Yesterday, after a long and stressful two weeks, I decided Koen and I needed to escape. We went to the zoo and had a great time. Koen was so well behaved (or course he was - he was getting what he wanted), and the weather was perfect. He particularly enjoyed the bears, butterflies, and flamingos.
Posing in front of an arctic wolf
As of yesterday, April 1st, we have been DTV (dossier to Vietnam) 6 months. We've been in the adoption process for more than 11 months. Most people have babies in their arms by now. Or, I should at least by in my third trimester by now, but we likely many many more months to go before we'll get to hold our child. It's getting a little harder, but I am so thankful the Lord has made the wait bearable so far.
I heard through the grape vine that our agency received 3 referrals recently, but they all tested positive HIV. I know that is a reality, but it is truly a terrible one. They will be retested in a couple months, and if it is positive again, they are destined to grow and die in the orphanage system. I hurt for that child, an innocent baby who has a deadly disease and will likely be shunned and forgotten because of her parents actions.
It got us talking though, and we're realizing we know very little about how HIV can work in a newborn baby who gets it from his or her parents. If a newborn tests positive and then tests negative at 3 months, is she essentially a healthy baby with no risk of the virus remaining in her body? How does that original presence of the virus affect her?
Koen (in front) with his buddies
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