Sorry it has been a while with no updates, but the LeRoy household is humming with activity by one pretty amazing little four-year old - and not much time for mommy to do other things. Nate has transitioned incredibly well - I know we are a bit biased, but I contend that he is doing well by any standards.
There are moments during the day when it feels like he has been with us since birth. He is a fun, funny, loving, energetic and good kid. He loves trying to learn English and being silly around the house. He is singing the ABC song AND Doe A Deer and is counting to 20. I think he picks up 5-10 new words a day and pretty much understands almost everything we say to him in English. He's also saying full sentences (well, 3-word sentences). "Me (mommy in Vietnamese), ketchup please." or "Daddy walk dogs." Wish I could learn a language like that. My Vietnamese is limited to the words for banana, cat, thank you, frog and pig.
One of the biggest challenges that we're having right now is his dental health. His teeth are just awful and that's been confirmed by a wonderful pediatric dentist team that we're seeing. Next Wednesday he goes in to the hospital for a one-hour, multi-procedure. The bad news is that he is having several teeth pulled and several teeth capped. The good news is that he won't remember anything and it will be done in one hour. The best news is that his teeth won't hurt any more.
Since we've been home, 10 children from the orphanage are home in the U.S. and the 11th will be home in about 48 hours. Unfortunately, that may be all of them for now, but as far as I understand, they are still fighting for the last five. Please send prayer to those families.
We wish everyone a happy Tet (Vietnamese new year, which starts on Sunday)!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Just hanging out at home
We had an amazing homecoing and Nate was amazingly good on a long 27-hour trip home. He seems to be adapting life in the U.S. very well. One thing we were worried about was how he'd react to the animals. He's still working on liking the dogs, but he pets the cats and smiles. He even let Mao nap with him yesterday.
He's also quite a chatterbox. He speaks a lot of Vietnamese, but is quickly learning English. He can count to ten and is working on his ABCs. Also, I'd say that despite the language differences, we understand each other about 80% of the time. I've been doing some reading and some adopted children his age actually start to loose their native langage in as little as 5 weeks. I hate for him to loose too much culture too quickly, but it might help him as he gets ready for pre-school in a few weeks.
We're still working on good sleeping patterns, but that will hopefully get corrected soon. I think we're still working through a little jet lag too - so a double whammy.
We've had a few outings - to visit my grandmother and to Target. So far, so good. We're trying the grocery later today. Later this week, we will head back to the airport to welcome our dear friends, John and Courtney, home with their little boy Lincoln.
Tomorrow is also a very big day - Nate's 4th birthday! We're celebrating this weekend with his cousin Jack who also shares a January birthday. Hard to have much time to write or upload pictures, but I will try to get some more pics up this week.
He's also quite a chatterbox. He speaks a lot of Vietnamese, but is quickly learning English. He can count to ten and is working on his ABCs. Also, I'd say that despite the language differences, we understand each other about 80% of the time. I've been doing some reading and some adopted children his age actually start to loose their native langage in as little as 5 weeks. I hate for him to loose too much culture too quickly, but it might help him as he gets ready for pre-school in a few weeks.
We're still working on good sleeping patterns, but that will hopefully get corrected soon. I think we're still working through a little jet lag too - so a double whammy.
We've had a few outings - to visit my grandmother and to Target. So far, so good. We're trying the grocery later today. Later this week, we will head back to the airport to welcome our dear friends, John and Courtney, home with their little boy Lincoln.
Tomorrow is also a very big day - Nate's 4th birthday! We're celebrating this weekend with his cousin Jack who also shares a January birthday. Hard to have much time to write or upload pictures, but I will try to get some more pics up this week.
Monday, December 26, 2011
The three LeRoys are heading home!
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| Good daddies let their sons put stickers all over them. |
Most of the ceremony was simply writing signatures and hearing that our adoptions had been granted. At the end, they brought our children in. Nate was first and he immediately wanted to run to Nick, but they made him walk up with one of the provincials and he lunged for me when the man was holding him.
