Mom and the kitties left on Wednesday the 14th as planned and the same day the movers came to start packing up everything in the house. The three of us moved into a hotel in the Hague such that we did not have to live among the boxes. Sebastian took all of this remarkably well. On Friday the movers came and picked up everything and managed to stuff all our belongings in a 20 foot container. This was quite surprising as the initial assessment estimated that we were 3 cubic meters over. On Friday evening we ended up watching Holland play their world cup match against Ivory Coast in the lobby of the hotel together with our neighbor Rutger and his girlfriend. Sebastian was showing very clear signs of early manhood since he just did not know where to focus his attention. His eyes kept moving from the beers on the table (mind you, only the full glasses), to the soccer on tv, and the girl sitting next to him. I’m not going to have to teach this boy anything.

On Saturday we attended Chad and Pauline’s wedding, which was Sebastian first real social event, and again he held up real well. He only started getting fussy after about two hours when we sat down for dinner. There he slowly became the center of attention which turned out to be a little bit too much for him. On Sunday we drove down to Limburg to stay with my parents for the remainder of the week before we left for Malaysia. Unfortunately we had a little bit too much luggage to be able to take it all in one trip, so I ended up driving back to The Hague the same day to collect the rest of the bags. Fortunately the second part of the trip was not too bad since I got to drive dad’s Audi A8, which I of course never drove faster than the speed limit.

We had a really nice time while in Limburg. We got to surprise both great grandmothers with a visit. This was especially nice for great grandmother Hos since this was the first time she got to see Sebastian. Needles to say, it was a very emotional visit. We are all very glad we got spend the time with the family before taking off. The most notable thing to happen was that Sebastian decided to start teething the night before we had to leave. Out of the blue he just started screaming bloody murder and there was just no consoling him. We were preparing for the worst flight of our lives. I was mentally picturing the faces of all the people in business class who had paid so much money to have an enjoyable flight.

On Thursday we took two cars to drive to Schiphol were we all (Laura, Seb, me and my parents) stayed overnight so that we did not have to add that trip to our overall travel time which was going to be bad enough as it was. We had a very emotional night with lots of tears which was inevitable. The next morning Chantal met us at the airport to add a few more buckets of tears to the whole experience.

As we were about to board the plane we were told that some of our hand luggage was too heavy and we were going to have to check it in. There was no way we were willing to do this since all those bags pretty much contained our lives. So Laura was prepared for this and had taken a bunch of plastic bags, so I started reshuffling stuff until every bag weighed less than 10kg. This of course meant that we now had about 33 carry-on items per person which we somehow managed to get on the plane in one go. The flight attendants were looking at us kind of funny but they did not dare say anything that could potentially spoil out mood even more.

Once we were seated we started to relax a little bit. We got a nice 3 seat row in the middle of the business class section with space for a bassinet. Now the fun could begin. Would Sebastian make it through the flight without too much ruckus. We were preparing for a trip with no sleep (which we did not get since we were too afraid he would have a melt down…) but the second the planes engines were turned on, Sebastian pretty much passed out. I think I’m not lying when I say that he must have slept about 8 to 9 hours out of the 11 hours of the flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. That’s when we knew we simply had to go and live in Boeing 747.

The 4 hour lay-over in KL was quite painful. Neither one of us had slept and Sebastian was wide awake. We spent the whole time in the lounge trying not to pass out and miss the connecting flight. We somehow survived and managed to get on the flight to Miri. Once arrived we were picked up by my Boss, who had chartered a taxi to come along with him to ensure he could transport all of our luggage. He then dropped us of at our temporary apartment in which we remain to this day. Everything was arranged very nicely. They had even put some food items in the fridge so that we would not starve to death in the first few days.

Sebastian is now slowly adjusting to the local time, which means that Laura is still suffering from the biggest jet lag ever. She likes to refer to it as simply lag. Hopefully when we move into our new house we’ll be able to get a bit more rhythm going and she’ll catch up on some that lost sleep.

