Playtime

Standing on his own!


Just a little ham with those eggs, please...


Playtime with Mama
The little gymnast on the balance beam...

Thursday nights we go to The Little Gym. During the winter and inclement weather (like the 50 degrees here now - brrr!) it is a great play outlet for Jordan. Plus last night Brian got to play inside for a while too! We always have a wonderful time.

Getting in the Groove

We had three days of weather advisories and an ice storm here in Dallas, so it has been "cabin fever" extraordinaire around here. Thank goodness the sun is out today (we had lots of fog this morning) and the weather is a balmy 52 degrees.

The kids are doing great together. They both have their moments, and my favorite is when Jordan screams and cries, "Mama, he's looking at me! I don't want him to look at me!". Too funny. I remember saying that to my mom when I was a little girl. Both kids of are taking turns tormenting the dog. Brian reaches his hand out with a cracker just until Annie can almost lick it, and then he pulls it back and laughs heartily. Needless to say, poor doggy gets lots of sympathy treats from Mama.


Out to Kroger for provisions...


Jordan loves to get up in Brian's crib and sing him to sleep. Her rendition of lullabies are a hoot. "Hush, Little Baby Don't say a word, Mama gonna's buy you a MONKEY bird." She thinks I've been singing Monkey Bird for three years now. To see if the baby is asleep, Jordan picks up his hand, pulls it up in the air and says loudly, "Baby Brian - are you asleep?" Always wakes him up. She is also a bit impatient that he can't say "Sister" yet, but she keeps working on him!

He is standing now - loves to pull up and then take his hands off the couch and put them both in the air - squealing loudly and smiling so we can see him! His legs are getting so strong. We get his blood results back next week at his last IA pediatrician appointment before switching him to our regular pediatrician.

We started Kindermusik on Monday - yeah I know - I said I was going to cut back on activities. Well - I changed my mind. I found out they have a class on Monday afternoon for Brian and me, and then Jordan's regular class is Monday nights. So we had a wonderful musical Monday together. The playtime in class is so great for me and the baby - he loved the beat and singing and us dancing together! He loved crawling around with the other children - it is apparent that he loves other kids. I am sure that like Jordan, they miss being with other children 24/7 when they find their forever home.

The Kindermusik program is so great to introduce kids to music and sounds. The CDs that come with the program are fun for the kids and family friendly. They teach me a lot of new songs and lullaby material also. I am glad we enrolled but I will probably find myself over extended on extra-curricular activities sometime this spring!

From my Domestic Organization post I received some great ideas, pictures and some cynical quips that I enjoy as well. Thanks all - like I said it is a journey so don't expect to see my house in tip-top shape anytime soon. I seem to be moving toys and playthings around too much to make real organizational progress!

Domestic Organization

I am a big fan of productivity and efficiency. I think that started when I worked for UPS at nights during college - unloading tractor trailer trucks. UPS utilized a variety of productivity processes, including "one time handling" and "hand to surface" placement. What this means is that one should handle a package once, and put it in the right place at the right time everytime. It also means that the package is always in someone's hands (never tossed) and placed on a surface carefully.

I try to transfer these principles to many areas of my life. When sorting the mail I always think - "one time handling" and either Toss or Keep. You get the picture.

I fall short in productivity every day. Sometimes by choice for a specific reason (like I choose to handwrite names on envelopes for personal mailings rather than print labels), but also sometimes by my own blindness or inefficient habits.

As a single parent I am always trying to learn and assess new opportunities for organization and productivity. I need lots of help to get the swing of this though... Last week, I found Closet Organization modules on sale at Target. Here's a view of Jordan's closet now a bit more organized.



We've also cleaned out and organize the bathrooms and all bath cabinets and closets this week. Cindy organized two closets while she was here, and I love that! There are still many areas of my house that need to undergo efficiency planning and organization. I have a good setup in the kitchen for a "coffee station" and a "baby area" cabinet and drawer for formula and baby food preparation. I've read many books and websites (Fly Lady is a great one) and love learning and applying small changes throughout the house to better function.

I would love to hear about and learn of time or space saving ideas and tips from other parents out there!

Specifically, here are some of our current challenges:

Jordan's Barbie's, their clothes, accessories and shoes. All are currently in a big shopping bag. I am looking for ideas on how to store these aesthetically and also in a way that is fun for her to play with them instead of dumping out the bag...

Toys for the baby. In our family room, we have a dozen or so toys out that Brian can play with. Does anyone have ideas of how to easily store and/or hide these toys when he isn't playing with them? Should I just leave them out and not sweat it?

