Finding Foster

Look Who's Walking!

2008-07-29T20:57:00.000-07:00

On July 25th, 2008, Nolan took his first step! Yippee! There is no stopping him now! Rob calls this his "Monster Mash", the Frankenstein walk!

Happy B'Day Bebe Noli! You Are 1 Year Old!

2008-07-25T19:02:00.000-07:00

2008-07-25T18:51:00.000-07:00

Happy B'Day Bebe Noli! You Are 1 Year Old!

2008-07-25T18:34:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Baby Noli's 1st Bday! It is hard to believe our baby boy has just turned 1! He is such a sweet, beautiful baby! We had a fabulous party for him, surrounded by wonderful friends! His Godparents (Kendi, Mark) and Godbrothers, Colin, Grant, Cam, arrived, accompanied by Grandma Linda, Aunt Kristy and her wonderful family! Thank you all so very much! You made the day so very special! We had lots of outdoor water fun, followed by presents and then diving into a big chocolate cake! Enjoy the pics! We just lOVE our baby boy! He is simply the BEST! We are so grateful each and every day to have such wonderful children and friends!

Happy Birthday Claire!

2008-07-09T19:12:00.001-07:00

Claire is now 3 years old! It is hard to believe! We had a party for her at the house, BBQ , cake and ice cream! We had her picture on her cake, next to Barney! She was so excited to turn 3! Lot's of our friends showed up to help us celebrate! Everyone had a wonderful time! Happy B'day Claire Bear

Spring Dance Recital 2008

2008-07-09T18:58:00.000-07:00

Caitlin had her annual Spring Dance recital late last month. She participated in each concert, performing jazz, ballet and tap numbers. She had beautiful performances. She will move up to the next dance company for her summer classes. We are very proud of her!

Look Who's 11 Months Old!

2008-06-18T11:58:00.000-07:00

One more month and our baby boy will turn 1! It has happened so quickly! He has been crawling now for a few months, is constantly pulling up on anything he finds! He has discovered climbing stairs, so the child gates have been installed everywhere! He is really a very sweet baby, very laid back (most of the time)and so very happy! Oh, and very quiet (that is, compared to Claire)! We just love him to death! All of our children bring us such joy! Here he is with his favorite toy, a popping ladybug (and, yes, dirty laundry in piles, an everyday occurrence)! He is a very fast crawler, so I am anticipating he will be walking soon and into everything!

Barney Will Be Celebrating Claire's 3rd Bday!

2008-06-06T17:16:00.000-07:00

Well, it looks like it's going to be Barney, the Dinosaur for Claire's Big 3rd Birthday celebration! She just LOVES the Purple Guy! Here she is singing her current favorite song! I thought I just about had Rob convinced to dress up as the big purple guy but I haven't yet be able to find a costume! I am still searching!

Busier May!

2008-05-30T13:00:00.000-07:00

Whew, May has been sooooooo very busy. Nolan's Baptism/Brunch was the weekend of May 4th. Rob then had his AAA National High School troubleshooting contest at Mt Hood CC the following weekend with Mother's Day (I had a most special, blessed day with my beautiful children) and birthday parties in between. Then Caitlin had yet another dance performance at PGE park May 16th (video clip included), where they performed at the Portland Beavers Baseball game. The entire family attended and we had a great time! Her dance company had also performed at a Portland Trailblazers and Timbers (professional soccer team) game, early this year.

We then celebrated a very special day, May 22nd, our 2nd annual "Gotcha" or Family Day, making it exactly 2 years when we first held our baby girl, Claire, in our arms! I brought out my beautiful Chinese silk table runner, place settings and china! I made Jiaozi (dumplings), Asian Egg Drop Soup, Orange Chicken (which is an actually American Asian dish which the kids love), Apple filled Won Tons and Beef teriyaki. We also had tea in our Asian tea pot! Claire is realizing that she has 2 very special parties, her Family Day and birthday celebrations! The month concluded with more birthday parties (Caitlin and Claire have so many wonderful friends) which we all LOVE to share! June will be just as busy with more parties, including Claire's 3rd birthday!

