Parenting in Vietnam

Lesson for the day:

While waiting in Vietnam for precious child #2, do not forget that precious child # 1 is only eight years old and do to his curious spirit, can not be trusted for one second.

There is a restaurant across the street with a large tree out front. The tree has a circular cage around it. The cage contains two small monkeys. Yesterday, we experienced one of those moments that mothers have the power to see unfolding before they actually happen. (Moms, you know exactly what I'm talking about!) Precious child #1 spies the monkey tree and runs toward it. Mom shouts, "Don't get TOO..." Monkey lunges at precious child # 1 grabbing him by the hair and pulling him toward the cage. Child screams. Husband runs to rescue. All the while Mom remains safely 25 feet from the action and is simply able to utter...."CLOSE...I said, Don't get too close!!" Child safe, but shell shocked, and cursing in true eight-year old fashion, "Death to those vicious monkeys! I HATE monkeys!" Dear husband inspects scalp...no blood...all is well. Realizing that danger has passed, Mom selfishly wishes this one had been caught on tape for it surely could have been a contender on America's Funniest H0me Vide0s and offset the expense of some of this trip.

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After the vicious monkey attack, we did have a nice meal in the restaurant next door. Seven people, shrimp, beef, and chicken dishes and JB had a Heineken. The tab was $21. We shopped a little. WB and I got new sunglasses for $6.

Sleeping schedule still messed up for all. We "took a nap" from 3pm until midnight and we've been up since then. Now it is the whole family and not just me. It is currently a little after 5 am and we are waiting for the breakfast buffet to open at 6. My favorite meal of the day...simple scrambled eggs and toast seem to work wonders for all of us.

Today will be a difficult day because we don't get to go to the center to see DoriGrace. Currently our schedule is to go to the center early Monday morning and visit the babies and wait to see if the G&R can be scheduled for that afternoon. If it is a go, we come back to the hotel to check out, and then go back to the center to get the babies and go to the government offices. After the ceremony, we load the bus for the 5 hour trip back to HCMC and the REX. (I can't wait for a real shower!!!)

We were all talking about taking a riverboat cruise this afternoon, but I may get a massage and pedicure while the boys hang out at the pool. The stomach bug seems to be taking hold of JB and he doesn't want to venture out far.

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John has organized our photo bucket account and we'll get a link posted today so you can see all our pictures to date.

Speaking of pictures, several show a glimpse of the electrical infrastructure in the area. Unbelievable! This is really interesting to me right now...John is sleeping and Walker and I are up experiencing a complete blackout. We look out the windows and only see a few lights on riverboats. (Thank God for battery power on the pc and gameboy...we can last till sun up!) Obviously, if you are reading this the problem has been solved and we have the wireless back up to post.

Thanks for your comments! Love to all, Leigh, JB, WB and DGB

6:52 Service restored....all is well....