HOME

We're home! Exhausted....sleep deprived, but, so happy to be home! Forty eight hours after we checked out of our hotel in Hanoi we arrived at our doorstep! Thank you all for your prayers, posts, emails and well wishes during our journey! I will post more later. We are all doing well and will be even better once we get some sleep.

Love,
Mark,Carol,Hannah & Josiah

Favorite Pics of Josiah

I found him sleeping like this one night. It doesn't look comfortable to me.






I love this one. Mark has taught him not to go in the kitchen. So, he stands there and waits for him. He knows something yummy is coming. The boy loves to eat!

Adventures in the Old Quarter

It's Saturday before we leave Hanoi and because we've been tied to the hotel room we have not ventured out very much and have not done any souvenior shopping. Well, after being down there in our moments of wellness, we realized we didn't want to take the children there. So, in the morning Mark made his trek. Then finally pain and fever free I went out in the afternoon for an adventure of my own. Mark told me that the Old Quarter was like Itaewon in Seoul only better prices, but, after almost three hours I think it was more like Itaewon, Namdaemun and the fish market all rolled into one. I did get nabbed by the banana lady. You can see the picture below. While you have the bananas on your shoulder all her friends show up to sell you something. I think it is all a part of the adventure and I just went with it and had some fun. There were some things I was looking for that they had anyway.
After I finally got away I went down one alley where all the fish were out. It was like the fish market in Korea only smaller. I was just glad I caught myself before I fell on the slippery floor. I couldn't believe the size of the prawns. Then on to the meats. Uncle Stan would be busy! Then on to do the shopping I came for. I found a few things I wanted but had to leave without seeing everything or even making much of a dent on my list because I was missing my babies.

These baskets were all ontop of a bicycle that the guy rode around on.







power lines









The real banana lady









me









city at night

We're Coming Home

TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!! Friday morning we had our visa interview at the Embassy. I couldn't believe how easy it was, Mark was just asked if everything in the application was true and then we signed the form. Then the three Dad's went back and picked up the visas in the afternoon. I don't know about the other Mom's but, I was on the phone with the airline trying to change tickets. At first we were told by one of the other families that all the flights were booked for the weekend. Then Mark called and he was told the same. I called back in the afternoon and Success!!!! Persistence really does pay off.

So, the four of us will leave here Sunday night (Sun morning EST)then fly to Seoul for our 13 hour layover. We will arrive back at BWI midnight Monday!

Hopefully we'll be able to get out today and do some sightseeing. I really want to see some of Hanoi before we have to leave.

Doctors Visits X 2

Thursday Josiah had his adoption medical checkup. He screamed the entire time. He did not want anyone else touching him. When we went in to see the nurse he probably thought that was it. Then we went to see the doctor and the screams just got louder, for a little guy he can make a lot of noise. I think he was a little upset with me afterwards.

I don't know if it's something about the clinic or if these visits just have to come in two's for us. But, that evening I started feeling ill again. We went and had a great dinner with the other two Holt families here and by the time I got home my head was pounding. I couldn't sleep all night with headache and the fever was back. This time when Mark asked me if I wanted to go to the clinic I didn't hesitate to say YES! I'm now on a new antibiodic. The doctor thinks I have a sinus infection. I really didn't think I'd say this but, I really want to go home.

Ho Chi Minh City

I never got to post about our sightseeing around Ho Chi Minh City. So, here are a few pictures from our time touring the city. It seems like ages ago. It was the day before Josiah was placed in our arms. First we went to the Saigon Zoo with another Holt family. Hannah and their little girl are like two peas in a pod and had a wonderful time together. After the zoo we went to see some of the other sights. Of special note, we stopped at the Post Office and mailed a card we bought on the street to Josiah at home. It will be a great keepsake for him. We also took a cyclo ride. Now that is an experience

Pictures to Start the Day

Here are a few photos in the playroom at the hotel. The playroom is a great place for the kids. The adults too, we usually meet another Holt family there and we enjoy some adult conversation.







This is the safest place in Hanoi for Hannah. I say that because everywhere we go someone touches Hannah's face. A blonde haired poney tailed little girl is not a common sight here and she gets lots of stares and people coming up to her. This is not something my little 5 year old likes.

