Big, Strong Boy

Yesterday was a success. The men picked up the babies passports while the women and babies went to the International SOS Clinic for their physicals. The passports were ready right away so the men showed up just 5 minutes after us. Jackson's passport is so cute. It's funny to see an infant picture on a passport.

Jackson is big and healthy. He gained over a pound this week. At last check he weighed 12.2 and at yesterday's visit he weighed 13.5! What a chunker! He's continueing his pattern of eating every 3-4 hours during the day and only once during the night. I asked the doctor if he was eating too much but he said to feed him as much as he wants to eat.

I think we'll do some more walking and shopping this weekend since our trip is coming to an end soon. Monday we have the Visa Interview and then we pick up the Visa and fly out on Tuesday afternoon. I'll post our exact arrival time as soon as I get it but it will surely be Wednesday instead of Thursday.

Raegan

Random Thoughts

We had a fun day yesterday. We went back to the Old Quarter and did some shopping and walked around Hoan Kiem Lake. Some of the pictures below are from a few days before when we went to the park for the Tet celebration. That particular day of Tet was for the children. So instead of visiting family and friends, the locals took their children to the park for some fun in the sun.

It was nice to finally go walk around the lake yesterday. We've been wanting to go but Jackson usually dies out before we make it there. We shopped at the shops closest to the lake then visited the Temple. All very interesting. Jackson did really well and didn't cry at all. We went back to Ciao Cafe for lunch. They have good American food there. The first time we went I had a grilled cheese and Brad had a fillet. Yesterday I had chicken and Brad had a cheeseburger. Each time our bill was under $10.00. It's crazy how cheap everything is here.

Jackson is doing good these days. He still wheezes some but Rob, our doctor friend, still attributes it to the air quality here. He's thinking that as soon as we take the babies back to the states that it will clear right up. It's not bad enough to mess with his appitite though. He eats 8 ounces every 3-4 hours. He woke up once last night around 3am for a bottle and is still sleeping as of 8am our time.

Today we are going to pick up the babies' passports and will take them in for their physicals at the SOS Clinic. Our Visa appointment is scheduled for Monday. We are hoping to be able to pick up the Visas on Tuesday afternoon so we can fly out one day early. We'll see how that all works out.

Raegan

Tet & Hoan Kiem Lake Pics

Spoiled?

Yes, he is spoiled. It sure didn't take him long to figure out that he has the control in most situations. Yesterday we went back to the old quarter to do some more shopping. It was hot outside and Jack wasn't having it. After a couple of hours he starting whining constantly. The second we got back to our room and put him on the bed he started smiling. That's how pretty much all of our outings end. We just went down to the dining room to have some lunch. Of course, he started crying as soon as we put him in the basinett. We were saved by one of the hotel workers though, she came scoop him up and held him while we ate. The staff here have been so wonderful.

We found out today that we won't be able to rush the babies' passports. So, we'll pick up his passport on the 23rd. We'll take him to the SOS Clinic for his physical that same afternoon. Our Visa interview will be on Monday and we should be able to pick it up the following morning. I've emailed our travel agent to see if we can fly out one day early but I haven't heard back from him yet. I'll keep you all posted. It would be nice if he could get us earlier flights, even though it's just one day. We're getting pretty homesick.

Raegan

Jackson Talking - Take 1

Sunday's Pictures

Our Sunday Outing

Yesterday we went out and did some walking and shopping. Well, more walking than shopping. Most shops were still closed for the new year. One lady told us that they should open back up in four days. I look forward to going back then. We left our hotel at about 10:30am. It was so nice outside; there was a nice cool breeze. After about 30 minutes of walking it was just plain old hot.

I did find one store though that was open and had the Ao Dais (traditional dresses) that I wanted to get for the kids. We got one for all the neices and nephews. We got just the shirts for Mor and Jade (not the full dress with pants). They are all so pretty. We also got Jackson one in a size three for in a few years. We got him one of those conicle hats too. I can't wait to take his picture in his new things.

He was such a trooper yesterday. We thought he would have gotten cranky after a little while but he just hung in there. We stopped on a bench to change his diaper and he was soaking wet, not with pee but with sweat. It's already very hot here then when we wear him in the Baby Bjorn it makes us all even hotter. He didn't cry though until we got in the taxi to come back. And then he stopped the minute we got to our room. I think he just needed some AC. I know because I was about to cry too!

We'll take pictures of town the next time we go, when everything is open and the traffic is back to normal.

Raegan