Who says Seuss is for kids????

Tonight, I feel a bit like one of Dr Seuss’ characters. Do you remember Horton from "Horton Hatches the Egg" (also in “Horton Hears a Who”)? He is the cheerful simple-minded elephant that sits on an egg for 51 weeks while Mayzie the bird takes off for an indefinite break. Horton sits up there atop the tree committed to this tiny egg. He never ever falters in his determination despite the harsh winter snow and the hot spring sun. Finally, after going through all kinds of crazy ordeals the egg hatches and out comes a little “elephant-bird” that he loves as his own son.
Like Horton, I wait and wait. It does not appear that I will be traveling April 4th. The agency is not really sure at this time when I will travel; so, I will sit back and wait atop my tree committed to my precious egg. I know that very soon my dreams will come true.

“The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.”
-Arnold H. Glasgow

"Sweetheart, life as you know it is over! "

“What’s wrong with this picture?
What’s wrong with this picture?
There’s something that doesn’t fit.
I can feel it in the pit…
Of my stomach!
Oh dear Casey, it’s you!!!!”

I have been slowly bringing up the baby gear from the basement. I set the playpen up in the living room behind the love seat (seemed like a good enough place at the time). Well, I admit I went a little overboard and placed some new baby toys in it too so I could really get the feel for it. Later on, I was in the kitchen making some coffee when I started hearing little bells, squeaks and rattles. I was not losing my mind. I followed the sound to the living room. There, sitting in the middle of the playpen with a prized dolly in her mouth and a wagging tail was Casey. She must have climbed the back of the sofa and jumped into the playpen. She was obviously very pleased with herself (that is until she wanted to get out, but that’s another story).

My darling Casey has an incredible nose for latex, rubber and plastics. She can sniff out a toy from anywhere, and I do mean anywhere. If you asked Casey, she would tell you that toys are better than food. She loves to scatter her billions of toys all over the house. Poor girl, toy distinguishing is going to be a hard lesson for her to learn. It should make for interesting playtimes.

Hopefully, my baby proofing skills will be much better than my dog proofing skills!!!

With all my love.....

I sent a small parcel to Aimée via a kind hearted woman I met through an adoption forum. She is adopting a little girl named Sarah from the same orphanage as Aimée and will be traveling in just a few days. Choosing what to send my baby girl was very exciting and difficult all at once. How do you wrap all the love in your heart into a package? After lots and lots of thought, I chose to send her a soft pink blanket, "faux-Robeez" Eyore slippers and tiny wrist rattles. I read in an article that it is helpful for the baby’s transition if the adoptive parents sleep with a blanket (so it has the parents’ smell) and then send it to the child. I am not completely convinced this is truly effective but I certainly did not want to pass up this opportunity just in case. I slept with the blankie. I hugged the blankie. I even blew the blankie some tender kisses (Lucky Blankie!).

I was in a minor car accident last week during the March break and strained my neck in the process. I am going to physiotherapy daily. I need to heal quickly. “Operation: Bringing Baby Aimée Home” is hopefully just a few weeks away (my agency purchased TENTATIVE plane tickets for April 4th), quick, knock on wood please. The very last thing I want is a sore neck while I am traipsing through the airport with a new baby and diaper bag in one hand, luggage, stroller and carry-ons in the other. I am going to think positively and visualize a pain free limber neck. The sports psychology course I took in university has not gone to waste after all!

Aimée (4 months)

"Sweet sweet baby
I go crazy
Crazy when I think of you
Sweet sweet baby
I go crazy
If I can't cuddle up to you"







"You are the sunshine of my life
That's why I'll always be around,
You are the apple of my eye,
Forever you'll stay in my heart"

"I knew I loved you before I met you I think I dreamed you into life I knew
I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life"







"Isn't she lovely
Isn't she wonderful

Isn't she pretty
Truly the angel's best "













That is my heart singing. Aimée's little face fills my soul with joy and I can't help but break out in song and dance!

The power of.... the "Happy Face"

This morning I saw an apparition. I swear it is true. I went to put my toothbrush away and there it was, an authentic “wet-mark-happy-face” on my counter. The two dotted eyes and half circle smile were unmistakable. It may not be as impressive as the time a man found the apparitions of Jesus Christ in his moldy bread; but, it brought tears to my eyes. I even dashed downstairs to get the camera so I could record the moment. Unfortunately, water on counter does not photograph so well. You will just have to believe me. It was really a happy face!

I have been having a particularly difficult week. It turns out that the “No-Objection” letter that was issued to me from the Ministry had a slight flaw. It gave me approval to adopt an infant MALE. This is problematic.... Aimée is female! Also, my projected travel date has once again been pushed back. I am now looking at early April. Ugh.... My heart aches terribly. The worst thing about my week is that I learned that 9 babies from various northern Vietnamese orphanages have died due to a rhino virus (apparently it is a simple cold virus). The babies that were infected by this virus developed pneumonia. Many other babies are very sick in the hospital. Here are two links to news reports: http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=02HEA260208 and http://english.vietnamnet.vn/social/2008/02/769338/ My heart goes out to the adoptive families who were waiting to bring these babies home, the nannies at the orphanages, and the natural parents who hoped for a better life for their children. I can’t help but worry about Aimée and hope she stays safe.

Now you understand why the happy face brought tears to my eyes. I have been an emotional wreck this week. It felt like I was given a little sign. Things will be o.k. I may very well be going completely insane because I took sincere comfort in that little wet smudge on my bathroom counter this morning.

A friend of mine brought this little quote to my attention. I really like it.

"Everything will turn out okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end. ... “
--Unknown

Hurray!

As of Friday, all the Vietnamese documents have been received and approved by the Ontario Ministry. I have been issued a Letter of Non-Objection, which basically means the adoption is a go ahead. I am no longer waiting for a single document to be sent, received or approved.



My agency must now schedule the Giving and Receiving Ceremony (official adoption ceremony) in Hanoi. How incredibly exciting! Then, it is just a matter of buying the plane tickets, finishing my packing and going! It looks like I may be leaving in around three weeks (Easter weekend). Please keep your fingers crossed, say a prayer, do a dance, sacrifice a pig, light a candle, or whatever it is you do for good luck. Repeat after me "No more delays.... No more delays.... No more delays..." (and if you own a pair of ruby red slippers, would you now please tap them three times?).

"Sweet little Aimée, I am coming very soon to take you home!"