Long days...

What a frustrating day. I had noticed Tyler on the cell phone a lot. We have a family plan with four phones but "only" 2000 minutes spread between the four lines.

I reminded Tyler again and again over the past month to only use weekend minutes and after 9pm, which are unlimited, but apparently he didn't listen.

Today I got a $450 phone bill. See the link below where Tyler is selling off his "things" to earn money to pay the phone bill. You might even get a chuckle out of my sarcasm.

If you are local and need someone to do yard work, babysit, clean your house etc. Feel free to call Tyler, on our home phone please! LOL

His cell phone is no longer working.

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZsisters3designsQQfrppZ50QQfsopZ1QQfsooZ1QQrdZ0?

I had been helping put plans together for two very sick MV babies that came to RHFH recently. Lori hasn't mentioned them because they were so sick and didn't want to raise funds etc. given that we didn't know if they would make it. Both were newborn boys with cleft lip/palates and other health issues. Both boys passed away over the weekend. I feel sad for the families of course but most of all I feel sadness and pain for Lori, Licia and the employees at RHFH. To work so hard and have moments of sheer hopelessness and helplessness has to be frustrating. I feel frustrated that geography (being in Haiti without resources) plays such a large factor in determining fate of needy babies... children... moms, dads, grandparents... it just isn't fair. Those boys would have both lived had they been born here is the US more than likely. It just isn't right. I have to remind myself over and over of God's plan and timing. I just wish that there was more that I could have done to help. Please keep them all in your prayers.

Good news today was that some more children from COTP made it out of MOI and are close to going home. YEAH!!!

Other good news is that Salem knows why she has been so sick. I will let her blog about that. But she is on the mend and "getting there". She still could use prayers of course!

Robert has work this week so that is a blessing!

Off to finish ebaying Tyler's wares. What a waste of money.

Blessings,
Sarah

It doesn't get better than this!

This has been a fun week for the kids getting ready for Halloween. On Wednesday, Kendra, our dear neighbor across the street had the kids over the help paint a coffin. It was slightly comical to look out the front window and see Grace, Cole, Dom and Lulu wearing "scrubs" (Kendra's paint smocks) and painting a coffin. They had a great time and did a great job too! Thanks Kendra for including us in the Halloween prep work fun!

Hubs just left to take the kids to classes for the first two morning classes. We tried to get them to skip today but Grace and Sophie are making their pillows in sewing class so they would not have it. We are only doing the first two classes today because we are going to the educational program at the local theatre and seeing From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler... the stage show!

This was one of my favorite books as a child and we read it last year for home schooling so we were thrilled that it's now a stage show. Here is a study guide and activities if any of you home schoolers out there want to learn more:

http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/fris/fristg.htm

For those of you not familiar with the story it's about two siblings that run away to teach their parents a lesson and live at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It's all about their adventures there, how they survived and where they hid and a mystery to go along with it that they need to solve.

We loved it.

My Aunt Betsy will meet us at the theatre and afterwards we are going out for ice cream. Tonight we have three extra kids spending the night so I need to dream up a good time still. Tomorrow afternoon I am going with my sister to pass out coats for the needy. Last year when she arrived for her volunteer shift they were out of coats... they had given away all 1000 coats already. So I am praying that they had more donations this year and I won't have to worry about spending time there sending cold people away who needs coats this winter. :(

Then Nina (sister), Betsy(Aunt) and I are going to the movies (to see Into the Wild) for a girls evening out. (I live such a life of leisure these days I tell ya.) Hubs and the older kids, Danny, Tyler and Lauren are taking all the kids, and the cousins (Noah and Zoe) to the pumpkin swim! The local public indoor pool fills one of the small pools with pumpkins (they float and are clean) and the kids can get in the water and pick a pumpkin from the pool. They do some other fun activities and the kids swim and have a big time. We did this last year and loved it, so why not make it a new tradition?

Sunday since we will have a massive amount of pumpkins we will be carving pumpkins and making pumpkin seeds in the oven. I think we are going to a friends for dinner that evening.