Pantries, fridge... I'd love to see pictures of people's organized kitchen storage areas... or real messy ones if you want to make me feel better. :)

As every parent knows, cleaning and organizing is a constant battle... er... I mean JOY - yeah that's right - joy! I want to make it even more of a joy, to have a place for everything and everything in its place. It's a journey - I know.

Happy New Year!

Monday, January 26th marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year (celebrated by most Asian cultures) and also called "Tet" in Viet Nam. 2009 is the Year of the Water Buffalo.

Photo by Bruce Dale

I was also born under the sign of the Water Buffalo. If you'd like to learn more about the Chinese Zodiac and the personalities attributed to the symbols, go here:

http://www.theholidayspot.com/chinese_new_year/zodiacs.htm#rat

Jordan was born in the Year of the Rooster. People born under this sign are said to be pioneers in spirit and devoted to their work. Brian was born in the Year of the Rat. (Can you say Ratatouille?) People born under this sign are supposed to be ambitious and honest.

The New Year begins on January 26th, and continues for up to 7 (sometimes 15) days. Each day is marked by specific celebrations, such as celebrating ancestors one day, dogs another, having special holiday foods on certain days, etc. It is very clear that having a clean house during this period is one of the most important elements of keeping luck "in" and bad spirits "out" during the coming year. I wonder, since it is also called the first day of Spring in these cultures, if this is where the term "Spring Cleaning" originated? Hmm. I'll have to look that up.

Most workplaces and all government buildings are closed during the celebrations, sometimes lasting two weeks or more. All of the prospective adoptive families are waiting for the offices to open back up after Tet so that their adoptions can be completed. My prayers go to them!

My family wishes all of you a Happy Lunar New Year!

Blood-letting 101

I finally gathered all the necessary stool samples and took them to the Lab Corps lab on Wednesday, where Brian also had mega-blood taken. He squealed like a stuck pig. The lab tech and her assistant both had him held down, and my heart was just breaking for his pain. They got 5 vials of blood, and needed 2 more when the “well went dry”. I am not sure of the medical nomenclature for it – if the vein was “blown” or what. They just said they would have to try the other arm.

Both the lab tech and assistant couldn’t get a vein in the other arm after two sticks. Unfortunately, we would have to come back at another time to complete the blood-letting. I just couldn’t fathom continuing the torture for the lil guy at that moment.

Then I noticed his arms, both of them had hundreds of little red spots all over them, everywhere on his arms and hands below the tourniquet lines. The lab tech told me that it was normal with infants, and would go away. Poor guy. My heart was breaking.

Spots covering his arm below the tourniquet line...

(Side note – knowing that the blood draw process would be an ordeal, I deliberately timed it so that he was hungry when his blood was drawn. After the squalling subsided, a warm bottle was mucho immediate comfort for him, and he napped well. Plus- I try all the time to build a bonding attachment where I can provide many facets of comfort to his pain.)

We went back to the lab the next morning, Thursday, and they placed a little heating square on his arm for 5 minutes to make the process easier to find and get a vein. It worked well, and we were done. However, the lab tech that day told me that the red spots were from a latex allergy to the gloves that the lab tech wore the previous day. What? Did they even know? Two people in the same office were contradicting each other.

They told me that one of the blood samples needed, a newborn screen, would need to be taken but that we would have to go to the hospital for that lab procedure, they don’t perform it at the labs.

More torture… ugh….

After verifying everything with the pediatrician's office, we got to the hospital and they were very competent and quick. The lab tech was experienced in pediatric lab, empathetic to me as the parent and warm and loving to baby Brian. She quickly looked at Brian’s arm spots and said that the tourniquets were much too tight and these were blood blisters that surfaced all over. The newborn screen was from a stick in the heel, and about 8 or so samples squeezed from the heel.

If I could do it again, I’d only go to a lab that specialized in infant and pediatric lab work. Like the ped hospital. I just went to the lab that I was told to go to. I remembered (hindsight is 20/20) that my sister Betsy (Registered Nurse) told me once that anything that has to do with the health or safety of my child that I should ask more questions, demand only the best, and not be afraid of starting some conflict whenever necessary to ensure that my expectations are met. Shoulda, coulda, woulda...

So in a week or so, we’ll have his blood titers for immunization assessment, HIV, Lead, Hep, and all the various and sundry lab tests and results. I’ll share if there’s anything out of whack.

I remember Jordan had a lead count a little high that was attributed to the ceramic bowls they used in her orphanage in China. Sometimes, like the lead test with Jordan, the results are the same for all the children in the orphanage environment. Other times, the results are very specific to a child for different genetic or personal reasons. A friend of mine was told that her adoptive Chinese daughter was positive for HIV. It was several weeks while they did retesting only to discover that it was a false positive test, and she wasn’t HIV pos after all.