We have also been in/out of the doctors office! Our baby boy has had 4 ear infections within the past month or so! So, we have an appointment with an ENT Specialist early June, so we are possibly looking into having tubes inserting in his ears. We don't want him to continue suffering so will evaluate our best recommendations!

2008-05-30T12:31:00.000-07:00

Busy May!

2008-05-14T11:42:00.000-07:00

I have been slacking off on my journaling! It seems like every time I sit to write, the baby or others need my attention! It is very busy around here! May brought us Baby Noli's Baptism! We wore our beautiful silk outfits we bought in Viet Nam! I wore my traditional Vietnamese Ao Dai and the girls, their silk dresses. May 4, 2008 was a beautiful, sunny day, wonderful friends and a most welcome visit from Grandma Carla and Rog who flew in from Arizona to attend! The kids (and we too) were so thrilled to see them! It could not have been a more special occasion! Nolan's Godparents, Kendra and Mark and their boys came, as well as Grandma Linda from southern Oregon! We also had other special friends attend, Aunt Christy, Stacy, Mike, Hannah and Mac! We then celebrated with a wonderful brunch! We couldn't have had a more beautiful celebration on this special day for our baby boy! (oops, the baby is crying! Got to go!)

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Meet "Little Guy"

2008-04-18T11:17:00.000-07:00

We first met Little Guy in Viet Nam! He proved to be an excellent babysitter, patient, kind and very entertaining! Well, we just HAD to bring him home! So, Daddy deflated him as best he could, smushed him in a suitcase and here he is, living with us now! Sissy and I spend hours hopping around the house on Little Guy! We are slowly teaching Noli the fine art of bouncing all around the house! We just love our Little Guy!

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The Godparents

2008-02-27T11:36:00.000-08:00

2008-02-27T11:18:00.000-08:00

WE ARE ON THE MEND, HOPEFULLY!

2008-02-27T10:54:00.001-08:00

One thing, among others, that my children have taught me, is that biology does not necessarily make a family! We have been so very blessed in amazing friends, who have stepped in to help us on a moments notice! Thank you Kendra, Mark, Stacy, Mike, and all our church family! You all have been amazing! We have all been very sick! Rob was in urgent care Sunday, with a horrible systemic staph infection. They had to administer IV antibiotics! This was something he had in VN and it returned, even after a round of oral antibiotics! He has been absolutely miserable but is beginnning to feel better now! He was back in to have another round of IV anitibiotics, then another course of oral antibiotics. This is something that baby had, but his cleared with oral antibiotics. Then, Sunday evening, Claire was complaining of stomach and headache, then threw up late Sunday evening! Oh joy, I knew the entire family was getting sick when Caitlin was complaining and up half the night coughing and coughing, uncontrollably! Just when Rob began to feel somewhat human, I fell ill Tuesday evening with a headache I hadn't had in years! It was one that left you feeling nauseous and miserable just to breath! I was in bed Tuesday evening at 7:30!! That is soooooooo unusual for me, the late night owl, get things done at night kind of person! We are all starting to feel better but I told Rob, I bet this is how the baby has been feeling, but hasn't been able to communicate it! A few days prior, he was almost unconsolable! He was up every couple of hours and acted like he was not feeling good at all (which is so out of character , as he is such an easy going little guy)! We thought it might have been the shots he had, but it could have just been a combination of, whatever nasty virus has been circulating! Thank you again Kendra and Stacy for stepping in to help when we needed someone! You can't imagine how blessed we feel to have you in our lives! I am also back to work, as of, well, when we returned. I received new referrals the very week we returned. I feel so very grateful to have continued work, but it is more of a challenge with 2 children in daycare! I am juggling it all though!

I want to include wonderful photos. We have asked Kendra and Mark to be Nolan's Godparents, and they have honored us by accepting! She threw me the most heartfelt and beautiful baby shower! She is an amazing friend to me! Her Mom, Grandma Linda, has happily agreed to adopt our children as her own! Here are some beautiful pictures of Kendra, the Godmother, holding our beautiful baby boy! And, Mark, 'THE GODFATHER" truly, (he sounds just like Marlon Brando) well, he, too, is happy to oblige! They both love our children to death and we love theirs the same! We thought it necessary to plan a Spring Break outing to the coast this year! We will have all 6 kids in tow, so we will let ya know how it all goes! We are looking forward to a relaxing, yet fun-filled weekend!

