FOREVER OURS day Today!!! 14 March 2007

14 March 2008

TODAY we celebrate our ONE YEAR anniversary of getting Maile Noel Thuy Trang Carlson --FOREVER in VIETNAM at this time. I so vividly remember the memories, anticipation and emotions racing through my body, heart and mind as we explored our new daughter and her/my homeland!!! WOW, what a difference ONE year makes. She has come out of her shell, so strong, silly, funny, independent and she can be SASSY too!!!! She instinctively knows how to whine, have drama fits and tantrums (in public) and get her Daddy & big brothers wrapped around her finger!!!! Maile amazes us on her English, the way she puts things back in place & in order and doesn't want to be left behind...really wants to be involved :) (she is LIKE her Mommy!!) Whenever I am talking to the boys' about getting something or going somewhere, Maile pipes in, "Maile too!!!!" or "NO Mommy Bye-bye!" It's so cute and precious how much SHE REALLY does understand!!!!

Thank you for your prayers, we still need them. Both Don & I are working FULL time (probably MORE than that!) and trying to find balance, peace and harmony in such a crazy, busy, fast-paced world. WE LOVED VIETNAM, the spirit of the people, their lifestyle...how SIMPLE and relaxed it was...time was no object and families sat around on the streets (literally) eating Pho (soup) & chatting in 100 degree with what felt like 110% humidity! It was surreal and humbling to see how RAW the Vietnamese people were, SO HAPPY with SO little!!!! God is working on me in many ways through this adoption, "training ME up in the way I should go...so when I'm old I won't depart from it!!?" I hope!!! I see my orphan eyes in hers often, the reflection is piercingly similar! I pray God equips me to endure and be prepared for the issues that will ultimately arrive from her adoption story as her heart questions & her history unfolds.

With so much anticipation of THIS Day, "Giving and Receiving" our children from the VIETNAMESE courts to our families forever - it would ALL become official in "their" eyes!!! :) Whew...Heather and I holding the CALENDAR date of the 14th in our hands after meeting with the Directors of the Ninh Thuan orphanage right before the ceremony!

Maile was so sleepy while waiting for the ceremony to begin...she ended sleeping THROUGH the WHOLE ceremony! At least we KNOW it happened and it is all official - and on record & in hard copy too :). I was amazed and honored she felt comfortable enough in my arms to trust herself to go to sleep...wow, this is ONLY on DAY 2 of meeting her & holding her for just a few hours!

After our G&R ceremony, we had our first "play date" of hanging out at the Pacific Ocean Beach and by our hotel pool side. You can see an awake Maile guarded and reserved to the "new life" that awaits her, wondering "WHAT IS GOING ON?" She did NOT speak or smile for DAYS. I will be posting more of her progress in the coming days as you see her BLOOM and open up lie a rose!!!

The evening of 14 March 2007, the VIETNAMESE workers/ directors from Ninh Thuan Orphanage threw us a big G&R ceremony party in style with 4-5 course meal and generously loving on us and congratulating us on taking their Ninh Thuan babies home forever!!! It was such a joyous celebration, it was bittersweet to let them hold Maile for their last time as my daughter remained confused on the whole situation. Overall, the evening was so enjoyable and humbled by the VN people's spirit of generosity, kindness, love & acceptance of us!!!

ONE YEAR ago...MY orphan eyes meet HER orphan eyes!

Filled with so many memories this week of our journey to VIETNAM to bring home our daughter!!! It has been ONE YEAR already of that chapter in our lives, the culminating ending of a two year process in adoption pregnancy!!! After seeing her referral photo every day for FIVE MONTHS, we were finally going to be "delivered" our baby girl, Nguyen thi Thuy Trang at 27 mos., 30.5" tall and 20.5 lbs.!!!! We have such joy and thankfulness, I vividly remember the anticipation of meeting her for the FIRST time after arriving from our 23 hours flight from DFW to Saigon, VN and not wanting to "tour the city" the day before our drive to Ninh Thuan. I remember Heather (the other mom going to my orphanage to get her almost one yr. first born, son!!!) and desperately trying to get our agency to send us to Ninh Thuan a DAY sooner to see our babies, but the itinerary was set for us to "shop and rest" the day before our long bus ride to Ninh Thuan. FINALLY, 6am on 13th of March 2007 - we were leaving Saigon to take our LONG bumpy, can't get there fast enough bus ride to Ninh Thuan, Vietnam!!! The shores of the South China Seas (Pacific Ocean) would soon tell us we were near by!!! I remember getting to the hotel checking in, scurrying quickly to change, freshen up and "look nice" to meet my daughter for the first time. She would never notice, care or realize if I had my hair messy, smelled or looked ratty..."HELLO!!! She has NOTHING, lives in an orphanage after her mother dropped her off the DAY BEFORE she turned 18 mos. old" What was I thinking. As we embarked the parking lot, we saw the children gathered at the top of the stairs looking to see what "foreigners" had arrived. I saw, Maile (My-lee) Noel Thuy Trang Carlson for the first time. The caregivers soon whisked her away to change her once they knew we had arrived. Tears were streaming down my face, heart was racing, the MOMENT was FINALLY here as we rushed up the stairs of the Ninh Thuan Orphanage. It felt like the "Chariots of Fire" moment running in SLOW motion to get to the finish line.