Places to See in Hanoi

Before we came to Vietnam I got out the travel guides and all the suggestions from families who already traveled. I made a mental list of all the beautiful sites I wanted to see. The SOS International Clinic was not on my list. But, yet I visited this site twice in two days and have been unable to make a dent on my original list of places to see.

Monday Josiah had his first doctor appointment. He's had a rash on his face and it was getting worse, also a low grade fever. So we wanted to get it checked out. Turns out its eczema, probably aggravated by stress. But, the doctor said that wouldn't be the reason for the fever. What she found was our little guy has a double ear infection. Ouch! So, he's on antibiodics now. I'm so glad we found this out now so they will have time to work before we go on those long flights. Other than that he is doing well.

Right after we got back from the clinic I was back in bed with fever and chills. Unable to get out of bed for two days. slight burning in my chest and a fever off and on for a week, it was time to go to the clinic myself. They were a little surprised when I got there and my temp was 102 degrees. The Dr said adults don't usually get a temp that high. Anyway since I had the fever for 1 week he put me on antibiodics and gave me panadol and an inhaler. So, hopefully I'm on the road to recovery. Mark has been great with the kids throughout this time. He's been doing everything even though he hasn't felt the greatest either.

I'll leave you with some pictures of Hoan Kiem Lake. It was one place we did get to visit when I was feeling okay.

Our Little Guy

And he is a little guy. I think he's smaller than Hannah was at his age, but Mark's not so sure. The twelve month shorts I've brought him fall right off. I have to roll them sometimes twice to stay up. He is a very happy little boy. He has the cutest wide toothed grin. And that grin breaks out when he sees his Mommy and after six days his Daddy too. He wasn't so sure of Daddy before that. But, cheerios seem to have a special bond for Dad's and their boys. He loves to eat, but, right now it has to be soft foods. He doesn't like anything chunky. His favorites are bananas, yogurt, grits, cheerios, and cheez its. He sleeps through the night and goes to sleep easily. He also likes cars and the musical guitar Daddy bought him. He likes to get his way and if he doesn't he sure lets you know it. Yes, he knows how to throw a tantrum. He loves his big sister and she is wonderful with him. So many times Mark or I have said how she reminds us of her cousin A. with her younger siblings. Already Hannah's helped give him a bath, his bottle and fed him his yogurt. She's right there when I change him too, but, she lets me do that job. Oh yes, there have been a few territory issues but, they're working them out.

READY TO SWITCH?

A question I would ask and one I would get asked with the answer always "YES". If you had to walk a mile to a store and a mile back (both ways uphill) carrying the daily goods required to feed the household you just might understand the question. Each trip required the purchase of heavy, very heavy water, and a lot of it. Add a few big bottles of coke and you had two and sometimes three bags of liquid. The remaining bags contained bread, meat, coffee... The bread type bags I actually enjoyed carring. The dreaded water bags warranted the question R.... to S..., YES. Trips like these involved the never spoken but always present man ego. You see, I never, no matter how much blood was cut off from my hand due to the weighted plastic bag digging into my flesh with each step switch until I walked as far as my brother Clay ( Yes, I counted steps). Then after walking two more steps than he did I'd ask Clay, Ready.... (YES). See I knew Clay counted too because he'd ask me to switch back after walking two additional steps. Towards the end of the most fascinating, God Blessed two weeks of my life we were walking almost the whole way without asking Ready..... Hands completly numb, back bent forward, sprinting with the bags of H2O, occationally scrapping the ground trying to complete the two additional steps. Well yesterday I missed Clay so very much. I was out on the hunt for water, bread.... Cautioning myself to buy just a little bit because I had to walk back. As I left the store with four heavy bags the numbness I'd forgotten about started to return to my hand before I got to the first red light. Then I had to cross the street, crossing the street here is a true life and death experience, trust me on this. After getting across Clay entered my mind, oh how I wish he was next to me. I really felt him beside me but I wanted more, I wanted to see him and ask, Ready...? However, his mental presence provided me a laugh as I knelt down on my knees, sweat dripping from my face, unwrapping the plastic bags now enbedded into my hands, passers by looking at me with the look like someone saying "Take a cab man, it's cheap here". So Clay you might not of heard me but I did ask "READY TO....? And as always you said yes, I laughed at myself talking out loud as I got up and trying to get two more steps farther than last before asking you again, READY TO S...? I was so proud entering the apartment with the goods from the hunt. Carol asked the question I didn't expect as I entered the door high from the kill, "What took you so long?". So I sat down, began removing plastic from my flesh while counting to ten before answering her. My reply, oh Carol how I miss Clay!!!! He might be half way around the world but he was with me every step of the way helping me out.
This morning as I finished cooking breakfast I looked around the kitchen seeing the mess I made. I just closed the door and thought, Wow, Carol will be missing Clay soon.

