Pictures at home

HOME - Christmas Eve!!!

We made it to Little Rock this morning at 8:00. And were greeted at the airport by so many friends and family! What a very very special homecoming!

During out LONG journey home, we decided maybe Isaac isn't quite the jet-setter....maybe he doesn't like to travel that much. :-) Actually all things considered, he did ok on the trip......was just a very long, exhausting couple of days.

We said an emotional goodbye Sunday night to Izzy and Aunt Ruth and Aunt Debbie at LAX as we parted ways to return home. We know we'll be in touch though.....and hopefully will get together for reunions.

I think Isaac likes his new home. He seems really comfy in his blue and brown bedroom/crib with his new pillow and sock monkey quilt (thanks Aunt Marty)! He has so many new toys.....maybe just a bit overwhelming trying to figure out what to play with first. Oh.....and Isaac had a very cool baby annoucement sign / balloons waiting on him in our yard when we got home.....from the Gadberrys! :-)

Hard to believe it's Christmas already. For obvious reasons this holiday season has been anything but normal for our family. Our normal activities for Christmas Eve, include getting together with family and going to Midnight Mass. We had comtemplated still doing this.......as we felt pretty good the early part of the day. But sometime mid-afternoon i think it finally hit......and hit hard. We were so sorry not to be able to see family tonight. Tomorrow will be low-key as well.....just trying to get used to being home again......and trying to get Isaac settled in and into a routine. (mommy may have to start writing things down....so she can figure out how to get in a routine as well....remember this is ALL NEW!!)

Thanks to everyone for all their thoughts and prayers while we were in Vietnam....bringing baby Isaac home! It is appreciated more than you know.

What a truly blessed year! Ending in the best Christmas present ever......sweet precious Isaac. And along the way, we were reminded how fortunate we are for all of God's blessings.... especially our friends and family.....also including the many new lasting friendships made on this journey.

Love to everyone!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Saturday evening update

This may be my last post from Vietnam. We leave tomorrow for home!! Izzy & family have the same flight schedule to LAX as us. And Teo & family fly out a little later in the evening. And Emaline & family i belive head out the following day.

We have definitely enjoyed out Vietnamese adventure.......but are ready to get home!

We didn't go on the Halong Bay outing today with the other families. Isaac still isn't feeling very well. We just hung out at the room, then late afternoon decided to get out for a walk,little shopping,and dinner. He really likes riding in his carrier. Even though he doesn't feel good......he just takes it all in......when hanging out in it.

We miss everyone and can't wait to see you.

Visa & Sick Baby

Good news.......(after a little bit of excitement), we got Isaac's Visa today so we are set to leave Hanoi Sunday evening arriving in LR Monday morning (if all goes well with domestic flights).

But Isaac woke up this morning with a fever. Probably a combination of a cold he has had and his teething. He hasn't felt well all day. Definitely not his usual happy self. so hoping he will feel a little better in the morning.

our flight is AA 4446

Hello from Hanoi

We've been at Hanoi for a few days....since Tuesday night. Wednesday and Thursday were rest days. Friday we have our visa appointments.

Our family has been feeling a bit under the weather at times this week. But at least it was all at different times. We're all feeling much better now.

Saturday we are thinking about going on a tour of Halong Bay.....but not sure if it will work out. Kiddos may not be up to it.

We have our return flights changed for Sunday night December 23rd. We will be arriving in Little Rock at 7:50 AM Monday morning. (unless we get stuck in Chicago).

Will post more later.

Pictures at last!!!!

A little bit of teamwork! Thanks to Ruth for helping put the pics out Snapfish and to Heather for emailing them back to me. I was able to save from this hotel computer and then post to the blog.

At the rate i'm going though....not sure how many more pictures i'll be able to get out there. But at least you can now see Isaac!!!!


He's doing really well. Doesn't necessarily like to go to sleep when it's time and isn't so happy when he is tired......but other than that is just a happy happy baby......crawling everywhere, into everything, and pulling up like crazy. He jabbers and makes all kinds of funny sounds. And has these really cute facial expressions.

He is teething.....so is a little cranky at times. Currently has two bottom teeth and two top teeth.

These pictures are taken at the center. The one of Isaac and me is taken just a few minutes after i first saw him. The one of my parents holding him is a little bit later. and notice their shirts......they are vietnamese for grandma and grandpa!