I am looking forward to the next three days of family, friends and fun.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Sarah

Hannah Montana (aka: Today's work)

I am still waiting to hear back from "Hannah's Mom" to see if these pictures will work. The first picture is for the thank you notes for the party. The 2nd picture is a CD cover that her Mom will use to make invitations for the party. (CD's for the invites!!)
Too fun!
Sarah

In the News x2

Sorry to keep this short and sweet but I actually have real work to do today! :) Yeah!!! Sales have been going well and I imagine as we get closer to the holidays they will be even better. (power of positive thinking right?)

There were two "news" stories yesterday that I wanted to be sure to write about:

The Washington Post did a story about COTP and there are some beautiful pictures to go along with it. http://www.washingtontimes.com/section/PHOTO

So please use the link above to see them!

And Dr. A. called yesterday, it was great to talk to her and C. from her office. She said that the Austin news channel that had done a story on the "girls" came back yesterday morning to do a follow up story. It is super and I do hope that the link below works so you can watch it.

http://www.kxan.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?clipid1=1866774&at1=News&vt1=v&h1=Haitian+Babies+Recover+After+Surgeries&d1=118000&redirUrl=www.kxan.com&activePane=info&LaunchPageAdTag=homepage&playerVersion=8&hostPageUrl=http%3A//www.kxan.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp%3Fclipid1%3D1866774%26at1%3DNews%26vt1%3Dv%26h1%3DHaitian+Babies+Recover+After+Surgeries%26d1%3D118000%26redirUrl%3Dwww.kxan.com%26activePane%3Dinfo%26LaunchPageAdTag%3Dhomepage&rnd=47554479

Have a wonderful day! I am off to design a birthday invitation for a Hannah Montana Party. We are doing a CD cover that the Mom is going to use to make CD's for the invitations. (Her daughter dressed as Hannah Montana of course.)

I will share it later... :)

Be Blessed!

Sarah

P.S. I have a prayer request. Salem has been VERY sick and last I heard from her she thought it might be Dengue or Malaria. Please keep her in your prayers for fast healing. She has been very busy caring for the "boys".

Across the Universe

I changed the music last night with some of the songs from this great film. Kim and I were able to see this movie in FLL while we were there with my Aunt Ann. I was a bit leery if they would be able to pull off a good enough story line to support all the Beatles music, but I must say, it was one of the best movies I have ever seen. Not only were the graphic incredible, superb acting, but the music... wow... phenomenal! So if you enjoy musicals and you like Beatles Music, then I highly recommend you see this movie! I also found it to be one of the best love stories I have seen in a long time.
(Kim and Ann agree!)
Enjoy!
Sarah

Monday Life

I miss the babies.

After watching Salem's videos last night I got depressed. Especially hearing Ella in the background of Helande's video saying "Dada-dada". I can just imagine her little silly smile and I miss it.

Bean's favorite past time is PAY DO... play-doh. So I will type fast and get all my thoughts out while she is at the table doing pay do. Her favorite thing to say right now is "I need that". She needs lots of things lately. LOL

I have done a bit of research today on applying for some grants or fellowships for the ORG (the one that to-be) to get a chunk of financial backing to really get going and make a bigger impact. I have been thinking of education and prevention and how we can make grassroots changes like that. I also am going to apply for a Family Fun magazine/Disney contest where you can win $50,000 for your favorite charity, you have to describe the way that your family volunteers together. If anyone else is interested in this contest, email me and I will send you the details.

Having hubby home has given me too much time to think... I think. Over the weekend he showed me how there is a new channel where you can watch four sports shows simultaneously. Although this was thrilling news to me (not) I caught him watching "10 things I hate about you" (which was shocking given that "Pretty woman" was on). I questioned his manhood. I did. He thought it was funny, so did I... his work is saying that it will be 2-3 more weeks before they get back to work. Hubs went and applied for three new jobs today... but we are torn if we should wait it out because he does enjoy the company that he works for! I guess later this week we will know more-hopefully. I keep looking at the calendar and all the appointments that I made and wondering if that was so smart. There are a couple days where there is one appointment at the physician's then two at the eye doctor, then one more back at the physicians. Apparently when I was scheduling these I really did think that it would be OK for hubs to do but not so much for me to do. Way to go Sarah.

