Pre-travel thoughts and worries...

So, after I ironed and packed all the baby clothes....the "fun" part of getting ready was over. LOL! Now, I am just left with cleaning and trying not to over pack.

It is so stressful for me to think that people are going to be staying in my house while I am gone. And will they be able to take care of Declan and Orla? I know that Declan and Orla will survive...but how is bath time going to go? Declan hates getting his hair washed. How will they manage Orla's curls before school everyday? Will they match the right shirts with the right bottoms? Will they let Orla wear the new warm weather clothes she got for her B-day that she asks every day to wear....even if it is cold? Will Orla convince them that I said she could wear sandals in the rain with a corduroy dress? She is very convincing! Will Declan manipulate my mother? Yes...I know that will happen for sure. LOL! He is non verbal, but the kid just has to smile and give a hug and my mother lets him run the show! LOL! What if they get sick? Especially Declan...he needs to be restrained just for the DR. to look in his eyes/ears...And though he is little, he is 50+ lbs of wirey muscle! Will they remember to call the bus driver and tell them not to come if Declan is sick?

And I feel so badly. I know that Declan and Orla are going to really miss us. As we will them. I bought a couple of webcams to communicate with them while we are gone. One for home and one for us to take. I hope that helps. I remember when I was young and my mom use to go to Ireland when her mom was sick...ooooooh, I missed her SO MUCH. I would cry after every time I talked to her on the phone.

A few weekends ago I went away with some of the girls for a craft weekend. I went for a few days. After I spoke to Orla on the phone, I missed her! And then on top of that I was thinking how was I going to make it for 3 weeks away?

I have vowed not to complain (too much) while in VN. We knew going into this what to expect. How long we were expected to stay in VN and what the process is while we are there. Enough families have gone and told those of us waiting of their journeys via blogs and emails that we know what to expect of the country, the food, the hotel, the locals, the shopping, the traffic....etc.... Most say that although they do want to get home with their new family member ASAP, they enjoy the country and would like to go back. I think that the Vietnamese people are what they miss. Everyone has said how warm and wonderful as a whole they are.

I never thought I would be going to VN. I mean, let's face it, it was not in my top 10 places in the world to visit. But I am SO excited to have the opportunity to visit such a historic and culturally rich country!

I really can't believe that in 9 days (counting travel and time difference) what I will be experiencing. Being in such an foreign country, being united with our little Maeve, getting to know her, and her us. Introducing her to so many new things, as we too are experiencing so many new things! I feel so fortunate that I am not a 1st time parent. I think it all could be so overwhelming. At least I have some idea of not having time to myself and not being able to eat a meal straight through or what it is like to carry on a conversation without having to stop several times to so something for the baby/kids and pick the conversation back up like you never paused...and so many other things. At least Pat and I am familiar with and confident in our abilities as parents. You doubt so much about what you are doing in the early days of parenting. Never mind that you are being given a child that already has their own "ways". A child that already prefers someone else, other than you. A child that already has preferences of how they are held, on what they eat, on how they eat, on when and how they sleep. And I look, smell, sound, feel nothing like what she is use to. Many non adoptive parents don't understand that these little beings are GRIEVING the first several days, weeks...longer. Grieving for what they miss. Who they miss. Apparently the babies do amazingly well. It seems to be the parents that have more difficulty those weeks. LOL!

Well, enough for now. By the way...have you looked at Suzy the Snail? 8 more days 'till we leave!