Busy days.

Well it has been a super busy thirteen days. My feet hurt and I am looking forward to seeing the snow. I have had an amazing time here in Vietnam. We are with a couple from Quebec who also adopted a baby boy from the same orphanage we adopted Isaac from. They named him Victor. The nounou's told us that they were "friends" and spent a lot of time together at the orphanage. Victor is only seven days younger then Isaac. Hopefully we will be able to keep the "friendship" alive. It will be nice for both boys to have eachother as a connection to their past

This women is selling coconut drinks. The street vendors begin work at 6:30am and work till dark. They carry the baskets across their shoulders. Most women I have seen selling this way are very old.

Next is a picture from Ben Thanh market. It is the largest market in Ho Chi Minh City and it is super busy. The ailes are only about two feet wide and there are hundreds and hundreds of vendors who are constantly in your face. It gets pretty annoying after you have said "No" a hundred times but they follow you around shoving their stuff in your face. It is also about a million degrees in there. After carrying a baby around for about an hour I had pretty much had it with the market experience.

Food vendors just outside Ben Thanh market. The fruit here is the best I have ever tasted.

This is our Vietnam Adoption Rep., Loan. She is absolutely wonderful and just adores Isaac...the feelings are mutual between the two of them. In the picture Loan and Isaac are standing infront of a Womens Pagoda. All the budda's inside this temple are female.
Isaac and me at a beach in Vung Tau. Behind us is the South China Sea...how cool is that!


I honestly have to say I am going to miss Vietman. It has been such a great experience but I am getting tired and I really miss my babies back in Canada. The paperwork is going smoothly and we are still hoping to be home by the end of this coming week. Thanks to everyone who has kept us in your prayers for a safe trip.....so far so good.

Till next time......Kellie & Isaac

An upadate from home.........

Hey Everyone, It's Mike. I'm putting up a post to let everyone know that the internet connections are down in the area that Kellie and my Mom are staying. The last I heard it may be down for a few days so Kellie may not be able to update the blog. I've spoken to her most days and everything is going really well. They're having a great time taking in all the sights and doing a bunch of shopping. They went to the South China Sea today for a swim and have went on some kind of a tour into the mountains. They also went for a long ride on a hydrofoil. Everything with Isaac seems to be going as well as can be hoped for and the paperwork associated with the adoption is going smoothly.
I hope everyone had a great Christmas. The kids and I are keeping busy and having lots of fun. We had a great Christmas and Santa was pretty good to the two of them. Avery got a new "big girl bike" and a bunch of toy snakes and reptiles (that's her thing). Cam got a bunch of Ghost Tracking stuff and books about ghosts.
I'll try to update as info comes in to me unless Kellie is able to.

Beautiful boy!!!!

Hi everyone! We are doing great. Vietnam is amazing and were having the best time. Isaac is coming along so well its hard to believe.

The visa applications were sent off yesterday and we are hoping to have them back by mid next week. Once we have the visa we can go on the cancellation list for an earlier fight home. As much as I miss my babies (very, very much) I think I am going to have a difficult time leaving this country....Isaac's country. It is so beautiful here and the people are amazing.

Merry Christmas Everybody!!!!

Well its Christmas Day and its sunny and 30 degrees outside. I still can't believe I am here. The streets are crazy busy with people. Considering only 7% of the population is Christian here almost everyone celebrates Christmas. It is kind of like our New Years Eve. People go out with friends and party and have good times. All the streets and the shops are all decorated for the season in garland, wreaths, snowflake, santa clause and anything else you can think of and everywhere you go people are wishing us Merry Chrismas. The people here are very friendly.

Isaac is doing great. He loves to be held and I think is attaching very well. He is getting stronger by the minute. I can't wait to get him home to meet his big brother and big sister. I feel very blessed that I have such an amazing husband and wonderful kids waiting for Isaac and I to come home.

I hope everyone has a terrific day. Christmas day is almost over here and it is soon time for bed.

Good night Cam and Avery,
Sleep tight,
Dream about bed bugs tonight.

Isaac discovers his voice!

I have tried to add a video. I hope it works.
Isaac playing

Its hotter than hell in this country.

Sorry I have not posted but it is very difficult to get connections here. I keep trying but sometimes it works, other times no luck so bare with me.

Isaac is doing great. He has really come around to us and is making good eye contact. He is cooing and laughing. When we first picked him up from the orphanage he held his arms and legs tight into his body in the fetal position and I was a little concerned about it. He would not let you pull his arms straight or open his hands. It was very sad. He is now playing patty-cake and kicking his legs. Its amazing what a little stimulation can do.

