good news and not-so-good news...

Alright.  Good news first.  This is the email I received two weeks ago from the United States embassy:

Dear Ms. Benson,

Please be informed that the I-600 petitions you filed at this office for the above orphans have been approved. Your case has been transferred to the Adoption Unit of the Consular Section for the visa process.  This completes all action by this service on the petitions.  The Consular Section will soon contact you to follow up on your case.

Regards,
Department of Homeland Security

U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
U.S. Embassy
Tabarre 41Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Yes!  The last freaking approval, done!  Right?  Nope.  Apparently, some procedure has changed and now the medical check-ups that the boys need to get their U.S. visas can't be done until after the I-600 approval.  Unfortunately I was not privy to this vital piece of information.  Up until now these check-ups were already done before the I-600 approval.  Not only that, but they must be completed by U.S. certified doctors.  And all of those doctors were home in the good old U.S.of A. for the holidays.  So, long story short, I was told it would be another month (around the middle of January) until we could travel to pick up the boys.

I know in the grand scheme of things, a month really isn't that long.  But, it is kind of like being 9 months pregnant (or 15 in my case) and you are all set to have that baby but the Dr. says you have to wait another 5 weeks.

I had a minor meltdown.  Regrouped.  And I am now patiently waiting for a freaking medical check-up date so we can get our freaking visa appointment and pick up my freaking kids!

Freak!

november update 2011

I got my November updates for the boys on Friday.  Hopefully this will be the last update I get from Haiti before my boys are home!  Our files are now in USCIS (United States Customs and Immigration Services) and I am waiting "patiently" every day to see an email pop up from USCIS saying that our files have been approved and we can set a date to pick up our boys.  It should only be a few weeks until they are actually home.  I am so excited I can't believe it.

Here are a few excerpts from the boys' reports:

Mickenson (just turned 5 last month)

"Mickenson has picked up many English vocabulary words during class time, he can recall almost all the picture cards without prompting from other children or the teacher.  Mickenson is a very smart child.  He will lay out all the picture cards and identify them all by himself.  If he does not know a word when he hears it, all you have to do is spell it out for him and he will go and find it by the spelling.  He takes pride in knowing his flash cards in school."

"Mickenson plays really well with all the older children.  They are always in a corner thinking up different playing scenarios for the playground.  Mickenson is very active in all the planning of different activities that the older children are involved in and loves to share his active nature with others.  Mickenson shares well and knows how to take turns on the playground.  Mickenson loves to play tag on the playground with all the children.  He is one of the fastest runners out of all the children and takes full advantage of that during tag games."

"Mickenson was very happy doing all the Thanksgiving crafts this month.  Lori told him the meaning behind Thanksgiving and how it is spent with family.  Mickenson says that he is very grateful for God and his family.  He is also grateful for sports and parties.  Lori and the staff at Kenscoff have now put out all the Christmas decorations for 2011! The crèche looks all festive and filled with Christmas music already!"

Love it, I am grateful for sports and parties too. :)

Ashley (2 years old)

"Ashley is a super active toddler!  He can be seen storming the creche at all times.  You will hear Ashley from miles away!  He loves to run away and yell in delight!  He loves rough and tumble play and at times scares some of the quieter children at the creche.  He loves to explore his surroundings and will knock things over every chance he gets.  He is a very active climber, as well.  Benches, rocks, chairs, you name it, he will climb it!"  ....um, Ashley-zilla?

"Ashley loves to play with blocks and then knock them over again.  Not only does he like to knock over his blocks, but he loves it even more when he knocks other people's blocks over!  He will run around, doing things similar to "war cries" and knock things over!  He can pre-occupy himself with just a garbage bag filled with clothes.  He and the other toddlers will take turns jumping on it.  Ashley is usually the one instigating the situations."

"When Ashley gets super excited he will start to grunt and make a low "Yay, yeah" sound!  He will run around in excitement and often times get quite clumsy in his steps.  He will often fall over and bump his head on the ground.  The loud "thud" noise seems to amuse him!  He will quickly yell and get up to explore again!"

Ha, this is so true.  When Micah and I were there, he fell hard onto his head.  We were horrified, and then he just started giggling.  It's like he is made out of stone. :)

Seriously, I am DYING to get these little guys home and give them constant hugs and kisses!

thankful :)

I am thankful for the e-mail I received this morning that the boys' files are out of MOI and they have their passports!!!  My agency told me that the only step left is for USCIS to approve my orphan petitions for the boys to come to the U.S. and get us a visa appointment down in Port-au-Prince (which will happen when we go pick up the boys).  They are "all hopeful this will be before Christmas." !!!  It depends on USCIS, so it is always up in the air, but I am feeling a couple of Christmas miracles...  Thankful thankful thankful!

october updated pics...

