It has been a successful week here in Bangkok if you judge our trips to the US Embassy. On Tuesday, we visited the Embassy in the afternoon for Clare and Luke's DNA swabbing.
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| Pssst...who's your daddy?? |
We survived security and were placed in a 'holding' area. While we waited, we quickly realized how parallel the US Embassy is to your local DMV...everyone is there for a different reason, nobody seems prepared for that reason, and every transaction takes forever. There were parents attempting to secure a passport renewal for their kid, others needing paperwork notarized, one guy decided to be the spokesperson to tell the Embassy how they should be doing things (as if logic is appreciated in a place like this), and one young man (appearing strung out and/or hungover) lost his passport the night before in some dramatic-sounding fashion and was supposed to leave Thailand the next day. I wanted to ask him more about his story since we were waiting and doing nothing but he passed out on an entire row of seating (I wish I was allowed to take my camera into the Embassy). After a 45 minute wait, we were called up to the counter and told to go back to the front gate (where we started), where we once again came through security (our security clearance must have 'timed out'). Finally, we were introduced to some peppy US college intern that took us back to the doctor for the testing.
Trip number two to the Embassy, on Thursday, was to apply for a CRBA (certificate of birth abroad), US Passports, and Social Security Numbers. Our 'appointments' (times we were allowed to proceed to the holding area) were at 7:45 and 8:00. We almost overslept! Our alarm clock children didn't 'go off' like usual for their 6 AM feeding. At the Embassy we met up with our surrogate, accompanied by her mother, and a representative from the IVF clinic. This was the surrogate's first chance to see the twins. I caught her eyes when she first noticed Luke and Clare on the ground in their carriers and I could tell she was happy to see them. She and her mother both spent a few minutes smiling at Clare and Luke and taking photos with their phone. Her mom also took a shot of me as well. I enjoyed watching them check out the twins.
Only Chris, myself, and the surrogate were allowed inside the embassy. Once we made it to the dreaded 'holding area', we submitted stacks of paperwork and were told to sit in a private 'shoe box sized' room. There, Chris, myself, the surrogate, and the twins sat in close proximity for probably half an hour. It was tight and a little awkward given that we know no Thai and our surrogate knows little English. She kept looking down at the babies and smiling as we all sat in silence. We could see the Embassy staff shuffling all of our paper work and stamping documents. Next, they copied each document, inefficiently, one page at a time (I didn't want to be the spokesperson). Finally, the 'Wizard of the Embassy' appeared and the process of signing and notarizing documents took all of five minutes. We were praised by the 'Wizard' for being so well prepared and told that as soon as the DNA results from Tuesday are confirmed, they will process emergency passports for the babies. This could be as soon as mid-next week. Hooray!
Our visit with the Embassy was not quite complete as we had a couple other documents needing a notary. We learned that we should have mentioned this earlier because we had to wait again for about an hour to have proper staff that could take care of this. During this extended wait, I had the pleasure of meeting a character in the holding area who, like many others when you carry around two babies in duffle-bag like carriers, was interested in our twins. It turns out he is originally from Pensacola, FL, (picture a Nascar-loving, Wilford Brimley-like, Southern man) and has been living in Thailand for the past several years. He encouraged me to enjoy being a father and that when my time comes (as if he was giving a self-eulogy) the kids will be the best footprint left behind. He said he had 8 kids himself, though many were from a second marriage. Chris was off paying the cashier while I continued to have conversation with this odd man. My favorite part of the exchange, maybe the comment of this whole trip, was when he asked me where I was from. When I told him Chicago, he didn't look the least surprised and said, 'Chicago, you look like good Midwestern stock'. I will never forget this man.
When all papers were signed, we headed out from the Embassy. We felt bad for our surrogate's mother who waited patiently outside. We said our goodbyes and headed back to our hotel. We left with a sense of accomplishment. Even though we won't feel 'finished' until we open our townhouse door in Chicago, we do feel like we have made it through the gauntlet of what it will take to get home. Now, it's waiting for confirmation of the DNA test and word that the passports are completed. Once those are in hand, we can begin planning our return to the States. It was only fitting that we saw our first blue skies in Bangkok of the whole trip.
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| As good as it gets in July in Bangkok |
To celebrate, we held our first family evening 'hang out' (as in, we were all awake at the same time!)
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| Papa at play |
Luke is beginning to be more present (awake) now.
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| Is that a smile or the moment right before discomfort? |
Here's our calm, laid back, little boy.
Clare continues to stare us down.
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| Not in the smiling mood here |
Trying to tickle Clare to get her to give us a little smile.
They are definitely growing,
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| They still fit in one lap |
and maybe starting to realize they have each other.
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| Already being protective of his sis |
Here's the typical Luke and Clare show...Clare waves hello and is chattering while Luke is just hanging out.
