Meanwhile, back in the city . . . .

After a few email exchanges, some of us managed to get together for dinner Monday night.  Us, meaning Viet Nam mommies and me.  I am blessed to be surrounded by many AP’s from Viet Nam in my area.  It was such a refreshing change from just sitting and agonizing.   I got to catch up on the babies’ progress and listen to the cute stories.  I was given a laundry list of “what to do” and “what not to do” so I know if little Aven makes it home, I’ll have awesome resources. 

I was with AP’s that adopted children from HCMC and from Aven’s province.  It is interesting to hear about the different ways the G&R’s were handled and obviously the ages of the children were dramatically different because of the different provinces.  It was so comforting to have these ladies share things with me that I wouldn’t even think to ask about.  Truly, I have been blessed with the best people in the world.  They are great moms and great friends.  Like a big old mug of hot cocoa for the soul.  We laughed so hard at each other and that was nice for a change.  I got a call from another friend this weekend that I missed.  I could have hung out with one of the coolest little Vietnamese chicks this side of Viet Nam, but I missed the call!!!!!  ARGH!!!  That’s ok, I get to do lunch with her mom and my dear, dear friend (who seriously walks on water in my eyes!) this Friday.  Now, if we could just all get together at the same time, THAT would be glorious!  I do hope someday ALL of our babies can have one Hella Babypalooza Play Date! 

Aven honey . . . . you have so many people praying for you to come home and who have tried to help mummy and daddy behind the scenes . . . . I just want you to know how loved you are and how special your new little friends are because they have the greatest parents ever. . .  Hurry home, Sweet Cheeks!  You have at least 3 boyfriends to coo over!

Mommy had a wreck this morning. . .

I have never had a wreck . . . with a real other driver . . . . on a real road . . . . traveling at 45mph.  I have only hit deer.  Uninsured deer.  

It was my fault.  Actually it was the fault of the turd that PUT ON BRAKES TO CHANGE LANES IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON ONE OF THE BUSIEST ROADS IN MY CITY.  That car was in front of the dude I hit.  Dude was able to keep from hitting SHYTE for brains b/c SHYTE for brains got in the other lane in time, but not in time for me to avoid hitting dude. 

He was ok.  His car was ok and prolly only needs a bumper replaced.  My car and my head didn’t make out so well.  Since we were on a slight crest of a hill, the Mack truck only narrowly avoided smacking both of us.  Needless to say, we had to move our cars and luckily mine was able to be moved even though it looked a little like an acordian on the front end. 

I went on to work as I am trying to save vaca/sick time in the hope that someday I might be with child.  The fact that I was dizzy and slightly confused for a couple of hours would have been funnier if I wasn’t working on pleadings to file with the US Federal Court in DC. . . .

Maybe they won’t notice . . . .

Royal Mail indeed!

My loverly friends . . . . my loverly loverly friends . . . . Aven was gifted with with her first birthday cards ever!  The first was from Auntie Alicia and Emma and Sadie!  Then we got Auntie Tracy’s HUGE card from Wales along with Auntie Danie and Auntie Tia . . . . her little Toko cousins too!  I had to commemorate the moment!  Thank you my precious, dear friends/soul sistahs!!

 

From Auntie Tracy, cousins Jess, Ellie and Madelyn in Wales

 

From Auntie Alicia and cousins Emma and Sadie

 

From Auntie Danie and cousins Ava and Addison . . . . lookie wot cousin Ava did for Aven!

 

And from Auntie Tia and cousins Maya and Ben

Lookie what you got for your birthday Aven!!!!!

A Presidential Inauguration and a brand new President!!!! 

Mommy voted for him with you in mind sweety.  Now, we must plot to repeal that pesky little law that states that only natural born citizens can be President so you can have YOUR turn!  Or would you prefer to be Secretary of State so that you can make sure the International Adoption opportunities that should be available to orphans remains INTACT and ETHICAL to ALL parties!!!??  Think about it and we’ll discuss when we meet! 

And guess what else?  It is snowing!  I’ll take a piccie and post it later!  Going to go make some hot cocoa and dream about snuggling up with you someday and sharing that cocoa . . . .

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY SWEET CHEEKS

Today is my girl’s first birthday . . . . . I do hope they recognized it in some fashion at the orphanage. 

I spent part of the day and evening working on a project to help me feel a little less powerless about where things stand in getting her home.  I am still at the mercy of her province, but the little projects I have been assigning myself have helped me stop being so paralyzed and helpless and have helped occupy a very worried mind. 

I have taken some pics of her Christmas tree and the big Christmas tree.  The live tree.  The tree that is still supple and thriving even though it has been in a tree stand in my house for about 7 wks now.  Unbelievable!  I have never had a tree survive this long.  Perhaps the tree is trying to hang on for Aven.  Hubs is getting worried that it will soon be a fire hazard.  I reckon we’ll take that one down this weekend.  Her tree, which is artificial, will stay up until she comes home.  Even if that is July.  And so will our outside Christmas decor.  Even if it is July.   I don’t care what the neighborhood thinks.  

So . . . . here is to “keeping the lights on” for Aven, her little friends that STILL aren’t home in her orphanage from another agency, and for the little children trapped in Bac Lieu province.  All of you will take up extra special space in  my prayers this evening. 

Mommy and Daddy love you Aven. . . .

And then there was one . . .

Agatha Christie . . . where are you?

I left town this weekend to check on my father and stepmother.  She just had a triple bypass to prepare for her kidney transplant.  My dad is into his chemotherapy.  I was startled to learn they were getting Meals on Wheels, but grateful at the same time.  It sucks that we live so far apart.  I imagine that we will have to make regularly scheduled visits between my sister and I to make sure they are ok.  I didn’t sleep most of the weekend, but I really haven’t slept well for the last year.   . . . no biggie.  My dad only wants to know one thing . . .  When is that baby coming home?  Oh . . . . if I only knew when . . . .

I have been trying to to my part to work toward advancing the push for a new agreement, albeit in a far less aggressive way than before as per my lawyer’s instruction.  I offered to have our names put on a petition, but the offer was declined by a very intuitive LADY out west. . . . bless her . . . she doesn’t want us to do anything to hurt our attempt to get our daughter home.  Thank you for the way you handled that B.A.!  When there is an end to my travails, perhaps I can renew more aggressive approaches.  I am encouraged by the work that some of my friends have done with the new administration about to be seated.  YEAH SHARON’S FRIENDS!!!! 

I did find out that we are the only family left in what used to be my agency.  Everyone else has their child or either has left to go get their child.   That is a bit scary . . . .  breathe in, breathe out.  And then there was one . . . . and EXHALE.

Update . . . .

there isn’t one. 

 

Welcome to my world. 

But, my pantry, linen closet, utility closet, hall coat closet, powder room vanity, kitchen cabinets (ALL OF THEM!) and my guest bedroom dresser have been purged and are clutter free. . . . .

{HRUMPH}

“Yes . . .Could I have a large Wait and a side of frustration?”

Thanks so much!  Do you know why I am not falling apart at the seams and freaking out?  Well, that is because my dear husband and Aven’s daddy is starting to fall apart.  He can’t look at her pictures without getting emotional and he is having a hard time with the “when” questions from the sweet ladies that he works with.  So . . . . my new project is keeping my husband from going postal on someone.  It is a distraction from the frustration of what ISN’T happening in VN, albeit a sad distraction.

Happy New Year!

God I feel old.