Well, it has been a whole year since my first official "update" of my boys.  It feels like two.  I can't believe that they are actually going to be here soon.  Hopefully really soon!  We are still in MOI (Ministry of Interior) waiting on the boys' passports.  And I am still praying for December.  Wait, wait, wait.  Wait, wait.

My boys... they are growing up without me!  And their little heads just got shaved again.  It is much easier and cleaner for the orphanage to keep their heads shaved, but I hate it.  I want to let their hair grow.

ashley is such a little tank!

can I just point out that mickenson is wearing a pinky ring here.  awesome.

time for another lbc tribute

london benson clark - 7 years old

he he, this is the sequence of events when there is a bad call during a Real playoff game.

(***mild obscenities***)



september update...

Mickenson

Mickenson is going to be 5 in a couple weeks. I think this picture shows his size well - some of the pictures I get make him look so much older, but he is really still so little! He has become a patient little boy too. His report said that: “He is generally a very happy child. He waits patiently during class or coloring times for his turn. He doesn’t have to be constantly reminded to sit down or stop doing something. He is very observant of his surroundings and what others are doing.”

“Mickenson loves to look at his photo album!” (These are the pictures that I send every month) “When he found out we were going to look at his album, he quickly ran to get Ashley to come and look as well. He looked at every photo with big eyes and smiled whenever there was an animal or something that reminded him of a party.” :)

Ashley

Ashley just turned 2 and is freaking adorable. “Ashley loves to give hugs. He will run up to you and put his whole body into your legs. He loves to twirl his body around and show you his acrobatic skills in the open areas. He has been seen using both hands to draw and eat; it all depends on his mood or whichever hand is preoccupied with a toy in it already.”

“Ashley is a very happy toddler! He gets shy when there are too many strangers around, but quickly warms up when you start to play with him. When he gets really happy, he will stick his tongue out and run with delight.”

Our files are now in MOI where we will wait for the boys’ passports. Then the US Embassy will need to approve our filed I-600 and get us a visa appointment. That’s it, and then we can bring them home. These last 2 steps will have to fly to get them here by Christmas. So we will just have to wait and see...  I feel like the horse who can see the barn, I just want to hurry up and get there.  I am becoming more impatient by the minute.  It is really difficult to see their photos and get their updates each month and know that there is absolutely nothing I can do but sit and wait and hope to hear word on the next step.  Some months are more frustrating than others, and I am feeling it this month.

august update...

Not a whole lot to update again from last month. Except that the boys keep getting older and bigger! Weird how that happens. Mickenson especially is getting super eager to come home. His report said that he LOVES to look at the pictures he has of us. He points to each of us and calls us by name and shows them to all of his little friends. I’m dying.

The outfits they are wearing kill me.

only mickenson can rock this outfit and look adorable

Ashley is so tall!  He just turned 2 last month and Mickenson is 4 1/2.

Our files came out of Parquet (the Haitian courts) a few weeks ago, which is fantastic. There are a few more signatures needed before the boys’ files can go into MOI, which is where they will get their passports. Then, after that, we will wait for the U.S. approval of the boys’ immigration files. Hopefully just a few more months!!! I am still praying that by some miracle they can be home for Christmas. :)

july boys' updates...

Ok, I just received the updates on the boys for July. Once again, Danielle (the amazing girl who compiles these reports every month) has outdone herself with the photos. I swear I have no idea how she gets these boys to sit still and smile - they are so all over the place, this is truly no small feat.

 holy crap this is cute

Ashley

“Ashley’s favorite thing to do is follow his big brother. He has difficulty keeping up with Mickenson’s fast movements from here to there but Mickenson helps him stay entertained. Ashley is happiest when he is running around with his toddler friends. They love to run in circles and laugh together. Ashley also loves to pass between the legs of adults, run around in a circle, and then pass between the legs again! He is a very active child!”

My agency has started compiling an album for each child and adding photos, letters, etc. every month from the child’s adoptive family. This way they can see updates on us just like we see updates on them. They also said that they taped our photos inside his crib/bed so he can look at us whenever he wants.

Mickenson

“Mickenson continues to enjoy testing his limits. He likes to break the rules as long as someone is around to see him doing it. He often carries a mischievous smile and likes to be constantly on the move.”  Hmmmmm, reminds me of somebody... oh ya, London.

“Mickenson is happiest when he is playing outside. He loves to make art projects for his family. He also finds it funny to play games with Ashley, running away from him, stopping to let him catch up, and then running away again. He is always sure to keep Ashley intrigued and within his eye sight. If Ashley grows distracted, Mickenson will come back to his side to pursue the chasing game again.”