Since we needed to be in Ho Chi Minh first thing this morning to process our children's passports and get authorization from the U.S. to bring them home, we had a seven-hour bus ride back. No afternoon flights from Southern Vietnam yesterday.
Although it was a very long trip, the kids were awesome - no one cried at all and they were all so happy to be with their parents.
Nate has already achieved many firsts with us in his first 30 hours or so - playing on furniture, sleeping in a bed, eating at a table (first spaghetti), bath, swimming, eating french fries with ketchup and part of daddy's cheeseburger -- and finally, not having to share his toys or be afraid someone else will yank them out of his hands. He is also already saying words in English. He told Nick "I love you" this morning when we were at the pool. I think my heart melts about every ten minutes with this kid.
He and Nick are napping right now and it's the sweetest sight I've ever seen.
We leave for the U.S. on Tues. night and will be back in Indy on Wednesday around 2pm.
Again, thanks so much for everyone's support and love. We are overwhelmed with joy right now and cannot wait for you to meet one amazing little boy.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Christmas Eve in Ca Mau
It's already Dec. 24 here in Ca Mau and, in Vietnam, it's actually the day that the Christians here celebrate Christmas. We had evidence of that yesterday and today - we've seen three Santas on motorbikes.
Things are FINALLY progressing and we expect to have more details to share very, very soon. We are very eager to come home, but most of all, we want to have Nate with us. It's been very difficult to be here and not be able to visit him. This trip has toughened our resolve more than I ever imagined; has bound us with an amazing group of other waiting parents; and I am sure will make even the little things with Nate like taking him for ice cream or giving him a bubble bath feel like the most remarkable events in the world.
I can't say enough how much everyone's love and support has meant to us. We could not have gotten through this without the love, prayers, and messages of hope. So, for now, we are just waiting on a Christmas miracle!
Things are FINALLY progressing and we expect to have more details to share very, very soon. We are very eager to come home, but most of all, we want to have Nate with us. It's been very difficult to be here and not be able to visit him. This trip has toughened our resolve more than I ever imagined; has bound us with an amazing group of other waiting parents; and I am sure will make even the little things with Nate like taking him for ice cream or giving him a bubble bath feel like the most remarkable events in the world.
I can't say enough how much everyone's love and support has meant to us. We could not have gotten through this without the love, prayers, and messages of hope. So, for now, we are just waiting on a Christmas miracle!
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| Last Sunday, we took a tour of the area - these are basically lean-tos that people live in off one of the tributaries. |
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| Most people ride motorbikes - very few cars in Ca Mau |
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| Boats docked at the Ca Mau Wet Market - both bringing goods to it and taking them away. These boats had loads of potatoes, watermelon and the stinky Dorian fruit. |
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| Dried fish vendor |
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| Off the beaten path is an amazing temple that is currently under construction. |
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Update from a boring day
Hi Everyone, Nick here.
If you have been reading the last few updates, you know that nothing much has changed. On Thursday, we saw the kids for the last time. It is incredible how happy two hours can make you and also remarkable how awful you feel when those two hours are taken away from you.
We are going stir crazy at the hotel. We are really hoping that our big day is Wednesday. Keep your fingers crossed and send some good juju (not Jennifer Kelly, but other kind of juju) on your Tuesday night. We are running up against some serious timing issues with Christmas coming on, so lets hope that it works on Wednesday.
In the meantime, I thought I would try to describe the environment that we are in. So Ca Mau is the most southern province of Vietnam. We wear shorts every day because it is around 70 or so. When we were at the orphanage, we would be sweating through our shirts. I can only imagine that it feels like the surface of the sun when summer rolls around. The place that we are staying is aspirationally called the Best CM Hotel. I say aspirational because this has got to be the biggest dump I have ever stayed in and yes that is comparing it to the year of staying in frat houses. Each family that is here has changed rooms at least three times to try to find the elusive one that is not horrible. Lori and I are in one that has mildew and rot in the closet and a leak in the ceiling. But that is one of the good ones! :) We are so bored right now so I am starting to actually enjoy watching MTV Vietnam style. We only have two English language channels and not even CNN. The Star Movies channel has been playing non stop, B-grade movies, so if you ever wondered what Sty Stallone's career was like after Rocky - well here it is.
