Just about 16 months ago, I started the amazing process of international adoption. Before that day, I didn't think I'd ever travel halfway around the world and I had no idea that's where my son would be waiting. But miracles happen and now I'm the mother of an adorable baby boy from Vinh Long, Vietnam.
In October 2005, I contacted Children's Hope International to get more information about international adoption. CHI had been recommended to me by another adoptive mom as an agency I could trust. At that time, I asked about the China program because so many of the children you see are from China and because the baby would be a girl. I thought as a single mom, I wanted a baby girl - what do I know about boys? But because I'm single, China didn't seem like a good fit. At that time, they only accepted a limited number of single moms and the wait was going to be at least a year before my paperwork would even be sent to China. The CHI staff member suggested I try the Vietnam program. Vietnam was just opening back up to the United States after being closed to international adoption for approximately 3 years. So I applied to the Vietnam program and began the paper chase.
Now,
I'm not a patient person and I don't like it when I can't control things. The
adoption process was a struggle for me because of all the waiting and the fact
that your destiny is in the hands of the American and Vietnamese governments. I
finally did get my US immigration approval after what seemed like forever and
was added to the waiting list for a referral in March 2006. Because I felt that
I would be assigned the baby I was destined to receive, I didn't select a
gender. I was told that the baby would probably be a boy, because of the demand
for baby girls. It was so exciting when I received my referral call on May 24,
2006. I was thrilled to be assigned a 5 week old baby boy from Vinh Long,
Vietnam. At birth, he weighed 8lbs 6oz and was 21 inches long. What a chunky
little guy! I decided to name him Lucas James.
Waiting to travel was very difficult! I was nervous about being a mom and at the same time couldn't wait to bring him home. On August 14, 2006, I got an email from Nicky that all 5 families with babies in Vinh Long would be traveling by the end of August! My mom (Lucas' Nana) traveled with me and we hurried to get packed and ready to go. We left the U.S. three months to the day after Lucas' referral.
Nana and I
spent a wonderful 3 weeks in Vietnam The morning after we arrived, we drove to
Vinh Long. After checking into our hotel, we went to the orphanage and met
Lucas. I think Lucas and I were both overwhelmed by the occasion. He was the
only baby that fussed and I was so nervous, I felt like I hadn't held a baby
before in my life. But we settled into a routine and he started training me on
how to be his mom. We had our Giving and Receiving Ceremony on August 29, 2006
and headed back to Ho Chi Minh City. The time we spent at the Rex Hotel in CHIC
was just awesome. The hotel staff was very helpful and extremely nice. We
wandered the streets around the hotel and shopped and shopped. Nana and I
especially loved the embroidery
shops. Lucas just loved shopping and being out and about. We pushed him in a
stroller that the CHI staff purchased for us or I carried him in the Baby Bjorn.
We bought so much for Lucas, lots of children's books in English and Vietnamese,
squeaky shoes for when he starts walking and Vietnamese clothing. Then, we
headed to Hanoi to finish up the official paperwork and get Lucas a visa. I was
very homesick toward the end of the trip and couldn't wait to get back so
everyone could meet Lucas. We had an uneventful trip home and Lucas was a
wonderful traveler.
~written by Mindee Miller, Lucas' Mom, in February 2007