The report also says that the older children are growing anxious for their trips home.  They have seen several children leave with their families over the last few months and have all been discussing when it will be their turn to go....

"The children spend time talking about Frandy’s departure and looking at his photo over Frandy’s sister’s crib in Kenscoff. They discuss amongst themselves that Pothel will leave soon and they tell each other that someday they will all visit each other’s homes in Etas Unis. They are currently learning which states they will all live in. Mickenson was excited to learn that he is not the only child going to Utah. He asks if he is going to go home to Mama and Papa and London and is ensured that he and Ashley will also go home when it is their turn."


process...
Our files are now out of IBESR and in Parquet (the Haitian court/legalization process). Yay. We are waiting and hoping that this next step goes quickly! Then it will be a matter of getting the boys’ visas and US immigration approvals.

Two of my close friends that I have made throughout this process have been able to bring their boys home in the last 2 months (both in Utah).  I am so thrilled for them!!! It definitely helps me feel like there is a light at the end of tunnel. :)



Artwork from Ashley and Mickenson celebrating the 4th of July :)  So cute!



Approved.

Aaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!  Our files for both boys were just APPROVED by the Haitian Government!!!  I am BEYOND thrilled!  I can't believe it.  It took exactly two months, which is ridiculously fast! This is truly an answer to so many prayers.

There are now basically 3 more steps before I can go pick them up.  1) Parquet - where the adoptions will be legalized through the Haitian courts 2) MOI, where the boys obtain their visas to travel to the United States, and finally 3) I-600 approval from the US Immigration (which allows my boys to enter the United States and will make them US citizens immediately upon arrival).  These last 3 steps will take a few more months, but I am praying that things keep moving as quickly as they are.  I just cannot believe how quickly their approvals came, I am in elated shock!!!  Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support.

benson brothers june update...

Not too much to update, but I looooooove these pictures they sent of the boys playing together!  They spent 10 days in the Lamardelle orphanage this last month where they got to sleep in beds next to each other which, apparently, they loved.  The reports said that Ashley stayed glued to Mickenson's side the whole time they were in Lamardelle, and that Mickenson was very protective of his little brother. :)

I am so glad that they have each other. 

Ashley looks almost as tall as Mickenson here!

Ashley is getting so much bigger!  "Ashley's gross motor skills have improved greatly since his transition to the toddler group. The freedom to move about more often and play with new toys has increased his walking skills as well as his finger dexterity. He is able to understand and follow basic instructions and he recognizes familiar faces."

"Mickenson loved the open space of Lamardelle which allowed him to run around freely.  Mickenson enjoyed playing soccer each night in the Lamardelle foyer with some of the older children, ages 6, 9, and 15.  Mickenson loved chasing after the ball and using his feet to kick and run and had no trouble keeping up with the older kids."  I cannot wait to take him to a soccer field and just set him free.

Our files remain in IBESR, they have been in there about a month and a half. The approximate waiting time in IBESR is 2-6 months (lately there have been several that have been approved in around 2 and a half months, so that is encouraging?).  Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us in this.  We absolutely could not be this far in the process if it weren't for the help of so many of my friends and family.  Thank you so so very much.

haiti trip three...

Well, where do I begin? Oh yes, me puking again. For a self-proclaimed never-gets-car-sick-er, I sure seem to a lot in Haiti. It has given me a whole new sense of sympathy for those cursed with motion sickness (whom I used to ridicule, if not out loud, then in my mind - karma). Anyways, the 3-plus hour car ride from the airport through Port-au-Prince and up into the mountains to Kenscoff was well worth it. About two steps after exiting the car, I saw Mickenson.

He was smiling and wearing a yellow shirt. One of the nannies had brought him out when we arrived and he walked up to me and said, mama. Well. This could just as well be the end of this blog post right here (although I suppose I shall continue for records’ sake). I snatched him up and spun him around and looked him in the face and said, Mickenson. It was magical.

We floated into the orphanage and down the hall to the toddler room, where I searched for Ashley. He was wearing an orange sweatshirt and smiled with his cute, adorable, squishy-licious cheeks. I can’t remember if I picked him up first or if Micah did, but one of us did. We all just sat there on the floor in the toddler room with all of the other little toddlers around us and just held the kids. I couldn’t stop looking at their faces. They looked just like they did in their photos, except Mickenson looked smaller in person and Ashley looked bigger. Oh my gosh, if I could post a 3D photo of Ashley’s feet on here, you would all die laughing. They are huge. Like, not just long, but massive all around. That kid is designed to be a linebacker. He is also perfectly designed for snuggling.