If there are any results that are outside the norms, I’m having them retested – by a pediatric hospital lab.

I'm still learning 'parenting' everyday. It is a journey - that's for sure.

Brian's arms spots are almost gone, and he is doing well. He just has a few venous bruises still and the spot from the heel stick. Thank God these little people are resilient.

Mongolian Spots

I haven't posted anything about this because it has been so matter-of-fact to me, but baby Brian has some rather pronounced Mongolian spots on his lower back and buttocks. Jordan had them too, although not as pronounced, but I learned about them during her adoption. I had also heard about a case in Pennsylvania where a child was removed from her newly adopted parents for suspicion of child abuse. After a couple of weeks, the "bruises" did not disappear, and the Mongolian spots were validated. The child was then returned to her parents.

Here is a URL and pictures I found on the net (not baby Brian's butt) if you want to learn more.

It is important to share this information with any child care providers and relatives who might be providing care for your infant.

http://www.drgreene.com/21_833.html

(Sleep) Walking in a Mommy Wonderland

Dueling Carseats

With the mild exception that I am usually zombie-like and moderately sleep deprived, life couldn't get any better. Really. These pictures below tell most of the story. What a marvelous, wonderful gift I have been given... to parent and love these two beautiful children and crazy food-addicted doggy.

We are getting back in a "schedule" - blending in Brian's bottle feeding and three baby food meals a day, diapee changees, bathtime and the extra laundry and dishes. Jordan had her last swim class on Thursday night, and her last Kindermusik class on Monday. She is starting soccer in a couple of weeks, and will have practice on Wednesday nights and games on Saturdays. Between soccer, The Little Gym and her Dance class -I think that's enough for her for now. I'll be looking into a Mommy and me swim class or Kindermusik class for Brian and me, and then our little family social obligations will be full. Of course, we'll have plenty of time for playgroups and fun times with friends impromptu.

I also love having some evenings at home, and eating our meals at the kitchen table. We say our blessings before, and well - sometimes during, our meals. Jordan loves to have Brian's highchair pulled up between the two of us, so that all three of us are seated close together (and therefore forming an Annie dog predator barrier as well). We have had some wonderful meals provided by friends lately - Country Burger hamburgers, spaghetti, coconut shrimp, and pasta casserole. Yum yum.



Princess Dress Up Day at Jordan's school - she is the wedding Cinderella, first princess, first row, left side

Brian's TB test (taken during his physical) came back negative. I am in the middle of 2 of 4 of his stool sample collections and then I have to take him and his excrement to the lab for lots of bloodwork. That should be sometime early this week. (Jordan finds great delight in the stool specimen collection process. She wants to "help". At first I said no, then I thought that this might just be the beginning of her medical education. She holds the vials and shakes them now. Like Abby on NCIS. Good girl!)

We are waiting for his certificate of citizenship to arrive in the mail. I will then have to file for readoption procedures in court here in Texas, get his Texas birth certificate and his US passport. You never know when I might feel compelled for us to just hop on Aeromexico for an all-inclusive Mexico weekend. I'm serious - this cold weather (50 something degrees today!) is chillin my bones. :) I am also in mucho need of a Top-shelf Margarita por favor...

Novice Crawl

Our days seem to be a blur of baths, feedings, playing, getting dressed, undressed, laundry, washing dishes, and potty room/diaper changing. The giggles, smiles, and interaction between us three are worth every sleepless minute.

Trying to stand -watch the wobbling legs... too cute

Celebrating Jordan!

It has been a blessing (in many ways!) that Jordan turned 4 years old last week. With all the focus on the baby, she has had ample opportunities to have the world revolve around her some as well.

Her birthday celebrations were many - at her daycare, they celebrated her special day with cupcakes and a special hat she got to wear all day. I came and took pictures of the other "friends' singing to her and her glee in eating/smearing the cupcake.

That evening, Dede, GeeGee, Brian and I took her to the Amercian Girl Bistro for her birthday dinner. She didn't even really know what American Girl was before going here. She has an itty bitty baby from AG, and her Textor cousins sent her a pair of AG houseshoes - but when she saw the array of dolls and clothes in that store, she was like a Mexican jumping bean. "Mama, Mama - I want this doll! Mama, Mama - look here! Come here! Mama, Mama!" It was adorable. The dinner was reasonably priced and the service was awesome. Jordan got to pick out a loaner AG doll to eat dinner with us. They sang to her and she blew out her candles. She was so proud of herself. It was a delightful dinner, but just a bit "too much" for baby Brian.

