There are places I remember

This has been a great experience living and breathing the Marshallese culture of our daughter. Prior to arriving in Majuro, I studied Majol language for about 8 months. The Marshallese people would smile and sometimes in surprise that I spoke chirik majol ( little Marshallese). Most importantly, I was able to communicate some with the birth mom and family who spoke chirik pele ( little English).


It is bittersweet that we will be going home soon. Bitter that I will be leaving new friends and family and taking our daughter from her place of birth. Sweet that we will be home with family and friends and Baby B will be in her new home.

Birth family visit

It has been 10 days since we last saw the birth mother. We planned this span of time to facilitate Baby B's attachment to us- and it has been very successful. Baby B is very attached to us. If Baby B was way younger and maybe less that 12 months, we would have spent more time with the birth mom and family. Although she is too young to understand, I still talked with her about our visit today.

Maddy picked us up and we went to Payless to buy groceries for the birth mom and her family.

 

Here is where Baby B was born- in a health center and not hospital

We drove to Laura to the birth family's home. Initially, Baby B wasn't sure what to do- she looked at me, I smiled and then handed her to her birth mom. Baby B would look at me and smile while she was with family. She played mostly played with her brother and cousins. The birth mom tried to hold her a few times and all BabyB wanted to do was play but eventually Bina allowed her birth mom to hold her. Baby B ran to her Bubu and to her aunt. The birth family commented on how much weight she gained and that she looked "fat." I thought to myself- her physical in Feb showed that she weighed 19 lb at 15months and her physical in July showed that she was 19 lbs at 19 months- she now looks like a toddler should !! Maddy clarified that it was a Marshallese compliment and that she looked healthy. The birth family also gave me earrings and a flower for my hair.

Here are a few more pics from our visit. Interesting how I was showing Baby B the pictures from today and she seemed to recognize who was in the pictures. She started to whimper and cry. We switched to our beach pictures. Baby B, I promise you that in the future we will together look at these pictures, share your story and your tears.

Baby B, her cousin and brother on the far right

Birth mom and BuBu in background

Baby B's aunt and cousin

Paper status update

Baby B's papers are still in Guam and " could not get on the flight to Majuro- too much cargo." The papers have been ready for transport since Monday, August 2 and "too much cargo" on the August 2 flight and the flight on August 4. We are having the US embassy call Fedex and Continental to get the papers on the August 6th flight. ARGHHHHHH.

In anticipation of leaving on August 6th,  I packed up Baby B and my "Majuro" clothes to give to the birth family. We packed the towels, plates, utensils, toys, extra soap, toilet paper etc in the extra suitcase to give to the birth family.  Our birth family received this today as well as the groceries.

Great sale in the store!!

60% off all outdated items

A bit of history

We did some sight seeing and toured the RMI museum and the Bikini Atoll Town Hall. I'll spare you the history lesson but there was some big no no nuclear testing in the Bikini Atoll in the 50's.

Bikini Atoll

RMI musuem

Here are a pic of the steps to the museum. There are no elevators here on the island. Carried Baby B and the stroller

Baby B, the curator and me in the museum. She signed this book for a future gotcha day gift.

Picture at the bus stop

Status update

There was too much cargo load from Guam to RMI so our papers got kicked off the Monday flight. Hopefully, they will arrive on the 7pm Wednesday, August 4 flight. If all goes well, Friday is the day we head home !!!!

Next stop, Long Island, MH

YAY!!!!! Our papers have been processed in Manila last Friday, and Fedexed over the weekend. It is right now in Guam and the next stop is us. There are Monday-Wed-Friday flights from Guam to RMI. Guam is 2 hours behind us so there is a chance it will arrive today or Wednesday. There is a late Wednesday flight to HI and we may be on it.

Say a prayer, keep your fingers crossed - we wanna come home!!

More pictures of Enonmite Atoll

Baby B and I hung out in the crystal clear blue water all day. Like her Mommy and Daddy, Baby B loves the beach and water.

Enonmite Atoll

One petrol gas company had a monopoly of gas import on RMI. Gas was $5.20 a gallon. Another family added some competition and drove down the price of gas to $4.70 a gallon. We got invited to hang out with this family on Enonmite Atoll. There were also a few governmental officials on this trip.

An atoll is smaller than an island and can not be "called an island" because of it's size.

We took this barge to the atoll and back to Majuro.

When not in the water, we hung out in this cabana.

This house is the only one we saw on this atoll. This family is the caretakers of the atoll.

 

Don't cry for me RMI....

It is the rainy season in RMI and we have had rain almost every other day. Unlike other days when the sun comes out to play, it rained and poured most of the day. There were no outside excursions for us. 

Poor Baby B was having an emotional day with  off and on crying, arching of the back, reaching her arms out, pushing away when I was trying to hold her, and crying if I tried to sit while holding her. The grieving is all part of this and it is "healthy" for her to grieve. I understand this but feel helpless at the same time and have cried with her too.

