Welcome to the United States of America

Welcome Home - Liam! We made it home, Saturday around 10am. It was a very long journey. Both boys were troopers the whole way. Ben did amazingly well on the long flight - sleeping most of it. Liam didn't fair quite as well - but hung in there with us until the bitter end. Immigration was fairly smooth. Liam became a citizen around 9:30pm EST on Friday night. Connections were interesting - especially going from the international terminal to the domestic terminal in LA. At one point, Rob was pushing the luggage on a cart with Ben riding on his shoulders. I was holding Ben's hand so he didn't fall off while carrying Liam in his hammock and pulling a rolling bag. I am sure we made quite a site. We are so very thankful to have traveled with the Russell family. One of them was always grabbing a bag or a child for us. I am so glad I don't have to know what it would have been like to do it without them. It is just a long long trip and we so grateful to be home. Here are a few pictures of the homecoming. Thanks to all that made it to the airport - especially those that woke up their children just to come welcome us home. Thanks to everyone for the prayers. God has richly blessed us with two precious boys.

Liam says goodbye - view from hotel window.

Ben riding the luggage.

Love the moving sidewalks.

Citizen Liam - Welcome Home Baby Boy.

Waiting on our arrival.

Thanks for coming to see us home!


Finally - We made it!

Tricia, Liam with Aunt Mamy and baby Maggie.

Ben, Rob and Paw-Paw.

Ben and his Na-Na.

Bath time at home - at last.

Have Visa - Will Travel

We are coming HOME! Visa appointment lasted 2minutes. Picked it up same day and we are heading home tonight. We arrive in LR at 8:10am on Saturday. We are so excited to introduce our precious little Liam to everyone.

I was able to load a few photos before the computer decided to "take a break".
Thanks for all the support and prayers.
Can't wait to get home and settle into our new life as four.

Leaving HCMC.


Liam's first plane ride - he liked it!


My three boys.



Bath time!!!


Dinner out - who's idea was that?


Playing???

Brothers O'Connor

shhh - all my boys are sleeping

All my boys are asleep. I love this sleeping late concept. Ben has been waking before 6 am everyday - since before we left on this trip actually. Liam was waking pretty early but slept until 8 yesterday. That's awesome. It is now after 6 and all three are asleep.

We are good. Yesterday was long but good. Ben and I swam with the Russells in the morning. Both boys napped and then we saw Mai and Dzung in the afternoon. They brought us groceries so we can cook and also brought dinner to our hotel room. They are wonderful. For those that don't know, they are both Hendrix students in Conway. They are home in Hanoi for the summer. we are so grateful for their friendship. We are hoping to see them again today - as well as their parents.

We have an embassy appointment for Thursday afternoon. We are working on having our plane tickets changed. It will be wonderful to get the boys home and settled into our new life as four.

Still hoping to get more pictures on the computer. Sorry don't have any right now.
thanks for all the prayers. We are on the home stretch now.

Hello from Hanoi

We have arrived in Hanoi! Yesterday was a long day of travel. Rob and I left the hotel with the boys around 1:30 and arrived at our room in Hanoi at about 8pm.

We seem to be having a lot of technical difficulties this trip. I am having trouble getting our latest photos to load onto computer. I am posting some super cute ones of Liam. Hope to post pics from yesterday soon.

Meanwhile, enjoy this cutie...

Once a trio, Now a quartet!

Here are some pictures of our beautiful boys! They are both doing so well. We were able to get out yesterday for a meal - all four of us plus Dzung! Dzung is here on vacation and we spent most of the day with him. That was awesome. I was even able to go out shopping with him. Rob stayed in the room with the boys. Dzung did my bargaining for me! That was fun. We had a great dinner in the room and both the boys went to bed by 8pm. It was a great day.

All four - leaving the center. (this is typical Ben reaction to having picture taken)

Mom x2

Four O'Connors!

Happy Boy!

Brothers!



Super sleeper!

Life with Liam

Wow. Where to begin...
Liam is absolutely precious. Very easy going. Happy and sweet natured. He is relaxed and just hanging out with the gang most of the time. That is a HUGE blessing. Well, to be honest, I should say he is very squirmy and strong.

