on posting pictures…. it is so frustrating to get a bunch uploaded and then have the whole thing crap out while trying to publish. I feel like a complete blog failure and I know most of you want to see pictures and not just read about our journey, but the photos I have taken are going to have to wait until we get home.
The good news is… we are coming home early! We were scheduled to leave on Sept 23 (in honor of both Jackie and Bruce Springstein’s birthday) but we were able to change our flights to come home two days early! So now, we are leaving on Sunday morning, Vietnam time and will be in Pittsburgh on Monday eveining!! We land at 6pm-ish.
The Hanoi portion of our journey has gone very smoothly…. we had Max’s medical exam on Monday and then went to the embassy on Monday afternoon to deliver our paperwork. Max’s medical exam went well – he had a little fungal infection that is alreayd cleared up with the medication we got and also has some sort of rash on his face. We think it has to do with the change in soap, but the doctor gave us a prescription for that, as well and it appears to be drying up. He is a little on the small side, but that’s to be expected. And either his clothes are shrinking in the wash or his already gaining some serious weight!
We had our interview with the US embassy on Tuesday and had Max’s visa in hand on Tuesday evening! That completes the process here in Vietnam and means that Max will be a US citizen when we go through customs in LA on Sunday night!
Two of the four families have already left for home. Matt and I wanted to stick around for a few extra days to explore Hanoi and get to know Max a little better before we made the long trip home. The Harwell’s are still here and, in fact, have taken a two day trip to Ha Long Bay – which is about 3 hours away and supposed to be absoultely beautiful. They get the prize for most sightseeing and, of course, best blogging. Things are going very well with them, as Lihnly has come a long way since those early visits at the orphanage. She looks right at home in one of Michelle’s many “slings” and, though shy, has started to really show her personality.
We will miss the Lahr’s and their sweet little guy, Derek – but they live in central PA so we are hoping to get to seem them soon. They are planning a visit in the coming weeks and will stay with us! It will be great for Max to stay in close contact with both Derek and Lihnly and we certainly intend to maintain strong ties to both families. We had so much fun with all of them!

So Max is an amazing little boy… very active and happy and is already starting to understand some of our English words. He sleeps and eats like a champ and seems very comfortable and content with both of us. Most importantly, he makes us laugh. He loves to laugh and seems to get a kick out of entertaining us. He has full conversations with us, even if his side is just a lot of “huh’s” and “wa’s.” He will go to “mama” and to “dada” (both of which he has called us!) and seems to prefer us over others – which is a huge step forward in the bonding process. We seem to make huge stides everyday and we both have commented that it already feels like he’s been with us forever.

So we’re doing great and enjoying our new life with Max. We are both looking forward to getting home and getting Max adjusted to life in Pittsburgh. I can’t wait for you all to meet him!!

Thanks again for the prayers, good thoughts and comments. It is such a blessing to have so many wonderful people in our lives who have been rooting for us and for Max throughout this process. I kept saying that this adoption story has a happy ending and indeed it does…. Now we get to write the chapters of being Max’s mom and dad!

~ L

Our blog sucks! 

I apologize for not keeping it up to date.  It was nearly impossible to hold a connection from our room in Danang.  I would add all of these pictures and try to post them and the entire post would get lost…. it got very frustrating!! 

We are now in Hanoi – as of yesterday – and this connection, while slow, is much more reliable so I am hoping can get caught up with the pictures this evening.  Everything is going really well and Max is adjusting to life as a “Haag.”  He’s so much fun and we spend most of our day giggling! 

More later… promise!

Well it looks like that last post got messed up with the saving problem I am having…. I will fix it tomorrow and add the rest of the pictures when I am not so tired and can take my computer to a location at the hotel that has a stronger connection. 

Good night!

~L

While we waited for all of the DOJ officials we were able to play with the kids and I got a picture of Max with each of the nannies.  Here they are: 

Max and Nannie 1

Max and Nannie 2

Max and Nannie 3

And he’s ours!!! 

What an amazing day!  Here’s how the whole thing unfolded:  (By the way – I will need to do this as a few separate posts.  Because our connection is slow, I’ve had a hard time saving long posts….)

Over the weekend, we sent the clothes for the G&R to the orphanage so they could dress the kids for the ceremony today before they broght them to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the G&R.  We picked up Hung at about 2:30 and got to the DOJ at about 3.  The ceremony was scheduled for 3:30.  The kids arrived with the Orphanage Director, Miss Mai, and 5 of the 6 nannies who work at the orphanage. 

They also brought along the oldest boy (about 2 years old) in the orphanage – we call him Bob – whose parents are still in the states awaiting their final approval.  The original “Danang 5″ have been together since birth but only 4 were adopted today, so this will be a rough time for Bob.  There are 4 other children in the orphanage who are about 6 months old and whose families are awaiting final approval.  There also are two VERY YOUNG newborns there, as well, who will also be adopted.  These children have 7 total caregivers – all of whom are WONDERFUL, including the orphanage director, who have all been there since the orphanage opened.  Our 4 children are the first kids to leave the orphanage so this was a very rough day for all of the nannies. 

Here’s a picture of the room where the ceremony was held and also a photo of the nannies bringing the children. 

G&R Ceremony Room at the DOJ

Max coming in for the G&RAnd here's a picture of Hung with on of the DOJ officials: Hung and DOJ Official

Our Giving and Receiving ceremony will be held at the Department of Justice in Danang on Monday at 3 pm local time.  We’ve heard that it only lasts about 20 minutes and after it is over, Max is our son!!  We’ll be able to bring him back to the hotel and hope that he won’t scream bloody murder all night long!  Pictures will follow tomorrow night….

Thanks to all for continued good thoughts and prayers!

~ L