Mark

Day Three in Hanoi

So, where did days one and two go? Yes, I'm am a bit behind in my posts. Definitely not intentional. Right now as last night, the males in the family are sleeping soundly while the girls are up in the middle of the night. Why you ask? I'll recap.

Day One - We arrived late the night before after a short two hour flight form Ho Chi Minh City. Then we took an hour taxi ride to the hotel. Thankfully Mark and the other Dad staying at our hotel hired a taxi form within the airport for us to get to our hotel. Because when we were getting ready for breakfast I realized I left my backpack in the backseat of the taxi. Not a good feeling to start the day. We had the receipt and the hotel desk promised they would call when they opened up. (I got it back around 1130pm with everything still in it!!!) So, on to breakfast. After breakfast my day began to blur. Not long after we returned to our room I started getting really hot and then really sick. I spent most day in bed. Then about 8 pm as Hannah woke up from a nap she complained of a tummy ache. At first I thought she was just hungry because she had been sleeping about four hours, but, she was hot too. Two sick girls = messed up sleeping routines. Two healthy guys = sleeping soundly through the night.

Day Two - Hannah is feeling better, Mom is still weak. Hannah really perked up when I told her that her new best friend was moving into our hotel later that day. Again I stayed close to the apt. while Daddy and his two littlest ones went to the playroom. Later that afternoon I received a call from our agency telling us that our paperwork had finally arrived from the province and they would pick us up in 30 minutes. I rounded up the our three families (everyone was out of their rooms but me)and we went to apply for our children's passports. This was the fastest thing we've done so far. Immigration was only a short van ride from the hotel and all three families had applied for the passports in about 20 minutes! We will be albe to pick them up next Thurs and then we will have the children's medical appts, on Friday we will have our visa interview and hopefully pick up the visas in the afternoon. After we receive the visa we will be free to come home. Hannah had a really busy day and once again has a fever so, about 5pm we go for a nap, but, Daddy lets us sleep. Now at 3:30 am. Hannah and I are wide awake, Josiah and Daddy sleeping soundly.

Josiah is doing well. He's warming up to Daddy since Mommy has been sick. Cheerios are great! When I first layed down on Wed he just stood by the bed looking at me. Mark came in with some Cheerios. He expected Mark to give them to him and leave, but, Mark told him he had to go with him to get them. After a short tantrum he did. Here are some pictures of Dad and son bonding with cheerios.

Some Photos to Start the Day

Park below our hotel room in Saigon

View from hotel in Saigon

Hannah & Josiah Getting Ready to Go to the Airport

Josiah

It's Official!!!

Today we are officially a family! I say officially because in our hearts we have been family since we first heard of his referral. It has been a rollercoaster of emotions today. When we arrived at the Center I noticed a beautifuly little girl standing out front and knew in a minute she was the daughter of one of the other Holt families. Then I heard Cheri from the front seat say "There's Josiah!" We looked and there he was, sitting on the back of a scooter. Mark keeps saying the first time I saw him he was sitting on a motorcycle! By the time we got out of the van the children had gone inside. When I went over to Josiah Hai he was very scared. The social worker introduced me to him and gave me his bear to make it easier for him to come to me. It didn't work. He cried so much, our little guy didn't want to come to the arms of this stranger. I asked for the Foster Mom and they got the Foster Grandmother to come in she held him and he immediately calmed. Then it was time and she gave him to me, again he was one scared little boy. I finally got him to calm down by introducing him to Lightening McQueen. Now it was Daddy's turn. He screamed because he was leaving my arms. Mark was holding him and he just screamed. Then he threw the Lightening McQueen car into the grass. At that minute he reminded me so much of Hannah. Speaking of Hannah, she did not like the screaming and crying at all. She told more than one person she was going to pout now. Once back in my arms our little peanut just melded into me. And there he stayed most of the day. He did sit on Daddy's lap during the Giving & Receiving Ceremony and that is where we heard his first laugh. Mark found out he is ticklish. When we got back to the hotel Josiah and I got to know each other better while Daddy and Hannah went out to get us something to eat. He loves the bubbles and laughed so hard it brought out his cutest dimple. And he really likes his Lightening McQueen car. He likes to hear the wheels spin. He still doesn't want Mommy to leave his side but, he is warming up to Daddy. Right now I have two beautiful children sleeping peacefully behind me. We are so blessed!!!
>

