this is the beautiful Tonya, with her baby boy Jared on the right and Mickenson in the middle...
hahaha, he looks like superman! :)
i am so in love...
Monday, February 14, 2011
more pictures :) - thanks to tonya!
Happy valentines to me :) Thanks to my wonderful friend Tonya, I got a whole bunch of new pictures of the boys last week! Tonya is my amazing beautiful talented friend who is also adopting an adorable little boy from the same orphanage as my boys. She was down there last week and graciously took the time to snap about a hundred photos of Mickenson and Ashley for me! Needless to say, I owe her my life. I know I am biased, but are these not the cutest little boys eva???
Friday, January 28, 2011
benson brothers
Benson Brothers - that was the title they put on my January update. Yesssssss, I love it.
Getting updates from the orphanage for me is like being a 6-year-old on Christmas morning. As I can attest, having witnessed an actual 6-year-old on Christmas morning one month ago - it is pretty darn exciting. Since there was no report in December, they must have felt the need to compensate a little bit, and sent TONS of photos too.
Ashley’s report made me laugh out loud. Here is part of it:
“Behavior: Ashley is a calm and content child. He enjoys receiving affection from the nannies as well as using his walking skills. He is strong and a quick mover. Ashley walks from friend to friend and taps them. He has good balance but tends to knock his friends down who are not as sure footed.... He is a solid child with a strong hand and surprises himself when he knocks his friends down.” Hahaha, funny little guy knocking his friends over.
Mickenson is growing up too fast. He already looks older to me in these pictures. I wish I could freeze time (I have had this desire ever since London turned one). He is learning English now and they say he is a very active child:
“Mickenson is most often seen with a smile on his face. He likes to join in group activities and finds happiness by keeping busy with his friends. He enjoys outside play time and the freedom it gives him to burn off energy. He likes to swing, run, catch and throw. Mickenson gets along well with the other boys in his age group. When he feels overwhelmed, he likes to be held and cuddled. Mickenson states that his friends at the crèche are Ashley and Ms. Elud. He continues to enjoy art projects, especially coloring.”
Both boys are in good health and as the nannies at the crèche put it, “thanks to God that there have not been any major sicknesses at the crèche during this month.”
10 children from the crèche were released to their adoptive families in the past month, which is very encouraging. They are so darling, I don't know how much longer I can wait. Oh ya, THIS much longer:
process from here on out...
So... my ridiculous naivete never ceases to amaze me. A while back I sort of gave a brief run-down of the adoption process. Silly me, apparently I left off like 10 or 20 steps. Ok, not that many. But it seems like it. For everyone who has asked about the process and length of waiting, here is a little update on that. What I understand of it, at least. It really isn't that bad or that long, especially compared to other International Adoption standards.
The Haitian government agency through which all adoptions are processed through is the IBESR. That is where the adoption file may sit for an unknown period of time. Some may sit for 6 months or more, while others (such as two recent friends of mine) may have theirs approved within 2 or 3 months. This is where I will be as soon as my boys’ documents are processed (most likely in a matter of weeks), waiting for IBESR to approve my files. This, however, is not the end of the road.
Once IBESR approves the file (or files in my case), they are then in PARQUET, where they stay for about 2 or 3 weeks until you get your final adoption decrees.
After that, the children will need to obtain Haitian passports from MOI which could take about 2 to 3 months (hopefully less).
Finally, an I-600 United States Immigration form must be submitted (and physically filed down in Haiti) and an I-604 investigation completed before the boys will be allowed to enter the United States. This could take about 2 to 3 months as well.
Bottom line: long and slow journey baby.
In the interim, I would LOVE to go back to Haiti and actually meet my boys in person. Seriously, so bad. I can't let myself think about it, because I want to so bad. But, to avoid unnecessary costs and additional emotional trauma, I am thinking I will need to wait until it is time to go down there and file my I-600. Until then, I have compiled a little package to send down to them. My agency let me know that I could send photos and letters that they will hang up in the boys' rooms. Love, love, love.
Getting updates from the orphanage for me is like being a 6-year-old on Christmas morning. As I can attest, having witnessed an actual 6-year-old on Christmas morning one month ago - it is pretty darn exciting. Since there was no report in December, they must have felt the need to compensate a little bit, and sent TONS of photos too.
brothers
ashley, 17 months - mickenson, 4 years and 2 months
cute ashley :)
hahahahahahaha
k, I think he looks like Mickenson in this one:
Mickenson :)
he looks so happy! :)
babe.
