Museum of Vietnamese History and Going Home Tomorrow!

We visited this museum today (after arriving when it was closed - I think the museums close for about two hours midday). We walked around and found a new restaurant to have lunch. Ian did his usual flirting thing. We went to the museum for awhile, but did not have much time there because we were going to the Water Puppet Show (again) this time with PLAN families (our agency).

I could go to the Water Puppet Show every night - it is really fun. There are many museums and places we did not see, but even Ian seems to be tiring of life in a hotel room. We need to get home, but we have really enjoyed it here.

We are frustrated with luggage restrictions. Ian is allowed a carryon and checked bag until we get to L.A. (China Airlines). In L.A. we take Midwest Airlines and he is not allowed anything (we were hoping for the extra baggage allowance). Domestic flights allow infants on your lap for free, while we had to pay a small fee for this on China Airlines (but we get a bassinet for him which means exit row seats and that also means a lot of extra leg room - for Sean especailly), so maybe that is the difference. We will see if we can stuff it all in and maybe pay for extra weight if we have to.

I talked to Zach a couple of times before he left on his vacation with his dad. I am sorry we did not make it home before he left, but I was so glad to talk to him. He will have a great vacation.

Here are some pics. We leave at 5:20 PM Friday evening. Ian is not sick after all, yesterday's vomitting incident was maybe a reaction to getting medication he was not happy about _ Ibuprofen for his teething pain....

We are coming home!

No New Pics Today

Sorry, I know the pics of Ian are what you want.

We went to China Airlines again today, this time to purchase Ian's ticket (we were told ahead of time it is much cheaper to purchase his here and not a big deal since it is a lap ticket and not an actual seat) and to request a bassinet for the long flight from Taipei to L.A. (that means we have more spacious exit row seating and that means LEG ROOM for Sean as well as the great bassinet for Ian. That is something they won't let you confirm until right before your trip so it is confirmed! We are so happy because the China Airlines woman said thay are discontinuing the bassinets. She even asked what size diapers he wears and if he needs a baby meal! Seanwas pretty cramped on the way here, so that will really help. I am pretty nervous about that flight. It is about 13 hours I think. That is along time if he decides he needs to have a major crying meltdown (his are rare and usually short). I worry about him becoming very sick, etc. He vomited tonight (not sure yet why) while I was standing up holding him, and it covered me, him and our bed comforter. While Daddy got the bath ready, he attempted his first fingerpainting expereince with it (sorry TMI). He seems to be feeling better now....but I REALLY am worried about the long flight and the whole trip home. Some of those airports are so hectic....

When we arrived at China Airlines, it was the lunch hour and they were closed. We walked around a bit, and decided to have lunch at a cafe. Some Vietnamese people next to us asked us "Vietnam baby?" We said yes and talked to them a bit. When they saw me make him a bottle (we carry Playtex bottles with about 4 oz. of bottled water, a small thermos of hot bottled water and a formula dispenser with pre-measured compartments). They were all intrigued with the Playtex bottles. I ws not surprised because they are not available here. In fact babies are breastfed in Vietnam and it sounds like all babies (except the orphans of course) are. Some Vietnames people do not even know about formula or that you can buy it here. So the man asked us to write down the name of the Playtex bottles for him and one of the women took a picture of one with her cell phone camera.

We were going to go to a museum today, but didn't make it before it closed. Tomorrow is our last day to do that, so maybe there will be pics tomorrow. Ian is really starting to talk a lot! He is such a flirt with Vietnamese women. Once in awhile I will watch him listen intently to conversations in Vietnamese. Yes, he has a history with that language and I wonder what he understands.

We are really hoping Ian's vomiting was a one time thing (especailly so close to the big trip home). We've had tiny mild upset stomach things, but have not gotten sick (well, Sean has a cold but not too bad). We have really tried a lot of different foods, but try to heed the advice of our health dept. travel clinic -no unpasteurized milk, no uncooked foods (like lettuce & tomato on sanwiches which we eat at trusted restaurants), no unpeeled fruit (well o.k. we eat that too at trusted restaurants), no shellfish...o.k. maybe we aren't following the rules exactly- we've eaten a lot of prawns.