PHOTO ESSAY (FEATURING AN ENERGETIC TWO-YEAR-OLD AND ONE WHACKY DAD)

2008-02-25T10:19:00.001-08:00

"DO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

2008-02-25T10:17:00.001-08:00

"AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

2008-02-25T10:15:00.001-08:00

"AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

2008-02-25T10:14:00.000-08:00

We Are Home..........

2008-02-06T09:03:00.000-08:00

Well, late last night, we finally made it home. The longest part, Taipei to Seattle, did not go well. But, it wasn't the baby, but our little Claire, who stayed awake most of the flight with some stomach issues. Many, I believe, were very happy to disembark once we arrived in Seattle. Needless to say, we hadn't slept in over 24 hours! So, looking very road weary, our dear friends, Mark and Colin, picked us up at the airport! We can't thank them enough, they have been so very good to us! Claire immediately went to sleep, but THEN woke up again just 3 hours later! She and Rob are now sleeping soundly and we hope to get our body clocks better adjusted in the next few days! The return is the most brutal, we have discovered! Thank you to all of you have followed our journey and sent well wishes! It means the world to us all! We are grateful to make it home safely! Love, Rob, Carole, Caitlin, Claire and, finally, Baby Noli

7 More Hours.................

2008-02-05T00:50:00.001-08:00

Well, who would have tbought, free internet service at the Taipei Airport! We arrived without a hutch, Nolin is doing well (and so is Claire et al)on his first maiden voyage! We have 7 more hours to burn, while waiting for our flight to Seattle! The kids have found the Hello Kitty Playland and I can hear Claire screaming down the airport terminal! Rob and I are getting this world traveling down to a science! We talk about where we would like to travel next! We were just thinking that Claire has made 2 trips around the world in her 2 1/2 years, Caitlin twice in her 9 years! What a wonderful experience this has been for all! We have met so many people from around the world and seen so many amazing sites! We have our beautiful children to thank for that! (We will see how we feel when we touch down in Seattle!) See you all soon!

2008-02-04T01:03:00.000-08:00

Yippee! We are coming home!

2008-02-04T00:32:00.000-08:00

A very special thank you to Scott S. for waiting at USCIS while they processed our babys' VISA'S! It was SO very kind of you! You are the best! We received Nolan's VISA today and we are coming home! We truly enjoyed our time here in Vietnam, visiting Nolan's motherland and love the country! We WILL return! We have been treated so very graciously! It's just time to come home now (and we have no money left)! The hardest part has been not knowing for sure when we will go/stay, etc! We will see everyone when we get home! If you don't hear from us right away, we are recovering from severe jet lag! It is brutal, esp on the return flight from Asia, which we recall from our trip to China! Thank you Mark, Kendra, Colin, Grant and Cam for taking care of the the home front! You are the best!

Oh, Happy B'day Ann (we will be in transit)! We mailed you a special card, from Vietnam, but they said it would take 2 weeks, so perhaps, in another week, it will arrive (sigh!)! Sorry!

So, we are off tomorrow, in for a LONG day! (7 hour lay over in Taipei)! Bye!

Oh Banana Man, Bananas For Sale, Bananas For Sale!

2008-02-03T02:04:00.000-08:00

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2008-02-02T06:42:00.000-08:00

In Remembrance

2008-02-01T20:11:00.000-08:00

Today was a day, as many other days, to remember and think of my Vietnam veterans! Many of you who know me, know that I have worked with veterans over the past couple of decades! I have had a deep respect for each and every one of them and truly honor each of our veterans! We visited the Army Museum where we shared valued moments viewing the wreckage of our downed B52 bomber and other memorials! We are thinking of our very good friends, Mike, Ron, Bill P., Mike M., Tony, Rene and all the veterans who have served our country!