That’s all for now. As soon as we move into the house I’ll try and get an internet connection hooked up. Currently we do not have internet at the apartment which explains the lack of updates and pictures. So I’ll now stop taking valuable work time.

weer hubbe allang niks meer gesjreve aan dich mer det kump omdes te noe toes bes.

weer wille dich tog nog effe loate weite wie trots det weer op dich zeen, doe bes ondanks diene moejlike start ein ontzettend sjterk menke en doe kumps der waal ondanks det ste ut soms nog erg moejlik hubs en veul las hubs van dien dermkes en det is biena neet aan te zeen es te zo veul pien hubs mer noe krigs te druppels der veur die get sjiene te helpe, loate weer hope det ste noe minder pien hubs, wer zeen allemoal so hulpeloos em det zeen weer neet gewend.

normaal zegge weer altied tege diene pappa en tante tini neet lang helle opa belle, mer hie kent opa zelfs neet bie helpe.

weer komme murge weer noa dich toe en den geit oma ens mit die mamma der op oet zodet die auch eins op de loch kump, en den kenne opa en pappa mit dich knoemele (oma later waal heur want det leet ze zich neet der langs goan heur)

wil dich nog effe zegge wie blie en trots det weer op dich zeen kleine mup en tot murge !

veul kusjes en knuffels van opa en oma out sustere!

waat zeen wer weer geschrokke, noe bes te teruuk in r’dam wo ste gebore bes, mer noadet opa en oma dich hubbe vasgehauwte weite wer zeker des te toch bleefs vechte om bie os te zeen, doe bes zon lekker menke.

de dokters blieve dich ongerzeuke tot ze weite waat der aan de handj is en den kenne ze dich auch beter make, waat mot det mot, mer doe blifs lekker bie os det weite wer zeker, wer kenne op dit moment niks doon om uch te helpe mer weer denke de ganze daag aan uch 3en en steke mer keerse op zodet ut misjien get sjneller geit, dien pappa en mamma zeen der de ganze daag veur dich en weer komme weer in het wiekend, numme den auch tante tini weer mit den moog die dich auch knoemele.

leeverd rust mer good den eet mer veul det hulp dich auch mit zodes te groot en sjterk wurs en doe later same mit os euver alles kens lache, doa dreum ich noe al van.

daag leeverd en tot volgend wiekend!

dikke knuffel en veul kusjes van opa en oma oet sustere

English

Good morning little doll,

What a shock we received! You’re back in Rotterdam now where you were born. After opa and I held you we know for sure that you’ll keep fighting to stay with us, you’re such a great little boy.

The doctors keep testing you until they know what is happening to you, so they can make you get better. What has to happen, has to happen, but you are definitely staying with us, that we know for sure. We can’t do anything to help at this moment but we think about the 3 of you all day and we continue to light candles in the hope that it might speed things up a little. Your papa and mama are there for you all day and we’ll come visit again this weekend. We’ll take tante Tini along as well so she can cuddle you again.

My love, get lots of rest and eat well so that you’ll grow strong and tall and you’ll be able to laugh about all this with us later. That’s what I dream about already.

By love, see you next weekend!

Big hug and lots of kisses from opa and oma from Susteren.

gistere is mich get geweldigs euverkomme, pappa opa en tante tini en ich kome in het ziekenhoes en toen goof dien mamma dich aan mich en hub ich dich veur den erste keer vas moge hauwte, ich hub dich teen minuute neet gezeen, de troane leepe mich euver de wange (allein met van geluk heur!)

det woor zo sjoon, ich hub dich auch ut flesjke moge geve, nou nou waat woor ich gelukkig, geleuf det ich allang neet mer zo gesjtroald hub.

opa en tante tini hubbe de ganze tied aan dich gerooke, doe ruikdes so lekker want doe woars den erste kier gewasche, wat wurs te toch ein lekker menke, volgende week moch opa dich vashauwte, he woor geleuf ich ein bietje jaloers op mich, mer det woor um gauw euver heur, en tante tini kump auch aan de beurt, doe zuis weer zeen noe al om dich aan het vechte wem dich moog vashauwte, mer den erste keer zal ich nooit me vergete!!!!!!!

greui mer lekker door leeverd, zo des te gauw noa hoes moogs den kenne wer dich allemoal knoemele wie wer wille. wer komme zondig weer noa dich en tot den bewonjer ich dich op de computer.

daag leef menke van os en tot zondig,

dikke knuffel en kusjes van oma en opa oet sustere

English

Hello Sweetheart,

Yesterday something wonderful happened to me. Papa, opa, tante Tini and I arrived at the hospital when your mama handed you to me and I got to hold you for the very first time. I did not see you for the first ten minutes, due to the tears running down my cheeks (from happiness only!)

