We are back in Saigon!!

Well we have been back 3 nites now and most of it has been in the clinic with Amaya.All those little infections that we were able to fight off...suddenly a big abcess was so bad that we had to make an apt with Dr

Johanathan at the medical clinic..which turned out to be a god sent!!

However it had to be cut..which was so awful when you are holding your daughter down as he squeezes out all the poison,etc

In the end we were both crying as i sang "twinkle twinkle little star" softly in her ear.She is on

medication...antibiotics and oral scabbie ...although one doesn't see any scabbies he feels the infection was spurned on by it and he wasn't taking any chances that it was still in her system.

DR Johnathan,a pediatrician is who TDH uses for all the medical for adoption and I was very impressed both with the clinic...facilities available..pharmacy attached and the number of experinced DR on the roster!!

Here is the website www.vietnammedicalpractice.com

The clinic is open 24 hrs and is international standards..with multilingual drs and staff

which was so comforting when we realized this was an emergency situation.

It was walking distance from the Chancellor hotel.. but is behind the Diamond Head Plaza which is quite well known with taxi drivers!

Although we had insurance..Red Cross WE HAD TO PAY UP FRONT AND WE WILL TRY TO RECLAIM ONCE HOME. The cost was only 77.00usd and we go daily to get bandaged changes

and that cost is 26.00usd

Really not that much should you require medica attention!

WE ARE HAPPY TO SAY that Amaya is so much better and back to herself..happy and smiling

so we are relived to have this done before our flight home.

I can't express enough the comfort i felt having this here to rely on!

On another note when i was in Mui Ne we talked to a family who lived in Saignon and theymended this clinic and our dr which was comforting to know!!

We are enjoying our hotel here....the SOMMERSET chancellor..and we are in a studio and feel that with the crib in the closet section..which is in a seperate area it gives amble room for her

when she sleeps.The service her is fab...and the convenient store downstairs is perfect for anything thing you crave...like prinkle chips..dutch chocolate...ice cream...fruit..and tons of foreign groceries that make anyone homesick a comfort.

Of course thay have beer..amazing selection of wines..and huge baby section with diapers,formula..wipes and everything you might need.

THE breakfast is especailly great..nice cheeses...fab lattes...full cook to order breakfast as well as a buffet that has fruit...pasties..hot items,,and yummy baquettes!

Well that is it for now 2 more sleeps before we head home!

love me

Hammock time

june 24-

Well IT'S 9am ...and Amaya is on her am nap so we are able to have a chat!

New guest arrived from Calgary yesterday and she is marketing natural products

to hotels like here,sailing club,and higher end resorts.

I'm going to look at them myself today ...she has been living in Vietnam for 3 years now..and just now embarking in going home to expand business and give her children a fuller live...not so protected as they are here.

I love all the cool people we have met on this journey...everyone is so interesting!

I'm feeling we have the nite in control with waking,etc..we no longer pick her up but try to rock her in her crib and sing a lulluby which actually works most time.

The odd time we give a watered down bottle handy as last resort but honestly in the middle of the nite we are tired and she wins sometimes due to more sleep

for us.

I can now see how easiliy one can start taking a bottle at nite..although i really hoping this will not become the normal.

Ever get the feeling that they are in charge!

The one thing i am most happy about is being able to get her back to sleep in the crib without lifting her.WOW..it makes life so much easier ..when i think how often we carried her at nite for sometimes an hour ..trying to get her back to sleep

this is so much calmer and also not managing her so much..she falls back on her own.

I also do the sand man which i learn't from barbara and michael m...they often did this with the little ones and it really works..you stroke there heads lightly while bringing the hand over the eyes..of course they close them momentarily..but eventually they are closed sleeping

Well i'm going to hang with my hubby and have some couple time for an hour

7 more sleeps before we are home!!

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Our passports are ready-yipeeh!!

June 23-

JUST got word that our Canadian passport is ready for pick up at the consulate.This is a relief and so we head to Saignon after the weekend as planned

to spend our final days in Vietnam.

We also pick up her Vietnamese one too..which gets her out and the Canadian to get her in.

I'm glad to have a change of scenery... as although the beach is lovely..it is quite isolated too.

The heat here is similiar to Saigon but we have no A/C in the shops ..restaurants

or hotel lobbies.