The big party with her friends was last Sunday at the Little Gym. It was a wonderful time. They got to play in a facilitated program with three instructors, and they took care of us! Bonnie and Shaunda helped me while I was in VN with getting party favors and gift bags ready - thank you! They were great! She had a Tinkerbell theme for her party and Tink cake made by Joseph our local Kroger Chinese baker. :)

Jordan has some wonderful friends - from her school, her Chinese community friends, and family friends. I hope they all had as much fun as Jordan did as they played, romped, ate, sang, and enjoyed each other's company.

Happy 4th Birthday my sweet daughter - we love you so much!

Doctor, Doctor - Give Me the News...

Big sister learning how to bottle feed - she loves it!

Brian had his adoption physical yesterday with our International Adoption Pediatrician Specialist. His name is Dr. Eckel and he is awesome. He was Jordan's first doctor too. He has a couple of children from China and has even sponsored one of his children's Chinese nanny here in the US for a couple of years while she had some major restorative facial plastic surgery. He is a good Christian man also. The only downside is that his offices are in Denton, about an hour away. I'll take Brian here for his first couple of months and then move him to Jordan's pediatrician who is a Chinese American woman, and closer to our house.

The good news on Brian's physical - he gained a full pound in one week. He is now 17.2 lbs. (He was 16.1 lbs. in Hanoi, and 16.2 lbs. here at the doctor's office last week). He is 28 1/2 inches long. He is thriving. He is a little eating machine too! He eats oatmeal or rice cereal about three times a day, along with some baby food veggies, and his bottles with Similac every 3-4 hours. I gave him a Ritz cracker the other day, and he loved it! One of his top front teeth is popping through, so he is a knawing boy right now. I gave him some hard boiled egg and some banana pieces this morning, and he chowed.

My cabinets are slowly converting to the baby food aisle! (Thanks Cindy for getting me started - I know have two full shelves a goin'!)

His skin is getting better, and his ear is healed. He still scratches his dry head, so the doc suggested baby oil on his scalp before a shampoo and he recommended always using a conditioner. I'll do that today. He loves the Aquafor, and my hands do too. I forgot how chapped your hands can become after washing all the bottles all the time.

He has some scarring (and white pigmentation blotches) at different places on his back, shoulders, legs and arms. I thought it was from excema and I was also under the belief that a few of the spots (shoulder and leg) may have been from vaccinations given to him in Viet Nam. The doctor evaluated all of them, and said that only a few were from the excema (he showed me which ones) and said that the others, including the big ones I thought were vaccination scars, were in fact actual bug or other bites and scabs from the healing. Whoa... He has about 4-5 rather pronounced mongolian spots on his lumbar area and buttocks too - which is normal for Asian babies. Jordan's is almost gone.

He has a bald spot on the back of his head, and I optimistically believed that it was the baby fuzz balding to make room for the thicker hair. Nope. Doc said it was definitely from being laid down too much. He said that it is obvious he was held some because his head is not flat in the back (like Jordan's was a bit), but not a lot. In Viet Nam, they don't have mattresses but a woven rattan-like blanket over a fiber board cover, and that is what the babies sleep on. Probably swaddled a lot and laid down.

So the reality is that not only did he have a double ear infection (all better now), scabies, rather large outer ear skin infection and scabbing, and a cold (URI) - but now I find he had a lot of insect/bug bites and was neglected quite a bit. That is so sad. I am so hopeful that the other PAPs waiting to get their children from Viet Nam before the final shut down are there and back in quick time. I will pray for all of them. Angela, Michelle, Donna, Carol, Martha, Judy (and others) - you are in my prayers as are your children!

Brian has been home a week and with Amoxycillin, Aquafor, Cetaphil, Beaudreaux's Butt Paste and nutrition- has almost overcome every physical issue he was bearing just a little over a week ago. Doc said he was just a little developmentally behind, but will catch up fast. He is already pulling himself up to standing and just keeps getting stronger every day.

The doc recommended that I not let folks hold him for the first couple weeks so that he would know and understand that I am his mother and institute his bonding with me. Oops. I have been so overjoyed with his sweet demeanor that most of my friends have held him already. I am supposed to retreat and be the sole primary Brian-holder for a bit of time. Doc did say that he makes excellent eye contact and physical contact with me so he sees no problems or delays in the bonding process. I am learning all the time!

I am making an appointment with the Plano Police Department for car seat installation - they provide a free service where they fasten them securely and properly. Since I have two in the back seat now, it is even more important.

