No news

...and I slowly go insane.

I can say that this last part of the wait has been the most difficult of all the waiting we've done in the past 2+ years. I know we are in the home stretch and that sometime (I hope) this month... our time to be with Meg will arrive.

What is so hard right now is waiting for the ellusive 'travel date'. Once I know it (even though I guess it could change even after we have it) we can start counting down. Until then it seems like all we are doing is a lot of addition... adding on more and more days to the 'estimated' time of travel. I really thought with Meg so sick that somehow we'd be on a plane by May 1st at the latest. I was wrong. Maybe now we are shooting for mid May at the earliest and late May most likely. UGH UGH UGH.

We are still waiting on another update on Meg. She was probably going to be released from the hospital this week into her nounou's care - but I don't know at this point if that has happened yet. I am assured she is recovering and they will not release her until she is all better. She is in good hands... I just want her to be with me at this point. Soon hopefully!

I decided to make a list today of all the things we 'should try' and get done before we leave. This list includes such things as opening our pool, getting the flower gardens prettied up, cleaning the house top to bottom (boo!), painting Meg's dresser white, applying for Blue Cross for in Vietnam (can't do that til we have an actual travel date), etc etc.... so we do have lots to keep us busy - still, I'd rather drop it all and GO.

Pray for soon please.

Celebrating and counting down to Meg!

First, we are still hoping we'll have a travel date sometime this week. This morning Puralator dropped off all our paperwork we need to take with us to complete Meg's adoption in Vietnam - exciting!

We had a wonderful weekend. On Friday evening we attending the first (annual I hope) TDH Gala fundraiser. The money raised was going directly to the improvement of Vung Tau 2 - Meg's orphanage. It was a huge success and I saw many familiar faces as well as met a lot of wonderful families... and families in waiting. It was also nice for Shaune to finally meet so many friends I've made over the past 2 yrs. Renny and George were wonderful and hosted us for the night at their place in Toronto. It was a fantastic evening! I didn't take a camera but hopefully I can highjack a few photos from Julia or B?

Saturday we had a party to celebrate Shaune's Nana - who turned 95! Great time!

Sunday was a big day. Our friends put on a baby shower for our family. It was a joyful event and I was overwhelmed with appreciation for the people we have in our lives... so much love and support and excitement was in the air. I cannot wait until Meg can meet all those that attended and sent her love and well wishes. My friend Melissa made a beautiful (and very tasty) celebration cake that was so huge.... and yet still almost all of it disappeared. That is a sign of a great tasting cake! We were showered with wonderful gifts for Meg, including toys and pretty little outfits and so much more. Thank you to all our friends and family that took the time to come and celebrate with us... at long last it is finally happening :)

All photos by my friend Kerri!

4 months old

New photos here!

2 more weeks maybe

...maybe being the key word.

I spoke to our agency and it looks like it will be 'early May' at the earliest before we go. That really isn't too far off - I'm just hoping it doesn't keep getting pushed back til we are late May. We are still waiting for the investigation to be done - I guess this is the final step before we can arrange G&R and travel. Everyone send a prayer up that things go smoothly and quickly so we can get to Meg soon.

I would really love an ACTUAL date as I'm a 'count down' type of person ...maybe mid week next week we will have one (I hope!)

Our agency director just got home this morning from her trip to Vietnam. I'm anxious to hear all she found out while there and if she was able to see Meg. She had a very busy schedule but I am hopeful she may of found an hour to go see our sweet girl.

I'm going to call back on Monday or Tuesday of next week and hopefully I'll know more then.


Also: SKYPE... if you have it, let me know how it works. We are signed up under llightfoot @ xplornet . com (remove spaces) - we still need to get webcams for our computer and laptop so we can chat with the kids by video while we are away. The kids think this is 'so cool' of an idea!

Planning

... got my guide book, time to start thinking about what we 'hope' to do while in Ho Chi Minh City! Ideally I would love to stay in a resort on the South China Sea for 4-5 days during our time in Vietnam but we will have to play that one by ear... depending on the weather, the heat, and mostly our sweet little girl and her health. I've got Mui Ne and Vung Tau resorts bookmarked and ready to read up on more.

Anything in and around HCMC that we shouldn't miss?

Truthfully I am SUCH a wimp in extreme heat and humidity - I know I'll mostly be chilling at the pool and/or standing in front of our air conditioner in our hotel room.

Still no official word on when we will travel. It looks like the first or second week of May at this point - I was hoping for late April but I'm trying to be patient and get our big 'to do before we go' list checked off.

