Just Some Pics

Abbie is never too far away!

 

Delaney and her new pal Honey (my cousin J and aunt made Honey at Build a Be*r last weekend for Delaney!)

Again just showing Abbie is never too far away!

And just cause...

   

And I'm moving on over to a new blog address, The Delightful Delaney.  I feel like it's just wrong to still have the address be mylittlemanfromvietnam - I don't want Delaney to get a complex or something (ok, yes, that's primarily sarcasm - but I still feel it's a good thing to make the move)!  And I like the wordpress ability to password protect individual posts - something I'm not doing quite yet, but anticipate perhaps doing at some point.  So please follow us over there!

One Whole Week

Yesterday afternoon Delaney and I celebrated our one-week anniversary as a family.  I actually can't believe it's been a week already since the papers were signed and she officially became my daughter.  And it's only been not quite three weeks since the new agency accepted me and told me about this situation that might be developing.  What a whirlwind.  I will write more about all of that soon.  We're settling in pretty well here at home - though I did jump back into work on a light scale already on Monday, so I'm looking forward to the weekend to try to get more organized and rested.  I know, crazy about work, but it's working out ok since Delaney sleeps most of the time and I do work at home.  Anyhow...  on to the real reason you visit - pictures!

The first set below is an attempt to compare Abbie and Delaney's sizes - I don't think the shots do the differential justice but they crack me up anyway.  As you can see, Abbie doesn't get too far away from us, but doesn't want to be too close either.  But hmmm - notice how as soon as Delaney is not in the bassinet-type thing anymore (acquired in a big shopping trip at the big red megastore yesterday, which I think will work well for us) that a certain someone takes it over?  Seriously - Abbie crawled in there somewhere around 8 this morning and she only JUST NOW finally crawled out of there.  Too funny - apparently it appears to be just meant for her.  We'll see who occupies it more.

 

Today was also our first official bath and as you will see it was not a big hit!  I actually anticipated it to go this way, and I'm sure as we both get used to it things will go more smoothly.  And in Delaney's defense, just prior to the bath challenge was a diaper blowout challenge where she did endure a bit more unpleasantness than she would have had to had I been a bit more on top of things.  Anyhow - I must share the pics even though she'll someday wish I hadn't!

      

We had our first doctors appointment yesterday and Delaney was declared perfect!  That comes, of course, as no surprise to her mama.  She supposedly is up already to 6 lbs 8 oz - which seems like a huge jump so I'm not sure if that's a difference in scales or if she's really jumped that much.  But she of course does need a bit of a gain so we'll just go with it.

Goodness - Abbie reclaimed the bassinet only 4 minutes after vacating it, and Delaney is snuggled in the crook of my arm again, so guess we will draw this post to a close!

Home Sweet Home

Hi everyone - Delaney and I are home and all is well.  She was an angel through all the traveling on Sunday, and she charms the socks off everyone she encounters - we realized it was a good thing we left ourselves plenty of time to get checked in and such since we hadn't realized the additional DD factor (Delaney Doll) where everyone has to peek and comment on what a doll she is.  Of course many also felt the need to comment on the fact I was taking her out in the cold and/or on a plane when she was so young/little - Shawna, I figure you'll get a hoot out of that!  I was of course pleasant in my responses, but you wouldn't believe how much I heard it!  Yes, she's little, but she's going to be a Minnesota gal and being out in the cold is a fact of life!  Of course this was not during the -15 days of Minneapolis this past weekend - that was always my comeback, that we were headed back to where it was much colder so I was easing her into it.

At the airport in Minneapolis I had some fabulous family meeting us and it was very touching, along with a small welcome home party by two of my closest aunts and two cousins who were very excited to meet the new addition.  This coming weekend (and weeks ahead) we will try to catch up with many other family and friends so Delaney can charm their socks off too.

She's doing very well and we have our first doctor appointment on Tuesday just to get the ball rolling here at home and ensure she is indeed perfect even if she's in a small package.  The biggest challenge here at home for her so far (and this was the case in the hotel as well) is that she really isn't crazy about the crib - I think it's just too big, dark and lonely for her.  So despite my mother's disapproval, she tends to spend about as much time snuggling with me in bed as she does in the crib.  I'm going to do some more research and play this one by ear a bit - even though she's only 10 days old, she's gone through many changes already (including her first night of life without anyone but staff watching over her as I wasn't able to see her that night) and I think the important thing for her right now is to feel secure as she sleeps, right?