We do get a somewhat palatable breakfast everyday which consists of two fried eggs and rice and bacon. Some of the more adventerous have gone with Pho but I haven't yet. They do have a nice rooftop area where we do go up most nights - but still, this place would best be described as a cra*p hole.
It is just an endless loop of waiting for the State Department to actually get the damn G&R ceremony scheduled. If it doesn't happen Wednesday, that means that we will miss Christmas. I guess I can deal with that, but I just need to get out of here.
Every family has had at least one sick person and there is a horrible case of what we are calling Bac Lieu belly going around. I won't go into the details, but it ain't pretty.
And to add a little bit more stress, Ellie got into our dog sitter's purse the other night and ate a bunch of pills. So another rush to the vet and probably another couple of grand. Poor Ellie and her drug habit. I guess Ellie is going to go back to the world of crating. She is still at the vet but hopefully can go home tomorrow.
So I guess prayers all around. Prayers for Ellie and Ashley's dog Riley who Ellie tricked into eating pills. Prayers for the families who are stuck in this hell hole. Prayers for our little boy who doesn't realize why his parents can't see him. But most importantly, please send your prayers for the little kids who aren't getting out. I would have taken them all. Big guy with the crossed eyes, Wildcat who was a stinker but had a good heart, little Son Nhi who we are still trying to rescue and all the kids in the other orphanages who don't have hope.
If you are thinking about a way to make a difference in the world - please look up the charity, Tiny Hearts of Hope. This is a couple of missionaries that we met in HCM and went to a special needs orphanage with them. This amazing couple live in HCM with their kids and they minister to the orphans that have been forgotten. Especially the special needs kids. If you could even send them 5 dollars as part of your Christmas plans - you would be amazed at how far that can go in Vietnam.
So we continue to wait and hope. I am not a religious person, but I keep thinking and hoping that there could be a Christmas miracle.
If you have been reading the last few updates, you know that nothing much has changed. On Thursday, we saw the kids for the last time. It is incredible how happy two hours can make you and also remarkable how awful you feel when those two hours are taken away from you.
We are going stir crazy at the hotel. We are really hoping that our big day is Wednesday. Keep your fingers crossed and send some good juju (not Jennifer Kelly, but other kind of juju) on your Tuesday night. We are running up against some serious timing issues with Christmas coming on, so lets hope that it works on Wednesday.
In the meantime, I thought I would try to describe the environment that we are in. So Ca Mau is the most southern province of Vietnam. We wear shorts every day because it is around 70 or so. When we were at the orphanage, we would be sweating through our shirts. I can only imagine that it feels like the surface of the sun when summer rolls around. The place that we are staying is aspirationally called the Best CM Hotel. I say aspirational because this has got to be the biggest dump I have ever stayed in and yes that is comparing it to the year of staying in frat houses. Each family that is here has changed rooms at least three times to try to find the elusive one that is not horrible. Lori and I are in one that has mildew and rot in the closet and a leak in the ceiling. But that is one of the good ones! :) We are so bored right now so I am starting to actually enjoy watching MTV Vietnam style. We only have two English language channels and not even CNN. The Star Movies channel has been playing non stop, B-grade movies, so if you ever wondered what Sty Stallone's career was like after Rocky - well here it is.
We do get a somewhat palatable breakfast everyday which consists of two fried eggs and rice and bacon. Some of the more adventerous have gone with Pho but I haven't yet. They do have a nice rooftop area where we do go up most nights - but still, this place would best be described as a cra*p hole.
It is just an endless loop of waiting for the State Department to actually get the damn G&R ceremony scheduled. If it doesn't happen Wednesday, that means that we will miss Christmas. I guess I can deal with that, but I just need to get out of here.
Every family has had at least one sick person and there is a horrible case of what we are calling Bac Lieu belly going around. I won't go into the details, but it ain't pretty.