2008-02-01T20:04:00.000-08:00

2008-02-01T19:46:00.000-08:00

We Have Been Delayed!

2008-02-01T03:17:00.001-08:00

Well, much disappointment today, as families had to reschedule flights and try to extend our hotel reservations. We went for our US VISA interviews this a.m. and we're told that we WON'T be receiving our visa's today, as we were intially told. So............we all scrambled to reschedule flights and extend our hotel reservations (as this is Tet and very difficult travel times!). Thank you Todd G., you are absolutely the best! We won't be able to pick up Nolan's VISA until Monday, by 4:30 p.m. So........... we now leave Tuesday. It has created a bit more of a financial struggle and frustration but we will make it! Dear Kendra, check your email! We are so sorry, we are asking so much of you! (XXOO) Thank you to our dear friends who have been there for us!

Nolan's Medical Examination

2008-01-29T21:10:00.000-08:00

2008-01-29T04:47:00.000-08:00

2008-01-29T04:40:00.000-08:00

A Buddhist Offering!

2008-01-29T04:36:00.000-08:00

2008-01-29T04:34:00.000-08:00

2008-01-29T04:17:00.000-08:00

2008-01-28T22:53:00.000-08:00

We Did It! And, with 3 Children in tow!

2008-01-28T20:28:00.000-08:00

Well, last Saturday, we headed out to Ha Long Bay(a World Heritage Site) with the Stecki family! We are becoming fast friends, they are a wonderful family! With babies, toddler and a pre-teen in hand, we took the long bus ride (3 1/2 hours) with an additional 1/2 hour stop, we arrived at Ha Long Bay. Make sure you get an itinerary of your trip, so you know what to expect (psst, Rob forgot this detail)! We had some unexpected stops and detours along the way, extending the length of the trip and it became hard on us and the children!

The driving is amazing and very frightening! No seatbelts and heavy utility trucks coming head on, along a two lane highway! It felt as if we were playing a game of chicken, whoever was larger seemed to get the right a way! Then we had Miss. Claire, an active toddler, refusing to sit down! We had a half hour stop at a shop in some roadside town, where we bought a beautiful silk Aoi Dai (spelling questionable!), the traditional silk dress, for me! It is absolutely beautiful! We also bought Rob a matching silk shirt!

We had a private car for both families, accompanied by our driver and guide, Kenny. We arrived at Ha Long Bay and we were escorted to our junket, 3 boats deep! The floors were very slick, most having tile underbellies! Carole demonstrated her flexibility in taking a very deep lunge, in an effort to save herself and her baby in tow! Subsequently, upon return, Suzy biffed it on a tile, floor, slick with fish residue! We all smelled lovely by the time we returned back to our hotel!

We then sailed a half hour and explored an amazing cave! The pictures speak for themselves, breathtaking! We had opted for the overnight stay in a hotel as opposed to the boat, since the rooms were small cabins, the family could not all fit into one and it was very cold at night. We then sailed aboard our junket another hour, until we arrived at Cat Ba island! Then, this is where I became just a little bit uneasy, to say the least! We boarded a World War II era bus, packed in like sardines with seemingly no sign of shock absorbers, for the winding ride to the other side of the island! Our driver took us along the winding road through villages with dogs, goats, other livestock and people running across the road. We had to swerve to keep from hitting a dog! We were relieved to arrive at our hotel in one piece! I must say, Suzy REALLY stepped out of her element on this trip! This is the first time she has traveled internationally, let alone taking an overnight trip like this with the Christners and to end the trip with a major slip and slide! You go girl!

Our hotel was a 3 star hotel, but the matresses were rock hard! We had a fitfull nights sleep but the views of the sleepy fishing village were just beautiful! We had a newer model bus for the return trip, the following morning! We greeted our French friends, who had stayed on the junket overnight and they confirmed it was very cold, so we felt we had made the better decision! We finally returned to our hotel at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, smelly, tired and in awe of the beautiful scenery we had witnessed !