It was so wonderful, I also got to feed you a bottle. I was so happy, it’s been a long time since I beamed like that.

Opa and tante Tini were smelling you the whole time as you smelled delicious after your very first bath. You are becoming such a lovely little boy. Next week opa gets to hold you, I think he was a little bit jealous, but he got over that pretty quickly. Tante Tini will get her turn as well, you see we’re already fighting over who gets to hold you, but I will never forget this first time!!!

Keep on growing my life so that you can go home soon. That way we can all cuddle you as much as we want. We’ll come and see you again on Sunday and until then I’ll admire you on the computer.

Bey, our sweet little man and till Sunday.

Big hug and kisses from oma and opa from Susteren.

opa en ich hubbe zoaterdig ech van dich genote, waat loog ze der lekker bie, doe wurs ein ech sjoon menke, (wil eigelik zegge ut sjoonste menke det der bestjuit, mer det zegge alle oma’s natuurlik)

en doe duis ut so good des te al bes verhoes, mot zegge ben heel erg blie mer det ich dich neet mer kin bewonjere op de computer vinj ich natuurlik gaar neet leuk.

gelukkig hub ich gistere noch ein fantastische foto van dich oetgeprint, do hubs te dien hendjes veur dien auge es of ste zegge wils , noe hubs te genog noa mich gekeke, wil noe effe neet meer. en den hub ich nog ein geweldige foto geprint wo mamma dich dien este flesjke geuf, zo loat ich ederien dich bewonjere.

leeve sebastian weer hauwte zo veul vaan dich en ich kom zoaterdig weer noa dich toe mit tante tini, die wet den neet waat ze zuut want die heet dich den al een tiedje neet me gezeen.

greui mer lekker door zodes te gauw noa hoes toe kens en weer met dich kenne knoemele, weer zeen heel trots op dich klein mupke.

noe goan ich mit opa ete en weer wunsche dich eine feine oavend mit dien pappa en mamma,

daag leeve sjat en tot gauw.

dikke kus en knuffel van dien opa en oma oet sustere!

English

Hello Sweetheart,

Opa and I really enjoyed being with you last Saturday. You were so cute, and really beautiful (I really mean to say, the most beautiful boy in existence, but I guess all grandmas say that)

You’re doing so well that they have moved you already. I must say that I’m very happy, although I really don’t like the fact that I can’t admire you on the computer anymore.

Luckily, I printed out a fantastic picture of you yesterday. You’re holding your hands in front of your eyes as if trying to say “now you’ve looked at me long enough, no more please”. I’ve also printed out another great photo in which mama is giving you your first bottle. That is how I let everyone admire you.

Dear Sebastian, we love you so much and I’ll be coming to visit you again on Saturday with tante Tini who will be surprised when she sees you since she hasn’t visited in a while.

Continue growing so that you can go home soon and we can cuddle you. We’re very proud of you, little one.

Now I’m going to et with opa. We wish you a nice evening with papa and mama.

Bye sweetheart, see you soon.

Big kiss and hug from your opa and oma from Susteren.

