I am moving on to my new blog. It will be about what life is like being Aven’s mom. It will be password protected on the pictures and the more personal details. If you would like the password please email me at
sharon at tokobobo dot com
How many guests has Aven had?
-
Jetlagged, sick, exhausted and disturbed.
February 28, 2009 — SharonRe-entry is a bitch y’all!
We all are jetlagged, sick (Aven, not so much), exhausted and mommy is disturbed. It is hard to get going when I am sick on a good day, but partner that with jetlag, new mommydom and exhaustion and it makes for serious disorientation. I went for utencils 4 times and each time I looked in the cabinet where I keep the pots and pans. OY!
Now on to the disturbed part: I was alerted by my best bud that blogland had gone through what appeared to be a lockdown with passwords, etc. while I was gone. . . I did some pokin’ around and saw that photos had been lifted and used without permission. Anytime you put something out in cyberspace you run the risk of that, but I understand why it is done. For many, this is the big way we keep in touch with family and friends who might otherwise not be able to have this type of access. It is nice to be able to stay in touch without having to coordinate scheduled visits or phone chats and to be able to visit a blog at your convenience.
I decided some time back that when I got Aven home, I was going to change to a different blog URL as this adoption journey would come to an end. Honestly . . . .I need a fresh start. The process, which started out as fabu, turned traumatic at times. It is also not something I wish to remain attached to for the time being other than for posterity’s sake. Besides . . . . based on our first couple of weeks together, chronicling motherhood should be a pretty wild ride by itself. I want to post honestly about what is REALLY going on and to do that and share pics, I’ll be compelled to password protect much of what I write. I probably won’t have time to make a change immediately, but perhaps over the next week I will. I haven’t decided if I will post the URL here or not, but if I don’t and you want the URL, just email me. . . .
More to follow. . .
P.S. Snuggling with baby Aven rocks!
” . . . and from this day forward, you will be a family forever.”
February 26, 2009 — SharonWith those words from the Thanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee . . . she legally became what she has been since May 19, 2008. She signed the papers and nodded her head “yes”. . . she is now stuck with us . . . . FOREVER.
Below is the picture that was over 5 years in the making . . . my father holding my daughter . . . his granddaughter. His chemo began yesterday and he made the 4 hour trip to see his baby girl . . . No more words are necessary . . . .
Royal Mail indeed!
January 22, 2009 — SharonMy 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
HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY SWEET CHEEKS
January 19, 2009 — SharonToday 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. . . .
Protected: What’s a few. . . . thousand . . .Christmas ornaments gonna hurt?
November 29, 2008 — SharonThe Imaginarium . . .
September 11, 2008 — Sharon
We are on vacation and while touring the Old City, I happened upon what I thought was a Dr. Seuss store. I was going to get Aven and her little friends a little trinket or two as this was clearly a “specialty” Dr. Seuss “store”. HA!!!!!!! It was actually an Art Gallery for nothing but art featuring the work of the creator of Dr. Seuss, Theodore Geisel.
I visited on Tuesday and tossed about buying Aven a numbered print commissioned by the widow of Mr. Geisel and priced by her. It was to be in celebration of what I expected to be another adoption milestone that we met. I picked one for the colors and Daddy picked one for the narration at the bottom. I don’t make impulse buys so I told them I would be back. When we went today, another lady was there. She was the owner of the gallery. She tried to be helpful but I was profoundly depressed as we were told today that the milestone we were expecting is not to come any time soon. I have spent most of our vacation verklempt and distraught. When the gallery owner asked about who we were buying it for, I told her about our daughter in Viet Nam. I told her how hard we had to fight to get her home. I told her that we were growing weary but could not stop. Not until she came home; not until all the precious little children came home. I talked about how tiny my girl was; about how little the children of Viet Nam were and how most of us worried about their nutrition and care. During my story, it was becoming clear I was unable to decide on which print I wanted. Sarah, the gallery owner put down another print featuring the characters of Horton Hears a Who. I stopped dead in my tracks. I began to tear up. I told Sarah THAT was the one. It was perfect as it said everything that I feel for Aven . . . . . for all of Aven’s orphanage mates and for the little children in Viet Nam who wait to join their families. . . . And until Aven and all her little friends get a voice of their own, we, their parents will make sure that everyone knows that no matter how small, they are people too.
So, you know I was crying right? Well, I looked over at Daddy . . . . he was tearing up too. Then Sarah took the museum quality framed print and said, “I am shipping this to your home to make sure it is protected and I am shipping it as a gift . . . what you are doing for your child is wonderful; what you are doing for the other children is wonderful. Thank God they have people like you and your friends to speak for them.” (I told her about a wonderful group of people who have stood by each other during this drama).
So Miss Aven . . . . you have another fan. And you are the proud owner of a wonderful piece of artwork. Hurry home honey . . . .
