november update - gobble gobble

(Ashley, 16 months and Mickenson, just turned 4)

Handsommmmmmmme little devils!

Poor Ashley, they said he has very dry skin, looks like they oiled him up pretty good in this pic.

Ok so, Yay, I received my update for November last week on both of my boys. Such a fantastic thing to get these monthly updates, I wish they were daily. And the wonderful people at the orphanage sent me pictures of these Thanksgiving turkeys my boys made with their little hand outlines. Seriously? How freaking cute is that? I was so excited it was a little bit pathetic.

Ashley's hand cut-outs

Mickenson's hand turkey



The updates included tidbits on my boys’ progression, educationally, socially, physically, etc. But the best part was when they talked about special events...

     "Mickenson welcomed a new friend into his age group in Kenscoff. He also worked
     on a special Thanksgiving project for his new adoptive family. He was very eager to
     work on his gift for his family."

Oh my gosh, he knows he has a family? I hadn’t realized that he knew about me until I read this. Apparently once the match has been made official (only a few weeks ago) they inform the child that he has a family waiting for him or her. I wish I could have seen his face when he heard he has a family.  And the thought of him coloring his turkey for me brought me to tears. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was happy or sad? It was like this giant ache to have him here. I want them here SO BAD it hurts.

Ashley had the flu again last month, which freaked me out a little bit. I mean, it’s bad enough when your kids are sick at home, but to hear about them being sick thousands of miles away in Haiti - frustrating. As most of the world has heard, cholera has been spreading in Haiti.  Luckily, it has not spread anywhere too close to my boys, and it had better stay that way. He is fine now though and doing well. They say he is such a happy baby and is walking and trying to run around everywhere. He’s very social and "watches others with a serious face and intent concentration." Cute little serious face.

Everyone I know is of course asking when I expect the boys to actually get here. And, unfortunately, the answer is pretty much ???. I am hopeful it will be by the summer? But, until they are on that plane with me heading to the States, it is so hard to say.  Mine and the boys' dossiers are complete minus a few letters.  It is like I have this ticking clock in my chest trying to hurry the process up.  But it sounds like things in Haiti are starting to move along quicker.  My awesome friend Tonya's adoption was approved by the Haitian government in only two and a half months.  That is like unheard of.  So, I am hoping mine will fly too. Once that happens it is just a matter of getting immigration stuff settled in the U.S. and obtaining visas for the boys and the like.

Last but not least, I am trying to learn Creole. Ummmm, let me just say, that whole gift of tongues thing - I don’t have it. And because of my Spanish, I just automatically revert back to that when I don’t know the word. I need some serious help. Luckily my little fabulous sister, Katie, speaks fluent French. Creole is a derivative of French, so knowing French helps a lot. But there are African influences in Creole too, so it is not exactly the same. I think it would be an absolute shame for Mickenson especially to lose the Creole he knows. And I want Ashley, myself and London to know it too.  So, I am determined to help them retain it and learn as much as I can.

I feel like I need to end every post with a giant thank you to everyone I know for supporting me in this.  It is a remarkably long, frustrating, expensive and emotional process and I could not be doing it without help.  So, thank you truly from all of us!