and applied for Tai's passport. Things are moving along. Here are some pictures from today.

Amazing !

2008-03-19T10:45:00.002-04:00

I will post more later, but wanted to say that I had my G&R today and Tai is oficially mine. He is amazing, such a good baby. He is gorgeous and tinier than I thought. I am totally in love.
I will try to post pics tomorrow.

Leaving Monday !

2008-03-13T06:01:00.002-04:00

I am leaving Monday morning for Hanoi. I can't believe it is finally happening. I have lots to do in the next few days and I am going to miss my girls so much. But I cant wait to have Tai in my arms. And next Friday is my birthday. This is the best birthday present ever!!!

APPROVAL !!!!!

2008-03-11T12:03:00.003-04:00

Well, after 92 days it finally happened! I checked my email around 5:00 and no email. Then I checked again at 6:00 and there it was..my I600 Approval.
I am so happy that I am almost there to hold Tai and bring him home.
It is bittersweet though, as I have many friends still waiting. I hope they receive approval soon and we cna all be home with our babies.

Blew A Gasket

2008-03-08T06:11:00.003-05:00

Well I have been saying for months now that this adoption is making me crazy and I was gonna blow. So it happened. I blew a gasket. LITERALLY. Brought my car to the shop the other day thinking I needed a new thermostat and the shop called me to tell me I blew a head gasket. I love that car too. Has way too many miles on it to pay the 2300$ for a new head gasket so I guess I will be car shopping this weekend.
On the adoption homefront, no approval yet. I am hoping to hear something next week.I better, I hit day 90 tomorrow. Ugh.

Still waiting...

2008-03-03T14:00:00.002-05:00

Well, I am now at 84 Days and still waiting for approval. I'm not sure how much more of this I can take. My case is still under review and I have no idea when I will hear anything. Any prayers for us would be appreciated.

2008-03-01T19:18:00.005-05:00

2008-03-01T19:18:00.004-05:00

......80 days......

2008-02-28T00:17:00.004-05:00

Here I am again, up in the middle of the night checking my email for any news, unable to sleep. I cant believe 80 days. I sure never thought I would be still waiting after all this time. Better go off to bed...

Grasping at Straws Here

2008-02-25T19:13:00.002-05:00

Ok, maybe I am getting desperate but here goes. We had chinese food for dinner tonight. I just noticed one fortune cookie sitting alone on my kitchen counter. I opened it and here is what it said

"YOUR PRESENT PLANS ARE GOING TO SUCCEED"

Hmmmm. Sounds good to me.......

Day 77...received an email, but

2008-02-25T13:56:00.003-05:00

...no, unfortunately it wasnt THE email I have been waiting for.
I did receive an email from Hanoi DOS though telling me they are still reveiwing my case. Here is the jist of it:

Thank you for your inquiry.
Please note that USCIS is currently continuing its review of the I-600 petition. As noted on U.S. Embassy Hanoi’s website, for security reasons USCIS is not able to inform petitioners of the status of their case between the time the receipt e-mail is issued and the time that a decision is made on the case. The case is being prioritized as the estimated 60-day time frame for processing has passed, and we expect that you should receive an update on the status of his case in the coming days.

This whole thing is just scaring me and stressing me out and I just pray that my petition will be approved. Now if i only knew what "in the coming days meant". Does that mean a few days, several days, many days, ugh...
Say some prayers for my sweet Tai please, that he comes home soon.

Its Time for Answers

2008-02-24T14:34:00.002-05:00

Well, its almost Monday morning in Vietnam and I am ready for some answers. I can't take much more waiting around and checking my email every time I pass the computer. This just has to be the week to find out something. I am ready to get on a plane and bring Tai home to his big sisters. I am praying for amazing news this week.

DAY 75

2008-02-23T15:06:00.002-05:00

Unbelievable that I am at day 75 and have heard nothing. I havent posted in a while as we have had a crazy past couple of weeks, scary health stuff for myself and my daughter that thank God have turned out okay. So I am able to concentrate again on bringing Tai home. My poor boy has spent way too long in the orphanage. Next week I will hit day 80 and I am hoping to find out something...