We leave for Hanoi tomorrow and not sure yet when we will get to leave to return home......will likely depend a lot of holiday air travel. But thinking we should definitely be home by at least Christmas Day!

Okay, ONE photo through Snapfish site...

http://www1.snapfish.com/selectexistingalbumupload/pageindex=1/t_=10225718


Still having trouble posting photos - so for now, at least one pic for viewing! Will try to get more online shortly

ok....so i lied

Still not able to post a picture. Hopefully tomorrow!!! We have definitely taken a bunch. :-)

Tonight we ate at a very good authentic Vietnamese restaurant with Izzy & company and Teo & company! Was very good. My new favorite Vietnamese dish is Stir fried Pineapple!

Sunday night in Saigon...wow! You wouldn't believe it. So much traffic and so many people.....everywhere!!! But we are getting a little better at crossing the street. I think the most people we've seen on a scooter so far is 4. But i think the rule is however many people are in your family is how many can ride on your scooter. Outside of the tax center was total chaos....i'm serious! Isaac was in his snuggly carrier and he didn't seem to mind a bit.....i think he liked all the excitement.

Tomorow is a big day. First the moms go and apply for babies' passports. Then take the babies to get their passport picture. Then in the afternoon they have their medical checkups. Should be a fun day! :-)

Then Tuesday evening off to Hanoi. Still have more shopping to do here though. :-)

And by now am craving a sonic vanilla diet coke (heather i hope you've made many happy hour runs). That may be my first stop after getting home. Also ready for some ice! Diet cokes are not always found. (actually here they are Coca-cola - light.....seriously....that's what the can says. taste i guess the same....a little hard to tell...since they aren't real cold. :-)) And we got something we thought was a can of tea the other day.....but not quite sure what it actually was. not good!

Overall, the trip has been great! Vietnam is a wonderful country. The people here are very nice. And they all love babies. So many have smiled and/or commented on how cute Isaac is. And one young Vietnamese girl today while shopping held him (got him from out of the snuggly). Was expecting it to happen sooner or later. It was ok. Also, met a nice family from Holland at breakfast this morning.....who were very friendly and thought Isaac was such a cutie. (btw...when i told them we were from USA.......they were like.....'oh really'...sarcastically. I'm like....it is that obvious!!!???

Anyway, that's about all for now. Need to go make sure the little guy is still asleep. (no worries....he's upstairs with papa.....not by himself).

I promise i'm going to keep trying to post a picture. Have a few picked out already.

Here's Isaac!

One of the first pictures of Isaac and his mommy!

Also a picture with Isaac's buddy Izzy and her mommy Ruth (Aunt Ruth)!


And a picture with Nana and Papa....who have been just wonderful!

It's me again

Sorry so long without a post. Didn't have connection to blogger in Ninh Thuan.

First off.....luggage did arrive intact Wednesday evening. So....was just without it for 10 hours. :-)

Now for the good stuff.

Since having to play catch-up some of this may be a little out of order.

Isaac is absolutely precious! He is such a sweet baby too!

It was very emotional when i first saw him. The nannies had the babies upstairs waiting on us....and they were waving from the balcony. Once i got upstairs i finally got to hold him. So sweet! The center is great. The nannies really just love those babies/kiddos. We spent maybe two hours there....trying to get to know our kiddos and playing with the other babies and kids.

The next moring was our GNR. We drove back to the center and met with the director for a while. He spoke to us and the Dillon staff translated. Then it was time to take the babies to the Justice Department for our GNR. Once there, a few signatures and statements and it was official.

Isaac is doing really well. I think he even liks us. (us being his mommy and his nana and papa)!!!

We went on the beach (south china sea). He papa got him a little wet so he wasn't so sure about it after that.

Ninh Thuan is really beautiful!

Yesterday (saturday) we took the long bus ride back to HoChiMinh City (a much different trip than going....with the kiddos this time).

Our travel group is great. Izzy (and her mommy Ruth and aunt Debbie), Teo (and his mommy Susan and uncle George), Emaline (and her mommy Jessica and daddy Michael), and Isaac (and his mommy and nana Kay and papa Alfie). Everyone did really good on the long bus ride.

This morning we did a little bit of shopping and will rest for a while. We have to get our tickets to Hanoi today. (we'll fly out Tuesday evening). And maybe more shopping tonight.


I'm posting from a computer at the hotel. I promise i'll post a picture from Ruth's computer later today.