Waat liks te der weer lekker bie, doe begins lekker rondj te were. ich ken neet genog van dich kriege, heurde van diene papa des te al weer good woars bie gekomme, nou gank so door.

doe hoofs neet op oma te lieke, die wurt heure jas auch te groot, det haws du auch, mer he begint dich langsam aan te passen, good so!

doe bes ein ech vechterke, mer hoe kan det auch anges doe bes tensjlotte eine Hos!

doe bes noe al 61/2 week bie os terwiel ste eigelik noch 5 weken bie dien mama zows motte seen, mer noe hubbe weer dich al veul eerder kenne bewonjere es normaal, weer kriege noch get mit dich. det papa en mama zich mer vas hauwte, di kriege de henj vol aan dich, en so heurt sich det auch.

nou lieverd 2005 is biena veurbie en den beginne weer aan 2006 en weer gaon derveur det alles op zien peutjes terech kump veur os allemaol en weer dich sjnel kenne knoemele, kenn bienao neet wachte (det is weer ech oma zeen ich papa al denke)

ich kom woonsdig mit tante tini dich weer bewonjere en zaoterdig same mit opa , dee ken den ech seen hoe ste gegreujd bes.

Daag Sebastian, ich hawt heel veul van dich en schrief dich auch weer sjnel.

Dikke knuffel van Oma Ria

English

Good Morning my love,

How nice you are lying there again, you are really starting to get nice and round. I just can’t get enough of you. I just heard from your papa that you gained quite a bit of weight again, well keep it up. You do not have to look like grandma whose “coat” is getting a little large. You had the same problem earlier, but yours is starting to fit quite nicely now. Well done!

You are quite a fighter, but I would not expect any different since you are a Hos after all!

You are now already 6 1/2 weeks with us while normally you should still have been with your mama for another 5 weeks. But we have gotten to admire you much earlier now than normal. Papa and mama better hold on to something because you are going to be quite a handful and that’s the way it ought to be.

Well my love, 2005 is almost over and then we will start 2006. We are going to assume that everything is going to be alright for all of us and that we will be able to cuddle you very soon. I can hardly wait (“typically oma”, I can see your papa thinking already).

On Wednesday I’m coming together with aunt Tini to admire you again and on Saturday together with opa Paul who can than see for himself how much you have grown.

Bye Sebastian, I love you very much and I will soon write you again.

Big Hug from Oma Ria

Mit dit schrieve wil ich dich loate weite hoe blie det ich ben des doe bie os bes, weer hauwe al so lang verlank noa ein kleinkendj en ich denk des du doarom so vreug meugeluk gekomme bes, ich hawt noe al zo veul van dich det ut bienao pien deut, mer du hubs os , ondanks diene neet gemekkelike stjart zo gelukkig gemaak , det is neet in weurt oet te drukke.

es ich diene papa met dich bezig zeen smult ich bienao weg, kleine leeverd, greuj mer gauw sodet ich dich sjnel knoemele ken en dich misjien auch ein bietje verwenne moag solang es du nog hie bes, want du geis dalik mit dien papa en mama heel wiet weg, det vinj ich neet ech leuk mer veer komme dich deks opzeuke heur,.

ich zit dich noe al de ganse daag te bewunjere op de computer, ut este wat ich smurges doon is dich goeiemorgen wunsje, en den ben ich toch so trots op dich, du kumps der waal heur, en weer zulle der altied veur dich zeen.

nou lieverd, ich hauwt der noe effe mit op mer ich zal dich nog deks sjrieve so des te later flink kens lache om de zeiver van dien oma.

daag klein mupke van mich en tot gauw!

Oma Ria

Dutch Translation

Good day sweety,

With this letter I want to let you know how happy I am that you’re with us. We have been longing for a grand child for so long, which is, I think, why you came as quickly as possible. I already love you so much that it almost hurts. Even though your start was not so very easy, you have made us so incredibly happy, it is difficult to express in words.

Little love, I just melt when I see your papa with you. Grow fast so that I can quickly start hugging you and also spoil you a little for the time that you’re still here, because you soon will go far away with your papa and mama. I do not really like that but I promise that we will visit you often.

I’m admiring you all day long from my computer. The first thing I do when I get up is wish a good morning. I’m just so proud of you, you will make it just fine and we’ll always be there for you. Well my love, I’m going to stop now but I will write you more often so that later when you’re older you can have a good laugh at the nonsense from your oma.

Bye, little darling of mine and see you soon!

Oma Ria