In Saigon we can pop into the odd shop and cool down..at a mall..or a restaurant and maybe a museum..so that will allow for more outings.

And Amaya loves to get out!!

We have registered at the Chancellor hotel so we will continue to have a suite w/kitchen which is very handy.

www.the-ascott.com

Also alot of the families stay here who are adopting as the other Sommerset HCMC

so we may be able to spend time with them which is always a welcome!

I enjoy the sharing and exchanging of ideas and experiences!

Loan says DORINDA IS EXPECTED IN TOWN TOO as she stays at the SOMMERSET

we will see much of her i hope!

Well it's off to change a poopy diaper!!

lynelle

our first day to be able to go long walk!

THE SAILING CLUB RESTAURANT

june 21

hey we got rain!!!

It has cooled off and after breakfast we went for a 3 hr walk...

So great to do some outdoor exploring and pop into a few shops too.

Only daddy and Amaya received new cloths....that is all cool.. as I have done my share of shopping in the years and honestly I love to shop for Amaya as much .

Not much to buy really... ..except tourist stuff..bought a few knock off Ralph Lauren shirts for baby..some dragon flies...and some great light weight shirts for daddy.

3 Days we have been eating lunch at the Sailing Club which we love!!

Amazing food and quality food..and presentation is so appetizing!

We actually were going to stay here when we arrived but they were closed for renos which many are during the wet season-hot season.

I would highly recommend staying here..great for honeymooners..couples and those who want an ecological environment..natural and very well apt rooms!

here is the website http://www.sailingclubvietnam.com/

Maybe we will try for dinner..we take a taxi which is about 2.00 to get there each way

For parents I still think Shades is better... because of the kitchens are important..as is the extra space BUT either one is very nice!

Happy Father's Day!

Today was a special day as it was Father's Day and I took Marien for lunch to the Sailing Club. We surprised him with a lovely card, if I say so myself: "I can't tell you how much I already love being your daughter. It's everything I thought it would be and more! You are always so helpful with mummy changing my diaper... rocking me to sleep with that special song I'll never forget... and just loving me.Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking me from the orphanage... and making me your own. You can't imagine how long I have waited to have real parents who love me forever.

I promise to try to be a good little girl for you!

Love always, Amaya

p.s. let's make a secret language between us... it will make mummy crazy!"

I enclosed a photo of Amaya. Marien was quite touched, I think I saw a tear come down his cheek.

this is Mui Ne

This is the simple village we are staying..small restaurants..some clothing shops...lot's of Russian expacts....many resorts..as we are only 5 hrs from Saignon..the weekends are full of Vietnamese on a holiday.

These are fishing boats and they bring in the freshes fish you will taste!

Photos of our daily life at our hotel

beach outside our hotel..our am walk

view from our suite..feeding Amaya

having a latte

HERE IS DADDY!

Amaya enjoying daddy time after her am nap..we try to do some time on the deck chairs in the shade..sometimes she plays on her mat too..

June 19

Well I got the news from those who were called from the Vietnamese Govern't

to verify the references on the passport application.I was soo ...surprised they would call ...and for the record you need to give 4 references ..who are not relatives and whom can be contacted.

By that... we found out one parent gave a ph # of someone who was on holidays and it really held up the passport so make sure thay are home!We hope to pick up the passport June 28th...9 more days!

Apparently they asked alot of questions..like Amaya's birthdate..how long we have known each other etc..so the recipents were in quite a lenghty conversations..

cool really to know the system is tight all the way down the process.

Here in Mui Ne we really spend most of our time walking on beach..eating..watching some of the world cup...having a latte at the bar or a beer)

...sleeping on the deck chair or our bed and hanging with Amaya!

However we have learn't alot of what a schedule can be and not according to Amaya!

here is what we have discovered so far!

-if she goes to bed around 745--8pm..she will sleep until 630am

otherwise any earlier and she wakes up in the middle of the night.

-we have moved from rocking her in arms to now rocking her in her crib for sleeps..big transition

or..a hammock..or stroking her while on the mat.she can sleep anywhere!