As we arrived at the top of the balcony of the orphanage, not even a minute later before I could get my camera out, Maile was dodging at me...THIS is the photo I got of her right before arriving into my arms!!! Such wonder, bewilderment, shock on her little face in her sweet, white littl' dress and no shoes on!!!! Oh my goodness, my daughter and I would now meet! I wondered, "Does she KNOW about me? does she KNOW I'm going to be her FOREVER Mommy?" "Will she like us?" So many questions racing through my mind that would only answer as time marched forward...

Maile (we called her "Thuy Trang" in VIETNAM so she would know we knew her name & have kept it legally now as well) - but she NEVER cried when I held her, she took everything in with those BIG dark brown eyes in which I could SEE my reflection in. Wow, it was an undescribeable moment in time to just want to hold her and tell her, "It's going to be OKAY now!!!" I practiced very basic Vietnamese phrases, "Mommy loves you," "Pretty girl" and tried to keep telling her that in my AMERICAN (Texas) accent! Yikes.

When "Ba" (daddy) tried to hold her for the first time, she CRIED...the FIRST time I would see her cry...oh that face!!!! Her littl' eyes disappeared and her mouth gapping open with full set of teeth!!! She was so distressed with this WHITE MONSTER holding her after I had just had her trying to reassure her "it's all good." I was even more stunned that she CALMED down and never cried when I held her that first day. Surely the workers MUST have said something about getting a "new Mommy" or something, PLUS me BEING and LOOKING Vietnamese was my trump card.... I really think that was invaluable in helping Maile relate to me :)!!!!

THIS IS one of my MOST FAVORITE photos of just holding her, thanking God for her, wanting the warm, brisk breeze to dance through our hairs and NEVER let go...I did NOT want THIS moment to end!!!! I was in total disbelief that my DAUGHTER was now and forever going to be mine...well, by the next day, 14th of MARCH 2007 - it would all be official!!! Wow, THANK YOU God for being so Mighty, all-knowing, loving and powerful to bring this little life into ours. "Trust in the Lord, with ALL your heart, lean NOT on your own understanding, but in ALL your ways acknowledge HIM and He will make your paths straight!" - Prov. 3:5-6
Forever changed, forever touched, forever grateful....

Let it Snow...in TEXAS???

Maile was HAPPY to ring in the "New Year" at her Vietnamese TET Party back in Febuary. She "made" her littl' Vietnamese Flag and held it with pride. Hard to believe, last year, we did NOT have her at Dillon International's TET Party (the party held by our adoption agency.) We got the call days later (Feb. 12, 2007) to go get her and her "Giving & Receiving Date" would be March 14, 2007!!! Wow...amazed she is now & "FOREVER OURS!!!"










"Let it snow!!!" N. Texas got hit with a "Winter Storm Warning" and schools were closing early, businesses were sending workers home and we even canceled Thurs. PM DANCE classes!!! Here's our "winter wonderland" scene on our street in Frisco!









The snow flakes were so big and fluffy, the boys raced home from school to go out & play in it!!! Maile did NOT seem to care to see her first snow sighting, was rather upset to have to bundle up and try to smile for this photo! She wanted to be inside eating her snack instead!!! ha ha.




Finally got Maile to :) with me (in our MATCHING scarves & hats...thanks to Grandma Lizzy! - Thanks mom!!!) It felt like MICHIGAN and had it been December, I would have said we were going to have a "White Christmas!" But, since we are in TEXAS...doubt the snow will stick! It was a FUN (& cold) day for the Carlson Crew today!!! :)

NOW & FOREVER... A Carlson Girl!!!

The CRAZY Carlson Crew with Grandma Lizzy - now complete with my 3 BOYS, my mom and ONE precious, hand-picked littl' girl for us! THANK YOU GOD...You never cease to AMAZE us!!!