Ashley’s report made me laugh out loud. Here is part of it:
“Behavior: Ashley is a calm and content child. He enjoys receiving affection from the nannies as well as using his walking skills. He is strong and a quick mover. Ashley walks from friend to friend and taps them. He has good balance but tends to knock his friends down who are not as sure footed.... He is a solid child with a strong hand and surprises himself when he knocks his friends down.” Hahaha, funny little guy knocking his friends over.
Mickenson is growing up too fast. He already looks older to me in these pictures. I wish I could freeze time (I have had this desire ever since London turned one). He is learning English now and they say he is a very active child:
“Mickenson is most often seen with a smile on his face. He likes to join in group activities and finds happiness by keeping busy with his friends. He enjoys outside play time and the freedom it gives him to burn off energy. He likes to swing, run, catch and throw. Mickenson gets along well with the other boys in his age group. When he feels overwhelmed, he likes to be held and cuddled. Mickenson states that his friends at the crèche are Ashley and Ms. Elud. He continues to enjoy art projects, especially coloring.”
Both boys are in good health and as the nannies at the crèche put it, “thanks to God that there have not been any major sicknesses at the crèche during this month.”
10 children from the crèche were released to their adoptive families in the past month, which is very encouraging. They are so darling, I don't know how much longer I can wait. Oh ya, THIS much longer:
process from here on out...
So... my ridiculous naivete never ceases to amaze me. A while back I sort of gave a brief run-down of the adoption process. Silly me, apparently I left off like 10 or 20 steps. Ok, not that many. But it seems like it. For everyone who has asked about the process and length of waiting, here is a little update on that. What I understand of it, at least. It really isn't that bad or that long, especially compared to other International Adoption standards.
The Haitian government agency through which all adoptions are processed through is the IBESR. That is where the adoption file may sit for an unknown period of time. Some may sit for 6 months or more, while others (such as two recent friends of mine) may have theirs approved within 2 or 3 months. This is where I will be as soon as my boys’ documents are processed (most likely in a matter of weeks), waiting for IBESR to approve my files. This, however, is not the end of the road.
Once IBESR approves the file (or files in my case), they are then in PARQUET, where they stay for about 2 or 3 weeks until you get your final adoption decrees.
After that, the children will need to obtain Haitian passports from MOI which could take about 2 to 3 months (hopefully less).
Finally, an I-600 United States Immigration form must be submitted (and physically filed down in Haiti) and an I-604 investigation completed before the boys will be allowed to enter the United States. This could take about 2 to 3 months as well.
Bottom line: long and slow journey baby.
In the interim, I would LOVE to go back to Haiti and actually meet my boys in person. Seriously, so bad. I can't let myself think about it, because I want to so bad. But, to avoid unnecessary costs and additional emotional trauma, I am thinking I will need to wait until it is time to go down there and file my I-600. Until then, I have compiled a little package to send down to them. My agency let me know that I could send photos and letters that they will hang up in the boys' rooms. Love, love, love.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
mickenson
No updates on the boys in December. In case you hadn’t heard, the initial November elections in Haiti did not go well. There was severe rioting enough to shut down the city and the airport for weeks. Subsequent elections have now been postponed indefinitely. So, the wonderful woman who creates our monthly reports was not able to travel through Port-au-Prince up to the orphanage. I swear there is no peace in this country. Given the lack of update, I decided to post this picture of Mickenson taken about a year ago, right after the earthquake.
This is the first picture I ever saw of him. Peeking his eyes open while praying over a bowl of soup. I was with my friend Heather at the time and looking through Ty’s pictures of the orphanages he was helping at. I looked at this picture and told Heather that I seriously wanted to adopt one of these kids. “I would take that little boy right there.” Little did I know that Gina would specifically choose me for him 9 months later. We went and saw Alice In Wonderland that night, me, London, Heather, and her daughter Krystian (London’s BEST friend). I couldn’t sit through the movie without thinking about it the entire time. I felt giddy. It has been almost a year now, and I still feel just as giddy. :)
This is the first picture I ever saw of him. Peeking his eyes open while praying over a bowl of soup. I was with my friend Heather at the time and looking through Ty’s pictures of the orphanages he was helping at. I looked at this picture and told Heather that I seriously wanted to adopt one of these kids. “I would take that little boy right there.” Little did I know that Gina would specifically choose me for him 9 months later. We went and saw Alice In Wonderland that night, me, London, Heather, and her daughter Krystian (London’s BEST friend). I couldn’t sit through the movie without thinking about it the entire time. I felt giddy. It has been almost a year now, and I still feel just as giddy. :)
Monday, December 20, 2010
the lbc
While I created this blog for the limited purpose of chronicling this adoption and my experiences down in Haiti, it just seems wrong not to mention any updates on London in here. I think about it every time I post something about the boys. So, I have created the following photo montage dedicated to Mickenson and Ashley’s fabulous older sister, miss London.