The court is still scheduled for November 12th. I am planning to be in Ohio that week with Angeline. However checking the school calendar I did notice that 11/11 is a federal Holiday... Veteran's Day. The court is actually closed on 11/12... my court date. I am not sure what they means... if they will reschedule for later that week... or months away. I am praying on a fair settlement at this point as extending and prolonging this any further just seems like the wrong thing. I will keep you all updated.

Jeremy just called from AZ and let us know that he is getting ready to board the bus back to New Orleans... so we will once again have limited contact with him. (sigh)

This morning the OT was supposed to come and an hour before his arrival, after the pancake feast, Lulu threw up while walking across the living room in several places. He opted to just come next week.

I just read that Christy went home from COTP to her family. Awww... Isaac will miss his friend. (And so will I.) I am glad that she was able to go home though. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

Isaac and Christy @ COTP 2007


Until next time.
Be blessed.
Sarah

Helande Thank You

Salem and Lori took this video while Salem was in Haiti picking up the two boys. It's great to see the girls and families doing so well!
Blessings,
Sarah

Christella Thank You

Salem and Lori took this video while Salem was in Haiti picking up the two baby boys. Blessings,
Sarah

Happy to be Nappy and other stories of me DVD

I rented this video from Netflix and I just love it. I passed it on to Kelly and she gave the thumbs up as well. It has different "stories" and "books" that are read by different "stars" with REAL children with "special different types of diversity" narrating throughout the film. I highly recommend it to all parents to have their children watch. Not just parents with children who speak another language, use a walker, or have nappy hair, but all kids! It's a nice way to celebrate diversity and to further instill in your children how we are all different and the same in so many ways. And that we all need to be proud and happy about who we are.
Enjoy!
Sarah
P.S. You can find it for sale on EBAY for a better price than Amazon. Or else look for it to rent at your local rental shop. :)

Weekend update

We had a busy week. Yesterday I made 27 (Literally) doctor appointments for the kids. Well child checks, eye appointments, and dental cleaning... November and December are FULL with appointments. (Have to take advantage of the fact that my husband is home as much as possible... yes.)

I like it when I call to make the appointments and they tell me... "well we can't do them all on the same day!"... YA THINK? NO??? You won't let me have ALL the appointments for one ENTIRE day? WHY NOT? The shock- the horror!

Please... I have so been there and done that. The doctor will only see one at a time, eye doctor two at a time, dentist three at a time. I don't mind coming day after day at all... err... sending the husband day after day. :)

This week I also put extensions in Lulu's hair. For a small investment at Sally's I got some "fake" hair (80 cents a pack) and Lauren and I braided away. It isn't the best job ever, but not too shabby for my first time. Lulu has always wanted LONG hair so I thought it would be nice to indulge her a little and she is walking around flipping her head about like the little diva that she is. So cute!

(I need some advice on what I can buy to put on the ends of her real hair to keep it from looking frayed... any ideas?)

Bean keeps talking about "Lulu's Hair" and I think that she wants some too. She just doesn't have the patience to sit still for so long, nor the height to quite carry such a luxurious hairdo as Lulu. LOL

Dominick also would like some hair extensions but we just cut his hair COTP style last week so he doesn't have much to work with.

Today we had super clean Saturday this morning and then left over lunch (all the week's leftovers need to get eaten on Sat lunch) and we are off to the Value Village for some Halloween Costume shopping. This year each child has a $10 budget to buy a costume. Bean wants to be a puppy and Grace wants to be someone like Marie Antoinette, it should be interesting to see what they come up with.
Happy Saturday!

Blessings,
Sarah

Happy 2nd Birthday Isaac!!!

HI Son,
I hope that you are having a wonderful 2nd birthday today. I bet you are playing with your best buddies Elijah and Colin...

Looking at your family album and knowing that we are thinking of you all the time and missing you SO much...

I bet your being silly and helping keep everyone "in line" in the boat room just as you always like to do. :)

And of course today you are snuggling with your favorite nannies and...

Playing basketball...

And kissing your girlfriend Christy! :)

We hope that your day is special today Isaac and look forward to your birthday presents in the mail soon. We pray that your adoption is done soon and you can come home. We miss you more than you could ever know. Happy 2nd Birthday Isaac.