We made it!

We're here! It's a little past 1:30 PM.

We had delays in both Little Rock and Dallas. Then met up with Ruth and Debbie in LA! Then our LONG flight began. Wow.....15 1/2 hours! But we made it. Then to Hong Kong. Then the final leg to Vietnam.

Everything went well....with one BIG exception. My 2 suitcases are not here. These contain basically everything....for me and Isaac! Hoping they will turn up tonight or in the morning at the latest. We leave at 7:00 in the morning to go to Ninh Thuan (Isaac's province). We will finally get to see him (and Izzy) around 3:30! And GNR is Friday!

We are fixing to go out and explore the city a little bit. On the bus ride over, we got to see all the crazy traffic we had heard so much about.

Getting really close!

I'm almost set to go.

Wow.....still can't believe it's here. All these things go through my mind about the past year. Overall it went by pretty quick. Of course there were times that seemed to really go by slow....especially the last few months. But it's really going to happen. During all the crazy stress/excitement this past week, someone told me to write it down....that it would happen. And i did and they were right.....it's going to.

Also, kinda interesting to note.....Tuesday when i found out about GNR date, i was wearing this new shirt that simply says 'BELIEVE'. :-)

Isaac - little buddy.....i know you have no idea what is about to happen. But just know I cannot wait to see you and to hold you! And your grandparents feel the same way. They are making this very special trip with me....to bring you home. Your life is going to be filled with so much LOVE! So many people at home cannot wait to see you. They have been following this most amazing journey from the beginning. Just hang in there with me. I promise we'll figure it out. :-)

And one of the very cool things about this journey is all the friendships I have made. When you get home.....you already have all these new friends.....including these special little guys from Vietnam. And I have their moms as friends too. We call ourselves the 'VietMoms'. And what about your sweet little pal Izzy! I have become good friends with Izzy's mom Ruth! She's great! And we talk about you two all the time. We finally get to meet in Los Angeles before we head across the ocean to see you. And also get to meet Izzy's Aunt Debbie.

So many things happening...so many changes.....for both of us. Just hang on little Isaac......we'll be there soon!

Going to Vietnam!!!!

Found out early this morning that I now have the ok to purchase tickets and travel on Monday. Still a few things to work out. But hopefully will all be taken care of before we get there! In just a few days I'll be holding Isaac!

GNR!!!!

Got the official word today. Our GNR is set for Friday December 14th! (10 days!!!!!!!) We will fly out on Monday the 10th (as long as our I600 is pre-approved). We are hoping and praying we get the approval and are able to travel. If we are not able to make this GNR date, not sure when another one would be scheduled.

New pictures....

He's getting so big.

STEP 8

Just got an update and I am now on Step 8! What a great way to celebrate Isaac's 7-month birthday! Happy 7 month Birthday Isaac! Hopefully we will be there really soon to bring you home!

Step 8 Can take a little while, so hopefully we're a little ways into it.

Supposed to get some new pictures this afternoon......will post those.

Isaac's nursery

No Update

A lot of people have been asking if I have any updates and why i haven't posted anything in a long time. I was trying to wait until I have an update.

But will go ahead and give a non-update i guess you could say.

As far as i know officially i am still somewhere between steps 2 & 6. Once at step 7 is when things start happening a bit faster and when updates come more regularly. It's been 9 weeks since my LID (log-in date), so really should be at least at 7 by now. And actually I may be. There is some hope that I'm already there and the notifications just haven't been sent saying so.

So....am still hoping and fairly optimistic that I'll get to travel to bring Isaac home before the end of the year. Was originally hoping it would happen over Thanksgiving.....but not so sure could still happen.

Also, just wanted to say this. I have such wonderful family and friends. Everyone has been so kind and supportive throughout this whole process, and it really just means so much to me. It's really touching and makes me realize how blessed I am. And i can't wait to bring Isaac home and introduce him to everyone. (even Molly - hopefully they will become buds. of course i know......will happen more than once.......Isaac will be screaming, Molly - howling, and Kim - likely crying!) :-)

Hopefully I will have an official update in a few days. Will post again then.

Painting for Isaac's bedroom.....Made by his 'Aunt' Jana.

Another new picture. He's smiling! :-)

HAPPY 5 MONTH BIRTHDAY ISAAC!

New picture of Isaac!!!