Thoughts of an Expectant Mother and Father

There's so many things I could blog about today. The morning at the Saigon Zoo, the afternoon walking around seeing the sites of this beautiful city, so many beautiful memories. But, as we prepare for meeting Josiah Hai tomorrow I can't think of much else. Tonight as two little girls danced and sang around our hotel room I just marveled at the wonderful gift God has given us. My daughter is such a joy to my heart a wonderful gift from God. And tomorrow morning he will place another precious gift in my arms. I am so grateful. I just can't express the emotions that I am experiencing right now. And my thoughts keep going to Josiah Hai. He's probably sleeping right now unaware of the tremendous changes that are going to take place in his life tomorrow. In a few minutes his whole world will be turned upside down. He will say goodbye to all he has known and be placed in the arms of strangers. While we won't be strangers for long, my heart aches for what he is about to experience. I love this little boy and have for over a year now. I wish I could spare him the grief he will experience. But, what I can do is be there loving him each step of the way.

Earlier Mark called me over to read his post to his Fantasy Football league. I didn't expect what I read. It wasn't his normal post at Northwoods FFL. Here's what he wrote. Jet lag – the reason I’m awake at 12:15 AM Sunday, 12 September 2008, Ho Chi Manh City (Saigon) Vietnam. Five years ago we sat in Russia, awaiting God to give us Hannah. Now Hannah and Carol are asleep patiently waiting for Monday. Around 0900 Monday God will provide us with Josiah. Josiah turned two on the 29th of September. Although mal-nourished, we know Josiah is the child God has blessed us with to complete our family. Surely God will stop at Josiah, I’m 51 and … Never in my wildest imagination I would of thought of visiting Russia or Vietnam. As a career soldier for over 27 years I spent most of my adult life training to defend against two such countries. Now in the quiet of this hotel room while trying to update my team the Lord revealed how His will is so precious to each of our lives. We just need to submit totally to Him and allow Him to direct. In about 33 hours our submission to Him will be rewarded by the blessing named Josiah. I can’t imagine life without Hannah or Josiah. And to think if it was up to me we would have never got to see or love these beautiful children. I take time to thank God for His awesome love He has for us all. Although not the usual message from the pulpit, this one is real. So I ask all of you to thank God for this journey were on; to be Kingdom people, who serve the same Father no matter where were from or the color of our skin, He loves us the same and wants us all to join Him in His Kingdom. When we truly submit to Him, we might find that He leads us on a different path from the one we began to walk on many years or even days ago.

In Him,

Mark

Lessons Old and New

As we concluded our first full day in Vietnam I'm reminded of some old lessons and I'm learning new ones.

1. Jet lag is NO fun...especially when you are five. As I asked in the last post, how do you explain jet lag to a five year old whose body and mind are telling her she's wide awake? She got to sleep at 10 p.m. but woke up at 3 a.m. ready to play. I got her to rest for the next two hours but at 5 a.m. I decided to stop fighting it. We can go to breakfast in an hour so, it gives me time for a quick post that's been going through my mind for the last two hours.