Monday, we returned to the Old Quarter for more shopping and lunch at the Kiti Restaurant, a must visit! The two men then went to Exotical Spa for an hour and a half massage last night! They came back like wet noodles, so worth the $22 they had spent! Rob highly recommends each father who comes, needs to visit! You can pick up their business card at the front desk of the Somerset!

Today, the men went to pick up Nolans' passport and we have his medical examination tomorrow morning. We have our USCIS interview Friday a.m., then will pick up his visa! We have a few more days before we leave, so we are limiting our excursions to day trips. We still need to see the Water Puppet Show, which we had opted to delay for this week. We will also go to the Army Museum and the Museum of Vietnam Ethnology. With a new baby, a toddler and a 9 year old, I am finding less time to post updates, needing every spare hand and then some! Oh, Mrs. Smith, Caitlin IS fitting in her reading, writing and math homework! we are cracking the whip! But.......... what a class field trip she is having! She misses all her friends and says, "Hello", to each and everyone!We too miss our friends! Thank you, dear friends, Kendra, Mark, Colin, Grant and Cam for watching the house and taking such great care of us! Also, Grandma Linda, I will once again post that beautiful blanket you made, wrapped around our beautiful baby boy! I just LOVE that photo! You are all so kind to our children!

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Long Overdue Update!

2008-01-24T06:58:00.000-08:00

Well, now with 3 children and much to do, I am finding it very difficult for a free hand to update, until they are all in bed, including Baby Robbie (ssssh, don't tell him)! To summarize, we arrived Sunday, at the hotel (wonderful hotel!) and, well I can't remember after that, until bedtime!, So, Monday, we went to Nolan's orphanage 9 a.m. and returned to our hotel and on to the G & R (Greeting and Receiving Ceremony) late that afternoon! We are completed on the VN side of paperwork and are officially Baby Noli's parents, for life! Wow, we are so honored!The Vietnamese people have been so warm and welcoming, very generous and gracious! We also experienced this in China, when we went to welcome Claire into our family! We are so overwhelmingly grateful for our beautiful children and can't wait for a return visit!

Then Tuesday, the men went to complete application for the babies' VN passport, then wait....... we went to the Big C Tuesday (a mega Walmart, so to speak) afternoon with new best friends, the Steckis! It was so crowded, had hoped to purchase addl. clothes and diapers for baby but it was like shopping in the states b/4 Xmas, it is preparation for TET! The Steckis are from Idaho and are a wonderful family, now with their beautiful baby girl, Suri! We are planning more excursions together and the men meet for coffee at Highlands Coffee Shop(great coffee, they report) in the mornings, while the rest of us try to sleep!

Wednesday, we ventured to the Old Quarter, via taxi, with the Steckis. We ate delicious Pho and Hanoi Spring Rolls a the Kiti restaurant (see photo). The young women held our babies, while we ate! I would have never done this in the U.S. but here, we feel so confident allowing these women to hold our babies! The VN people just love our babies and children! We also went to the Vietnamese Quilt Shop, quilts hand made by women in rural provinces, just beautiful work (see photo below). We bought a quilt for Baby Noli, with what else, race cars a top!( Grandma Linda, Noli LOVES his new baby blanket you crochet! He looks beautiful wrapped in it!)We met with Beth, with our agency, late afternoon Wednesday, to finalize filling out paperwork for our USCIS interview! The men pick up the babies passport next Tuesday, we probably have their medical appointment Wednesday with the US Embassy interview Thursday, possibly sooner. We should be able to pick up Nolan's US Visa on Thursday afternoon (next week) possbly Friday, in time to return home Sunday 2/3/08 !

It is all happening so fast! We just LOVE it here! Today, we again took a taxi to the Old Quarter for some addl shopping! (Emma, we bought your dresses and have one on order. Also, Ellie and Emma, your dollie dresses are being made too! I purchased Nathaniel's outfit, so very cute! Rob wants to buy one for Nolan too, it is sooooooooooooo adorable! We will also be on the hunt for shoes, went to 4 stores but they didn't have them! We will get the rest soon!)