To support Meg's orphanage

On Friday night we are looking forward to attending a fund-raising Gala in Toronto, put on by my friend Christine and our agency. The event is in support of the children of Vietnam and to raise funds to improve conditions at Meg's orphanage: Vung Tau 2. I am really looking forward to meeting friends for a night out 'on the town' and meeting some 'email buddies' that I've never had the chance to meet in person before.

Shaune has never met any of my friends I've met the past 2 years at the 'waiting mom' dinners I attend bi-monthly and so he is looking forward to meeting people he only knows by their names (or the names of their beautiful children).

For anyone reading that is interested in attending and supporting such a great cause, you can get more info and buy tickets here.

We are going to have a busy weekend. Friday is the Gala, Saturday is a birthday party and Sunday is Meg's BABY SHOWER!!! Each and everything this weekend will be a celebration.

All things Baby!

There is a different shift in moods around here. Since hearing that travel is coming in the next few weeks we have been bustling around preparing our travel needs & getting the house as organized as possible for Meg's arrival.

A friend, Melanie was so generous and gave us a lot of her baby items that she no longer needed... including an infant seat, baby swing, lots of teeny tiny clothes, a bassinet, etc!!! We are so lucky. My sister in law Sarah also showered us with lots of great goodies for Meg - our girl is spoiled already! Thanks to Mike & Sheri - my couz and his wife for an adorable outfit (including some cool shades) that they prepared for Meggie!

Thank you also to my cousin Sheri who generously donated to Meg's orphanage!! You are wonderful!

So, tonight I'm washing and folding and hanging baby clothes! Preparing, nesting... whatever you might call it. I can go anytime now.... I just need a firm travel date so we can book our hotel and flights!!!

Exciting for sure.

Better today

Click here.

Hard at times

Click here.

Flying

What airline did you fly with to Vietnam? Where was your connections? Would you recommend the airline? Anyone we should avoid?

For my Canadian readers: does Air Can*da suck or is it a decent flight?

I have been checking on flights a bit and it appears each of our flights could cost anywhere between $1700-$2300/each. Let's hope we find a seat sale or something. I think we will have our adoption agency book for us as this seems to be the easiest and then they are able to make the changes for us if we get lucky and can return home a bit earlier than the 3 wks planned stay. Don't get me wrong, I cannot wait to travel and see south Vietnam... but I will want to get home to see our kids as soon as possible... that I know for sure.

Not booking tickets yet - just dreaming of doing it soon! Gotta do my research, ya know. :)

Cuteness

I've been madly searching for simple little summer outfits for Meg, romper style clothes that are one-piece and super easy and comfy for her to wear. Today, I bumped in to this cutie pie seahorse romper at Old N@vy - cheap and cute... gotta like that!



It is starting to hit me that we could be leaving for Vietnam in 3-5 wks time (please no longer than that!) and I have VERY little prepared for her. I think you just get more relaxed with each child and I've been 'around the block' 2x before and am hoping I remember how to do it all. I know that what we actually "need" is much less than all the things we as new parents (again) want for our girl. So, the crib has yet to be set up because we know she will be in our bed for the first weeks home. Then if she is still very small, we will use a bassinet maybe - it all depends on how young she may or may not be when she is back home with us.

I have my stroller and am still deciding whether to buy the infant carrier carseat that clicks right into my stroller. She is only 9lbs 7oz so it 's not like she will be out of it a month after she gets home... and it makes shopping with the stroller and getting around in the city so much easier - I will probably cave and buy one.

What else??? Hmmm, well - all her clothes I've purchased have mostly been 6+mo. Well, that aint gonna work so great on a 10 lb little gal. So, I'm starting to buy some things in size 3-6 mo (which she may still be swimming in) and then I will buy her some clothes at the market in Saigon once we get to hold her and figure out what size she'll take. FUN!

So, I wish we had a day to count down to. Having to wait while Meg is sick has been difficult. I worry about her but know they are giving her good care and that her nanny is kind and loving to her. I hope that in the next couple weeks we will get a firm idea on when we will travel. Our agency director is going to Vietnam next week and will probably have a better idea after that. Everyone keep your fingers crossed that Meg will be with us soon.

More thank yous...

Sarah, Aaron, Adah and Tom-tom... thank you for the special surprise gift box of treats for the kids at the orphanage. We have already got them in our donation suitcase and I know the orphanage will appreciate such great stuff.