Lots of Love,

Mom, Dad, your brothers and sisters too!

Cabaret flooding - people and houses - Oct 2007

Turn the music off on the right so you can hear the video. This is from Lori (Real Hope for Haiti's blog) and documents the devastation from the flooding of recent days. Please consider visiting Lori's blog and making a donation or saying an extra prayer to help the MANY people affected by this tragic event. http://www.xanga.com/haitinurse4life

Lay Off 2007

As of this morning my husband is officially laid off from work. We aren't sure how long the lay off will last, but we are praying that its not too long or else we pray that he can find something to get us through winter work wise. Every year we start talking in July about the winter work that they may or may not have, and every year it "looks" like they will have winter work, and then it doesn't happen. I am not sure why I continue to believe that the work will last through the winter... next year I vow to be smarter and stick money aside during the summer to prepare for a winter without work.

I am in need of Ange and Paul (http://www.havingfunservinghim.blogspot.com/) to give me some good frugal grocery shopping tips ASAP. :) Things will be tight around here for awhile but we always worry too much and it always works out OK in the end. So this time, I am trying to focus on a "plan" and not worry so much. Basically Robert can get unemployment because he is laid off due to lack of work, but it drops our income to 1/3 of what it normally is.

So it's time for me to do something!

I will be getting my work together to get some pictures listed on ebay in the next couple days, I already have one listing up if you want to view some more samples: (shameless self promotion)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150173012524&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:1123

If anyone is in need of cute Holiday pictures (they make great gifts, cards, and picture art), just email me and let me know: sisters3designs@aol.com

This is how we will supplement our income for time being, sell, sell, sell! :)

Today Angeline had an appointment at Children's with the NS team. *Just a check up, we aren't expecting there to be any problems. Since my hubby was home, he was able to take her to the appointment and took along with him, Dominick, Lulu and Sophie... Lauren, David, Danny, and Tyler are at classes today so that leaves me home with Grace and Cole. They are working on some perfume making science kits right now and my house is SO quiet I am really loving this moment! I am getting a couple much needed deep cleaning chores done today and am looking forward to having a little 2 on one time with Grace and Cole.

(UPDATE: The hospital is doing free flu shots so hubby called to see if he should get all the kids flu shots. Typically when we have done the flu shots in the past it requires MANY trips to the health department so I was a definite YES... now no one will EVER want to go back to Children's, but we might be a little less sick this winter!)

Yeah!!!

Thanks in advance for your prayers about the job situation!

Many Blessings,
Sarah

Happy 6th Birthday Lulu

Lulu (Alyssa) had her sixth birthday this month. She got to choose the activities for the day and what we would have for dinner. We went to up to BC Canada to the wave pool with friends and family and then had her favorite McDonalds for dinner. (We took up like half the play land, it was a good time though!) Thanks everyone for coming and making Lulu's 6th birthday so special.

Apples and Pumpkins

Last weekend we did the traditional "fall" trip to the pumpkin patch and had a hay ride... then we went to the apple orchard to pick apples. When we got to the orchard they told us that it was the last day that they were going to have apple picking because there weren't many apples left. About 20 minutes later we had 130 lbs of apples. I guess it helps to have a lot of eyes to spot the apples and lots of hands to pick them. For homeschooling on Monday we are working with Kim's family learning about the pioneers, so we had our Saturday adventure the start of the next lesson... Sunday we peeled apples and Monday we made apple pies and applesauce. Kim came over and we canned the applesauce and even some beets from her garden. All of our children did a great job with the prep work, cooking and canning. Kim and I definitely need to learn more canning skills and some of our equipment was broke so it was a bit tricky getting the hot jars out of the hot bath canner. Fun times! Enjoy the pictures.

Happy Wednesday!