London has two favorite past-times: eating (a girl true to my heart), and... sleeping. If we drive for any period over 5 minutes on a hot day or over 60 seconds at night, she will be out. I don’t know why I think these are so funny.
Hahaha, funny. Anyone who knows me, knows that this little girl is my favorite person on the planet. I wish I could be more like her. London is the butter to my bread (and we all know butter is the greatest thing on earth). Merry Christmas :)
London has two favorite past-times: eating (a girl true to my heart), and... sleeping. If we drive for any period over 5 minutes on a hot day or over 60 seconds at night, she will be out. I don’t know why I think these are so funny.
post-swimming (ah, swimming):
post-hiking:
post-soccer and subsequent face painting:
post-I-don't-know-what:
post-Thanksgiving turkey's tryptophan-induced slumber:
post-skiing:
personal favorite (london got a new robe which she refused to take off for 48 hours):
second personal favorite (london's glasses phase - dollar store frames with the lenses popped out. she needs them to see properly):
most recent, post-christmas party (quite the party animal, I am horrified at the thought of future teenage years):
Hahaha, funny. Anyone who knows me, knows that this little girl is my favorite person on the planet. I wish I could be more like her. London is the butter to my bread (and we all know butter is the greatest thing on earth). Merry Christmas :)
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
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.
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!
Friday, November 5, 2010
update on my boys
Mickenson
Ashley
Aaaaaaahhhh, they are so cute!!!
Now that I have been officially matched as the boys’ adoptive mother, they send me monthly updates on their health, activities, eating habits, what have you. And they also send me monthly photos. It is fantastic!
The reports say that both boys are very healthy and love attention.
Mickenson is very energetic and "is a happy child who has an affectionate and charming smile. He likes to be held. He also likes to run and play."
Little Ashley "is a content baby. He expresses his excitement by bouncing up and down in his seat. He also uses his arms to gesture. He is most often a happy child and is not easily distressed."
I can't believe how different Ashley looks in these pictures than in the first one they sent me, below. This first picture was taken soon after Ashley was brought in to the orphanage, he looked so thin and disoriented. He seems so much healthier and happier already!
I am just absolutely dying to get these boys home. The paperwork is slow, but I am doing all I can to speed it up. I am hopeful that our dossiers (mine as well as the boys) will be turned in to the Haitian government before the end of the year. Then it is just a matter of waiting for the government to approve everything.
I cannot believe how hard Haiti has been hit by disaster after disaster after disaster. The last thing that Haiti needed after the earthquake was a cholera outbreak and now Hurricane Tomas. I have thankfully received word from my orphanages that all of the children are safe and secure and that they believe the hurricane has already done most of the damage it will do in the main cities of Haiti. Luckily my boys are not in Port-au-Prince or Leogane, but up in the mountains of Kenscoff. I still get a knot in my stomach every time I hear about the next devastating thing to hit Haiti.
Thank you all for your prayers and your donations. I have been amazed at how many people have wanted to help us with this and have come to me personally to do so. I will never be able to thank you enough.
The reports say that both boys are very healthy and love attention.
Mickenson is very energetic and "is a happy child who has an affectionate and charming smile. He likes to be held. He also likes to run and play."
Little Ashley "is a content baby. He expresses his excitement by bouncing up and down in his seat. He also uses his arms to gesture. He is most often a happy child and is not easily distressed."
I can't believe how different Ashley looks in these pictures than in the first one they sent me, below. This first picture was taken soon after Ashley was brought in to the orphanage, he looked so thin and disoriented. He seems so much healthier and happier already!
I am just absolutely dying to get these boys home. The paperwork is slow, but I am doing all I can to speed it up. I am hopeful that our dossiers (mine as well as the boys) will be turned in to the Haitian government before the end of the year. Then it is just a matter of waiting for the government to approve everything.
I cannot believe how hard Haiti has been hit by disaster after disaster after disaster. The last thing that Haiti needed after the earthquake was a cholera outbreak and now Hurricane Tomas. I have thankfully received word from my orphanages that all of the children are safe and secure and that they believe the hurricane has already done most of the damage it will do in the main cities of Haiti. Luckily my boys are not in Port-au-Prince or Leogane, but up in the mountains of Kenscoff. I still get a knot in my stomach every time I hear about the next devastating thing to hit Haiti.
Thank you all for your prayers and your donations. I have been amazed at how many people have wanted to help us with this and have come to me personally to do so. I will never be able to thank you enough.
