A Child's Right Campaign for Vietnam

As many of you are aware, the agreement which allows US citizens to adopt from Vietnam expires on September 1st. After that date, no further adoptions will occur between the US and VN unless and until a new agreement can be reached. Both governments have given assurances that families already in the process (like us) WILL be able to continue even if the adoption is not completed before September 1st.

While we are cautiously optimistic that the shut down of this program will not affect our adoption of Thuong Thi, thousands of other children will not find the loving families that eagerly await them. Many of you have asked what you can do to help and I finally have an answer.

The Joint Council on International Children's Services (JCICS) has launched its Child's Right Campaign for Vietnam.

http://www.jcics.org/Vietnam.htm

The full details are at the above link, but they are asking for 2 things from supporters:
1. Email JCICS your support of the campaign BY MAY 30th
(your email will be added to a petition to Congress)
2. Contact your Senators and Congressperson on June 2nd, 3rd or 4th urging them to support this Campaign.

If you are so inclined, please consider sending a couple of emails in support of open adoptions in Vietnam. And keep the prayers and good thoughts coming that our daughter (!) will be safely and swiftly home.

Next Steps

Here's my best understanding of our remaining process.
1. Referral: Currently, we have accepted the "Referral" for Thuong Thi Nguyen meaning that we have committed to taking her into our family.
2. File I-600: The next step is to file the US Immigration document called an I600. The remaining documents on Thuong Thi have to be compiled and translated. They are then submitted to the US Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). Then we wait for approval to come from HCMC. There is no way of knowing how long this will take (6 + weeks at minimum?).
3. Vietnamese government approval: Meanwhile, on the Vietnam side, the rest of the approval process moves along.
4. Travel: When we have I-600 approval and the Vietnam side is finished, we can travel! YEA! The trip is estimated to be 2-3 weeks. (We're planning on 3 weeks for us, Luc and maybe both Grandma's!)

Showing off Lego-Man Cast

Summer Athletic Season Saved!

Good news about Luc's arm. We saw the pediatric ortho today and it turns out to be a simple fracture of the humerus. Fortunately, it just missed the growth plate. Whew! The ER doc thought that it was much more severe, so we're relieved to hear that a speedy and full recovery is expected. He'll get his snazzy new cast off just in time for summer vacation! Hooray!

Big Brother Broken Arm

Luc Surwillo (sometimes pitcher, sometimes second baseman, sometimes left-fielder) is sad to announce that his T-ball career is over for the season. I'm not sure what the Fox Park Sox will do without their fearless base-stealer! (Some kids just gotta keep running!) He's also not sure that he'll be able to help change diapers for little sister either! (He's pretty sure the latter is a permanent impairment!)

Yesterday, we got a phone call from the school letting us know that Luc had fallen on the playground and was injured. (Those of you who know my background can appreciate how fortunate it was that Steve answered the phone!) He has a fracture of his right arm (probably the radius AND ulna near the elbow). It was very difficult to image well because he was in so much pain yesterday. (I must confess that I almost passed out watching him. Apparently, it's impossible to be an objective medical-type when it's your child!) We're waiting to get into the ortho today to find out the extent of the injury. The location is troublesome, but kids are so resilient that I'm hopeful it will be a speedy recovery.

Meanwhile, puppy, Saphira, is pretty sure that the solution is to lick the arm into health. Her concern for Luc is quite endearing, but it's an added challenge to keep her at arm's length!

More Pictures

We received our referral last Thursday, May 8th. Today, more photos were posted from Ba Vi Orphanange in Ha Noi. Little Thuong Thi was caught napping!

Pictures!

A Referral At Last!

After 4 years of being "in process", we received notice today that we have been matched with a little girl in Vietnam. Her picture is attached - she was born on January 2nd of this year - she's healthy and she's "up north" in Ha Noi. Her birth name is Thuong Thi Nguyen, but we're not sure what name we'll give her (other than Surwillo) when we bring her home. We still have work ahead of us - there is much more paperwork to be processed by the VN and US governments, but we hope to travel to VN in 3 to 4 months and, this time, we will need to make only one trip. So, God willing, we'll begin the Fairy Princess-"Hannah Montana" stage of our lives around September-ish. Oh, and on that vein, per our Eng-VN dictionary, we think her name translates as "Eternally/Consistently A Girl".

We're also appreciative of the irony (or destiny) of her birthdate - we're reminded of my (Steve's) Dad's angelic visit from which he believed his date of spiritual transition would be January 2nd. I'm sad he'll not meet her but I do think he sent us a message (and perhaps pulled some strings) in getting us a Jan-2 baby!

Break out the Eggs Benedict!
(And keep those prayers and good thoughts coming. We'll need them to bring her home safely.)