Sarah

A Video of Ella and Bug's Journey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWnpbZO-LbI

I was not able to get the video to work directly on the blog. But please take a moment to visit the link above to see the beautiful video that Lori put together of the journey the girls have been on. Thanks so much for all of your prayers and support.
Love,
Sarah

Salem's Ella and Bug Update

The girls looked GREAT when we saw them. Helande was SO happy. Her mom was just beaming and kept wanting to show her off. Ella was a bit more reserved but looked good. Her dad was very kind and seemed to be doting on her. We did get some sweet smiles out of Ella. Her belly was hard and bloated feeling but otherwise she looked good. (Please note that Ella's Mom wasn't there because she had her baby last week... a healthy baby girl. PRAISE THE LORD!)

Salem

For my Mom and all Moms...

Trying to get a picture of these three boys together (Colin, Elijah and Isaac) was near impossible. :) But still so cute!

My Mom went home yesterday after being here helping out for three weeks. All of the children miss their Nana so much, as do I! It was so nice to have her here while I was gone and while I was here. She managed to rearrange my furniture, hang new curtains, organize the home schooling, and even left me a to-do list! (That I will let her know we are already working on today.)

Thank you Mom! Thank you, thank you, thank you for being here when we needed you the most. We love you!

Here is a great song that ALL moms should watch, but it would be enjoyable and funny for most everyone. :)

http://www.yahoo.com/s/694956

Many Blessings,
Sarah

I love you!

Outside the O

So after lunch with the babies, Lori and the families... and a tearful ride to the domestic airport to catch our flight to CAP (in Northern Haiti), I was so thankful when we were unloading the bags that D. from COTP was there! I was on the verge of emotional collapse at that point and wondering if I said all that I needed to say, and told the babies everything I wanted to tell them, and his familiar face was like an angel in a sea of madness going on. There were men trying to "help" with the luggage and Kim and I wanted to say goodbye to Lori, the Moms, Dad and babies. Once I saw D. I knew that it was all going to be OK. And we were on to the next chapter of our journey... visiting COTP. We got checked in for the flight and there was a bit of confusion. I think that we were cutting it close on time and they had no room for our bags, but were able to get us on the flight. (Our bags would follow on a later flight and we would be able to get them the next day.) A, M, Isaac, and Isaac's Aunt were all there waiting and on the same flight as well. Everything went well at Isaac's INS appointment that day.
Isaac was so tired and sleeping on M. the whole trip. He did wake up a few times and looked completely "out of it" and miserable. Not exactly what I had thought about a near 2 year old boy getting on a really cool airplane... I guess I thought he would be excited and loving the plane ride. But it wasn't so at all. On the drive from the airport in CAP to COTP we were able to take Isaac's aunt home and D. came with Isaac and I to see his Aunt's house and meet his cousins. What a special moment to have to tell my son all about someday. Isaac wanted nothing to do with anyone but D. or M., these were familiar faces to him and his Aunt he doesn't even know. So these pictures tell a bit of how he was feeling... "D. hold me!!!"

It was not but a few minutes that we spent at his Aunt's place but it was very overwhelming. You think about poverty and she was so proud to show me her house it was heartwarming. But to think of Ella and Bug going home that night and how different life was to be for them hit me like a ton of bricks.

We had a bumpy car ride to the O, and once there, Isaac ran through the door and sprung back to life being with his friends and nannies in the comfort of HIS HOME. As much as COTP is an orphanage, it is truly HOME to the children who live there, and the people there are FAMILY. Isaac started to talk up a storm (in Creole) and played and laughed and was once again the happy, busy little boy that I know him to be.

Isaac is very smart and I am not just saying that because I am his Momma. D. and I talked about when the time comes for Isaac to go home and how vital it will be for us (Robert and I) to spend time with him at COTP before going home. The transition for him will be vital. Kim and I talked about the other kiddo's there and I know that not everyone is able to travel and spend time when they pick their children up. But just to truly understand their child's routine, schedule and to get to know their likes and dislikes before taking them home to the US is SO important. Time to get to know the adoptive family and to start a new routine while there in the comfort of their home, is essential in my opinion. Isaac was a fish out of water outside of COTP.

I made sure to spend time with all the children and was of course in the "boat room" for much of my time there. Isaac took a couple days to warm up to me. Several of the children seem more attached to the nannies than others, and there were some children who would happily come over and play with me and sit on my lap. But not Isaac, he wanted it known that this was his place and his people and I was an outsider. As much as I wanted lots of snuggle love Mommy time, this was for the best for me to let him stake out his ground and to see his healthy, normal, attachments to his caretakers. In the long run, this will prove essential for his emotional development.