-she likes her ceral closer to bed time as it keeps her full at nite..so doesn't wake up

-likes only fruit without acid..makes her tummy upset

-loves to hold her own bottle..so a lightweight one is advisable..we are currently using disposal liners..both for sterilization and weight and convenience

-twice a day she is on a straw mat for exercise..always trying to sit up and happily she has been able to do this..isn't always able to stay there though

-we also put objects that she wabts so she can learn to crawl to them....she is determined and mostly get there..weather sliding or semi crawling!

-she loves going for walks in her sling...always looking at all the sounds and faces

-

cup

Alive and well -1ST pool experience

June 17th...
Well we are finally surfacing after much challenge of mending ourselves..and at the same time
working on taking care of Amaya...most am start with.small walk before too hot..around 6am...
then a shower...ceral for Amaya and breakfast time on the huge terrace ..overlooking the ocean .
Dad always orders fried eggs and bacon...toast..and musli and fruit..A big appetite! I have green tea and fruit only..of course sharing some of my mango and watermellon with Amaya too.
1PM-Amaya just fell asleep on her 1st hammock nap...it was so sweet and decided to try this as many of the Vietnamese use hammocks to rock thier children asleep.I remember on the sail boats how much the kids loved sleeping in the hammocks..so very restful
We continue to love our place here and have got quiet friendly with the caretakers..they are from New Zealand and have really outdone themsleves with helping us...picked up medicine for us...taken orders at the local market...baby formula especially...and general kindness .
I'm also glad to say i'm really happy with feeling better...it wasn't too serious but being sick overseas as well as taking care of a baby you learn to plunge through the fog and continue on..making for a tired mummy!!

Another note..that gives me a great amont of peace of mind is that there is a local dr who speaks english and knows what he is doing.

I'd advise all parents to always ask if a clinic or hospital is speaking english in your area

Did i tell you how hot it is here...Wow ...I'll never complain in T.O again...Having a baby here you have
to take in that she has very limited time in the heat..which makes walks only eve and am which is cool.
Last nite we ate at a lovely spot..yes on the water again....and met some lovely Aussi who were doing some humintarian work at orphanges..she was so very taken with Amaya and wanted all her details...she takes care of infants at home so she gave me this website for making baby food from scatch and it has other links supposely.
http://www.ruskrecipe.com/

Here is Amaya 1st dip in pool..we only put her legs in ....and if she wants a little deeper we head for the ocean which has no chemicals in it!

real parenting now!

June 14th

Well I have been peed on 4 times...pood twice...and now Amaya has an infected finger ...but we managed to pop the puss out and sterilize all while she slept!

I'm telling you this motherhood can be a laugh..while peeing...but stressful when you see these

everyday ailments..that bring worry!!

Also had to cut her fingernails... as they were getting long and she loves to scatch herself..Wow..i had to get glasses on as i couldn't even see her nails they are so small!!

Most of her skin is in good condition...and no scapies..although we did do one treatment of Nix

the 1st nite..

SO many of the children have it...and really need the constant help to treat as well as be patient when the bumps re apprear...I can appreciate the wanting to do a 2nd treatment as you continue to see pimple like symptoms and they are itchy.

I used tree tea oil and cream daily to keep them at bay..

Ialso brought lavender oil for the massage.... I try to do as Amaya had extremely dry skin..especially her feet so it was a good thing i had it!

Amaya is up again so i'm off....to get her

love me

we've been a little sick

june 12th

I'm loosing track of days!!

Anyways Amaya was congested when we picked her up from the orphanage and wouldn't you know it..i too came down with it!

i'M feeling better today but still a cough that is a drag...It's all the air conditioning...it is so humid here..that it's hard to live without...we alternate with fan and then some A/C to keep the temperature cool...Honestly I haven't really felt that the heat of previous trips have bothered me..this time it is a battle..as i don't care for A/C!!

At least in this new place we are on the water..can see the ocean from our bed and we are thankful for the breeze we get..so we are able to spend more time outside..rather than being in with the huge A/C .

We love this place...so clean..fresh..white ..roomy..airy..sophisticated and intimate.service is great and lot's of good food within walking distance on the beach!

only 7 suites here so small and quaint..each has a fullkitchen and they do your laundry which is very handy indeed.Our room is THE TOP FLOOR YOU SEE WITH THE BALCONY./

Our 1st Picnic together

We have this
great park near our
place so it is a nice place to hang under a palm tree and enjoy the breeze from the water as well as checking out the people. The Vietnamese do not wear diapers ..so we were having a laugh.. as we saw many young children dropping thier drawers and squatting for a pee...oh well as for our new mat being clean!