We arrived at the center at 8:30am yesterday morning. Liam and his buddies (Betsy & Mai's boys) were all dressed in brand new clothes that fit Ben. Looking super cute under all that bulkiness. We took photos and left shortly after for the Local Justice Department. On the way there, we were able to drive by the hospital where Liam was born and take photos. It is such an interesting contrast to the large hospital where Ben was born. This hospital was not a separate building - the entrance was along the street between two store fronts. The g&r was short and very informal. Rob and I both signed multiple copies of the offical "giving" and we entered our names into their large ledger. Took a photo and that was it. He's ours!

We then went back to the hotel. I put Liam on the bed and Ben jumped up and started playing with his toys. This is the moment I will always treasure. Liam's first laugh. He loves is brother. He immediatedly started belly laughing at Ben's every move - following him with his eyes and rolling over if Ben got out of eye sight.

The drive to HCMC was long but easy on the boys. Ben slept most of the 4 1/2 hour drive. Liam slept a little and played the rest of the time. Once at the hotel, we were exhausted, finally got both boys to bed and crashed. I was up at 4:30am - ready to post when the internet wasn't cooperating. Very spotty. Both boys were up at 6:00am and shortly after waking, Ben took most of the keys off the laptop keyboard. Yes, you read that correctly. I know, I am writing it in a calm - rather easy going - mother of two boys, kind of way. Deep breath.

Today was a TOTAL world wind of activity. Rob went to apply for I600 at 8am. Liam and I went for passport photo. Ben stayed at the hotel with Shelley's parents - God Send! Thanks, Mom - I know you were praying for that one! Then, Rob and Brian took Ben and Zoe out to walk around. Liam took a nap and I attempted to repair the computer (note - attempted). We attempted lunch out and ended up with carry out. We left Ben with Shelley's parents again (love Sue and Sam) when we had to take Liam for his doctor visit at 1pm. Back to hotel at 3pm and Rob went to buy our plane tickets to Hanoi. My first two hours with the boys. Overall, it went pretty good. When Rob returned, I took Ben out for some "Ben time". He fell asleep on the walk back to the hotel. I put him in bed and then went to the grocery store. Rob got Liam to sleep by the time I returned. Wow. They sleep at the same time.

We fly to Hanoi on Monday afternoon. We have the next two days to enjoy HCMC. We are hoping to see Dzung (Hendrix student - home for summer) here in HCMC tomorrow and then again in Hanoi next week with Mai (also Hendrix student).

No luck with the computer. Sorry no photos - hopefully I can work that out tomorrow. I can't wait to show off my amazingly adorable boys some more. I will say, it is harder to whip out the camera - but I definitely have some good ones to share.

Thanks for checking in on us. We are really good. Blessed beyond measure and going to bed with our hearts very full.

Another Day in Paradise

Our first moments with Liam! Priceless!
He is beautiful! Small. Very happy. Very cuddly. He has the beginnings of two bottom teeth. He has beautiful eyes and a very strong grasp. And, 10 and 10 - adorable fingers and toes.

We had a great visit - we were at the center for about 2 hours. Liam was in the baby-baby room. (As opposed to the baby room.) He was in bed when we arrived and they led us to his crib. Ben walked right up to him and patted him through the crib rails. The nanny picked him up and handed him to me. He is light as a feather (compared to his big brother). He sat in my lap with his mouth wide open - smiling for us!

Ben hung with us the whole time. He played in the "walkers" - yes, IN the walkers. He took about 60 pictures with our camera. He passed out toys to all the babies. He ate a sucker. He did not want to take a family picture.

Liam was happy to lay on the floor. He had his picture taken at least 60 (more like 100) times. He played with toys and drooled a ton. He was happy to be in the family pictures!

Here are a few photos of our first moments together.

Tomorrow We Meet Our Little Liam

(wrote post and then lost connection - it is now 3am and we are all up. Turns out I was right - not much sleep. Here is what I wrote at 9pm...)

Probably won't sleep much tonight. We head out for the center at 8:30am. We got a report from one of the families that visited the center today - "Your boy was TOO cute". Thanks - Betsy! We are so excited to meet our Little Liam!

For an update on today's activities go to benzie-wenzie.blogspot.com

We're Back!

Hello, from HCMC! We survived! The boys are asleep and I am reorganizing the bags - which all arrived after four flights and 31+ hours of travel. To say the least we are all beat. Ben did amazingly well. The domestic flights went really well. Connections were no problem. Ben slept a total of 7ish hours of the 13 hour flight and played fairly well when he was awake. By the time we left Hong Kong the novelty of flying had pretty much worn off but he was a trooper and hung in there until the very end.