I knew the cats would be a challenge, though for the most part this adjustment is going better than I expected.  Both cats really gave my aunt a challenge while I was gone, bless her heart.  With the way I had to rush out of town, they were very frazzled and on edge before I even walked out the door, which certainly didn't help.  And Abbie has been struggling since I was gone for Christmas anyway - she's very high maintenance emotionally, and if you've been reading for a while you may remember she's actually on anti-depressants.  Let's just say the behavior that necessitates the medication, which most people wouldn't put up with, has returned for the moment and I know it's frequency will get worse before it gets better.  I'll spare you further details, trust me.  Both cats are not sure what to make of this little noise machine that seems to be commandeering all of my attention now.  Maddie stays fairly close to me, but at a safe distance.  Whenever Delaney cries Maddie cries at me too, I can't quite tell what she's thinking but it sounds more like a cry of her being worried about the baby rather than hollering at me to make it stop.  Abbie is intrigued by the baby, but I know she is jealous.  She will make a move as if to try to figure out how to take over my lap but she has figured out it's not as easy as getting me to set aside my laptop.  So she just stays fairly close by.  We are one tight-knit family at the moment, wherever Delaney and I are, the two cats are usually not far behind.  But I'm pleased so far with how they are transitioning - I expected it to be very rough, so thus far I'm pleased.

Just a few pictures - i know the one is mean of me to include cause she looks goofy, but I couldn't resist.  At least it's a change from the usual sleeping newborn, right?  And I loved watching Jenn and BJ take pictures of Amos next to a teddy bear each month to show how much he's growing, so I have to start the same thing.  For this first try (which was at the hotel, I may take some different ones here at home and we'll see if I remember to keep doing this!) I'm using the gift that Elaine's mom was nice enough to make for Delaney - I can't wait until she's big enough to snuggle it!  I had the fantastic opportunity to meet Elaine and her mom (of Looking for George) while I was in Ohio - she's one of my very favorite bloggers and I was so excited to have the chance to meet her (and of course shop one of the wackiest grocery stores I've ever seen!).  Elaine, you'll laugh, Delaney must have been listening while we thought she was sleeping because she did a great half-imitation of Touchdown Jesus last night when we were just cuddling - I sure wish my camera had been within arm's reach!  My describing it wouldn't do it justice, but suffice it to say I thought of you and the, what, exhibit?  monument?  immediately.

I've still got lots of catching up to do with blogs and emails, I'm making a tiny bit of progress each day but with a cat on one side and a baby on the other, you know, it might take me a bit.  But I'm working on it!  Still keeping my fingers crossed for those of you who have been waiting so much longer than you expected to get those I600 approvals.  I'm hoping this will be a big week of progress, and I'm thinking of all of you.

The Latest

Here's yet another picture of Delaney sleeping - still bad lighting and still bitty, but still cute, right?

We've had a pretty mellow couple of days since busting out of the hospital.  In fact, until about 40 minutes ago when I headed down the hall to do a load of laundry, I hadn't even stepped out of the hotel room since we got back from the hospital!  But she's doing quite well and we're both figuring out how this will all work.  I think I'm a pretty cliche first mom - now understanding why they tell you to sleep when the baby sleeps, why it'll be a challenge to get a shower, and how one can not have time or forget to eat.  I've googled about newborns having hiccups, cause she gets them a lot and I worried it was me doing something wrong in feeding her or something.  She isn't a fan of being washed up or getting her diaper changed, but she's a big fan of eating, sleeping and being wrapped up like a baby burrito.  She's liking our Ergo baby carrier, and I love the size she is right now (Delaney, don't ever grow up!) because she can be in the carrier or snuggled in the crook of my leg and I can still blog surf and type or get a bit done around the room.  It won't last, I know!

In a shocking development that I guess sure fits with the last two weeks but that I didn't expect, our ICPC clearance went through today and we're free to go home!  I couldn't believe it when I was chatting with my Minnesota SW, she put me on hold for a few minutes, and came back saying it was the MN person on the other line giving the verbal we'd been cleared.  I don't remember what ICPC stands for, but basically it's the process where both states (in this case Ohio and MN) sign off on the adoption and once I have the clearance we can leave Ohio.  The Ohio SW said it *could* take 4-6 weeks but probably more like 1-2 and hardly ever over 2.  Yeah, that 4-6 about gave me a heart attack and is one of many examples of how that person drove me just about crazy, but those are stories for another time.  I've seen some families via blogs that were cleared in a few days, but I don't think it's very common and of course I thought at some point we were due for things to have a hiccup.  But less than two days and we're cleared?  Somebody is clearly watching over us.

