Thursday, March 29, 2007

Today is an AWESOME day!!!! We just got a call from our CM and she told us that our dossier was accepted by the DIA. Only took 2 days....rather than 2-3 weeks. Things are rolling!!!! Now it will go to DaNang and it has to be approved by the DOJ. Then we can get our G&R date!!!! Won't be long now!!!!!
DEREK WE'LL BE THERE SOON!!!!!!

Monday, March 26, 2007

We received an email of an update today. We found out that Derek's head circumfrence is 17 inches which seems right on for his age & size. We also found out that our dossier is going to the DIA this evening (Wed. AM in Vietnam right now) and that there is a 30 day allowance for processing but it is believed that this will be handled very quickly and the 30 days won't come. Then it goes to DaNang which is where Derek is in the orphanage and the DOJ there has to review and approve it and give us a travel and adoption day date. It's getting so close. Sounds at this point like May will be our month!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!

Friday, March 23, 2007

Today I have started researching flights and hotels. This isn't going to be good. I am so overwhelmed I want to cry. If it wouldn't have been so heartwrenching to get this far I would stop right now. I just don't have any clue what i am doing. I have never flown or made a travel arrangement in my life. I need direction!!!! We want to get on the same flight as Michelle & Jeff so hopefully she will be able to coach me through this. It is so confusing.If I have all my hair left when this is done it will be amazing.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!!!
This morning we recieved our medical reports for Derek. According to them he is healthy and all things seem normal. We were a little taken aback by his weight and height measurements. He is going to fit right in with this family.
Height--27"
Weight--16 pounds
Chest--18"
Since we are all tall: Norm(6'3), Teresa(5'7), Alyssa(6'), and Jessica(5'3). He will be right at home here.
He is so adorable and we can't wait to go get him. We are still being told that it could be as early as May if all the paperwork goes through smoothly. Keep praying.

I phoned Diane this afternoon and told her that WE ARE READY TO OFFICIALLY ADOPT DEREK!!!!

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Yesterday I decided to satisfy a craving I've been having. I was shopping and was hungery for Chinese food so i visited the new Panda King restaurant and had the buffet. DELICIOUS!!! Anyway I got a fortune cookie of course at the end of my meal and opene it last night. My fortune was fantastic. Here's how it reads:
"A thrilling time is in your immediate future."
Sounds good right!!!!! Hopefully immediate future is real soon. I'm sure it is speaking of Derek!!!
Still no medical reports!

Monday, March 19, 2007

Well still no medical report today. Diane said that Ray hadn't forwarded anything to her. Shealso said that to avoid any dissappointment we may feel...there really won't be much information on the report unless there is a problem and it needs to be addressed to us. All I am worried about right now is knowing that he is basically healthy and what does he weigh, how long, and head circumfrence. These are important things for the doctor here to look at and determine things from. Hopefully this week yet we will get the info. We want to officially accept his referral so badly. I just can't get over looking at his picture...he is so beautiful. Am I allowed to be so prejudice about this??? !!!
On a brighter note...I looked outside today to see what my dog was barking so insistantly about. Much to my surprise there were about 8 robins pecking persistantly at our yard. WOOHOO!!!! Spring is springing! Tomorrow it is actually SPRING!!! And tonight it is snowing, go figure.
Today I did a little shopping and got curtains for Dereks room. They are a light lime green and will match his bedding great. They were way too long so I cut them off to length and didn't feel like hemming them so in staying with the jungle theme I put slits all along the bottom to make it appear as grass. They look so cute. Somedays I just impress myself with my creativity. I put some jungle animal wallies up and I got a dust ruffle to match his bedding and put that in the crib. It's starting to look like a nursery. I haven't bought the bedding, hoping for a shower. Hint..hint!!!! We also got wooden letters to spell out Derek and I am going to paint them tomorrow and put them on his new shelf that also looks so great in the room. It is reaally coming together. I'll flash a few pictures on here as soon as I get some of the clutter sorted through. It is the place that is holding all the luggage and the stroller and swing and on and on and on.
We have gotten him some really cute outfits and I am really having fun shopping for a boy...more fun than I thought I might. We are getting so anxious!!!!
I'll let you know when we get info!!!!