Jordan is being a wonderful big sister. She loves baby Brian very much and wants him with her everywhere. However, she likes when he goes to bed first at night so she can get cuddle time with her Mama. She'll always be my baby girl.

Brian at Home

Brian is a dream baby. The pediatrician visit last week went well - he weighed 16.2 lbs. and has a double ear infection and excema - but no more scabies. The doctor was quite surprised that he was 8 1/2 months old and not on any baby food - still all bottle. He recommended rice or oatmeal cereal and vegetables, introducing new foods every couple days (to make sure if he is allergic, that it is isolated). Cindy had already done the preparatory baby food Krogering, so we had most everything we need. He loves the biter biscuits! His gums are swollen on top and ready for some more teeth to pop through.

The doctor also gave us some Aquafor and Cetaphil - the Aquafor lotion to apply a couple of times a day for his dry excema skin (also recommended by other moms!) and the Cetaphil for bathwash to moisturize while cleaning. Between that and Beaudreaux' Butt Paste, the lil feller is one constant greasy piggy!

Bathtime!

He is 27.5 inches tall (40 percentile on American charts for height) and 16.2 lbs. (5 percentile on American charts). The doctor advised that his intake should be caloric-focused for weight gain.

He has been on the antibiotic for his ear infection and is much more comfortable now. He loves his crib and has actually slept through the night the last three nights. When he wakes up, he doesn't cry ~ he plays with a few of the soft cuddlies in his crib. His cooing is what I hear in the monitor. How sweet! (Some say that orphanage children learn not to cry, because no one readily attends to them. After a while, they don't cry out as much. They call it "silent orphanages". This is supposed to change once they have some regular attention to their sounds. We'll see.) Of course, I am still waking up multiple times a night to check on him - I am afraid that I will sleep through a need-produced crying fit or that the monitor isn't working. A mother's obligation I guess! I am hopeful this sleep-baby will continue and we'll quickly be a household that is rested again. I am not quite there yet.

When I was adopting Jordan, my friend Cheryl Hansen sold me on the necessity of a Jumperoo and Exersaucer for the baby. Being single, there are times when I am in need of a safe containment device for the baby (like when I take a shower!). We have a Jumperoo in the bathroom and have a full length mirror so Brian can now entertain himself whilest I wash up. We have another Exersaucer in the family room for when I have to take the dog outside or run to the mailbox - and need Brian to be safe for a minute or two. Both of these have significantly helped baby Brian with his leg strength in just a week. I also let him crawl around and pull himself up to standing, but I know that these devices serve both a convenience and a purpose for his safety and strength.

He went from 'barely crawling' to 'crawling with gusto' now. He can also pull himself up to standing. He loves to jumpy, jumpy in his Jumperoo, and his smile is so daggone cute it is melting.

He quickly transitioned to Similac formula, and I was glad to be done with the sugar formula from Viet Nam. He has his full adoption physical tomorrow, so it will be exciting to see how much weight he has gained this week.

I've hauled him around to Jordan's swim classes, restaurants, church, The Little Gym for Jordan's class and her party and a few other places. He is so aware an alert and loves all the sights and sounds. He absolutely loves going for our daily stroller walk. I don't think the child had ever seen trees before, or the sky. He is always looking up! Maybe he is still communing with God - being so fresh from his care.

He does have a double swirl cowlick on the crown of his head - I am told that means he will be a hellion. He's so docile and sweet now, I figure I need to love each moment because I know all will change! Jordan is really adapting well to him. She loves entertaining him with song and dance, and keeps his company everywhere. She likes to feed him, push his stroller, and participate in every aspect of his care.

Santa came again too. Jordan loved putting out more carrots for the reindeer, and baby Brian was catatonic as more toys were added to our household. Tool sets, cars and monster trucks now occupy spaces here. Ha! We love it.

I am having so much Mama-fun~

Arrival Photos

I'm getting caught up on posting since the whirlwind of returning back to the new world order.

Here are some pics of our return to Dallas.

Regina took most of these photos - thanks GeeGee!

Here is the first picture they saw of us coming into the baggage claim area...

I was so happy to see my Jordan-biscuit - we hugged and kissed for a long time! We really missed each other.

It was nice to introduce Jordan to her new baby "brudder" - we have been praying and waiting for him for a long time.

Dede got to meet the sweet boy, and we spent some time hanging out in baggage claim just visiting.

The first picture of our new family ~ are we radiant or what? Thank you God!

A New World Order

Introducing - the latest US Citizen and HHonors frequent stay member - Brian Montgomery! (Love those bed linens! They are so much better than the grass rugs I was used to! Hehe)

Hi all!