AMAYA LIVE ON VIDEO!

Photos can say a million words..Here is Vietnam

1. this is the best shopping on this street..everything from Channel...Hermes..all the uptown shops as well as some lovely smaller boutiques selling to notch Vietnamese art..clothing..books and gifts,....this is where our hotel was located at the bottom of street and water..The Grand Hotel
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   A walk along the malacon in Vung tau
   
   

Who is Amaya -some stats/photos

Here are all the statistics on Amaya..at this time

Born Oct 31 2009

Weight at birth 2.4 k..approx 5 lbs..length 55.5 cm...small mongolian spot on her bum

(all asian babies have this blueish birth mark somewhere on thier bodies)

NOW..She weighs 7.2 k ..approx 15 lbs....length 72 cm

She has black eyes....and we think black hair

At the moment she wears cloths from size 6 months only..and some smaller too

no teeth yet..but she is always wanting something in her mouth and loves chewing..teething ring!

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Her Nounou's gave us a small list about her at the orphange and this is what they says.

- loves music..

which she does..lsongs are sung everynite to her at bedtime

(Marien has this sweet one in Dutch...I'm sing"" twinkle twinkle...a liitle sad..that all i know.. need to brush up on my nursery rhymes and lullibies!)

-she is easy going

-pat her back when she is ready for bed...

(she nows pats my back at the same time..what a hoot!)

-starting to sit up...not quite there.. as she flops over so needs to be propped up!

-she can do the plank..(those in the yoga know)..and also on hands and kness..no crawling yet!

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wakes up at 630am-7am....naps twice a day...1 hr in am and 2 hours or more in afternoon

on bottles for formula..and now eating wholewheat rice cerel 2x

-lot's of bottle of water too and starting her on solids..soft food bananas/mash potatoes

carrots..mango,etc

always watching her poo to make sure it is being digested properly or we pull back!

Most unexpected .. massage today!

June 8th...

A small warning to all new adoptive parents..with the new extra weight of our little one..

It can create some unbalances ..like lower back or shoulder issues.

Marien hurts in his back and I'm the shoulder..so we were off to a spa close by..i

It's pefect as Marien had a foot massage for an hour while holding Amaya in his lap in the sling ...and a snuck away for my massage.

It all started fairly normal..but quickly I realized GEEZ..what is going on here..this girl is on my back..and doing things with her feet that only an acrobat could do.

Anyways it wasn't hurting me and these Vietnamese girls are tiny..so while her feet were going up and down my back...and standing on my bum..legs and ankles..yes that right..she was giving me quite a workout....I went with the flow and enjoyed the massage.She had heels in my shoulder...at one point and i was going..hey this feels great!

Only when i turned around did i see how she was able to control the movement as there was a bar on the ceiling which she held while doing her magic.

AFTER AN HOUR I WAS PUTTY IN HER HANDS..OR SHOULD I SAY FEET!!.

I then had a steam/sauna/shower and cold glass of Vietnamese tea..which i love..like a Jasmine flavor...It is a standard at most restuarants as you sit down..similiar to our water being served!

OH..the price..sit down..$10.00 for 1 hour massage/$4.00 for 1 hr foot massage..

Then we had a healthy salad..with warm shrimps...and fresh squeeze orange juice..YUMM!

WE are feeling free as a bird now that all the paperwork is done and we just wait for the passport to arrive in a few weeks.

So we enjoy our last few days here in Vung Tau before we leave for MUI NE.

We have really enjoyed our 10 days here..the people are really lovely..they are so excepting of children and our baby..being adopted...Foreigners are also quite generous with Amaya as she charms her way into thier arms.I must say eating out with children is very much the norm w/Vietnamese families and the staff bend over backwards to accomadate the whole family.

Some restaurants even provide stroller to sleep the baby if you come without one.

Most Vietnamese do not use strollers..We also have declined..we want to bond with her..so the sling seems to be our favorite..as Amaya loves being in it too!

Of course our Amaya is young ...so some parents with older children... need them.