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.