And to add a little bit more stress, Ellie got into our dog sitter's purse the other night and ate a bunch of pills. So another rush to the vet and probably another couple of grand. Poor Ellie and her drug habit. I guess Ellie is going to go back to the world of crating. She is still at the vet but hopefully can go home tomorrow.
So I guess prayers all around. Prayers for Ellie and Ashley's dog Riley who Ellie tricked into eating pills. Prayers for the families who are stuck in this hell hole. Prayers for our little boy who doesn't realize why his parents can't see him. But most importantly, please send your prayers for the little kids who aren't getting out. I would have taken them all. Big guy with the crossed eyes, Wildcat who was a stinker but had a good heart, little Son Nhi who we are still trying to rescue and all the kids in the other orphanages who don't have hope.
If you are thinking about a way to make a difference in the world - please look up the charity, Tiny Hearts of Hope. This is a couple of missionaries that we met in HCM and went to a special needs orphanage with them. This amazing couple live in HCM with their kids and they minister to the orphans that have been forgotten. Especially the special needs kids. If you could even send them 5 dollars as part of your Christmas plans - you would be amazed at how far that can go in Vietnam.
So we continue to wait and hope. I am not a religious person, but I keep thinking and hoping that there could be a Christmas miracle.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Patience is a virtue - and we're all out of it
Sorry for the lack of postings and I wish I had news, but I don't. Thursday was the last day we were allowed to visit the orphanage, for reasons unknown to us. It's incredibly upsetting for us, and worse, for our kids who had us for the last five days.
We still haven't heard when we will get our Giving and Receiving ceremonies scheduled (when we take custody of our kids). So, once more, we wait and wait.
Beyond the emotional toil of wanting to get our kids out as soon as possible, the fact is that being in Ca Mau is incredibly boring. There aren't any tourist sites here or anywhere near here, so we are making due keeping ourselves occupied with reading every book we brought, playing at least 300 games of solitare and hanging out with the other families.
And, we have, what we're calling Bac Lieu Belly. We're pretty sure that the oil that they use in every dish is upsetting our stomachs something fierce. The options for eating are very, very limited here. I've had enough rice to last me a lifetime. Thank goodness for fried egg sandwiches for breakfast.
It's hard to believe that Christmas is so close - most days we don't even realize the day or the week, let alone the date. We have been here three weeks.
I'll post some pics from the last few days later; we did venture into the town of Ca Mau today just to get the heck out of the hotel.
Praying we have good news to report soon!
We still haven't heard when we will get our Giving and Receiving ceremonies scheduled (when we take custody of our kids). So, once more, we wait and wait.
Beyond the emotional toil of wanting to get our kids out as soon as possible, the fact is that being in Ca Mau is incredibly boring. There aren't any tourist sites here or anywhere near here, so we are making due keeping ourselves occupied with reading every book we brought, playing at least 300 games of solitare and hanging out with the other families.
And, we have, what we're calling Bac Lieu Belly. We're pretty sure that the oil that they use in every dish is upsetting our stomachs something fierce. The options for eating are very, very limited here. I've had enough rice to last me a lifetime. Thank goodness for fried egg sandwiches for breakfast.
It's hard to believe that Christmas is so close - most days we don't even realize the day or the week, let alone the date. We have been here three weeks.
I'll post some pics from the last few days later; we did venture into the town of Ca Mau today just to get the heck out of the hotel.
Praying we have good news to report soon!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Nate - the cool kid
Another great day at the Centre. Nate is really starting to learn who mommy and daddy are and is responsive to his name. We enjoyed more soccer yesterday and he loved trying out daddy's hat and sunglasses.
Waiting for progress, as usual. We can't tell you how much we appreciate all of the notes and messages of support - it is great to hear from home. We miss everyone!
Waiting for progress, as usual. We can't tell you how much we appreciate all of the notes and messages of support - it is great to hear from home. We miss everyone!
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| Nick getting help blowing up balloons |
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| Helping his buddy Lincoln blow up a baubom (balloon). The first word Nate and I communicated to each other. |
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| A very quick shot of all three Indy boys |
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| Two Power Ranger action figures riding a plastic dog |
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