Friday, March 16, 2007

Today it is snowing all day long. It has gotten heavier this afternoon. The girls went to school this morning but were sent home at 10:15 & 11:15. Almost not worth getting out of bed to send them today. It is predicted that we will get around 12 inches of this white yuck. I am so ready for spring. 2 days ago it was 70 degrees here. So I ask...why the snow???!!!! Hubby is trying to get one of the snowmobiles going so there is something for him & the girls to do tomorrow. I won't go because I hate being cold. The roads here are becoming very treacherous so I anticipate my clients to cancel tomorrow since this is supposed to last throught the night. Hubby, Mom, & I are supposed to go to a Boyd's Bear bingo to benefit Relay For Life on Sunday so it better clear up for that. I was also hoping to go out for at least one green drink tomorrow night for St. Patty's Day.
Since I was snowed in today I decided to work on Derek's room. I got his shelf hung up and a few baseball hats hung on the pegs...it is so cute. I can't wait to get crib bedding to complete the room. I also decided to start packing. I didn't get far. It is way too overwhelming for me. I have never flown or traveled so far for so long. I just don't know where to start. I have downloaded lists from other families that have traveled to VN but I just can't seem to get it together. If anyone has any suggestions....I am open to hear them.
The other thing I did today was color both the girls' hair and they both got brave and i waxed their eyebrows too. They are growing up so fast. Jessica had her first 5th grade basketball game last night and she scored the first basket of the game. WOOHOO!!!!! Alyssa has her first track meet on the 27th. I run in all directions.
We should be receiving our travel guide and hopefully Derek's medical report Monday. We are very anxious to see how much he weighs and how long he is as his picture looks as if he is going to be tall. He'll fit right in with the rest of us then. We'll let you know what we find out.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

We got an email from our CM today that tells us that the medical exams are being done this week on the babies in the orphanage. We should have a current medical report next week on Derek's conditions. We are praying that he is healthy and strong. Our dossier will be hand delivered to the DIA next week by Duc. The DIA required that it be hand delivered for some unknown reason. Let's just hope it's a good one. And Ray is working to have our travel guide finished for us to receive next week so that we can begin looking into our travel arrangements and requirements of Vietnam. We are going to try to start packing some things so we can get ahead of the game. We were told to pack light as there are accomodations to do laundry there. We intend to carry along an empty suitcase to pack items in that we will purchase there.
Norm is getting very anxious to travel as he can't wait to hold his son in his arms. I have had a sense of contentment about me since we received the picture and Norm has gone full circle in being very anxious now.
Soon we will be holding Derek in our arms as we have been holding him in our hearts.
Continue to pray for safety and health of the babies in the orphanage.

Sunday, March 11, 2007


Check out this onsie I made this week for Derek. This will be the first sport that he will be HOME to watch. Alyssa will be playing and she was so tickled with the design. There ill be many more made as the girls play alot of sports.
Things have been in an uproar in our house this past week. After receiving the WONDERFUL news of our ability to accept a referral of our son Derek, we looked around the nursery and decided we better start thinking blue instead of pink. So my mom and I feverishly rooted through the 4 rather large tote boxes of girl clothes we have bought since starting the adoption process. Wow, we had quite a stash. So we dug out receipts and matched with as many items as we could and have returned those to the stores and got credit for them. The rest of the stuff that we couldn't match with receipts or that I had already removed tags I began compiling to sell on eBay (one of my favorite places to hang out). We have really decreased the size of our piles. I still have a lot to get rid of though. Some I have saved to send to my friend Michelle for her new referral of her daughter. I hope she likes them. So I have been quite busy on this computer lately. We bought a few pieces of clothes for Derek but I am kind of waiting to get his medical reports hopefully this week and see exactly how much he weighs so I can get a better idea what sizes to buy. I hate returning things. This week I am going to try to begin packing some stuff for our trip to get Derek so that I don't have to do it all at one time. Tonight we have to go to Alyssa's basketball banquet...good food!!!! I am also going to try to start Derek's scrapbook this week. I hope to have time to transition Jadens original one into a special one for Michelle to give to Linhly. Yesterday Jessica and I went to a craft show at the high school and I got a beautiful wooden 60" shelf with pegs to hang in Dereks room. I had to get something that would hide all of the nail holes I have in the wall from the girly stuff I originally had up. We also found a really cute giraffe clothes tree and they personalized it for us. We got him a stuffed monkey to hang on it too. The nursery is going to be jungle animals. I am waiting to buy a lot of the decorating stuff until after I see if there is a shower. I figured that would be good things to get for that. I think the only big thing left to buy is a highchair and his crib bedding. My mom has been having fun shopping.

If we get any updates this week I will share them.

