foxes and hedgehogs

Hi Everyone,

Some of you may be a little more up to date than others, so I apologize if I am just jumping in here. I didn't have time to write some of you to let you know that we found out on July 5th that we need to leave in less than 2 weeks to be in Hanoi. But I'm sure you'll be able to fill in the gap. This is the first chance I've had to email,so hopefully you haven't been worried.

It's been pretty crazy trip thus far in terms of being the most hectic experience we've ever had and lack of sleep! -ugh, not to mention incredibly emotional, but everything is calming down. After travelling to Vietnam 20 hours, remember we left at midnight, we had to drive another 10 hours to the province Fiona came from. (That's her name we've decided on. Her middle name is Thuong, which means "love forever.") Stayed there 1 day for giving and receiving ceremony which was the official ceremony where we became her parents. It was a little business but mostly very touching. Two officicals from the government where there, the orphanage director and then all the nurses and other workers from the orphanage attended to on their own time. We also visited the orphanage. Then turned around and came straight back. Literally went 3-4 days without a bed. Slept a little in the car. Now we're back in Han oi resting. We already had meeting to get her passport which we pick up on monday. Then we had the medical appointment and the international clinic where the australian doctor proclaimed her as healthy and fat! Bunch of other meetings lined up...embassy, department of justice, etc.
The culture is amazing. In her province, we were the only non-Vietnamese people. Food is fantastic. Lots of spices and fish. Weather is incredibly hot and muggy. Hanoi is a crazy and wonderful city. Very, very pretty. Definetly the most different place we've ever been.
Fiona is healthy and beautiful, and adjusting well to all the changes. Very calm baby. She was well looked after at the orphanage as she was one of 2 babies there. She received lots of attention from two nurses who were obviously extremely attached to her. One of them who travelled all the way in the car from Hanoi to her provence with us was very protective of her (so sweet!). All the nurses cried when she left. very sad. And all the other children where so sad to see her go.
We are taking lots of pictures. It's been quite an experience.
Will write more in a couple of days.

Ok, ok, ok, whaooooo-k.

I think I have everything under control. The other night, I felt like I was going to have a panic attack, but then I got a good nights sleep and since then, things have started to calm down.

I've got almost everything packed for the baby which is surprisingly not that much. I just need to decide on a dress for her G&R, plus some other events coming up in the next couple of months. Which dress do you all think? Both have matching hats.

And I think I've got what I'm bring figured out which is also surprisingly not that much since it's mainly dresses as the weather is HOT.

Ok, gotta run. I've got 4,000 things to do today.

I won't hold out any longer. Thursday July 6th, the day before our 5th wedding anniversary, we got the best news of our lives - our referral! Yaaaaaahhhhooooooooo!

She was born March 11, 2006 and is beautiful. She has been moved from the province to Hanoi where she is with a foster family who will look after her until we arrive.

We leave Sunday night for the happiest trip of our lives - to go get our baby girl! I still can't believe it. I feel like I've been living in the clouds the last few days. Sometimes I find myself unable to hold back the tears and other moments, I feel a little shocked; it's hard to believe it's finally happening. I can't believe how quickly things moved from just a week or so ago when they said that we might need to be in Vietnam on the 20th. It's great to have been given the referral and then get to leave to get her so soon.

I've been running around like a maniac trying to get everything together. Bottles, formula, cloths, pj's, diapers, not to mention getting her room put in order for when she gets home. I feel so overwhelmed by it all and yet so delighted to be doing this. I love it!

We are just over the moon! I can't believe I will be holding my little baby in a little more than a week!

Yesterday was nuts. My agency coordinator called and told us that we need to be in Hanoi no later than July 20th. Yes, that's right - the 20th of THIS MONTH. That's like in TWO WEEKS! As you can imagine, mayhem has ensued. I need to get visas, airline tickets, someone to take care of our dog, get the babies room ready, get packed ... oh man, get packed! Yikes! Ok, ok, deeeeep breath. Whew!

Regarding the baby: well, the funny thing is that we still don't have the referral - no picture, no medical, no nothing. Our agency has the medical information but they are waiting for the provence to give them the rest and then they will mail us the packet. The few details that I do know is that the baby is a girl and the medical was performed on April 20, 2006. She is in the Quang Binh provence but will be moving to foster care in Hanoi on monday. And that's it so far!!!

It's so funny to have been mentally ready for a baby for the last 5 years, and then to be told that we will be parent in two weeks and suddenly feel like it snuck up on us.

A couple of days ago, our agency sent out an email telling us that our agency rep was out for a week due to a death in the family. The next day I called just to make sure that if the referral was approved by the IAD during her absence that we would be told about it by someone. They told me that were just about to call us to let us know that they believe that the match has been approved by the IAD but that the provence hadn't given them any information on the baby. Ugh!

They think they will have the information next week (they're closed Monday and Tuesday). And then they also want us to get our visas because there is a chance that travel could happen sooner that the 2-3 month time frame they gave us. They are waiting for some further information and will know more next week. !? Good grief. It's all encouraging and great, but some solid definitives would be so lovely right now. But I guess I'll take this little morsel they've given us for now and just find a way to have even more patience.

We went to Las Vegas over the weekend with some friends of ours and had an absolute blast -- tons of people watching, eating, shopping, walking, partying, and dancing. I was completely exhausted by the end of it mainly from being sleep deprived. It started making me realize that I don't do to well on less than 6 hours sleep. And then it occurred to me. Uh, yikes, That's what all those new parents have been complaining about all these years.

But really, sleep deprivation is ridiculous for me to worry about right now when I STILL DON'T EVEN HAVE A REFERRAL YET. It's starting to make me crazy. At least it wasn't the first thing I thought about when I woke up this morning.

Got an email from our agency yesterday. The government in the provence where our baby is living has sent all our baby's paper work to Hanoi for the central government's (IAD) approval. Once the IAD approves, we get our referral.

It's so crazy good!