Happy Girl, Maile...precious and sweet as can be! She did GREAT and still fit in her EASTER dress from last spring! Size 12 mos. - still fits, shorter because she has grown UP 2-3" but still so tiny weighing in at about 23.5-24# and standing tall at 33" (Size I was when I CAME TO AMERICA!!!)

Our Attorney, Sharon who also adopted twin girls from CHINA a few years ago & I taught Sarah & Rachel DANCE in the past too. It's a SMALL WORLD, eh? It was special to have Sharon part of our closing proceedings to this amazing and exciting journey!!

Aunt Chelle, "MeMe" (Jeremy) & Grandma Karen sharing in our SPECIAL day. We are adopted into many families, the Kingdom of God's and the Solomon Family here in TEXAS too!!! What more could we ask for! LOVE THEM...what a BLESSING they are in our lives!

18 JAN 2008 Well, a day I thought would never come, finally arrived and set for a brisk, cool FRIDAY am on 18 JAN 2008. We had a court date to meet in front of the Judge for a formal hearing to change Nguyen thi Thuy Trang to Maile Noel Thuy Trang Carlson!!!! She would always have Nguyen as birth name, like I have Duong...but officially and legally her MAIDEN name would now be CARLSON until she marries her husband. We had our family go, Grandma Lizzy, the matriarch of the family, Don and thankfully the boys did not even have school that day! Plus, Maile's other favorite family member that she talks about EVERYDAY, "Aunt Chelle" (Michelle), "MeMe" (Jeremy) & Grandma Karen were in tow...It was a legal process, one that included a lot of waiting like we have for this WHOLE journey of bringing Maile home, so what was new. Instead of reporting to the court house at 8:30am as reported, we arrived on time to wait over 1.5hrs!!! Oh well, it was worth it to within 5 mins. be done and officially DONE with the ADOPTION process!!?? I hope so. I tell people, "we'll be paying for Maile for the REST of our LIVES..." Boy, that is an understatement! Adoption is a very costly journey, emotionally, physically and financially...yet I would NOT trade it in for the world as we would NOT have our Sweet baby girl....

NEW Year...NEW do for Kim-Lan!!

HELLO FRIENDS!!!! IT'S BEEN A BUSY ROLL INTO THE NEW YEAR FOR US!!!!

I HAD WANTED TO SHARE PHOTOS OF MY HAIR CUT, BUT COULD NOT BRING MYSELF TO "EXPOSE" MYSELF UNTIL NOW....I HAVE SOME OTHER EXCITING PHOTOS TO SHARE...HENCE THE REASON TO POSTS THESE FIRST AS A PRELUDE!!!! TODAY, 18 JANUARY 2008, WAS A VERY EXCITING DAY FOR US...STAY TUNED. HERE'S PHOTOS OF THE BIG "HAIR CUT DAY" FOR KIM-LAN....ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO!!!



Me with "Lan" - Vietnamese hairdresser ready to cut 10" off for LOCKS of LOVE hair donation (hair to make wigs for children with Cancer). Friday 28 Dec. 2007!!!








Oh my goodness, there goes my hair off....one lump sum!!! NO turning back now!!!!

I'm a little sad and definitely in SHOCK that it's done....yikes!!! It was suppose to be 10" - we measured it when we got home, it was 11.5-12" OFF!!!!!! Double Yikes! Plus another INCH to style and we're at about 13" OFF my head, 1/2 pound lighter and ONE cold neck! Ha.... :)




Maile wondering who is standing to her? Sounds like "Mommy" but doesn't look like Mommy!!! This is the SHORTEST my hair has been in over 10 YEARS!!!! I am getting more used to it, but has been a process of getting used to, grief, joy & happiness to donate as well....

Mung Chuc Nam Moi = Happy New Year (Vietnamese)

With love & joy for the New Year,
Ms. Saigon & crew

Mung Chua Giang Sinh!

Merry Christmas!!! Maile's FIRST Christmas with us and she was OVERWHELMED to say the least...not sure what to think of it all...She puts her hands in her mouth when nervous...she LOVED the tricycle that Santa left and eating his leftover cookies too!








Here's our Christmas AM family photo - not too bright eyed and bushey tailed but excited to be together as a family and open gifts together to celebrate Jesus' B-day!!! Yeah Jesus, thank you for being Born!!!









Maile quickly got acclimated to opening presents & even :) for the camera!!! NOT the shy, quiet, stoic girl we once knew 9 mos. ago...she loves to plow through presents, wrapping, gifts anything that may (or may not) be for her!!! She got a hang of Christmas AM and opening gifts VERY quickly...next year, WATCH OUT!






