HAITI PAPERWORK PROCESS

PROCESS:
Minister of Foreign Affairs (2-8wks) DONE
Preparation of file for IBESR (2-8wks) DONE
IBESR (3-12MO) ENTERED JUNE 2009 (wile I was in Haiti!) EXITED 9/29/09
Civil Court (4-8wks) -- OCT. '09 -
Legalization (4-12wks) -- DEC. 09
Minister of Interior (3-6MO) ENTERED DEC 21, '09
JAN. 12, 2009: EARTHQUAKE

Immigration/Passport printing (2-8wks)
USCIS (3wks+)
Visa Process (1-2wks)

= 10.5mo – 29mo TOTAL

USCIS fingerprinting done!!

Well, USCIS (U.S. Customs and Immigration Service) expedited our finger-printing process, since this was the only week we'd be able to go to KC until July. We drove 7 hours (RT) today to North KC to get our fingerprints done. This is for the FBI check. The kids did fantastic!

Now, I think we're done with most of the paperwork. We just wait to get approved from the USCIS to be able to adopt and PRAY that our paperwork in Haiti goes smoothly and quickly. Nothing happens quickly in Haiti, but I'm still praying for quickly!

Glad to have that done before I leave next Wed and before Aaron leaves for all of June and before we leave again in July for 4 weeks. Now we just wait.....and wait...........and wait........

~L

GOIN' TO HAITI

Well, I leave for Haiti in less than 2 weeks. This is actually perfect timing to go because May is keeping me sooo busy, that it's flying by and I don't have my mind on this trip all the time.

I am to bring a port-a-crib, diapers/wipes/formula and baby/toddler toys for the orphanage. I've got most of that. I just learned of the needed toys yesterday, so we'll have fun shopping for those!

The airlines allow 2-50lb checked bags and those are to be used solely for orphanage donations.
I'm also allowed a 40lb carry-on and a backpack purse, those are to be used for what I need. I'll be working on that this weekend to see if I can get all of my stuff to fit in a carry-on. As far as the duffle bags, I'm out of weight, but not out of room, so we may just pay extra to take as much as we can to the orph.

I've got one more vaccination to get (Typhoid). I wasn't going to get it, but I changed my mind, hopefully it's not too late. I've gotten my Hep A and Hep B shots and will take malaria pills as well.

Vera (the gal I'm working with at the orphanage) says Charlene is getting LONG and still loves to be held all the time....I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nathan will have to wait a few months before visiting-he can't get out of work for this trip, so Dad is going with me. I'm super excited about that!

~L

BROOKS

Well, Brooks is no longer with us. It was a tough decision, but the poor dog had too many problems (diabetes, glaucoma, gingivitis, infection, etc.)...it was for the best. He lived a good life and we have lots of wonderful memories of him.

Jack is doing very well...he just sees it as we have 2 dogs now instead of 3.

Taylor took it really hard. She cried a bit the night we told her, then asked questions. The next day was rough and that night was 'rougher' :) Brooks would always lay on her bed and that memory hit her hard that night. She got through that night with lots of tears and hugs and did better yesterday.

She's getting to the 'fact' stage and is able to talk about him without crying every time.

We will miss him dearly. He enjoyed many-a-vacation with us and will be truly missed on this one.

~L

p.s. This was taken the day he passed away. It is the picture that makes Taylor laugh every time...so glad to have it!!

Dossier in Haiti!

The Dossier made it to Haiti safely in 2 days, way to go Fed Ex!! It arrived last Friday, so it all begins....now it's just 12-20 more months. ugh.

Other good news, Charlene's Mom has returned from her village safely and has given Charlene's birth certificate to the orphanage, so now her paperwork can be processed along with ours. Yeah!

Next step...get approved by the US gov't to be able to adopt internationally. The paperwork is significantly less, so I'll send that off later this week or next.

For anyone who has been praying along with us, thank you for your prayers!! The Mom arriving back safely and the dossier arriving safely is a true answer to prayer!

I will continue to pray for the process and for Charlene's health and safety and all workers at the orphanage.

~L

EASTER

We got invited to Omaha for Easter to spend time with family and see Matt who is back from Iraq. A few days prior to Easter, Jack got sick and had an off-and-on fever, so Taylor and I left on Friday.


We stayed at (Great) Grandma and Grandpa's house and got to see Calvin and Donna too. What a treat! Taylor really enjoyed spending time with Grandma and Grandpa!

Saturday noon, we met Mom and Dad at Applebees for lunch. Then, Dad took Taylor back to the hotel and Mom and I went shopping. I finished off my Easter outfit, thanks to Mom's help. I'm totally fashion illiterate! I then took Taylor swimming, then Mom, Dad, Taylor and I went to eat supper and we headed to bed.

Sunday, we met Gloria, Ellis and Matt's at church for the Easter service. How nice to gather at church with family on Easter! And to have Matt's family there too, what a special treat that was! We all met at Gloria's after church and had John's and Randy's come over too. What a fun time for all. Great food, great visiting and a very fun egg hunt put on for the little kids by the big kids. 6'2 Casey hiding eggs for 3-7 year olds--he's so fun!! At least he was willing to lift them up to the high-placed eggs!

Mom and Dad drove home that night and Taylor and I headed back to Grandma and Grandpa's house that evening. Taylor once again had fun with Grandma and Grandpa. She played with the automatic card shuffler and with the bird that can balance it's beak on anything. Taylor and Grandma compared their hands (78 years difference). Grandma told the story that Ryan once said her hands looked like trees!

Grandma also told the story that when Carson came over to stay for a day or two, he was having problems keeping his pants clean (potty training #2 apparently). Grandma told him how she just hates poopy pants. He never had a problem again. And Taylor thought it was hilarious. It has been re-told several times since she's been home :) Usually, any story having to do with various bodily functions right now seems to be pretty funny. Surely they'll outgrow that sooner than later :)

Taylor put herself to bed at 8:30pm that night, and we left the next morning for home. We made a pit stop in Benton, MO for lunch and Target and made it home safely. What a wonderful weekend!

~L

Jack says Mommy is fat

So, Jack was sitting on my lap last week, patted by belly and said, "Momma, why is your belly so big?" My answer was that I eat too much. He then said it was because I've had 2 babies in there.

Then, Taylor and I left for 4 days and Nathan asked Jack, "Did you really tell Mommy she was chunky?" His reply, "No, I said she was fat."

Ahh...the innocence and brutal bluntness of a precious 5 year old boy.

Diet starts tomorrow...ha.

~L