As it happens, as I got the news my mom is on a plane from Daytona Beach (where she's staying for the winter to get away from the Minnesota cold) to Cincinnati to meet her first grandbaby.  Though I'd teased that we were leaving when we got the clearance whether she was here or not, I couldn't really do that to her!  Since she was just planning a short trip until Sunday anyway, I've decided we'll stay until Sunday too and we have flights leaving about the same time Sunday afternoon.  It'll be nice to have those extra hands to get the car returned, things checked in, etc., so it's working out well.

Of course I'm anxious to get home - I've been worried about the cats who got very stressed with my rushed leaving last Friday and thus have only been somewhat cooperative with my aunt trying to take care of them.  I know, they're cats and this is a trip to adopt a baby, but if you've been reading for a while you know the cats are quite important to me and have some challenges we've been working through.  And of course I'm just anxious to get home, introduce Delaney to everyone and start our life together - I don't think it'll seem entirely real until we get home.

So that's the latest and greatest news.  I am, as I'm sure many have noticed, extremely behind on returning emails and catching up to blogs.  I'm making bits of progress here and there and I hope those of you I owe emails to will understand that it'll take a bit more time.  But I really do thank everyone for the support and well wishes - I have a lot of new blogs to catch up to now and I am sincerely touched to be hearing from some folks that I hadn't been in touch with for a bit - I think you will know who you are.  I'll have lots more stories about our experience to share as I get settled - I don't want to torture you with anything much longer than my usual monster-length novels!

I will admit, I'm having a bit of almost Survivor's Guilt this week, something similar to what Elaine touched upon in one of her recent posts.  I am so, so grateful that I am now Delaney's mom and that this has fallen into place so quickly.  I did have a lot of ups and downs in getting to this point and it has been a challenging two years to get here.  But so many families have waited longer, with pictures of their little ones, and been through so much more than I have, and they still wait.  My heart aches for families like Elaine, Emily, Shannon, Jen, Cindy, and all who are getting caught up in the changes in the VN process and/or with their other programs and are getting the short end of the stick so to speak.  It's beyond time for your little ones to come home and I will keep crossing my fingers and saying some prayers that things fall into place soon for you (and everyone else waiting for VN, Kaz, etc.).  I'm not sure why I'm suddenly so blessed with my Delaney (and of course it's not like I'll hand her back over to anybody and go back to the uncertainly with the rest of you, sorry!) but I am grateful even if feeling unsure of how I earned such a blessing.  I don't think I'm even saying that well but I think many of you know what I'm trying to say. 

One last thing for now, since this pertains to a couple of the emails I owe people and others may be wondering.  The last I heard about the little 3-year old boy I'd mentioned in a recent blog post is that the family has not maintained contact with my agency.  The agency is working very hard to track the family down and determine what the situation really is, because of course if the family wants to disrupt the adoption then they want to find that little boy his true forever family.  Lisa, thank you so much for the update as I'd been wanting one from the agency but hadn't had the opportunity.  I will keep checking in on the situation and I'm so thrilled that several of you were interested in knowing more.  I will sure be thinking of the little boy, hoping maybe someone thought it'd be a fun prank or such since they've disappeared (I know, not likely), not that there really is this little boy out there not being wanted by his adoptive family just because of his color. 

Expect more pics and updates through the weekend when Delaney turns on the charm with her new grandma!

The Big News

Well, everyone, it's official - Delaney and I are family!  Yesterday was a very crazy day with some stress and chaos and this morning had a bit too, but in the end everything is signed and the two of us are back at the hotel.  She can definitely tell something is different, she's been a bit fussier than I'd previously seen her but now she's sleeping on my chest as I type.  I got to see her birthmom briefly before we left  and though it's hard to read how she's doing, she is solid in her decision and is looking forward to photos and other updates as we move forward which I'm thrilled to do for her.

Really, I just can't believe it.  I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and for something big to go wrong but other than a few local social worker challenges everything went off without a hitch.  I'll share a few stories after I've caught my breath.  I really didn't have doubted her birthmom would sign, but I just worried that something else would happen and they'd take her away.  But nope, we're family now!