We made it home. Finally. There was even more drama yesterday morning waiting 2 1/2 hours in line at United (LAX SUX). They wouldn't check my bags in because they already showed they were checked in from the previous day's flights. They charged me for the bags ($40) even though International Flights have no charges. Thank goodness they missed the fact than one bag was 58 lbs. or that would have been another $100 charge. I had to "break bad" again, and a little Asian woman (Oracle again?) got me checked in, bags to the plane, and ready to go in about 2 minutes. Of course, boarding had already begun by that time - but she did it.

Brian has his first meltdown. He was wet. He was hungry. He was tired. The big three!

He wailed (with a shrill like I didn't know he could do) when we got on the plane. He had a dry diaper at that point, but still hungry (Excuse me Ms. Flight Attendant - did I say I needed some warm water at your earliest convenience for this bottle? I am sure the other passengers would appreciate it too!)

Then he drank his bottle, and fell asleep. For almost the whole flight. Thank goodness. I met a really nice woman on the flight. She sat next to me. I was so tired at that point that honestly I can't remember her name or what we talked about during the flight. Her kids I think. Ha. Well, anywho... I was just exhausted.

Jordan, Cindy and Regina were there at the airport to welcome us. Jordan saw me and hid behind Regina. I motioned for Cindy to come to the baby and I ran over to Jordan. She came out from her hiding place and latched onto me with a fervor! She was so glad to see her Mama! I was equally glad to see her. She looked like she had grown just while I was gone a week! Oh my, how that little girl is smart. And smart-alec. (Takes after her Granny in that regard.)

Several friends had wanted to come to the airport to welcome us, and although I love them and would love to have seen them - I am glad they didn't. I was a mess. Exhausted. And Jordan needed some one on one time with Mama to gently introduce her to her brother and let her know she is still her mama's baby girl. I hope the folks who wanted to come to the airport would share their love with us in other ways - like casseroles and dinner dishes over the next week? Hehe. I love you all!

Dede loved up on baby Brian, Regina loved up on him, and then we had a lttle introduction session with Brian and Jordan. It was very sweet. She of course wanted to carry him - he's too heavy. She wanted me to carry her - she's too heavy. We strolled and made our way to the car.

Baby Brian's carseat is backward facing, next to Jordan's forward facing one. She wanted to feed him his bottle, but he was already asleep in the car. Quiet as a lamb all the way home.

Cindy prepared steak, sweet potatoes and broccoli when we got home. It was yummy. Baby Brian woke up and played awhile, had a bottle and went back to sleep easily. He was still on Hanoi time!

It was a blessing to 'turn my mama duties over to Cindy so I could sleep.' I put Jordan to bed, snuggling up next to her, when I heard Brian cry in the other room. I went and got him, brought him into Jordan's bed and the Montgomery trio literally passed out. (Quartet if you consider Annie-dog!)
Cindy came in sometime later and got Baby Brian from my arms, as I guess he was precariously hanging over the edge of the bed, but still in my arms. I meandered upstairs to the guest room, and just went comatose until about 9am this morning. I could hear Dede, Brian and Jordan downstairs on occasion, but it was a most wonderful gift to know they were in good care while Mama bear rejuvenated with sleep!

Dede playing Teletubbies on the computer

Today has been an awesome day. It is freezing rain outside, and I called a "Family day". Jordan stayed home and we all just enjoyed a day of unpacking, trying out new formula (he loved the Similac to-go bottles!) and new foods (he loved oatmeal, but the pears pursed his pucker!) Cindy has been awesome today regulating his sleep with two long naps so he can go to bed tonight and be on Dallas time. He has been a dream.

Jordan is adjusting well and experiencing every phase of the new jealous sister syndrome. She understands he is a baby and needs to be in my lap, but she wants to be there too. She had one strong emotional spell today, and I just tried to soothe her and we went down for her nap (together) and she has been much better since she woke up. We are getting ready to wake Brian up from his second nap and have family supper together.

I was able to actually unpack today (most of the way) and do some laundry. I made his doctor appointment for tomorrow afternoon for his skin rashes and bit of URI, and made his complete adoption physical for Tuesday of next week. I got him added to the medical insurance coverage. That's about all I did today. Cindy carried the schedule and coordinated the strategic plan for the day.

