August 25, 2006 - Embassy, Passport and Packing, Oh My!

We got a call late last night to be in the lobby at 11:15am for our meeting with the US State Department at noon. We went to the Diamond Plaza on the 8th floor where the Embassy is located. We passed through Security and then had to wait. And wait we did, we didn't get into our interview until after 1:30pm. He asked the standard questions and said have your facilitator come back at 430pm to pick up your package for your Visa interview in Hanoi. We ate lunch there since the Diamond Plaza is a great big department store with a theatre and office building attached. Of course the only place they have to eat there is KFC. So we had a nice lunch and headed back to the hotel where I had to go and pick up Keere's passport at 2:45pm. Now picking up the passport was quite the adventure. First we were told to go to the front of the line of a crowd of about 100 Vietnamese people also trying to pick up their passports, needless to say they weren't happy about a big white American butting her way to the front of the line. I kept saying sorry but it didn't help matters. Then the facilitator that was helping us pick up the passports decides after we stood in the crowd for a good 20 minutes that we actually could just go into the other room and pick them up. I signed my name and viola, Keere's passport or Ngoc's passport since they don't use her American name I gave her on her paperwork. We have now spent the night packing trying to get everything in order for our flight to Hanoi tomorrow morning.
I have to say that I'm a little sad that I'm taking Keere away from Ho Chi Minh City tomorrow where she has spent almost the first 6 months of her life. I'm sure she won't remember any of the time she spent here in Vietnam and soon will be an All-American girl. It's a bittersweet moment because I know here she would have no future but with her family and friends that are waiting for her a half a world away and of course with her Mommy and Grandma, that her future is bright and filled with more love than she could ever imagine.
PS: I will add pictures tomorrow once we are in Hanoi, so check back!

August 24, 2006 - Visa Medical Exam

Today we went for Keere's Visa Medical exam. We had to be up, ready and in the lobby by 7am. Which Keere wasn't happy about it because that's breakfast time for her. We took a taxi over to the hospital which was about 1/2 hour or more ride over there. We took a seat and waited for our name...ok Keere's name to be called. They measured her head and then we were taken into another room to have her height and weight and then to be examined by the Doctor. Keere just laughed at the Doctor and wanted to grab her flashlight, which she did succeed in doing and the Doctor almost didn't get it back with the grip Keere had on it. Everything was in order but the Doctor did make the comment about the congestion still in her lungs. We told her that she is finishing up her antibiotic and other meds. She was happy that we had gotten her treatment.

August 23, 2006 - Applying for Passport

Today I went and applied for Keere's passport. The office was brimming with people who were there either to get passports, extend their visas or apply for temporary residence. When it was finally my turn, I meet with a very stern military official, who looked over all of Keere's paperwork, then turned to me and asked me if I was single. I answered "yes". He shrugged his shoulders and he said we were done. He then took the paperwork into another room and we had to wait. He came back out after about 20 minutes, motioned for me to follow, handed me a piece of paper and told me to go pay. So I went and paid the fees and we were done. Her "rushed" passport will be ready on Friday. We spent the rest of the day taking it easy since Mom and I are still feeling quite under the weather. We did venture out for a short time for some lunch and shopping. We decided we should finally do some shopping since we are staying positive that we won't be here that much longer.

August 22, 2006 - IT'S OFFICIAL !!!!!!!!!!

We got a whirlwind call 5 minutes before 4 pm saying we needed to be down in the lobby at 415pm for our G&R. You should of seen us rushing around trying to get ready, trying to get Keere ready and pack the diaper bag. We were two crazy women. We got ready in record time and had 5 minutes to spare. We were then whisked off to the Ministry of Justice building where the orphanage director was waiting to sign the paperwork to make Keere officially mine. So right around 5pm we signed all the necessary paperwork (4 copies each), signed the book and it was over. KEERE IS OFFICIALLY MY DAUGHTER in the eyes of the Vietnamese Government. WHOO HOO!!!!!!
To celebrate the occasion, my Mom (aka Keere's Grandma) got both of us a jade bracelet to commemorate this over joyous occasion. We are celebrating tonight with pizza delivered from Al Fresco's in our room while my daughter sleeps away.

August 22, 2006 - 20 days since we left home

Yep, we have been away from home for 20 days now, so to celebrate Mom decided we should take Keere over to the Municipal Park which is about 5 blocks away from our hotel. We have passed it several times when we would take the Taxi to GoVap to visit Keere but we had never walked that way. The park is amazing, between the sculptures, toparies, water elements and the gorgeous flowers we had a wonderful time even though we both still don't feel good. They also have a brand new playground that was amazing, when I saw it, I thought of all the fun the kids in our life would have playing on it. There were so many things to do between the swinging, rope climbing, slides and the huge boat it was one of the best playgrounds I have ever seen.
We also meet a group of children that were so excited to see Keere. I think they spent at least 10 minutes hugging and kissing on her. And when they say my Mom was taking pictures and they could see themselves, they insisted that we take their picture. They were one of the sweetest group of children we have meet. In the midst's of all the hustle and bustle of this city, it was amazing how serene it was and you almost forgot that you were half a world away from home. Keere enjoyed watching the fountains, she loves water and I think she was thinking she was going to get to take another bath. But soon she was so relaxed that she feel fast asleep in the baby carrier.
Almost also forgot to mention, as we were walking around we were watching a group of people take pictures for an Ad of the patio furniture that they were selling. They asked us if we would be in their picture sitting at one of their tables. Well, Keere had just fallen asleep and the minute I sat down she decided that she didn't want to sit still. So that left just Mom. They sat her at this white table and snapped a few pictures of her and then they gave her coconut to sit there and drink, all I could do was stand there and chuckle at her and try and snap of few shots of my own of the photo shoot. I joked later with Mom that she was going to wind up on the sides of buses all over Vietnam or even Ebay.
Since our camera was actually working today we thought we would share more pictures with all of you.

August 21, 2006 - The start of a new week

We are hoping this week will bring us some good news about our G&R. So far nothing but we have to remember not to lose faith, which is hard since we have been away from home for so long. We miss everyone and appreciate every single e-mail we get. I'm sorry I don't get around to responding to them all but I promise that every single one is read and enjoyed.

Today we spent just lounging around because none of us feel that well. We ventured out by taxi only to go to the pharmacy because we had ran out of some of our medicine. Let me just say if you will be traveling over here anytime soon, make sure to bring more than you would every think you would use because it cost as an arm and leg to buy a box of tylenol sinus or any other medicine like that. It basically turned out to be $3.00 a pill, yes you read that right 3 US Dollars a pill, not a dose which consists of 2 pills which would be $6.00. Can you tell I'm annoyed by this, probably because Mom and I still feel so rotten. Our Sinuses and Allergies infections have now settled into our chests with bronchitis and cough syrup is one thing that is not available here. We did go upstairs and visit the other family that is here for a short time. Lu is such a sweet baby. Keere spent most of the time just looking at her and studying her like she does, all the while Lu is cooing and giggling. Lu is a month younger than Keere but is both longer and weighs more.

Also, we didn't get a very good nights sleep because they have decided that the building they are rehabbing next door, they are only going to work on at night. So nothing like hearing heavy machinery, concrete trucks and jack hammering all night long. Again it probably wouldn't be as annoying if we felt better.

August 20, 2006 - Thien Hau Temple

Thien Hau Temple was built in 1825. It is dedicated to Thien Hau, who has the ability to travel over oceans on a mat and ride clouds. She is the protector of sailors and fisherman. We are told it is one of Ho Chi Minh city's most popular temples.