Well, must go - I want to make sure that Ian is still sleeping o.k (I am in the lobby while Sean is up with Ian). He has not been napping a lot during the day, then sleeping a LONG time at night, but tonight with not feeling well...he is a little unsettled.

We leave Friday, July 27th at 5:20 PM and arrive in Milwaukee Sat. morning at 4:45 AM (gain 12 hours). Can't wait to get home, drink regular coffee (Vietnamese coffee is very thick like espresso, but with a very distinct taste - I am not fond of it), use our washer & dryer, water from the tap, see everyone, not get stared at so much (o.k. I guess we will still get stared at). Bye!

The Temple of Literature and Ian Continues to Adjust Well

We have been noticing that Ian has not been crying as much as he did the first week (although that was not much anyway - he was very happy & smiley during the day and most of the night). The first week he had some "fussy" times when it would be difficult to figure out what he needed. I figured it could've been anything: gas, tummy ache, anxiety, grieving, just being scared of a new environment or us (but he never seemed afraid of us). At night it seemed like he was having something like night terrors, where his cry was a different, more distressed pitch, he didn't open his eyes (always after sleeping), he would awaken to sounds he normally would sleep through, arch his back and would not be comforted - very different than other times. The last time it happened (several days ago) instead of barely talking or talking very quietly in a comforting voice, I said a little louder. "It's o.k. Ian. We're here." I said that a couple of times, and it was like magic. He settled down and went back to sleep. He still wakes up for a bottle (he was eating cereal at the orphanage, but is not very interested now - we figure when we get home we can restablish that, right now he loves the bottle and seems to need the nurturing that goes along with that), but we are happy to oblige and know that eventually with more solids we will get him to sleep through the night. It is very easy though. After the bottle he goes right back to sleep. He also sometimes is very content in his bed even if he is not asleep yet (although we still are more than happy to rock him to sleep because he needs all of the nurturing we can give him).

Everyone says what a happy baby he is. Most of the Vietnamese people are very friendly, ask how old he is and if he is a boy (not as obvious to them given how he is dressed), and play with him. Many Vietnamese people have said that he is so lucky and several have thanked us and say we are doing a wonderful thing, that there are many children without families and that they are grateful we are doing this. Of course, it is so humbling for us, because we are obviouly the lucky ones (I know adotpive parents just feel that way - we are so blessed and this is such an amazing experience). He is so used to getting showered with attention that he will stare at people not fussing over him, just waiting in anticipation, like the games are about to begin. You can see the excitement and anticipation on his face. On the elevator yesterday, a man rode up with us. Ian just stared at him as if to say "Have you not yet noticed how cute, smiley and irresistible I am?" The guy just looked at the floor (like many of us do in elevators), Ian kept staring...

Today we went to The Temple of Literature. I need to read the brochure, but I knew it was a beautiful place to visit and it appears to be an important place of worship and study. It is truly beautiful and inspiring. A lady there told us that all school children visit there every year.

I am having a lot of trouble uploading some of the photos so will add more later....

Water Puppet Show

Tonight since we laid low today, we decided to go to see the Water Puppets. There is a history to them (very ancient) and they started long ago by farmers in the rice paddies, but I need to learn more about the story. Before the show, some musicians performed traditional Vietnamese music. Ian loves music (especially being sung to) and rhythm (drumming patterns on the bed or anywhere else) so I figured he'd love it, but it was very loud so I thought he might be scared. He fell asleep awhile, then really watched the show. We have noticed that it seems that he is o.k. as long as we are there or are holding him. It is like he figures we brought him there so it must be o.k. He really does very well with a lot of situations (which should come in handy with the marathon plane ride home - yikes).

Anyway, here are some pics. It was hard to get really good ones since it was dark and there was a lot of movement (and we are still learning about how to use our new digital camera). It was very cool...