We had about two hours to obsess over the boys before we had to leave them to go up to Gina and Lucien’s house for dinner. Gina and Lucien (I have previously mentioned them in my posts) are the couple who run the orphanage. They live about five seconds away from the orphanage and have the adoptive parents up to their home every night for dinner while they are visiting the children. They are an amazing couple who have done and are doing many wonderful things down in Haiti, including starting and running women’s clinics, adolescent programs, schools, and so on. The orphans they take care of are just a small part of what they have undertaken. Anyways, the dinner was delicious and the conversation riveting. I think we got back to the orphanage around 9:30, but it seriously felt like it was 3:00 in the morning. We were beat, hit our pillows and crashed.

Tuesday morning, around the crack of dawn (or just before). Little footsteps running outside our door... knock, knock, knock. Cute Mickenson greeted us this way each morning we were there. We played and ate breakfast and showed both boys the photo book I had brought for them of our family. Mickenson loved it. He wanted to look at it over and over again and said everyone’s names while pointing at each picture. He LOVED London’s pictures especially. He knew she was his sister from the photos and letters we had sent before, and he showed the pictures of her to all his friends. So cute. We had to leave the boys early to drive back into Port-au-Prince for my I-600 appointment at the Embassy. A lengthy six minute interview took us about nine hours total until we were back up at Kenscoff. Waiting is an art in Haiti. I must say though, the drives up the mountains are stunning. It was raining and the trees were so green, it was just beautiful. (and I didn’t throw up this time).

 Finally, back with the boys. It was a relief each time we could go back and let them know we were still there. The times that we had to leave the boys - for dinner, or Port-au-Prince, or their class times, etc. - Mickenson just looked heartbroken and he and Ashley would both start crying. It was horrible. So re-joining them at the orphanage was comforting, for all of us. That night, we sat with them in the toddler room again, and they just completely relaxed sitting on Micah’s and my laps. Ashley actually fell asleep on me, pure heaven.

Wednesday we had the whole entire day to play with the boys and all of the kids at the creche. We brought them bouncy balloons, suckers, stickers, and some toys to share. They went crazy. Mickenson and London are going to give me a run for my money. Seriously. Those two are kindred spirits. Mickenson is just like a mini London, he is super energetic, happy, outgoing, and charming as can be. Ashley is a very calm, happy baby. He was delighted just to drop toys and laugh at himself. Maybe he will be my mellow child. All of the kids loved Micah, no surprise. He played soccer with them and let them climb all over him. By the end of the day we were ex-haus-ted. The kids were too. Saying goodnight to them was extra difficult. They were tired and we knew we were leaving in the morning, and it was just sad, they were both crying.

On Thursday morning, I got up and ready as early as I could so that I would have as much time as possible to spend with the boys before we had to leave. I beat Mickenson to our morning greeting and walked into the older kids’ room. He looked so happy to see me. The nannies know when the parents are coming and when they are leaving to help prepare the kids, so Mickenson knew I was leaving soon. The night before, Gina and Lucien had taught me how to say I would be back to get him in Creole. So I sat next to Mickenson, put his face in my hands and said something to the effect of, “mwap toonai shayshay ou, ok?” - “I will be back to pick you up, ok?” (if you speak Creole, sorry for that slaughtering of your language) He miraculously looked like he understood completely and said, ok. Micah and I played with him and the older kids for a while and Micah brought Ashley down too. When the car pulled up and it was time to leave, I felt a huge pit form in my stomach. I think it's still there. We kissed and hugged the boys each like 20 times. We brought out the photo book for Mickenson to look at, and left him sitting with his friends around him, all looking at our pictures. I held onto Ashley as we walked up to the car until I finally had to pass him over to one of the nannies. I kissed and waived to him until we got into the car.  Contrary to what I had imagined, none of us was crying. It felt oddly relaxed and peaceful. I think we all felt very assured at that moment that we would be together as a family sooner than we thought. Until the orphanage gate closed. Then I cried for about 10 minutes.

The drive to the airport pretty much sucked. I was devastated to be leaving not knowing when I would be back to bring the boys home. We got to the airport and waited for our flights and I had such a strange mixture of emotions - so sad to leave my boys, and so excited to see my London. I am so grateful that Micah was there. He was a complete rock through the whole trip.  36 hours later and we were finally home in SLC.  I busted it into work (delirious at that point), finished my work day and raced home to see London.  I miss her so unbelievably much when I am away from her (which, luckily, isn't all that often).  She was so excited to see all of the pictures and hear about the boys.

So, what is the next step, you ask? To wait. Of course.  All of our documents have been filed and we are hopeful that they will be approved by the government in the next 2 to 3 months.  After that, there are a few more steps before we will be able to bring the boys home.  I have my fingers crossed that it will be before the end of the year???  But who knows. Wish us luck... we will need it. :)

Ashley l-o-v-e-d my hat.  He was either wearing it or holding it the whole last day we were there. Squishy cheeks!!!