Happy Valentines

2008-02-14T15:57:00.002-05:00

I havent posted in a while. This wait is getting so depressing. I am officially at Day 66....with no end in sight.
I just wish we would hear something soon. Tai has been waiting way too long for me.

Day 55

2008-02-03T10:59:00.000-05:00

...at least I think it is day 55. I am starting to lose track as ridiculous as that sounds. So the state dept closes on Wednesday so there are 2 more nights to get approval before they close. That would be a great way to start the week...

The Big 50

2008-01-29T20:23:00.000-05:00

Well it is day 50. Actually being that it is 8pm here in NY, it is 8am in Hanoi. So technically day 51. It would be so good to hear good news tonight.

Sweet Jade

2008-01-29T12:10:00.000-05:00

Today I went out to the mailbox and found such a sweet note. My 11 year old daughter is learning about letter writing in school. So she had to write a letter to me. Here is part of what her letter said "Dear Mom, I am at school and I wanted to tell you I love you and hang in there. I say hang in there because you are being very strong in this adoption." Love your daughter, Jade" I am reminded today of my blessings. This adoption has become such a part of all of us. I forget that the kids too, endure this wait, and that they are always watching and learning.

Little Peanut

2008-01-27T08:34:00.000-05:00

I was really happy to receive new height and weight for Tai last night. He is a little peanut. He is 7 months old now and his weight is 15 pounds and height 24 inches. It is so nice to have a better idea of how big he will be when I get there. Now....I just have to get that approval.

Day 44 Pictures

2008-01-23T21:34:00.000-05:00

Well, no I600 approval yet, but we have new pictures. Tai looks wonderful. He is so gorgeous and looks really healthy.
I wish I could post a picture but I have to wait until he is in my arms to do that. I can say that seeing his picture today made my heart ache more and more for him. Maybe tonight's the night........

DAY 43

2008-01-22T18:25:00.001-05:00

Ok, I am officially going nuts. I have spent the last 43 days waiting for an email. A bunch of days before that waiting for my I600 to go out. Bunch of days before that waiting for my travel call.Geez. Enough already.
I am ready to go get my baby boy. I am ready to kiss his sweet face and bring him home to love him up. C'mon email, let tonight be the night

Nothing

2008-01-14T06:43:00.000-05:00

Well, no approval for me last night. I swear I am getting so tired of being disappointed that the email isnt there when I wake up. That and waking up every hour or so all night to check. I am hoping this week is the week. I am ready to go get Tai.

Rise and Shine

2008-01-13T19:21:00.001-05:00

Ok, well it's Sunday night here/Monday morning in HoChiMinh City. I so hope tonight is the night. Basically if I dont hear this week then I think I won't be traveling before Tet. So, please....c'mon approval...

I think we are close

2008-01-03T14:59:00.000-05:00

I have been haivng this feeling all day today that I600 approval is very close. God I hope I am right. Its been a little over 3 weeks siince I received my confirmation from USCIS. I am so ready to go get my little guy.......c'mon let tonight be the night that wonderful email arrives!

Hard to Wait

2007-12-19T20:19:00.000-05:00

As I wait for my I600 approval, I cant believe how hard the wait is becoming. I feel like we are getting close, but I have no idea when.
I want a Christmas Miracle so much. All I want fo rmy Christmas Present this year is I600 approval for Tai.

Its Out...

2007-12-01T12:01:00.000-05:00

I am so happy to say that my I600 was finally mailed out!!!!! It went out yesterday November 30th. I am a happy girl. One step closer to bringing Tai home. Now I will be counting the days till approval. I am saying a prayer that it doesnt take the full 60 days. I am just so thrilled to get one step closer.

I600 not out yet

2007-11-23T13:30:00.000-05:00

Well we had a really nice Thanksgiving. It was a wonderful day. Also on Thanksgiving Eve I got new pictures of Tai. He is getting so big. He looks wonderful. Bad news is, my I600 still has not gone out yet. I am hoping Black Friday is the day :) I cant take much more of this wait....