So if you are in an adoption and have thought about traveling, and how long to spend in your child's country... dig deep... think about staying for a good week at the least just to get to see HOME for your child. It is difficult to travel and hard to leave children and "life" behind at home. I COMPLETELY understand that. But to be able to have these memories with Isaac and to have photos and be able to explain to him what his life was like before our family is critical. I am praying that in the next 6-12 months he will be able to come home and he will be under three years old. He may not even remember but tidbits of his life in Haiti, if anything at all. It is my job as his Mom to remember and be able to share these things with him.

More soon.

Blessings,

Sarah

P.S. COTP families... Kim and I have lots of pictures and are working this week to get them into an album and will share them with R. and she will share them with you. All of your children are doing WONDERFULLY! :)

Isaac's September Pictures

Home

What to say?
I have been home now for 48 hours and am settling in still physically and spiritually. I want to be able to find the right words to say to create this fabulous memento of time and experiences that I have had over the course of the last week and a half. Finding just the right words to convey the experience is difficult. There were so many hard moments and even more glorious wonderful moments I don't want to forget any of them!

Christella and Helande were amazing on the planes. Kim and I, with the babies, four suitcases, a bumbo, and the biggest jogging stroller ever, loaded one plane in Seattle, flew to Houston, changed planes then spent the night in FLL (Lauderdale) at a hotel. We had so many anxieties about the trip, both Kim and I. About meeting the "moms" and for Kim meeting her son for the first time... for Isaac, and spending the week in Haiti... for leaving the girls and wondering if we would ever see them again.
The girls were so good on the plane. They are now well seasoned travelers and took it all in stride. The picture of them sleeping together was on the plane. :)

We didn't have any troubles with traveling because all the Haitians from FLL to PAP were thinking it hilarious that Christella had red painted finger nails and toe nails (thanks to Lauren and Grace). It caused many a belly laugh along the way and everyone wanted to come to see her.

We walked out of the PAP airport, me ahead of Kim with Christella in the jogging stroller and Kim behind me with the luggage cart and Bugs in the snugli... and I heard Lori yelling out our names. It was at then that I felt ok about being there in Haiti. Lori was even more amazing then I have come to know her. The Moms and Helande's dad were in the parking lot across the street waiting for us... we were greeting with huge hugs and kisses and they held us and spoke in creole, from their eyes I knew what they were saying... thank you.
The Moms held the girls and Helande looked a bit spaced out like... whoa... where am I now, and Christella cried because she wanted me to hold her. This not only made me feel worse because I wanted her to be happy, but because I wanted her Mom to know that she DOES remember her, it was just going to take a bit of time to get adjusted and I didn't want her to feel discouraged.

Kim and I sat in the truck with Lori and the driver and the Moms/Dad and friends sat in the back with the luggage. (We kept the girls inside with us for safety reasons.) Off we went to the Visa Lodge where we spent some hours mainly talking about medicine, catheters, shunts, the girls, and the HEAT. A couple hours was just not enough time to say everything that I needed to say (from my heart) but we were able to touch on the basics and take some short video's of the families reunited as well as their thank you message for Dr. A. Both families were shy about getting up to eat at the buffet lunch. The things that we take for granted. ahhh... Lori, Kim and I made them plates piled with food and Lori encouraged them to eat. The hours didn't last nearly long enough and I do pray someday that we will be able to go back to Haiti and spend more time with Lori and the families. I am so proud of these families for their faith and for not giving up on their children and the Lord. It's so hard to put into words how I feel about the whole day, it's overwhelming to think of what I have gotten out of doing this. I met some amazing people, doctors, friends and family that have showered me with support from all angles and now I have this ever growing support system like I never had before. I have this love for these children and their families that is everlasting. I have a greater appreciation for all that I have. I have strength in my wait for Isaac and my letting go of Christella and Helande by watching these families wait and wonder and pray and remain vigilant. I have taken all of these lessons and I just want to devour them and pour them into my soul. More soon. Thank you for praying. love, S.