Of course more stories and pictures to come as I get settled, but figured at least a few people out there might be waiting to hear that it did happen!

Thanks for all the support - it's been so much fun to know so many others have been so excited for us.  Now I just have to hope for quick state approvals (supposedly it could take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks - you know which I'm hoping for!) and then we can get home and truly start our life together.

Here are a couple of new pictures:

More later!

Today's Pics!

Very mellow day today - just Delaney and I hanging out visiting with the staff and a bit with the other family with a baby in Delaney's transition room.  She's just an angel baby, very mellow and has been a good eater.  It's funny, this morning before I got there she'd been fussy and not eating well, and tonight when I had to leave (shift change for staff) for a bit apparently she was crying again.  But put her in my arms, and she's an angel baby.  Hopefully that's a sign of things to come!

It sounds like I *might* get to bring her back to the hotel with me Monday rather than have to wait until the papers are signed Tuesday.  I'll believe it when I see it.  But sounds like all is on track for papers to be signed mid-morning Tuesday.  Though I don't anticipate any problems, it sure will be nice to have that done.  Then we'll hang out and wait for papers to clear - a week or two hopefully no more. 

So great day all around!

A couple of conclusions I've come to about Cincinnati (not the only conclusions, but prominent ones!):  apparently they don't like to make it easy for you to figure out where you're going.  For example, many cities clearly mark the turns to get on major highways.  Not so much where I need to go!  But everybody knows where the loopy thing is by the White Castle to get toward the entrance to the freeway!  Also - nuttiest intersection I may have ever encountered, Vine and MLK.  Honestly - no wonder I missed it the first times!  If you've seen the intersection, I bet you agree.  But I now have three straight problem free travels between the hospital and hotel, so I'm thrilled!  I'll get a bit more adventurous (I'm told I must try the chili at Skyline) once the two of us are together and out and about on our own.

More tomorrow!

 

 

It's a...

Ok, are you all ready for the big reveal?  The big news, the scoop, the deets?

Would you like to know if it's a boy or a girl, maybe how big and some pics?  I know, I said I wouldn't post pictures until the paperwork was signed, but I CANNOT resist.  You'll see why...

 

 

 

 

So as for boy or girl.  It's obvious, don't you think?  What do you suppose someone who named their blog "my little man from vietnam" would be blessed with upon shifting gears?

Yep, it's a GIRL!  From Cincinnati, Ohio (you were right, Elaine, and I knew you'd guess!).  Obviously there will be further tweaking of the blog name once things are settled!

She was born at 9 p.m. Thursday night weighing in at 5 lbs, 10 oz.  She's a bitty little thing.  I spent much of today rocking her and I'm just over the moon. 

I know, what you really want are the pictures - who am I kidding?  Here are a few to get you started:

(and yes - either I have a gigantor hand, which I believe was basically a Seinfeld episode plot once upon a time, or she really is tiny.  If you go with the idea that I've got a gigantor hand, then you must also believe in gigantor pacifiers too, right?  Or I have a funhouse style camera.  Yes, I'm delirious - perhaps I'll make sense tomorrow after some sleep...)

Of course I will share more pictures as I get more organized and catch my breath a bit.  I'm not quite sure when she'll get to leave the hospital with me - the relinquishment papers will be signed hopefully Tuesday morning, so she may not get to come with me until then but I'm hoping for earlier.  We'll see.  In the meantime the hospital staff has been very nice, my hotel and their staff is great, and I even made it "home" from the hospital tonight with zero wrong turns - I'm now 1 for 4 on direct drives between the hotel and hospital, which is progress!

And of course the rest of the big reveal.  I think her name will be Delaney Annabelle.  Annabelle after my Aunt A who I've mentioned before who is like the sister I should have had.  She's an Ann but we often call her Annabelle and I just thought it was cute.  Delaney just cause I like it.  The name really seems to fit her (which is already generating the nickname Laney Belle from me), though I will wait to consider it final to see how everything falls into place.

Ok, I am truly deliriously happy and deliriously tired.  I will explain soon just how this really could all happen quickly, as I know it seems absolutely nuts. 

But in the meantime, thanks so much for all the excitement and well wishes - I'm thrilled to get all of your comments!  And please keep up the positive thinking/crossed fingers/prayers until Tuesday morning when the papers are signed.

Thanks!