Tomorrow, we are going to the Water Puppet Show, then on Saturday (with the Steckis) to Ha Long Bay for an overnight stay! We are having an amazing experience, life is too short not to live it to it's fullest! We will have more to follow! Love to All!

2008-01-23T19:40:00.000-08:00

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2008-01-23T18:52:00.000-08:00

Bath Time!

2008-01-22T17:48:00.000-08:00

2008-01-22T06:17:00.000-08:00

2008-01-21T20:36:00.000-08:00

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2008-01-21T08:25:00.000-08:00

Bebe Noli is Home!

2008-01-20T23:08:00.000-08:00

We have Baby Nolan!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is sooooooooooo beautiful! Huge brown eyes, chubby, chubby cheeks! He has grown so much! Caitlin and Claire just adore him! He has scabies, so we will all be treated this evening! To all of our PLAn families, bring scabies creme! No big deal and easily treated!We took pics and video of all the babies! Dawn, held Baby JJ! She is a lot lighter than Nolan but just as beautiful, very delicate!! She laughed and smiled for me and the camera! I guarantee you, once you have her in your arms, it will be soooooo worth the wait! She is just adorable!We have video and pics of all the babies!We are with the Smith and Stecki families, both wonderful families!Between us all, we sought out all the babies and took pics and video! So stay tuned, we will load on the the video and pics as soon as we can! We took a lot of video so it will take awhile! Bear with us! We will get it on soon! We may just put in on a web album, send to Dawn Edgar and have her post it on the YAHOO Group site, as we can't access Yahoo groups here! Or, post your email addesses and we will forward to each family in a web album! Baby Nolan is just so happy! He is such good baby!! We have our G & R (Greeting and Receiving ceremony) late this afternoon, then apply for his visa tomorrow a.m. We are soooooo happy, we are so very blessed!Love to all!

Planes, Trains and Automobiles.......We Are Here!

2008-01-19T23:38:00.000-08:00

Ok, quick post, we made it, after 28 hours (including lay overs), in planes, trains and automobiles and only two hours sleep!Claire did alright considering she took most of the seat room to sleep while the rest of us had kinks in our necks!! Oh well, we are here! Will update later! We aren't sure when we will get Nolan but will update later! (Oh, remind me to tell you all about the driving here! Yikes!)

YIPPEE! FINALLY, BEBE NOLI IS COMING HOME!

2008-01-09T19:41:00.000-08:00

We couldn't believe our eyes! After months of waiting, checking 24/7 for that coveted email (I600 approval) letter from USCIS, it arrived, late last night! I ran upstairs and woke the sleeping family to come down to see the email message! Yes, it felt like Santa had arrived again! Actually, the Lord blesssed us, approval that Bebe Noli will be ours! We have to travel FAST, ASAP, before the Vietnamese New Year celebrations commence! That means, yes, next week! Yikes! We spent today mailing off the family's Visa applications (next day) to the VN Embassy in San Francisco, arranging airfare and hotel accomodations! We leave next Friday, 1/18/08 and return Sunday, 2/3/08! We are soooooooooo excited! So, come along on yet another adventure of a life time! We feel so very blessed, we will soon have our beautiful baby boy in our arms! We are crying tears of joy!

New Pics of Our little Man, from Viet Nam!

2007-12-26T18:30:00.001-08:00

Well, the next best thing, other than having him in our arms, new pictures were sent to us of our new little guy! He WILL be in our arms soon, after the first of the year! We are still waiting on his Visa to be approved by USCIS, but we did receive confirmation on 12/10/2007 that our paperwork/application, etc was received in their office (in HCMC) and they will be working on it, but it could take up to 60 days? Yikes! However, other families have received faster processing times, typically more like 3 weeks from receipt, then we travel! Yippee! We also heard that folks (I think one man is tending the desk?) with USCIS may very well be on vacation, so not much movement during the holidays! The wait can be unbearable at times! The addl problem with travel late January/early February, is TET, the Vietnamese New Year celebration, when airline travel is exceptionally expensive and hotel rooms difficult to be had! So...........please hurry with those approvals!!! Enjoy our new pics of our little guy! Those dreamy eyes and THAT HAIR! Peach Fuzz!

