A Good Day in Vietnam

Today we had to take Ava to have her medical exam for her Visa. We got there around 10:00 and didn't have to wait too terribly long to see the doctor. Well, she saw the nurse first and slept through part of that. She woke up for the last part and she didn't fuss one single bit. We were proud. But it was a different story when she saw the doctor. Brian held Ava while the doctor checked her throat and she did not like that at all! But she only cried for a moment and then quickly calmed down. He decided to do a vaccine. Apparently the states are a little more strict about vaccines before entering the country. She had to get a shot in the leg and Brian wanted to hold her for that. I was glad he did too. I certainly didn't want to. I didn't even want to watch. When they gave it to her she screamed and looked at Brian like she wanted him to save her from this awful experience! It was the saddest thing and I think I even teared up a bit myself. But we gave her the bottle we had brought and that calmed her right down. That girl loves to eat. However, she lost a lot of it a few minutes later all over Brian's shorts! She doesn't normally do that so she must have been pretty shaken up.

Afterwards, we headed to the lake nearby to get lunch with Katie, Jeff and their daughter Reagan. We found a fun place that had a great view of the lake and the food was excellent. We've enjoyed the hotel restaurant but were glad to get out and try a new place. The girls both did great. After lunch we hit the streets of Vietnam for some shopping. Brian said the craziness of it all makes Manhattan look like a cake walk. It is nuts here! Their is car and motorcycle traffic going in any and every direction. The motorbikes even ride on the sidewalks. We even saw a girl on a motorbike drive up on the sidewalk to use the ATM. Between the occasional motorbike on the sidewalk and the groups of people sitting or standing on the sidewalks to eat and drink and talk, we had to step out onto the street to walk. Does that make any sense at all? But Brian and Jeff watched out for the babies and us and we made it back in one piece. Vietnam is an interesting place. SOOOO different from home. But it's been good to see it and be able to spend some time observing the culture.
We went down one alley way that was a type of fresh food market and when I say fresh, I mean it. They were selling fish that were still swimming in the buckets that held them. Well, except for one HUGE fish that floated on it's back...but I guess they thought they could still get some money for it!?! There were pretty flowers there and fresh herbs which looked nice, souvenir items, fruit, vegetables, fresh and cooked meat. I even saw a fresh cut pigs leg. Yummy. It's quite the eclectic collection of items down any one street. Like I said, the place is just crazy and doesn't make a whole lot of logical sense. A lot of the people working these little stands were on the ground sleeping. Nap time I guess. Wherever we go we are constantly followed by women or men trying to sell us trinkets. They will follow us for a whole block lowering their price as we go. It doesn't matter how many time we say no, they will not stop asking! Weird thing is, they are all selling the same stuff
We were out for quite a while and Ava was so good the entire time and didn't fuss even though it was extremely hot and humid. I know I'm constantly saying how good she is but....she really is! After a few hours of shopping Brian noticed that it looked like we were about to get rained on so we caught a taxi back to the hotel.
We thought Ava would take a bottle and a good nap but the nap only lasted about 30 minutes and then she was up again. That seems to be the way it goes around here.
It was a full day and now she is sleeping once again. Brian is also and soon he will get up for his "shift" and I will head on to bed.
Thank you guys so much for all your prayers. This has been an awesome trip and has gone smoothly so far. It has exceeded all our expectations in every way. The time has been precious to us. That little girl, I'll tell you what, everytime I look in her beautiful brown eyes I am reminded of the greatness of the Lord's grace to us. It just is amazing to me that this is our child. The child of our prayers and hopes. God's gifts are gifts of mercy, undeserved and lavishly poured out. To think about it literally takes my breath away.