Here is the first picture that was taken of Isaac the moment I walked through the orphanage door. It's a little blurry since I was shaking like crazy. He is held by the head nounou.


Isaac laying on the orphanage floor. How perfect is he?
Isaac and mommy moments after meeting each other.

Although the orphanage was very clean is was a very sad sight. All the babies were either in hammocks or laying on straw mats in cribs. They just lay there. All their heads are flat from not being moved around. And they all smelled of pee. The diapers were rags tied around their waist with a piece of string. The good thing about it though (because I need to think of the good) was most of the children had families waiting for them or would soon be eligible for adoption. Just before we arrived the was a baby girl just 3 hours old abandoned at the orphanage. She must not have been more then 4lbs. Sooo tiny.

I will try to post again as soon as I can.

Gotcha Day!!

Hi to everyone from Vietnam! After a 34 hour journey we made it here safe and sound...although I don't think my butt cheeks will never recover. So sorry I haven't posted earlier. We arrive in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday (Thursday) at 10:30am (10:30 pm Wednesday for you folks) and got to the hotel by 2pm. The traffic is mental here. Thousand of people on motorcycles and they are everywhere. There are apparently no rules of the road in Vietnam. Anyway I tried to post yesterday by nana's laptop blew up so that was a no go and I was just too tired to go looking for an Internet cafe. I was in bed sound asleep by 6pm. Our guide from the adoption agency said that we wouldn't be getting the babies till Monday so I went to bed knowing that I had three whole days to rest up for the big day. Well at 7am this morning (Friday) she called us and said she would be picking us up in 1 hour to go get the babies. I thought I was going to be sick with excitement!!!!!!

It was a five hour drive from hell to Tra Vinh, the province where Isaac is from. We arrived at the orphanage and were allowed an fifteen minute visit with the babies before heading off the the Ministry of Justice to sign the paperwork. When I walked in the door of the orphanage Isaac's nounou was holding him and the was so little. I couldn't believe how tiny he was...and beautiful. He has the biggest black eyes that you could just fall into. The nounou gave him too me and I thought my knees were going to give out. He snuggled right into my neck, kind of like he was just waiting for the moment he could do that. It was a perfect moment.

Well I would love to go on and on but I am completely exhausted beyond belief so I will have to save the rest till tomorrow. I will do my best to add some pictures too...if I can figure it out on this computer.

Till then.....Kellie & Isaac

Well here I go!

Well I'm off to the other side of the world tomorrow. My bags are packed and I am ready to go and meet my new son. I'm feeling very jittery right now as I can't believe after all that we have worked for and been through for the adoption the time has finally come. In a couple of days time I will be in Vietnam WITH ISAAC. I do have to admit though that I am not looking forward to having to say good-bye to Mike, Cameron and Avery at the airport. My heart is breaking just thinking about it.
Thanks to everyone who has followed our journey thus far and for all the support you have given us. Please continue to keep Isaac, Nana and myself in your prayers for safe travels.
I will try to post as often as I can.

Funny man Cam!

The school had a Recognition Assembly today where they awarded students for things like honesty, integrity, stuff like that. Cameron was given two awards, one from his homeroom teacher and one from the french teacher, both for his sense of humour. Yes, HUMOUR. Both teachers said that everyday Cameron was sure to put a smile on their face and bring a laugh to the classroom. Cameron then got up in front of the whole school and told a joke.

What is a dogs favourite dessert?

Pupcakes.

Change of plans....again.

Well I am still here. Got a call yesterday afternoon saying that the paperwork has not been received so I could go ahead but wait about seven days in Vietnam till I can get Isaac or postpone the flight which is what I decided to do. We are now scheduled to leave December 18th, returning January 11. To be honest I feel much better about the new date. I was sooo stressed last week because of the missing documents that I couldn't even get excited about the trip. Now I don't need to worry about that and can focus on meeting my new son.

On another note..

We celebrated Christmas with my Mom and Grandma on the 7th. It was a lot of fun and the kids got spoiled.

Avery with her new dog Chestnut.

Mary, Fiona, Cameron and Avery.....cousins.

And then we had our Christmas on the 9th (since I was supposed to be leaving on the 11th)

Cam got a new snowboard. He was very excited. We went out that afternoon so he could try it out. It amazes me how kids can get on those things without any fear and just go. By his second run down the hill he had the thing figured out.

Avery got a very sweet new pair of cowboy boots, a hair streaking kit that turns your hair blue and pink and a remote control snake...yes you read right...a remote control snake.

We had a good time. It was kind of nice celebrating Christmas before Christmas and at least I was able to enjoy watching them open gifts since I am going to miss Santa.