The boys were very excited to get matching STARS t-shirts from Grandma Lizzy!!!! Tried and true, they have converted from RED WINGS fans to DALLAS STARS fans!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!!!

Wow, God...how can we ever THANK YOU enough for the life you entrusted us in this SWEET BABY GIRL!!!!! Here's Maile (*Thuy Trang*) in the Vietnam Orphanage LAST Feb. before getting her in MARCH. Her STRONG spirit to survive is even more evident as she comes out of her shell!!!! She will be a MOVER & SHAKER and get the job DONE in her life...The tenacity she has in her attitude, "Maile do it!" tells me, she is DETERMINED "Just Do It!!!" HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY... THRILLED to share it with you & for the rest of your life to eternity.... We love you FOREVER, Mommy, Daddy, your 2 BIG Brothers & Grandma Lizzy

It's been an HONOR to see Maile with her BIG BROTHERS who love her so much, protect her & guide her. This is her FIRST Easter with us last April :)...the dress I got before bringing her HOME was perfect, esp. after the label declared, "MADE in VIETNAM!!" Yes, indeed...that was the dress for her!!! Every detail made by the MIGHTY GOD who brought you to us (*at 31.5" tall & 21.5 lbs! & in 12 mos. clothing!) YOU (&I) were MADE IN VIETNAM!!!!!! You are forever our, "Con Gai Dep" = PRETTY GIRL!!!!

Maile is definitely a CARLSON who LOVES to eat...I think my kids eat more than me and may have to get ANOTHER job to continue to feed them...Ha Ha. I could EASILY go to the GROCERY store, every other day for the "basics" - with 2 growing sons & 1 daughter who is trying to keep up!!! Maile LOVES almost anything, applesauce, peanut butter, eats lunch meat, sandwiches, yogurt, tofu and even cottage cheese & peas...Vegetables are HARDER for her to enjoy...but she'll eat 'em :) Yeah You Maile...you are ALREADY at the weight & ht. when I came HOME from Vietnam at 3.5 YEARS old...Maile is now 33" TALL & 23lbs and gaining speed!!!! :)

MY FAVORITE times are cuddle times with my BABIES...regardless of age, Joseph doesn't ask as much anymore, but still does at '9' and I LOVE IT...There is NO better feeling than your baby in your arms just snuggling, cuddling and hugging you...THAT IS WHY GOD made us PARENTS...to LOVE & BE LOVED...

with THANKSGIVING & Joy...

Ms. Michelle & I with our Encore Company DANCERS at Dance Revolution in Dallas. It was an amazing, Christian DANCE convention to showcase our production piece, "I Can Only Imagine" by Mercy Me. It was a fun weekend & we were all sore from taking Master DANCE classes!!!!

Hard to believe 29 NOV 2007 - we will have arrived HOME on USA soil with our daughter...8 MONTHS ago. As I reminisced with our dear traveling buddies, the WILLIS Family, hard to believe that much time has gone by!! Our "TX nephew" Jeremy turned 20 mos. on 28 NOV as we were heading home & our VN buddy Rocco, turns 20 mos. on 29th of NOV!!!! Wow, TIME is really FLYIN' by...

We spent THANKSGIVING with our TX family here, Michelle & her family. The Solomons are a blessing beyond words to have here. Texas feels like home especially when we hang out for the holidays just relaxin', hangin' & eating A LOT of GREAT food!!! I even got to see a MOVIE at the THEATRE..."August Rush" - it was AWESOME!!! It was about a talented, young orphan boy who finds his GIFT in music while really just wanting to be "FOUND" by his birthparents!!! Boy, I CAN relate with his heart's desire!

Here's our FAMILY of FIVE photo on Thanksgiving!!! Maile & I had MATCHING outfits, oh how we are enjoying having a girl...except the WHINING & DRAMA!!! Holy Cow...did not know the word, "Eeaaaattttt Mommy!" could last 10 syllables long..... Maile is precious, fun and halarious...what an honor it is to see her come out of her shell & share herself with US!!! THANK YOU Maile....THANK YOU God....

God bless you & keep you safe, healthy & happy through this exciting and stressful season!!! Love, Ms. Saigon & crew :)

ALL TREATS today - NO Tricks!!!

Here's Ms. Michelle & I with our precious Creative Movement DANCERS (our youngest "babies" at Encore - in costume ready to dance!!! They are about 2.5 years old - oh my goodness, we love them all so much!




Here's my 3 littl' trick-o-treaters...Batman Joe, Power Ranger Sam & Honey Bee Maile!!! Oh what fun to hear Maile's first words, "whatz that??" when candy was dropped into her pumpkin...then it was "MORE!! - NO Open Mommy!" Her sweet littl' reassuring voice she was going to run & get more and NOT eat along the way! She did GREAT, kept up with her big brothers & friends running in tow for an hour around our neighborhood!!!!