Oh yeah - did I tell you about Cindy? That ole gal. First of all, remember, she got my emergency home maintenence items completed the day after I was gone. Garage door and plumbing. She kept up with Jordan's social calendar, despite my having an event scheduled at the wrong time. (I just had a bit going on before I left!) She cleaned my house, organized the baby cupboard with new baby groceries. She cleaned the baby's room and completely cleaned and rearranged two closets - baby Brian's and the playroom closet. She has been just the best demonstration of love in action that a new mama could ever hope for! I only wish she could've been there in Viet Nam with us. She was there in spirit though! She emailed me everyday "from Jordan in her own words" and sent pictures to me everyday of Jordan's activities. I am so thankful and so blessed to have her as my sister. I have the most wonderful and sarcastically funny family that I treasure. I have heard from all of them regularly and even have a gift here from Booper and the family upon our return. I love my family. Every single dysfunctional one of them.

So - I called Santa today and asked hiom to swing by again on Tuesday night. It's Christmas II - Santa Returns! Baby Brian will have his first Christmas home.

Gotta run now - a mother's work is never done....

Arial cable plant in Hanoi. OMG.

Delirium wins the adoption amazing race!

As we say in Kentucky - we are in the homestretch now! Fatigue is currently in first, Delirium a close second and Lumbar-overloadis has been reaching forward a time or two to try and take the lead.

We are in LA (again). This route may have been the cheapest one and about the only one available to get me to Viet Nam and me and the baby back, but it has really sucked, to spin it positively! My travel agent was uncharacteristically unavailable to assist with the changes (New Year's Eve vacation days). I found a Thai Air office in Hanoi and we walked over there to get our flights changed. Getting out early and changing an itinerary was just something that Thai Airways doesn't like to do.

In Hanoi, I waited an hour for Thai to open for checkin at the airport, then half an hour in line. They sent us to the other side of the airport to pay the change fee. Then we had to get back in line to show proof of payment. Of course, there was a different Thai Air rep at the counter this time who called a supervisor and said I should have not followed the other agent's instructions and paid the $100 to the cashier. I needed to pay them the $100 at the Thai Counter. Ok. So they asked me to go back to the cashier and demand a refund and then come back over to pay and they would give me boarding passes. That was the last straw for me. I didn't care that my bags were being checked again for additional security or that we had a center seat for me and a lap baby, but I was going to actually miss my flight if I kept up the gerbil wheel instructions they were giving me.

So I asked for a manager and stood my ground. He made it "work" (very easily - he seemed confused that they had me running circles). He said, "They not know what they are doing". Pretty much - yep. We were off to the gate. Getting to Bangkok was fine. We got to Bangkok at noon and our flight wasn't until 7:30pm. I love the Bangkok airport. I shopped some, hung out in the Gold Thai Air Room, changed diapers, fed the baby bottles, and "moseyed around". Everyone loves babies! Especially the Asian men.

"Is he Japanese?" they ask."No", I reply. "Thai?" "Nope". "South Vietnamese or North Vietnamese?" "Vietnamese American"."Why pretty girl like you no have husband and no 'own' babies?" Well, you get the picture. I like the response that I am 'Ann-gelina seeking Brad'. All the Asians think that is funny. (If they really understand what I am saying. Maybe they are just being nice!)

Then off to LA. Center seat, bulkhead, lap baby and I have two large men to the right of me and two large men to the left of me. I can see baby Brian looking at me with the immortal words of that song - "Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right; here I am. Stuck in the middle with you." When those guys in the row saw me coming, with a baby no less, I could see them cringing! It was too funny. For all the times I traveled as a business traveler and had screaming babies all around, this was my chance to bring balance back to the karma equation of the travel universe.

Then the generosity started - like Joel Olsteen talks about. An older Asian lady from the fourth row back (Economy) came up to switch places with me. She was in an aisle seat and had an empty seat next to her. The flight attendant "coordinated" the love seat offering. For a 14 hour flight it was just a necessity. I forgot that you can't eat, or drink, or fill out Immigation forms etc. with one hand, while in the otther hand have squirming baby who was trying to knock over your drink, take your pen, pull at your papers, etc. The extra seat was great to place him in on occasion so other things could be done. He also slept about 10 or more of the 14 hours flight. He was really a dream traveler baby! I couldn't get much sleep though, el sardinous sleeptus interruptus was a constant presence for me.

We made it to LA, but then American Airlines can said that they had no flight confirmed for us. They told me that I'd have to go over to the other terminal and work with the Thai Air agent. By this time I had heard from Todd the travel agent that I was confirmed for a United flight the next afternoon.

So, as any frequent traveler would do, I cashed in points and got a Hilton room for free.

I couldn't wait to get a full night's sleep! Yeah - right! Brian slept from 9pm-1am, so therefore I slept from 10p-1am. It is now 4:30am in the morning, and my baby is still on Hanoi time! I am not though, so I am in a zombie cicadian purgatory at the moment. At 3am we started strolling around the hotel. I found a Starbucks - yeehaw! However I am certain that the airlines will charge me extra for these bags under my eyes! Even my under-eye baggage has carry-ons.