Baby B did have happy moments today. I am always carrying her in these moments or I am always in her field of vision. If I try to set her down, she cries or if she can not see me, like when I go to the bathroom, she cries. Carried Baby B with me - even in the bathroom. 

Here are some pics of the happy moments..

Pillow cracker snack while watching Strawberry Shortcake cartoon

Muah joined us for dinner at the Tide Table.

A night out on the town

There are 5 families, including us, that are here together in the RMI. As the days meld into one, we share the joys of motherhood and support one another as issues arise. Four families are at the RRE and one family opted to stay in a 2 bedroom house in Long Island. Hotel living versus house living are 2 different experiences.

Here is a pic of the 5 kids- 2 girls and 3 boys.

We went over for dinner at our friend's house. They have a fenced in yard with chickens, roosters and pigs next door to them. Living la vida local- so to speak. It was great to have a home cooked meal. I made home made Tide Table banana creme pie for dessert.

At night, there are no lights on the road. There we stood in the dark, searching for a cab back to the hotel.  Yay, one came in about 5 minutes and there was room for us. On the way back to the hotel, we picked up and dropped off about 6 other passengers. It is cooler at night and there were many locals hanging out on the side of the road or in front of their homes or a store.

The Daddy could attest to how tough it was driving at night in Majuro. No lights on the road. There are very limited number of sidewalks- so locals walking in the street. Want to cross the street- no problem- just step in front of the car moving at 25 mph. There are many dogs wandering the street- hard to see them at night too.

Okay, so I admit that it was the first time that I was out at night without the Daddy. Maybe I've seen too many scary movies about bad things happening on dark isolated country roads. Maybe I'm a smart city girl who felt uncomfortable in an unknown environment. Maybe because I am a now a Ma Ma who is getting her child ready for bed at 7pm.





 

Manila update

The good news is that our papers arrived yesterday, Manila reviewed our files!

The bad news is that they were missing a receipt and a form for our file. Also, there was a fee change and we had to pay the difference- $29.00.

The good news is that we went to the US embassy in RMI at 8:30 am to resolve the above issue. Got up at 6:15 am. Usually Baby B is good about standing next to me in the shower but today, she wanted to be held in the shower. You try washing  your hair with a 25 lb toddler in your arms lol.

We had breakfast at 7am and took the $1.50 cab ride to the US embassy. Because we went over the bridge, it cost 75 cents more. After going through armed security and having our personal belongings scanned, we were given an "official" embassy badge. Our cell phones and camera were also left with security in one building and then you walk to the actual US embassy office.

Paid the fees, signed the missing paperwork- staff said that they would scan and send today. Manila is 4 hours behind us - so it was 4:30 am in the Philippines. Good - so when they open at 9am, they will already have our papers and fees. Say a prayer that they process it today and courier our via DHL today- I know I did.

Typical day

Each day, we try to find something different to do to break up the day. Here are some examples of things to do to break up the day:  go to Payless Store for groceries, drop off laundry, walk around the hotel grounds, go shopping at the local craft stores, walk a few blocks to the DAR, go to the Formosa. Insert nap time and meals- the typical day. We go to our room after dinner for washing up and then nite nite time.

The highlight of my day is skyping with the Daddy.

Baby B at breakfast

This is us at the bus stop posing for a picture.

Baby B

Island life is slow and easy. The time in Majuro has allowed Baby B and I to bond and attach. The only time that we were apart was when I toured the hospital with my friend. Otherwise, we have been together.

Yesterday at dinner, I needed to go back to the room for a sippy cup. The 3 families plus us were having dinner at together at the Tide Table. Baby B was happy in her booster seat. I was about 4 tables away and she started to cry with her arms reaching toward me. ( Ok, so I wanted to cry too). Needless to say that I picked her up and we went to the room for the sippy cup.

Baby B is shy at times and will hold on to me. Other times, she is racing down the hall or running on the sidewalk on the hotel grounds. She now has a sturdy walk. If she loses her balance and falls, she will get right up and keep on going without crying. If she discovers a slight decline in the sidewalk, she will repeatedly run down it laughing at a toddler run. She has fallen prone on the sidewalk, lays there for about a second or two ( I wait for the cry). There is no cry except a get up, dust off her hands and back to the fun.

Baby B can climb up the RRE flight of stairs. Mommy does not let her go down those concrete stairs. I will let her climb down 1 step of the bungalows.

Peek a boo

Wedding anniversary

We are across the international timeline and one day ahead of you all. Today, July 28th is our 3 year wedding anniversary. We have been together for 6 years now. I love you so much the Daddy!!

Walked around town and did some shopping. We went to the Momataro and the Dollar Store. Baby B loves this toy piano that plays children's songs. I had to get a few more since the Mommy broke it when trying to replace the batteries.