Tara, my friend - thank you for your gift to Vietnam's children. We continue to put all monetary donations away for when we travel and trust me, this will make a big difference = buying things like formula and essentials for the orphanage over in Vietnam is much cheaper than buying it here. I will never forget how supportive you have been to me during this journey. I hope your own journey starts to flourish soon and we can begin celebrating your anticipation of a new child in your family to love!

Kelli - I got your package last week and am sending you a big hug. Scabies med's are so expensive to an orphanage and the tubes you mailed me, along with other helpful things will be much appreciated at Meg's orphanage.

I'm writing thank you's as they come so I don't forget... I'm a forgetful person. I just want everyone to know how wonderful they have been - it means a lot!

Friends

Time again for my weekly fun entry at I heart faces. Check out this link for all the entries. This week it is 'My friend and I'.

These 2 are besties... and the smiles runneth over whenever they are together. They love eachother - isn't it obvious?

Cloth diapers

We are going to attempt this. And it is a BIG investment so when I say we are going to attempt this... I really mean "we are stuck doing this whether we like it or not... once the purchase is made". I've looked at lots of cloth diapers and have pretty much 100% decided on the Bum Genius one-size diaper system. Basically it means that these will fit our teeny tiny girl from the time she is home (we aren't attempting cloth diapers during travel to Vietnam)until 'hopefully' she is potty trained. They expand because of a snap system. They are about $24-25 per diaper and I "think" we will buy about 16 in a variety of perty colours :)

So, before I buy these - I'd love to hear from any and all with an opinion... especially anyone using this system.

My biggest concerns are:
1) Is 16 cloth diapers enough if I plan on doing the laundry every 2 days - I'll have some Pampers for back up incase we get sick or have a few off days.
2) Leak proof? Are these really going to be absorbent enough (i can add the 2nd absorbency pad in at bedtime)?
3) Fit: I get how they can expand to fit her for a few years but what about the leg room and fit around the leg openings? Too loose as a baby and too tight as a toddler maybe?

Anyhow, tell me about your experience with cloth diapers (the good, bad and ugly) and any tips too would be helpful.

New photos!

Click here. I'm feeling giddy to see her sweet face again!

2 years!

Wow, we've got to the 2 year mark!

2 years ago today, our family took the leap we'd been dreaming of and started on our adoption journey by mailing in our application to our adoption agency. The ball started rolling right away and homestudies and dossier prep followed shortly after.

It is hard to believe it has been 2 yrs already. It has been the hardest thing ever but also so wonderful. Soon, hopefully our new family will all be together and we can start the next exciting chapter in the Lightfoot book of life! I'm so anxious to hear when we may travel and really wish I could just throw open our suitcases and get to the business of packing! Soon I hope! Pray it is soon that we can hold Meg in our arms - we need and love her so!

Celebrating 2 long years where I've learned so much: patience, hope and faith, ... and love above all else. Anything and any amount of time to get me to her is worth it.

Update

Click here.

Thank you Richelle

A friend with a heart of gold gave a generous monetary donation for me to take to Vietnam with us and buy formula and food, etc for the kids at Meg's orphanage. I just had to say a big thank you for having such an open and giving heart!

You rock!

Update

Our Meg is still in the hospital and is recovering but much slower than we had hoped.

Please keep her in your thoughts and send lots of love and healing vibes and prayers her way - it would mean so much if we knew many people were sending her all the healthy and positive energy they can.

This has been very difficult and waiting for her condition to improve has been a true test to my heart - I want to jump on a plane right now and be with her. We love her so and want her back in good health quickly! I hope that somehow she knows there is a family far far away that is yearning like mad to love her endlessly and forever.

OHIP fixes things

Good news on the OHIP 'hiccup' I posted about last month, that had Ontario families coming home with their adopted children only to find out Ontario was denying the child their medical coverage and insisting on a 3 month waiting period before the child would be eligible.

I (along with many other's that contacted Minister Caplan's office) got an email from Heather Mack this morning with good news that OHIP has fixed their error and all families of internationally adopted children will not have to go through the OHIP denials that some families unfortunately did.

"I am pleased to say that changes made to Regulation 552 are effective as of today - April 1, 2009. The regulation impacts internationally adopted children for both their eligibility for OHIP coverage and their eligibility for an exemption to the 3-month waiting period. These children will now be eligible for OHIP coverage while they are in the process of applying for Canadian citizenship. Once adopted, they will be eligible for OHIP coverage as soon as they arrive in Ontario with their parents - without a three month waiting period."

Thanks to everyone that emailed or called - together we made a difference and helped expedite things so that no other families will have to put their childrens medical care on the back burner while waiting on a 3 month 'waiting period' to pass.