NOID - not exactly

So, I have been wondering how I was going to let everyone know what has been going on in adoption land the past couple of weeks. So I will do my best to explain everything...

In a nut shell - we were given a NOID because the mother came back and said she wanted the child. We found out that he was born with "water on his brain" (which we did not know about, but the birthmother did). That is why she abandoned him because she knew she couldn't afford to help him. However, she was told by CIS that he was healthy, so she said she wanted him back. Much to CIS surprise, and ours as well, a new medical report surfaced from the Ministry of Justice that said he did have water on his brain and was "retarded". By this time the mother didn't care - she just wanted her son back, so we ask our that our Giving and Receiving be overturned so that he could be returned to his birthmother.

The orphanage was very sorry for all of this and told us they had another little boy who was paper-ready and was just waiting to be matched up with a family. We were asked by our agency if we were interested in pursuing another adoption. We prayed about it and decided that this is what we were supposed to do - so we agreed. They told us that since we were in country, and our last adoption was so messed up that the Ministry of Justice and the CIS would do everything in their power to see that we got throught this process in another 2-3 weeks.

So, my husband left a few days ago to go back to the states so that he doesn't lose his job (he has already been off for 1 month). I am out here in HCMC alone waiting for all the paperwork to clear so that we can proceed with this new adoption. I get to visit the new child everyday for 2 hours. He is very cute. He was born on Jan. 13, 2006 - so he is 10 months old. He seems like a very happy baby - but it is hard to tell in the orphanage. I am ready to have the G&R so that I can bring him back to the hotel with me.

What a whirlwind of events!!! Giving back our child and staying here alone waiting on a new one has been the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I am constantly praying that God will continue to show grace and mercy on my husband, our child, and me while in this process. We never thought that we would have to deal with the biological mother in an international adoption, but we were forced to. CIS told us that this is the first time this has ever happened. We have made friends with the CIS and they have told us they will help me every step of the way - they even want to come to the Giving and Receiving!!!

Please pray that God will help to speed things up here. I want to be home for Christmas. I can't imagine being here over that special holiday! The Dillon International families have been staying at the same hotel that I am in and have been absolutely wonderful to me!! They are leaving tomorrow to go to Hanoi - I am very happy for them, but I will miss them very much. I hear the new Dillon families will be staying here as well - I am looking forward to meeting them and sharing in their joy as they bring their new children home with them! Hopefully we will be traveling to Hanoi together!!!

Thank you for all who have been praying for us over this most trying time! Please continue to pray! I will write again soon!! Hopefully I will have good news!