We decided not to go to the orphanage today. Alyssa had seemed real tired yesterday and we wanted her to have a chance to rest. The hour long ride to the orphanage was also hard on Jessie and we wanted to be able to spend some time with her.

So we got up late, had a leisurely breakfast and relaxed around the hotel as a family. Jessie and I played in the resort’s playground, made a castle with Legos and just had a fun time being together.

The rest of the group that went to the orphanage returned earlier than on the previous days. They had a good time at the orphanage, but mostly because the older kids from the orphanage had joined them in the baby room. The grandmothers who were on the trip were especially taken by the older kids at the orphanage and they were excited to tell us about their exchanges with the older children.

That evening we just hung around the hotel, hoping that we would get final confirmation that the People’s Committee had approved the G&R. But, no such word came. One a happier note, Mrs Hai, who was clearly becoming our favorite Vietnamese official, said that even if we could not schedule the G&R for Friday, September 1, she would give approval for the babies to stay with us in the hotel, providing, and this was the big caveat, that the People’s Committee had given its final OK for the G&R. Based on this info, Thao made plans for the babies to be brought from the orphanage on Friday, but the exact time was undetermined. Most of us were not optimistic that the G&R could happen on Friday, because Saturday, September 2 was Vietnamese Independence Day and most government offices would be closing early on Friday. Since the earliest that we could get the People’s Committee approval would now be Friday morning, it seemed highly unlikely that the G&R would happen tomorrow.

So, once again we went to sleep not knowing for sure when we would officially get Alyssa, but at least we had some assurance that we would be able to be with her in the hotel. Only time would tell how this was all going to play out.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.