Left Behind

2007-11-19T13:37:00.001-05:00

I have been thinking a lot about Tai today and wondering always, what he is doing. Is he okay, happy, fed enough, held, etc...On that note, I am also thinking of all of the kids left behing at Violet and Chanty's orphanage in Cambodia. There are 170 kids at their orphanage in Kompong Thom. Such amazing kids, amazing spirits, big smiles. With the shutdown of Cambodian adoptions to US citizens in 2001, so many children have been "left behind". My ex-husband does a lot of work in Cambodia to help them and has a non-profit devoted to it. Here's the link http://www.fredwaringfoundation.org

counting blessings

2007-11-16T11:20:00.000-05:00

A lot of my time lately has been caught up in bringing Tai home. And there has been so much uncertianty and ups & downs with the process. Last night the girls and I stayed home and hung out, had a nice dinner, and the girls all painted their nails. We had a lot of fun. It reminded me to count my blessings and with all of the trials and tribulations going on right now with the adoption, I cant lose sight of the important stuff at home. I am so thankful for my girls. Here is a picture of them having fun at Great Escape this summer. (Hopefully next summer Tai will be there too and the crazy wait will be but a distant memory.)

A bumpy ride

2007-11-16T09:25:00.000-05:00

The past month or so has just been crazy. I had completely forgotten how frusterating international adoption can be. Finally I got so close to a travel call for Tai, and the new I600 regulations came into effect. So, I have been waiting for my I600 to go out. As of right now, it still is not out and I am tired of this being a process under which I dont have a lot of control. I just want my baby boy home. I am hoping to hear good news today about my I600....

Snow....

2007-11-10T08:26:00.000-05:00

We have snow today in upstate NY! Only 2 inches, but its great to see snow again. The kids are outside playing and loving it.
On the adoption front, I am still waiting for my I600 to go out and hope to hear something soon. The snow has gotten me in the holiday spirit. Now, if Tai were home for Christmas that would be perfect. (not realistic but a girl can hope right)

Waiting

2007-11-08T13:07:00.001-05:00

Its been a while since I have posted because things have just been crazy and unpredictable. I went from thinking I would travel soon to having no idea when. I am currently waiting to file my I600 and hope to do that soon. Then the wait begins. I am hoping they process quicker than the "up to 60 days" mentioned online. It is so hard to know that my baby boy is getting older by the minute and I have no idea when I will travel.

Mermaids

2007-10-13T08:15:00.000-04:00

My girls are at an indoor waterpark in lake George with their Dad today. Here is a picture of my little mermaids having fun.

Another picture

2007-10-13T07:56:00.000-04:00

This picture is Violet's referral photo. I cant believe it has been 5 years since she came home.

Remembering...

2007-10-13T07:44:00.001-04:00

Well, 5 years ago today we had our G&R Ceremony for Violet Chantrea in Cambodia. What an amazing gift we received in adopting Violet. She is an absolute joy and has blessed our family so much. On this day I am so thankful for her and it reminds me that even though the waiting involved in international adoption (13 months for us) may be long and bumpy, the end result is so very worth the wait. So, as I am worried about the outcome of our current Vietnam adoption, I am reminded to have faith and trust that the outcome will be as it is meant to be. Sweet Violet, I am so proud to be your mommy.

New pics

2007-10-06T07:06:00.001-04:00

I got some new pictures of Tai last week. I wish I could post them here but I cant until he is officially mine. I'll share a bit of him here. Check out these chubby cheeks and kissable lips. I cant wait to kiss this sweet baby. I am staying hopeful that there wont be much of a delay.
It is a gorgeous day here in upstate NY.

Wishing for the Best

2007-10-05T11:12:00.000-04:00

Well, I knew this adoption seemed to be going too well... There has been talk on the lists I belong to of families in TN right now having trouble getting their visas. The word investigation is being used. I pray these families get out ok with their babies. I am also very nervous about what this may mean for those of us waiting to travel to TN. Probably a delay of some sort, hopefully nothing worse. I am anxiously waiting for news and trying to stay positive. (because of investigations in Cambodia, I waited 13 months to bring Violet home.)

Heres a pic

2007-10-05T07:21:00.000-04:00

Thought I would share a picture of my amazing daughters. They keep me busy and are my greatest joy.

Decided it was time...

2007-10-05T07:15:00.001-04:00

Well I decided it was time to create a blog. We are on our journey to bring Tai home from Vietnam. Jade, Violet, & Chanty are so excited to meet him and so am I. We are busy getting ready and hope to get the travel call end of October or early November.