What a huge blessing for the Russells to be traveling with us. Ben and Zoe made a good pair through the connections - lots of running on the moving sidewalks. We met up with another family in Hong Kong who are also going to Can Tho. We will meet two more families in the morning. We head out at 8am for Vinh Long and the Russells go to Ninh Thaun. Rob, Ben and I will spend the afternoon with Minh. He is a Dillon employee whom we already know from our first trip to VN. He will be taking us to the hospital where Ben was born, the center Ben lived for the first 16 months of his life and touring us through Vinh Long. We are so grateful for this opportunity to know more about the area where Ben is from. We will then go on to Can Tho for the night. And, FINALLY, on Wednesday, the 18th, we will meet Liam! We can't wait.

Funnies moment of the travels - Ben opened the window to look out as we were landing in Dallas (1st flight) and says to me, very enthusiastically, "Mommy, Nam!". Trying not to laugh, I had to explain that we still had a ways to go before "VietNam".

It's great to be back! The traffic is the same. Ben is in awe.

Can't wait until Wednesday! Almost there little one.

We're Off

Leaving for the airport! Can't wait to post that we have arrived!
Thanks for all the support and prayers.
Love to All.

Can't Wait!

Just got this picture emailed to us from our agency! Liam is SO cute - I can't wait to get my hands on him. Just look at that face - so kissable! We leave in FIVE days! Enjoy the photo while I get back to the lists...

A dear friend of mine and mother of three boys asked if there was anything we needed before we left for Vietnam.

I responded:
"Here is what I need - a condensed manual on how to deal with two boys. Can you get that to me in the next ten days? Oh, and can it include how to cross the Pacific without a major meltdown? ha."

Here is her response:
I have already written the manual. It is made up of the following instructions...

Take Wellbutrin

Laugh A lot

Say "serenity now" frequently

Take advantage of naptimes

Keep a "tee-tee bottle" (an empty coke one will suffice) in your car at all times

Check the pockets of their pants EVERY TIME you do the laundry before washing

Be prepared for all family secrets to be revealed by them in the check out line at Wal-Mart (the audience is usually very attentive)

Actually, scratch the latter, do not take both of them to Wal-Mart at the same time - shop late at night - ALONE

Back to the above, if you must shop with them, use the deli's free cookie as good shopping behavior blackmail

An entire bottle of Sunscreen spilled WILL ruin your carpet

Boys like to pee outside (and even on your brick)

When one of them gets the stomach virus, all of them do

Avoid red drinks (refer back to the above)

Take some comfort and satisfaction that your husband has to be the one to take them to the bathroom when you are at a restaurant. (For some reason, nature always calls in public places).

And last but not least, enjoy every minute with them! Being the mom of boys is a great blessing!!

I can't wait to meet Mr. Liam!

Melissa

Thanks, Melissa! You're the best.
Anyone else have something to add to the list?

tickets and visas - done

Plane tickets and passports with visas arrived today! One more thing to check off the list. We also have a travel itinerary from our agency and our hotel reservations have been made for us. That's progress.

Now - packing. The bags are out and piles have started to form around various rooms of the house. There are lists. Liam list. Ben list. Rob and Tricia list. Most of Liam's things have been gathered - that we already have. I am realizing that there are quite a few things that we don't have - like clothes. In my mind, he was always bigger than he is in reality - so now it is time to do some shopping. Another list...

Flights Booked

Wow - what a day! The tickets are booked and we are flying all the way through to HCMC with the Russell's! Hurray - playmates for Ben and Zoe (the Russell's 5 year old daughter). We leave on the 14th - arrive in HCMC on the 16th. That is approximately 33 hours of travel time. That will be fun!

We will spend that night in HCMC and leave the next morning for Vinh Long where we will spend the day in Ben's province. That night, the 17th, we will stay in Can Tho and on the 18th we will MEET LIAM! ONLY 14 DAYS! I can't believe it is so close. We have four sweet pictures of our little man - we can't wait to see his smiling face in person.

Now, time to pack pack pack.

Giving & Receiving - June 19th!

We have a date! June 19th - Liam will be ours!

Working with the travel agent on the tickets. Hoping to leave on the 14th so that we can spend some time in Vinh Long before traveling on to Can Tho. Will update when we know our itinerary. Visa applications went in the mail today! Hurray. Little Liam - we are on our way! 17 days and counting...

Our friends, the Russell's, got their approval today as well and will be traveling for Sam at the same time! This is much anticipated news and we couldn't be happier for them.