It's a boy!!!!!....

I am just awaiting a photo and some information from Dorinda; however, she has told me that I have a son, born May 30, 2010.... I will give him the name Matteo (gift from God)....

...more nibbles.....

....well some more tidbits of news to report...during one of our breaks today I decided to call home to check messagesl....I don't usually do that but as you can appreciate you know where my mind and heart are at...and there was a message from E. at TDH, asking me to call her....nothing wrong she said but if I could call....of course I was about to call but my cell battery was low and I knew it wouldn't last but I also didn't want to get any news at school....so as you can appreciate the last 80 minutes were hard to endure....anyhow called and spoke to M. who put me on hold and then came back and told me that they have some children from Vung Tau #1 whose medicals aren't in yet but wanted to find out if I was ready to proceed to accept a child referral without a medical. Of course my answer was "yes". She did not say any more and said they would be in touch; however, told me if I had said "no" that they would move to the next person!!.......so nibbles coming often these days.....will keep you all posted!!...

A peep or a nibble of news!!

...well tonight as I was trying to cool off after a very hot teaching day, I got a phone call from M. It took me a few seconds to register who she was and then when I did realize who it was, I think I held my breath for our short conversation. I was asked to get my employee letter renewed; however, as I have multiple employers, I was then asked to update the single financial form and that I should do this asap...this evening asap, and send off an email scanned copy to M. and D. and a hardcopy to them asap...that it was "urgent"....that "urgent" was repeated a few times.....though nothing more was said and no other news given....I do know another family was asked to do that same a few weeks ago and they were also told it was "urgent", yet sadly they still don't have a referral.....so after hanging up I went up to print up a copy of the form that was sent and then my hands started to shake....and I couldn't concentrate....it took me longer to fill out the form than was really necessary as I was really excited and scared all at once.....anyhow after trying to fill out the form, with my shaking hand, I dashed off to my neighbourhood post-office in order to send the hardcopy off after sending a scanned copy by email......the soonest the hard copy will arrive at the agency's office will be before noon on Thursday...I sent it with Canada Post courier and paid whatever they said in order to get it there as soon as possible. It would probably have been cheaper for me to drive it over there myself....anyhow as you can imagine I had a set of essays to grade tonight but don't thnk I'll get much work done on them!!....just trying to stay calm.....

2009 Asian Festival Parade

..just posting some photos of last year's festival....















.....

The day after Canada day....

...jus sitting here on my deck thinking of nothing in particular.....yesterday was a reflective day....sat and read on my deck for part of the morning....it was cool but the sun did come out....then had to do a bit of work as I will be teaching summer school for July so wanted to get some of my prep organized for photocopying today....then instead of going up to Parliament hill for a walk, which is what I did last year (photos posted above) I ended up taking a walk through Chinatown (part of my neighbourhood)....as you can see where my heart was....most of the shops were open and they are bustling with change...a new very dramatic archway is being built to signal that you are entering Chinatown...it is going to be magnificent....I didn't have my camera but will head up on the weekend and take some in progress photos....additionally the Kowloon market is getting a facelift...with a new bakery on the side....and lots of special produce...it was rather busy for a Canada day, as it isn't far from the hill....anyhow felt happy to wander the street and then the shops and the rows of produce but also sad as there has been no news on the adoption and wish I could fully believe that soon I'll be in another part of the world where most of these products come from.....but again no news but I do know that our director is now back from Vietnam and will post some news soon, and/or in the July 15 newsletter....

.....so after my walk, I was settling in for the evening and then was planning a walk to the War Museum (also my neighbourhood) to watch the fireworks...the war museum has a great view of the parliament buildings and in the last few years the neighbourhood has become a big parking lot with those celebrating, both just to see the fireworks from the war museum or parking here and walking a short distance to the parliament buildings...they close off the centre core so cars stay on the outside...it prevents bottleneck traffic after the day's events...but has congested my neighbourhood....I don't mind as it is great to have so many descend...but very hard to get parking if you happen to live in the area and don't have a parking spot....anyhow plans changed as I was invited for dinner at my sister's and spent the evening talking of their plans for their trip to Geneva and Italy later this summer....after supper and when it was dark I had some sparklers that we lit and enjoyed on their back deck with my niece and nephew (definitely reminded me of when I was a kid)......then home to circle the block a few times as cars and occupants were slowly leaving.....went to bed with the thought and hope that by next Canada day there will be one more Canadian child celebrating with me.....

Making babysitter plans without a baby???

Yesterday I was at a family birthday party and decided for some reason that it was time I talk to my cousin about including my child in her future babysitting plans....she runs a home daycare and seems to be quite in demand so I thought I should "try" to book her, though again even as we discussed this, I felt very uncomfortable because I'm not sure how things will work out....Anyhow I really want her to be my child's caregiver as my mom was her caregiver when she was a child...hope it all works out...what is even great is that she is open to flexible schedules in that as I sometimes work on contracts etc...so might only need her two or three times a week and she already has families and children that she has done this with....she is a great caregiver as she does all kinds of crafts with the children etc...so if it all works out my child will enjoy the company of other children etc.....My cousin was very happy and excited for me, though I don't think there was any excitement on my part....just trying to keep things on an even keel...I think the ups and downs are terrible on this journey, and I think it is healthier for me if I just try not to work myself up emotionally....though of course it is very hard not to at times!... Anyhow will end today's blog with a copy of a message on the lastest news we got from our agency director....others have posted it too, but as this is a record of my adoption journey, felt it important to add it here....


------ Forwarded Message

Date: Sat, 19 Jun 2010 19:02:50 -0400
To: "VietnamAdoptionCanada@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [VietnamAdoptionCanada] New law in Vietnam

Hello from Vietnam!

The new law was voted in at the National Assembly on Friday. It will enter into force in January, 2011. At this moment, we don't know the details of the law nor the changes from the present system, but I will let you know as the details become available. During the next months the government will be working on the decrees and circulars which will inform the agencies, orphanages, and governmental authorities how the law is to be implemented. There will perhaps be a "slowdown" in January (Mr. Binh, the Director of the Department of Adoption, has asked us all to be patient), but the adoptions will continue (no
temporary suspension while the law is put into effect)

More to follow...

Dorinda

Vung Tau #3 Caregivers

While I have not received any news, I did want to make a link from my blog to Catherine's in relation to this wonderful post she made about the women who cared for her daughter Molly at Vung Tau #3. All of Catherine's posts from Vung Tau and her travels in Vietnam have been so special to help open a window to the country where, I hope, my child is from. Quite a while ago I was told that my child will be from Vung Tau #3, though again, not sure in light of all the changes and delays if that will still be the case ....however, should that be where his first months will be spent, then I know he will be well loved and cared for by these wonderful women.....see Catherine's post here....