2. I'm clumsy. Mark calls me his dopic wife. This lesson I really didn't want to remember on this trip. Right after my post yesterday I walked out of the business center with Hannah in my arms (see lesson #1). I saw a fish tank and comfortable chair at the other end of the lobby. What I didn't see was the step up to get there. So, down we went, hard. In slow motion I saw Hannah's back go into the chair and then she bounced off and onto the floor. Well, that woke her up, Mark could hear her cries behind the closed door of the business center. So, out he walked and said "No, you didn't". You see he knows his wife too well. In fact before we ever had Hannah he said he would have to carry any baby we had because he didn't want me fall with her.

3. Mommies don't notice anything else when their baby is hurt and crying. I checked Hannah over and realized she was okay, probably more scared of the fall than anything. It was then that I noticed the pain in my throat. When I was carrying Hannah her head was nestled into the left side of my neck. So, I guess during the fall her head was pushed into my neck and throat. I was relieved that it didn't hurt when I was breathing. Swallowing is a different story. If I look straight ahead or to the right the pain is light. However, if I'm looking to the left I feel a sharp pain. Mark asked me to describe it and I really didn't know how. It came to me this morning, it's kinda like a chicken bone caught in your throat. For awhile I thought I would need to find the SOS Clinic, but, so far so good.

4. The rest of the world is not as time conscious as we are in the U.S.. We had about 35 minutes before we were going to meet the other Holt family. We remembered the Highlands Coffee Shop on the corner and decided to have a coffee before we met them. Anyway, forty minutes later we searching for the waitress so we can get back to the hotel.

5. Traffic is crazy in Vietnam. I heard this before we came but, I thought it can't be any worse than Seoul. Well, I was wrong. After living in Seoul we learned to negotiate the traffic pretty well. There were traffic lights and the cars would stop if you were in the crosswalk and staring them down or have your hand in the air. As we were walking yesterday I don't remember seeing a traffic light and I never saw a car fully stop. Mark figured it out. When crossing a street you need to look where you're going and don't stop. Everyone just keeps moving, if another moving object is in the way you negotiate around it. As long as you're moving it's okay, just don't stop. Mark carries Hannah across the streets (see lesson #2).

6. If you have a feet phobia do not get a Vietnamese massage. Enough said.

7. Adoption is a wonderful, crazy, life changing journey. You make many life long friends along the way. I am so thankful to be sharing this journey with each of you.

Signing in from Vietnam

We're here!!!!!!!! But, Hannah's time clock is definitely not!!! I thought our journey to Siberia was long, add another ten hours and a five year old!! Hannah was so wonderful on the flights, she is such a great traveller. But, how do you explain jetlag to a five year old? When we hit the hotel at midnight we just wanted to get some rest, but, Hannah was ready to go. When we were checking in, Hannah and her new friend E were running around the lobby, they had so much energy. She didn't want to leave her new friend. Then when we hit the room she wanted to eat and play. Thankfully Mark got some sleep on the flights and he stayed up with her while I got some sleep. Then when I woke at 11am they were both sound asleep. So, it's 4pm now and we're finally moving for the day. Hannah did not want to get up. Well, I want her to sleep tonight so we struggled a little but now she's up. So, we're off to explore the city. I am so glad we came two days early!!!! Hopefully by tomorrow Hannah will be a little more adjusted. More later...

One Year Ago Today

A year ago today Mark, Hannah and I were hiking at Kings Gap. This was the first time we were ever there. After some hiking we went up to the Mansion to look around. I got out of the car and turned around to get my cell phone. I wasn't sure why, I just felt like I needed it. Strange because at the time Mark was about the only one who called me. Anyway we went out on the stone porch and saw this beautiful view. I thought how fitting this is Kings Gap, because it looked over God's beautiful creation. About the time we stepped back inside my phone rang. It was R.M. from Holt. I said "It's great to finally talk to you." We had been talking to each others voice mail for the last couple months. She said yes and then the words I won't forget, We have your referral. What?!? I didn't expect to hear those words for at least another two months. Then she proceeded to tell me about our little guy. Well the whole time Mark is looking at me crying and wanting to know what is going on. I'm trying to listen to everything R.M. is saying and also telling him at the same time. We were both in shock. We just couldn't believe it. Both of us were in tears and we didn't want to scare Hannah who was wondering why we were both suddenly crying. All I could think of was here we were at Kings Gap looking over God's glorious creation and we just recieved a blessing from the King, we had another child!