Halong Bay and Probably not coming home early

Well, we would need to be at the airport now if we were leaving today so I guess we will not make it back to see Zach before he leaves on vacation with his dad (very disappointed). Our tickets never got confirmed so I guess nothing opened up. I think everything is booked tight this week so we will probably come home on our original flights (leave Friday, arrive Saturday morning). We will have the chance to see more things to tell Ian about and to get pictures for him. Have a great vacation Zach!

Yesterday we went to Halong Bay (Ha Long Bay?). It is an incredibly beautiful place, reminds me of a huge Wisconsin Dells. You could just imagine the dragons emerging from the water (there is a lot of folklore to that effect). We knew it would be a long tiring day, but it was exhausting. It was truly beautiful and we are so glad we saw it, but humidity was 75% and there was dead air at the end. We left our hotel at 8am and returned at 9 pm because it takes 3 1/2 hours to get there by car. There was a beautiful cae that Sean went into (I stayed at the boat with Ian).

It became pretty intolerable at the end for Ian (too hot to nap, irritable, but too hot to be held). The first part was cool and breezy, the end was so hot and sticky. The tour guide became increasingly annoying to all three of us because she talked nonstop and kept holding Ian (to help us out, but still it was so excessive). She also was very loud and in his face, like when he first woke up. He eventually let her know he did not want her around him, but it was so, so annyoying. She would say things like "He is very naughty" because Ian was chewing on his fingers (he has a lot of teething pain). The Vietnamese do NOT like to see babies with fingers in their mouths or toys for that matter. I don't think they really have teething toys. They just can't stand to see it and will yank his hand out of his mouth.

Anyway, I'll get started posting pics. We will be home soon! We are glad to be here but ready to come home. Maybe I'm a bit more homesick than Sean.

Silk Village today, Changing tickets & Halong Bay tomorrow

We are still not sure if our tickets can be changed. We discovered China Airlines is closed today and tomorrow and had trouble finding their number at the airport (but I guess we could've just gone to the airport and asked someone at their office there). They gave us an itinerary for leaving Monday, but said it is not confirmed and when it is they will contact us at our hotel. Well, we have not heard. But Sean did some Internet searching and with a code that connects to our name and itineraries, he found that the Taipei to L.A. flight is the one not confirmed, which is not a surprise, we knew that was the tricky one. We also found that the itinerary (should it become confirmed) is the same one as we have for Friday, which is much nicer than the first one they gave us for Monday which had us in L.A. with a nine hour layover.

Because we are not sure if we are leaving Monday, we made plans to go to Halong Bay tomorrow (families with our agency were going tomorrow but decided to go Monday instead). It is probably the one place I really NEEDED to see before we leave. It is a long day (some do an overnight trip), leave at 8 am, drive there, take a boat ride with lunch through the bay, and drive back, arriving at the hotel at 7 pm. Halong Bay is incredibly beautiful with amazing rock formations. I am really glad we are going to get to see it. Our hotel is arranging it, which is great.

We have discovered that Ian is quite the trooper! We take him out in the front pack and he never complains. In fact we have to make sure he gets enough water, etc. This morning we went to the Silk Village with other families from our agency, PLAN. There are silk factories there and lots of shops. Among other things we got some silk fabric for Ian's quilt ($7/meter). It is really pretty. I was going to take a picture of it but I forgot. Maybe I'll post it tomorrow. The Silk Village was great, but it was very hot there and we had a return cab planned for three hours later. We called for him to return earlier because we were all so hot and tired (the heat is not as unbearable as I had thought it would be, but we try not to be out in it for very long at a time - the humidity is the worst part). When we came out of the shop where we got the fabric, we found everyone was in the van waiting for us!

This afternoon I hung out in the room while Ian napped and Sean was online and at the front desk trying to reach China Airlines. Because Ian was well rested, we decided to do some shopping in the evening. We walked around (we are trying to find a kite shop we keep driving by, but forget the exact location of) and happened across a nightime street market. It was great, like Maxwell Street Days or something, but almost carnival- like. Because it was nighttime, it was much cooler and there was not the pressure or people following you like the regular shops have. There were mostly locals there which is a good sign I think (as far as shopping goes).