This was taken by one of the families that is currently in Vietnam! Thank you so much!

LID

I have a log-in date! August 10th. Travel is now officially 3 to 6 months out from that. I am on step 2 of the 12 steps below.

STEPS FOR THE REFERRAL PROCESS IN VIETNAM

1. After a referral of a child has been accepted and the family has returned the paperwork to Dillon, we will prepare the acceptance documents to be sent to Vietnam. The following is an outline of what occurs once your acceptance paperwork arrives in Vietnam (If your dossier was not logged in prior to acceptance of a referral, your dossier will first have to be sent for translations. After translation is complete, the Dillon staff will then send the dossier to the Department of International Adoption in Hanoi (DIA). The translation and processing of the dossier can take approximately 2-6 weeks (or longer). After your dossier is logged in with the DIA, the below steps are what will occur next): Once your dossier has been logged in then at that time you can estimate possible travel within 3-6 months.

Steps 2-6 will happen after your dossier has been logged in and can take approximately 6 weeks for these steps to be completed.

2. After receiving the acceptance papers, the Dillon staff will send a letter to the Department of International Adoption (DIA) in Hanoi. The letter explains your desire to adopt a child from Vietnam. This process can take about 7 business days or longer for the letter to be sent and received.

3. The DIA will then send a letter to the local justice department of the province in which the child you were referred is residing. The letter is explains that your family is desiring to adopt the child that you have been matched with. This process can take about 7 business days or longer for the letter to be sent and received.

4. Once, the local justice receives the letter from the DIA, they will then send a letter the center (orphanage) telling them which child your family is desiring to adopt. This process can take about 7 business days or longer for the letter to be sent and received.

5. Once the letter is received by the center (orphanage), the center then has to respond with a letter back to the local justice stating that yes this child is available for adoption. This process can take about 7 business days or longer for the letter to be sent and received.

6. Once, the local justice department receives the letter, the local justice department will then send a letter to the Department of International Adoptions (DIA) that yes this child is available for adoption. This process can take about 7 business days for the letter to be sent and received. When the DIA receives the letter from the local justice department, the DIA will then send our staff in Vietnam a letter requesting them to send your acceptance papers of the child that you have been referred. This process can take about 7 business days for the letter to be sent and received. Step 6 can take about 2 weeks or longer to complete.

7. Dillon staff will send the acceptance papers to Hanoi. This process can take about 7 business days or longer for the acceptance papers be sent and received.

8. Once, the DIA receives the acceptance papers from the Dillon staff, the DIA will then send a letter to the local justice department asking them to start compiling the legal docs (child’s dossier). This process can take 30-45 business days or longer to complete.

9. After the child’s dossier has been compiled, the center will send the legal documents to the local justice department. Once, the local justice department receives the dossier, they will then review the dossier. After they have completed the review process, they will then forward the legal documents to the DIA. The review process can take 1 week or longer.

10. The DIA will review the child’s legal documents and your family’s dossier. After the DIA has completed the review process, they will send the child’s legal documents and the family’s dossier back to the local justice department. The review process can take 1 week or longer.

11. The local justice department will then review the family’s dossier. Once, they have reviewed the family’s dossier, they will then send the family’s dossier and child’s legal documents to the people’s committee. The Dillon Vietnam staff will at this time also submit the commitment forms and power of attorney forms that you signed at time of acceptance. The review process can take 1 week or longer.

12. The people’s committee will then review your family’s dossier and the child’s legal documents. Once, they have completed the review process, the chairman of the people’s committee will give an approval (decision). After, the approval of the chairman, the child’s legal documents and your family’s dossier are sent back to the local justice department for your GNR date to be issued. This process can take 1 week or longer.

Update on Isaac

I received Isaac's new development report for July. He is now 13 pounds and 24 inches long.

Also, got word today that his acceptance paperwork is on it's way to Vietnam!

July 3, 2007

What an exciting day! Not only found out I was officially on the waiting list...But also received the referral for my baby boy!

Nguyen Van Hai was born on March 23, 2007 in Ninh Thuan Province.

I have picked out the name Isaac Berke for him. He'll be called Isaac. Berke is short for Berkemeyer which he's being named after my grandparents 'Mom' & 'Pop' Berkemeyer.
His birth middle name - Van - just happens to be a family name.....so i decided to keep that to also be part of his name.

Isaac Berke Van Hettel