But all complaining aside (it is cathartic gettin it all said though!) I am an overjoyed, over the top baby Mama. He is so good natured and laid back. He loves to smile this big toothless grin (like Connie Meyers Bibb's dad does - I knew there was a resemblance!) He loves strangers, smiles and flirts with them all, and new games like Peeka-boo and Ride-a little pony are quick to bring squeals of delight and laughter. His crawling is progressing slowly. He is smiling SO much more now. Whenever he wakes up from a nap or a sleep, he looks at me like "Are you still here?" He loves the bottle and laying in my arms looking in my eyes. He doesn't like being laid down to change diapees though. (the way I figure it, he never wore diapers until I arrived, so I think his conditioned response is that when he is laid down, he is getting ready to be left alone). He is progressing with less discomfort in that area too.

His nose is running a bit, and he has a slight cough (no fever). I am scheduling his pediatrician appointment as soon as we get back. I want to make sure I am treating his dry skin correctly too. Plus we get to schedule a circumcision, a baptism, and all the post adoption court and paperwork processes.

Wednesday of his week is Jordan's 4 year old birthday - that will be a big priority! I am so glad I am here for it since I was originally supposed to still be in VN. This Sunday is Jordan's birthday party at Little Gym. I am so excited. It is a Tinkerbell theme. Bonnie and Shaunda have helped get us ready for it due to my quick travel departure. (I know so many angels with skin on!)

Well, time for another bottle for the wee boy, a shower for me, and repacking for the last leg of our Asian journey. The next chapter we'll be Texas Two-Stepping!

Smooth sailing...

We went to the Embassy today and had our interview and this afternoon Baby Brian has a visa. (Mama - not the credit card kind - ha). We can go home now! Four business days has got to be record of in-country stays! I bet Angelina even took longer. :) It was a piece of cake. I think with the Tet New Year celebration coming up, they have been trying to get things processed quicker. It sure worked! We are done with the in-country adoption process!

During the afternoon free time, we visited the "Hanoi Hilton" prison. I am just fascinated with it. It was built in 1856 by the French to terrorize the Vietnamese 'patriots' who rebelled against French rule. There was much torture and beheading here. They still have the guillotine out for display. For 120 years, this place served as a torture chamber and I cannot imagine the blood spilled on this ground. Even more creepy is that a lot of the prison is now gone because my hotel is standing on that real estate. So literally, in the spot where I am sitting right now were the cries of hundreds of souls in pain. How sad, and almost scary, in a Halloween kinda way.

Solitary confinement cell - leg shackles were not removed the entire time the prisoners were here

Bedracks - Nightly sleeping and all prisoners were shackled at the ankles every night

In 1954 the prison became a place where dissidents were kept, including the US pilots who were shot down in Hanoi. Below is a picture of John McCain being treated by a VN doctor for his injuries resulting from his plane crash. They also have McCain's flight suit on display here.

Through the years, this city block has been the mecca of pain. No longer!

There is joy in this air space now. Forevermore will there be joy here - I proclaim it! :) A little guy whose life was going to be only that in an impoverished institution has been united with his new mama, and we will go back to our good ole' USA. A woman whose soul was drawn to love and caring for another baby has been granted that privilege. When the plane touches down in LA, (literally touching American soil) Brian will become a US citizen. So he will be a Vietnamese American Texan Montgomery! I just love the fact that he will one day have the opportunity to carry on the Montgomery name too. Awesome.

I will try to be a good Mama, and love, love, love my children above all else.

We leave Viet Nam early in the morning to traverse the crooked airtrail home. I hope to one day bring Brian and Jordan back here to visit and learn more about the land of their birth.

We have confirmed seats from Hanoi to Bangkok then LAX, but no seats yet for the LAX to DFW portion. I have reservations on two airlines just in case. There is a red-eye flight, or a flight on Sunday that I am stand-by for, or a flight on Monday. The hardest part about the flying on this trip was getting out of the USA and getting back through it.

I know my way around these airports and VIP lounges now though. I have a stroller so Brian will be escorted in comfort to his new digs and land o' plenty. I am so grateful to God.

I can't wait to get home and see my Jordan, my Dede, my Annie dog and my friends who have sending me angels for this whole trip and process. Love you all~ and I'll keep blogging.

Ann

Viet Nam Village Starbucks

Silk Village Pictures

Silk worm cocoons

Silk press - hundreds of years old, used 24/7 still

Beautiful silk patterns

Marci bartering with the ladies at the silk shop