Sean and I talked today about our mixed feelings about leaving early. One important reason we have for returning early is we want Zach to be one of the first, not one of the last, to meet his little brother (he is going on vacation on Wednesday with his dad). We are enjoying this experience a lot (parts of it anyway), but it is getting pretty old having to take care of Ian in a hotel room. Washing bottles and making formula with bottled water, making up zillions of little games to keep him active and occupied (today it was drumming on a formula can with chopsticks - he is so intrigued with rhythm), and not having a washer & dryer at my disposal, it just gets old (actually making up games for Ian is really fun, but he even seems to need to come home). But there is so much more to see, and who knows when we'll get back here (Maybe the next adoption? We'd have to win the lottery I think). So we are ready to come home definitely and also wish to see more.

Well, we have to be up really early to go to Halong Bay (I am so excited) so I will post some pics of Silk Village and maybe the market at night. We will be home soon!

Yesterday- Hoa Lo Prison Museum

Yesterday we went to the Hao Lo Prison Museum. I was writing a post about it for the blog when the hotel power went out so I could not post pics and lost that part of the post. This prison (1/3 of it remains standing) was originally used by the French colonists for Vietnamese rebels. It was later used for American soldiers during the Vietnam War and is what American soldiers called the "Hanoi Hilton." It is also where John McCain was held during the war. It was interesting and very sad.

Today we were going to go to a market with some other PLAN (our agency) families, but they left early and Ian slept late and we just went with that. We heard it was terribly hot there, beause it was inside and not air conditioned. We ended up not going, but instead walked around and walked to the lake (Hoa Kiem Lake? I will check). The lake is shaded and pretty with benches and a nice place to relax and cool off. On the way to the lake we intended to shop, but it is stressful shopping because they do not leave you alone. Many of the women will follow you down the street and even grab at you. One woman today had my arm and was not letting go. We bought a fan from one woman and she gave Sean incorrect change and tried to not pay it back to him. He was firm and insisted and she eventually gave it to him.

Later, Sean bought a Vietnamese stringed instrument that he had seen before. It is very long but folds up and has a case. It has one string but you move your other hand along the string in different places. It has beautiful inlaid mother of pearl dragons and other decorations. The wood looks like a mahogany finish (only $40). Sean learned a little about how to play it and we will probably display it in Ian's room and teach him how to play it one day.

Last night and tonight we had dinner with some families from our agency. Ian is the only adopted boy so he is loving being around all of the cute little ladies! Last night we ate at Kiti just a few doors down from our hotel. They have Vietnamese and many other types of food. Sean and I ate there Wednesday night too. They are very nice and held Ian while we ate. Tonight we ate at Al Fresco's which is where Americans go for some American comfort food. It was nice. Ian was so good and we even forgot his toys. He just loves being out and about. He loves people and when we walk around we take him in the front pack (Baby Bjorn) and he is very content.

Tomorrow (Saturday) we are going to the silk village with the families from our agency. We heard there are great prices there. Among other things, I will be looking for fabric for Ian's 100 Good Wishes Quilt. On Sunday we may go to Ha long Bay which is a boat trip through a bay with beautiful rock formations. We have not heard if our tickets can be changed so we might not go Sunday if we are staying longer, because I think the PLAN families might want to go on Monday instead and it would be fun to go with them.

O.K. I will write more later. I am going to post pics of the Hoa Lo prison, our walk today, the actual Hanoi Hilton and maybe cute pics of Ian in the tub and Sean feeding Ian. It is so interesting here, but I can't wait until I can make a bottle with tap water and use my washer & dryer! Being here so long does help you bond though. We spend a lot of time in our hotel room just playing with Ian. I know at home there would be the "real life" distractions and responsibilities. I know this is a special time but I miss Zach and I miss home too.