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Now that things are settling into perspective and I have a little time I'd like to share our referral experience with you:
On Monday we were made aware that the 2 baby girls that were in the orphanage had been referred out to other families and there were still the 2 baby boys. Diane said to us that she had to ask us this but she thought she would know our answer: Would we consider on of the baby boys for a referral. Well I wasn't OVERjoyed but I was excited for the opportunity. It had been what seemed like forever that we were waiting for this day. I called my mom first because I needed someone rational to give me a little direction. She was quite helpful at helping me think outside the box. Then I called Norm to come to the house right away. I told him about the availability of the baby boy and we pondered, cried, and finally decided that through this whole chain of events that God had chosen for us to have a SON!!! We instantly after making the decision were now OVERjoyed. We called Diane right away and told her we would like the bay boy. She was thrilled. She thought she could have the picture for us that afternoon yet. The day rolled on and around 3:45 Diane called and regretfully told us there was a mix up and they didn't have our baby's picture but should have it on Tuesday for us. Oh the suspense. In the meantime my friend Michelle who also was expecting her referral Monday received hers and emailed the picture and name Dat to me. Oh what a beautiful baby I told her. So perfect with pouty lips and button nose and those big brown eyes!!!! Later that evening we took the girls to see the Harlem Globetrotters, which by the way they absolutely loved and we had a wonderful time, and I received a call on my cell phone there. I wasn't sure of the caller ID # so I didn't know if I should answer it but something made me push the button and cautiously say hello. Much to my surprise it was Michelle. She went on to tell me how they mixed up her picture and the pic she got was a boy(even though he had on a pink hat). Well now I was really confused. She did however get her correct picture and might I add she is absolutely gorgeous. I can't wait to hold her as well as our own son. Anyway, the next morning Diane called and said she didn't have a picture but she had his name... Dat. Ring any bells....that was the same name Michelle gave me with her initial mix up picture. Guesss what...We have met our SON!!! So Diane followed up by emailing me his picture (the same one Michelle had received) and brief medical information. WOW!!! He was here...now comes the longest wait of all. She told us that they are anticipating that we can travel within 2-4 months so we aree trying to prepare for the sooner just in case but not to get too excited yet just in case it goes longer. It is so hard not to have him in our arms. So we have been flying HIGH since Tuesday and our families are so happy and they have fallen in love with him. We still have to wait for further medical reports and speak with his doctor we will be attending here to check over the reports and then we can accept his referral officially. Truthfully I can't see us not accepting it. So last night I decided that we can't any longer call him "our son" & "our baby", he needed a NAME!!!! o we had several in mind and we discussed it with the girls and we ended up putting a few names in a hat and picking one out and well that's how he got his name...DEREK ROBERT LAHR!!!!! One of the unfortunate things is that he was abandoned and therefore we do not know his true birthdate however with all of the pieces put together by the agency and when he came to the orphanage they believe that his birthday must have been around December 5th so that's the date we are going to use. So Derek is now 3 months old and will be around 6 months old when we bring him home to be with us. We can't wait for that day.
What a turn of events huh?!?!?!?!

Monday, March 05, 2007

We haven't come up with a name yet but The name "Jaden" which we had chosen for a baby girl came to me in a dream so hopefully our baby boy's name will too. Maybe tonite. We need to start brainstorming. Any suggestions???
Today has been the BEST day in adoption world!!!!!
We received a call today from Diane and she told us that the second baby girl has been referred to another family but that we were next in line and there is a boy available. Norm & I and my Mom & I discussed the pros & cons and I decided I was ready to switch gears and tackle raising a boy. I know I can do this. Hopefully all of my SIL's (2 of which have only girls) will be able to coach me along. It's been 11 years since I've had a baby in the house. And they were girls. We are extremely excited and Michelle & I should still get to travel together if all goes smoothly. WOOHOO!!!
Tomorrow we should have a picture of OUR NEW SON!!!!!
Stay tuned...

Friday, March 02, 2007

I just spoke with Diane and she said that she hasn't had any kind of confirmation on decisions but that it is her "gut feeling" that one of the families ahead of us is going to take the 2nd baby girl. If I could stop crying long enough to get through this I would try to rationalize with the fact that this is God's plan for us. My SIL's have called today to try to cheer me up and to lend their support. This meant the world to me. I want them to be involved and to understand and to help me along. I know they love us and that it breaks their heart as well. Soon we can call them and tell them they will be aunts again.
Diane has called Ray several times today trying to get some concrete answers to the decisions but i guess they are going to give the families the weekend to ponder about it. Someone stop this roller coaster and let me off.
I wish I hadn't taken to heart everything that Ray said to us on the forum. He only gave estimates but it was false hope to us.
Continue to pray for the birth of Jaden and that we will get her referral by June. That would set our travel around Sept. or Oct. I don't really want to fly through the winter months.
Thanks to all!!!!
Well after processing all of the what if's, possiblies, and maybe's I have made myself literally sick overnight. Today I want to crawl under the covers and pretend that yesterday's news never came but...I have a salon full of clients to do today. To top it all off...it is raining cats & dogs here so it makes my world even more dreary. I wonder what will make this even worse today. I emailed Diane and asked for an update if she got one so I hope to hear back from her. I want to know good or bad what the other families have chosen to do. I just hope she hears confirmation today because I will never make it through the weekend with a clear head if I don't know for sure.
In lightness of the adoption world...my friend Michelle and hubby Jeff got word yesterday that they will get their referral on Monday or Tuesday. WOOHOO!!!!! I am extremely excited for them.
Keep praying!!!!!

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Well folks...it's yet another downhill ride on the infamous adoption roller coaster. I received an email from my case manager today saying that there a 4 referrals ready and they should be notifying families tomorrow or Monday with the picture & medical info. Guess what...We are family #5. She said it all depends on how the other families ahead of us choose but that is is very unlikely that Jaden is there yet. Boy did Ray ever have the wool pulled over our eyes. Now as I sob uncontrollably I just can't belive our wait is going to be even longer. This is insane!!!!