Oct 16 to Oct 21 Reflecting on Saigon

The first leg of our trip is over!  Looking back over the last five days....The first day we got Ha, she was silent. Except for a couple of very faint (were they even really cries?) protests, we didn't hear a word from her.  We brought her back to the hotel, plopped her on the bed, and as she watched Hudson jump from his single-bed to the king-bed, she broke out into a huge grin. That night, she slept soundly in her own little crib.  Wow, we thought, not only did we luck out with the cutest baby in the world, but she is also content as can be.  Yes...we ate our words. And although she remained the cutest baby in the world, she also has struggled with the changes. The second day, she showed us she has strong opinions and the lung capacity to voice them. She is typically really happy during the day, just kind of taking things in, and checking us out.  That second night, she woke every couple of hours, with inconsolable crying and writhing.  The only thing that would comfort her was holding her and pacing back and forth, back and forth in the room or in the hall. Initially, we thought she  was constipated, a theory supported by the one poop she had, a little golf ball in size and consistency. Perhaps standing with her, not sitting or lying, relieved some pressure on the bowel? This theory was shot down by her next BM, while the standing issue persisted. Chris realized that there were no rocking chairs or beds in the crib rooms of the orphanage, so the nannies probably paced with the babies to comfort them.  Well, that wasn't going to work for us at all hours of the night.  The next night, when Ha  woke in the middle of the night, we put her in between us, patted her back and rubbed her belly, and sang to her.  We wanted to comfort her without the standing and pacing. It was hard for her, but it worked for the most part, and every night since, we've done the same thing and it has taken her less and less time to fall back asleep.  Phew...

Hudson is doing great. The hardest thing for him is the heat. Day and night are hot and humid, and although we try to go out for an outing each day, he has a hard time finding the fun in it - unless we are in an air conditioned taxi or building.  His favorite place is our hotel - where he has become king of the swimming pool. It is really a tiny lap pool(4ft by 20ft), but with a waterfall in the back, he can easily play for an hour in there.  He likes to be near Ha.  He hasn't quite figured out how to play with her, but he keeps an eye on her and is generous with, "No Ha" when she does something he isn't too keen on.  He loves to give her kisses and rub her Buddha belly (oh, that skin), and she always rewards him with a big smile.  

Orphanage, hotel, and restaurant staff, and even some folks on the street, tell us how lucky Ha is to have our family.  We try to correct them and tell them that we are the lucky ones.