Two Years Ago on Dec.16th-17th

Our morning started out with us moving slowly. I think we were all tired and worn out from the busy day before. The previous afternoon we had managed to find the private translator who was recommended to us by another adoptive family who had been there a month before us. It was quite a trek there from another train station. But, we managed to find it and give him the four documents that we had received at the Adoption Center that morning, including the form that we thought was her birth certificate (turns out it was a document meant to be in place of her original birth certificate, because the original was no where to be found).

Before breakfast, there was a moment when Penny absolutely panicked. She woke up and did not see me in the room. I had tried to quietly go out to use the iron and and ironing board that was down the hallway. I hadn't wanted to wake her or Jay. She would not allow Jay to comfort her as she was so frightened that I had abandoned her. But, after Jay found me, she calmed down.



After our breakfast at the Bangkok Christian Guest House, we walked just two blocks to the BHN Hospital. Fortunately, because we had her passport number and the "birth certificate" from the day before we were able to get her in for her required exam in order to receive her immigrant visa from the USCIS (Homeland Security). We were also so glad that we had gotten passport sized pictures taken while we were back in Udon Thani, because one of their forms required one of those photos. It was a beautiful hospital! But, we had left our bags in the front office and so we had no access to our electronic dictionary. So, with my limited Thai and some creativity I started making up silly games using things like packages of sugar and cream to keep my bored teen occupied. After the LONG wait (hours) she finally was seen and told that she needed four immunizations, two in each arm. She was a real trooper and put up without resistance or tears.


Next we ate at Pizza Hut and stopped at a pharmacy to get her some children's Tylenol for her aching arms. After lunch, we took the sky train back to the translators to pick up our translated documents. After that we went to the Siam Ocean World, located in the basement of a huge shopping complex right next to Siam station. Penny LOVED taking tons of photos of the sea animals. That Tuesday, the 16th, concluded with us e-mailing and writing to special people in our lives.





Wed., Dec. 17th
We had to get going early this morning to catch our taxi to go to the Thai Adoption Center for our meeting with the Thai Adoption Board. It was hard for Penny to get moving, but fortunately, we made it and our taxi was actually early. He drove a nice vehicle like an Izuzu Outback and got us there early, for a change. It was quite hot in the waiting room, but we enjoyed visiting with a couple from Sweden who were there adopting a little boy. This time we had given Penny motion sickness medicine and she was doing much better. While most people's interviews lasted about 15-20 minutes, ours lasted 40 minutes! I think it was because they could ask Penny all kinds of questions in her own language. She seemed quite nervous and shy about this meeting. The ladies were all very sweet and kind, but sometimes asked her rather personal questions, like whether or not she had "become a young lady", yet, or not.




After the interview we went over various documents with Khun N. and then she called a taxi to send us to the Sindholm Building, where the USCIS office was located. We would end up spending a lot of time there, unfortunately. But, that day we were in high spirits and had a great lunch at a little Japanese cafe located on the first floor. I was delighted that Penny loved my meal of eel! A girl after my own heart! After turning in our paperwork at a small window on the 15th floor we returned to our guest house for the rest of the day where we were hoping to get a call back as to when we could set up our USCIS interview. Penny seemed much more relaxed after the board meeting interview was over. This night she crawled into my bed and soaked up all of the cuddling she could get. Mommy enjoyed it, too!