Maile took time out from running door to door, to get some sugar from her littl' "boyfriend," Jeremy...whom she affectionately calls, "Me Me!" (Jeremy is 19 mos. & Maile is 34 mos. - she likes younger men! ha ha - LOL) He woke up from his pm nap to find himself wheeled around a neighborhood with squeeling kids dressed in funny & scary costumes!!! Poor guy...but it was a FUN night for all kids, young & "not-so-young!"





Here's the whole crew at our friend, Madison's house, Aunt Chelle & her boys: Matthew & Jeremy & my crew and friends: Bryce & Madison in the mix too...what a WONDERFUL weather night to trick-o-treat. I think Maile might dig her Bumble Bee costume after all if it means going door to door to get treats!!! She is already a "sales girl" - one smile & word and she got double the candy, she worked it tonight!!!!

ONE YEAR AGO...5 LIVES CHANGED FOREVER!!!

ONE YEAR ago TODAY, Oct. 16th, 2006, at my dance studio, Encore Centre for DANCE at 5:30pm - My life changed FOREVER!!!! In one email and photo attached, I would see my DAUGHTER for the FIRST time!!! She would own the name: Thuy Trang and our hearts would then accept her into our lives, home & hearts FOREVER!!!! Now, Maile Noel Thuy Trang Carlson and HOME with us, we LOVE YOU and cannot believe we saw your tiny, stoic, frightened face for the first time last year, MON. Oct. 16, 2006!!!! WOW, A LOT has changed in ONE year!!!!!

Upon acceptance of our sweet baby girl, we'd get an updated photo of you. Your referral photo (above) was in JUNE 2006, when you were brought to Ninh Thuan Orphanage, 18 mos. of age and around 17 lbs!!!!! Now, even in this photo taken OCT 2006 (about 4 mos. of being at the orphanage) you look STRONGER, healthier, more alert...determine to SURVIVE whatever God gives you. We are BLESSED He gave YOU to US!!!!!

This photo was taken in FEB 2007, one month before we went to get our daughter!!!! She looks stable and healthy, still scared but those PIERCING EYES would be the window to your soul of HOPE, LOVE, JOY and HAPPINESS that awaits for you on the horizon. We are FOREVER IN LOVE with you Maile Noel Thuy Trang. You have opened our hearts to feel a greater LOVE & JOY that we would have NEVER known. Plus, you LOVE pink, glitter and to DANCE...what more could I ask for!!?? Ha ha - LOL. THANK YOU Maile for sharing your life with us, we are humbled, grateful and in awe of your laughter, silliness, smiles and now to hear your VOICE!!!! LOVE YOU BABY GIRL!!!!!! Mommy & "Ba" & big brothers

PS- HAPPY 3rd B-DAY ANNA MULLIEZ!!!! What an honor and JOY to share in your life. Half way around the world, from the SAME orphanage as Maile, you would share days before your FOREVER FAMILIES would come get you!!! NOW, you can celebrate your life and b-days in AMERICA, Home of the "Free & the Brave." THAT IS what both you and Maile and all the orphans HOME are now, FREE & BRAVE!!!!!! We love you & cannot wait to see you again soon!

SEE YOU LATER, GRANDMA!!!

Sometimes in a world you cannot see, there's a little orphan child still within me...Lost in the shuffle trying to belong, sometimes I feel weak, sometimes I feel strong...

Here's the family that I grew up of "three", NO Father again, just my Grandma, Mother and me...

A light went out in my Grandma, Oct 5th at 1pm...I cannot wait until the day I see her AGAIN!!!

It's been a bittersweet day for me, emotionally exhausting...reminiscing and remembering MY Grandmother who was like my MOTHER growing up. I lived with her until I was 18 years old and moved away to college. I would come home, she'd be there to make me clothes, dinner, listen about my day, pay the babysitter to take me swimming, love on me with her amazingly sweet, loving spirit. I MISS YOU Grandma so much. I pray you know how much I LOVED & RESPECTED you on this side of heaven while you were here, cannot wait to reunite with you in heaven someday!!!!! She made it to all my DANCE recitals, school plays, high school & college graduation (picture above) but did NOT make it to my WEDDING when I married, Don!!! She passed away 2 weeks to the day before our wedding, in fact our wedding invitations said RSVP by OCT 5th!!!!! My heart is sad, it weeps in loving memory of my Grandma, Violet Verdeen Howard!!! Forever in my heart, I love you, Kim-Lan