Manila

Our papers have arrived in Manila - just needs to be delivered to the US embassy!! YAY!

Paperwork

On Tuesday, July 13th, we shipped via DHL our paperwork to the US embassy in Honolulu. It first stopped in Guam and then to Honolulu where it sat for over a week.

Yesterday, July 26th ( we are one day ahead of you), we received an email that our paperwork is on it's way to the Philippines. It stopped in Hong Kong and  then China and now is in Pampanga, Philippines- YAY. At least it is in the right country and on the way to Manila. It is expected to arrive their by tomorrow.

We need this paperwork so that Baby B can enter the US as a citizen. Technically, she is a citizen as soon as we processed the papers in the Majuro US embassy but I like the idea of actually standing on US turf. 

Let's pray for a speedy turn around time in the PI. We would love to be home in time to celebrate Grandma's 100th birthday on August 7th.

Dressing like the locals

We went shopping at the New Hope Store and bought guam style dresses. Today, we are dressed like the local women- note that we have matching dresses.

One of the planned excursions for the day was the Post Office to open a PO box for our birth mom. We crossed the street and ta da- we are at the post office.

In honor of the local food fare, we cooked ramen soup in our hot pot and ate it in our table in the hotel room. Baby B loved it.

Visit with the birth family

Baby B is 19 months and the visits with the birth mom is very hard on her. We wish that we could spend more time with them but after each visit, she cries for about 2 hours and then also at night before bed  time for another hour. It is all part of the grieving process for our little girl and I wish that I could wave a wand and get rid of her grief. It is important that she spends time with the birth mom while we are here but it is also important that she grieves this loss too. Both of us were crying this afternoon..

Here are a few pics of our birth family. Some were taken today and others were taken at another time.

Birth mom and her brother

Baby B and her brother at the MIR

Birth mom, Baby B's aunt and us at Laura Beach

Birth mom at Laura Beach

Jabbath or Sunday in Majol

Another much needed rainy day in Majuro. Today, another family's daddy is flying home. One last Daddy here and he leaves on Wednesday

We spent the morning with them driving around the car. Bought matching guam dresses at the New Hope Store. I think there is a tailor who can alter Baby B's guam dress to fit her now and allow her to grow into it.

I had them drive by the hospital to add a few more pics.

Hospital

Note the flat tire!!

Camera

I found an inexpensive Polaroid camera from the computer store above the gas station. The Daddy would have had to overnight a camera and the overnite time frame was 6 days.

Here is a pic of Baby B in her pjs. B also think that turning the TV off/on, changing the channels is also entertaining.

It's a small world after all..

Baby B's future pediatrician back home has a physician friend who lives in Majuro. She told him that we were coming and he offered to help one of our own Filipinas.  We went out for dinner at the Chinese restaurant on Thursday night. With his help, I was able to get Baby B's vaccination records as well as another US family's vaccination records for their toddler. It is a good thing to have.

I also asked for a tour of the 70 bed hospital.. and today was the tour. It was very interesting for me to see the hospital. It seemed relatively clean- if you overlooked the ants,flies, roaches and dirt on the floor. There was only one CT scan and it was not working. The mammogram machine not working. One EKG machine and a 4 suite OR. The ambulance had 2 flat tires. There were mostly semi private rooms with 4 beds per room. There is a 17 dollar co pay per day but no one pays it. No concerns about LOS- it is all government funded. I actually met one of the flight nurse at the Tide Table - who is a yachtie. I met a few nurses and the ortho doc. I tried to see PT/OT but it was closed.

Here is a sample of medical waste security.

Copra factory tour

We toured the copra factory today. Copra is the major source of export here in Majuro. Copra is simply defined as processing of the coconut meat to turn it into oil, soap and fertilizer. Most of the copra products are sent to Australia and the soap and oil products are sent to Springdale, Arkansas. Yep, there is a Marshallese community in Springdale. Very cool to see that the soap was hand cut.

Also, went in search of a digital camera and it is twice the cost of a camera in the US. The Daddy in the States will be sending us a TLC package. BTW- overnight takes 6 days .

Went to the DAR for lunch with 2 other families. One family's parents are leaving today. We went back to the Tide Table for the delicious banana creme pie.

Baby B is napping and I think I am gonna join her.

YIKES

I thought... how cute Baby B looks in an outfit that Grandma C bought for her. Maybe I'll go get the camera..oops, I tripped on a toy ( where is Mrs. Brady to tell me -don't play ball in the house), drop the camera and the lens is broken.

Hopefully, I will be able to find a cheap digital camera package on Majuro. That is my goal today along with touring a copra factory at the bridge.

It's 1 am in Majuro and I am having a restless night. Baby B is sound asleep. Time to try and go back to sleep.

Some more sights to see

A roadside grill where the chicken marinades in an unrefrigerator container.

The ultimate tourists taking a pic with the locals