Happier Moments

2007-12-23T21:12:00.003-08:00

We have spent the past few weeks making the season festive for our young kiddos! We have taken in Zoo Lights, PIR and the beautiful Queen Anne Mansion! We have visited Santa and he even stopped over at the house for a visit! The girls are sooooooooo excited for Xmas! We have had the traditional cold bugs pass through the family! Claire (see pic below where she looks miserable in her Xmas best) was very sick, sniffing and sneezing, then Caitlin and I caught it! Remarkably, Rob has remained in good health! We are having our wonderful friends, Kendra, Mark, Grandma Linda and their children over for prime rib on Xmas Day! We will also join them for church Xmas Eve! It is simply the best, seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child! Blessings to all!

Ode to Maggie, the Beagle Dog

2007-12-23T21:01:00.000-08:00

Well, what a month this has been! Just before Thanksgiving, I was forced to put my dear dog Maggie to sleep! She was our very first baby, we have had her 14 years! It has been so difficult to even talk about, I didn't realize how heartbroken I/we would be. However, I knew I had to do it! The cancer had returned, and she was really suffering! I was hoping that she would make it through the holidays and was putting off the inevitable. A good friend, who also loves poochies, told me not to let her suffer! So, seeing her pain and with a great deal of anxiety, took her in and indeed, it had spread and there was a mass in her liver! I knew it was the right thing but it was soooooo hard to let her go! I know she was a smelly 'ol Beagle but I loved her dearly! Marley has been visibly sad, missing her too! Caitlin was torn up but she realized that it was the most loving thing to do! So...........

2007-12-23T12:10:00.000-08:00

2007-12-23T12:06:00.000-08:00

Nolan's Beautiful Big Sisters

2007-12-07T20:09:00.000-08:00

Well, we had our girl's Christmas pics taken and they are beautiful! I have absolutely lovely girls and Nolan has the most beautiful big sisters! I am so proud of them all!

We are still waiting our I600 approval, pending the new procedural changes with USCIS! WE are anticipating travel in early to mid-January! We will receive approval then travel very quickly! We will update everyone on our blog, as it will happen very fast and there will be little time!

2007-12-07T20:07:00.000-08:00

Brighter Video Clip

2007-11-29T20:03:00.000-08:00

"I Lub You" and "Patty Cake, Patty Cake"

2007-11-29T19:19:00.000-08:00

"Apple Juice, I Like It!"

2007-11-24T16:07:00.000-08:00

2007-11-10T22:13:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Gifts/Beautiful Friends!

2007-11-10T21:10:00.000-08:00

I wanted to take the time to express my gratitude to my wonderful friends! I am displaying some of Nolan's new wardrobe!! Also, his very first baby blanket, craftsmanship by Grandma Linda, Kendra's mother! Thank you, Linda, it is so beautiful and so very soft! It will be with us when we travel to Vietnam! Claire now has it wrapped around her little baby dollies! I will take a pics with it wrapped around Nolan! Thank you to all my wonderful friends, Kendra, Stacy, Linda, Deb, Bozena, Mercy, Carrie, Ann (my very bestest buddy in Arizona who sent a huge package of beautiful clothes), Kathi (Godmommy to Caitlin, spoils us rotten), Grandma Carla, who left a huge package of clothes and books) , Chris, Bonnie M. (both of Caitlin's favorite teachers) and my little friends, who also attended (Oh, I hope I didn't forget anyone!)!

2007-11-09T21:28:00.000-08:00

2007-11-09T21:20:00.000-08:00

New pictures of Bebe Noli!!!

2007-11-05T09:42:00.000-08:00

Today, we received new pictures of our beautiful baby boy, taken just yesterday ( 3 1/2 months old now)! At this point, while I LOVE to see additional pictures, my heart and arms just ache wanting to hold him so! Ooooops, sorry Rob, but they put your son in a pink bonnet! Well, with all the beautiful new clothes he received yesterday, we will fix that in no time! See ladies, he REALLY needed new clothes!

2007-11-05T09:39:00.000-08:00

My Fabulous Baby Shower!!

2007-11-04T22:17:00.001-08:00

I must say, I had the most wonderful time today! I was surrounded by very dear girlfriends, celebrating our imminent addition to our family, our dear Baby Boy, Nolan Foster! You REALLY cannot imagine just how much this day has meant to me (us)!!! Caitlin kept saying, "Mommy, this is YOUR day!" It is really a celebratory day for the entire family, and for my dear friends who are our most treasured gifts! I can't thank you enough, Kendra, for hosting our lovely shower and for your valued friendship! Thank you too, Stacy for helping host and too, for being our dear friend! Our entire family thank you all, our dear freinds who attended, from the bottom of our hearts for all your love and support! ! We had so many lovely friends attend from close family friends as well as deep friendships in our teachers, woven together from common threads, our beautiful children! I will let the pictures speak for themselves! Certainly, a memorable day!

2007-11-04T22:11:00.000-08:00

2007-11-04T22:02:00.000-08:00

2007-11-04T21:58:00.000-08:00

2007-11-04T21:54:00.000-08:00

2007-11-04T21:48:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday, Dear Kendra

2007-11-04T21:23:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday, Dear Kendra

2007-11-04T21:20:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to you............We had a wonderful time celebrating bday festivities with Kendra and her family! That you for sharing your most wonderful occasion! Love, The Christner Clan

Happy Halloween

2007-11-04T21:12:00.000-08:00

The girls had a blast trick or treating with all of their friends! We also had a very special guest, Grandma Carla, who was in town on business but most importantly, was able to spend time with all of us! The girls just adored having her here (and we did too)! She went trick or treating with us and spoiled us rotten! Thank you, Grandma Carla, you are so kind to us all!

Beautiful Boy!

2007-11-01T20:20:00.000-07:00

Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-11-01T19:57:00.000-07:00

Ok, well, after trying to digest the news, not wanting to talk about it any more...........the inevitable!!! (heart sank last Friday!) The call from our agency, we were caught hanging on the fence,after a week of waiting to hear, on pins and needles! The USCIS would NOT allow us to travel!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is, under the "old" procedures, processing our I-600 in country, sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...................... we are one of the first families having to "process" it the "new" way! WAIT, WAIT AND WAIT SOME MORE! Granted, this will be easier for most families, less wait time in-country and upfront, thorough review of ALL babies documents BEFORE travel, but GOSH DARN IT, it is TOUGH! All the other families in our group (17) get to travel this month but we have to stay (however, they MAY? be in for an extended stay?)!

I subsequently, ran the notarized I-600 to our agency with accompanying letter, and the G-28 (POA) form on Monday, to be DHL delvered to HCMC US Embassy and we WAIT! Out little man still there and us, well here! Our hearts ache for this adorable little guy but, hopefully ours may be one of the first to be processed? (PLease kind Sir, in your bureaucratic robe, stamp your seal of approval! We need to be with our little guy! I know, no pleading begging will change things but can't I try?) Well, here is thie adorable face again!!!! How cute!!!

I am looking so forward to my baby shower this weekend! YES, my best buddies, Kendra and Stacy (you know who you are, gals! Stand up and take a bow!), are throwing me a shower! I can't believe it! You see, probably one of the most profound disappointment(s) I had in some of the friends I had, at that time, was that, not one of them offered (and I had thrown many showers for them) a gift, a quilt square, let alone a shower for me and/or for Claire! What a heartbreak that was! And......I got to thinking, it is so true with Mommies who arrive at Mommyhood through adoption! We tend to be overlooked, discounted, etc! I now can articulate it better, it is the sense of validation of honoring me as a MOTHER and WE, AS WOMEN AND AS MOTHERS! Now, THAT, dear friends is the love I feel for you! And, I thank you for honoring me as a friend, woman and fellow Mommy! (now, I hear Claire at my door, saying "Nigh Nigh, Mommy! I lub you!" )

What do Rob and Rowlf the Dog have in common?

2007-10-29T16:29:00.000-07:00

Question of the day.......................???? Scroll down and you will see? We girls think they are identical twins?