Haiti Photos

I think the easiest way to view my photos is going to be clicking on this link to my shared Haiti album on snapfish. If you have a snapfish account, just log in to view. If you don't, you'll need to create one (it's free). As others get back from our trip, I am sure you'll find lots of other great photos on their blogs as well. We traveled with a group of 25 and everyone took lots of photos and videos. I'll put my videos on Youtube and post those soon!

Here's the snapfish link to my album:
http://www1.snapfish.com/share/p=79061225983653945/l=440898951/g=19530073/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB

Haiti Trip Nov 2008

I arrived home from Haiti at midnight last night. It's hard to know where to start, to describe the trip. It was a whirlwind. We arrived Sunday afternoon, and checked in at the hotel. Then we went to the orphange and visited and picked up our kids. Some ran right to their parents, some screamed, some just looked confused! Avery (Estherline) was a little confused and only screamed a handful of times. She was so sweet, shy and a little skinnier than I would have liked. She came right to me but definitely had a look of confusion for quite a while! It was so amazing to hold her and cuddle with her. The first night she slept for 15 hours straight and never made a peep!

The next morning, I went to sign the I600 at the Consulate office. All went very smoothly. Then we took a tour of some of the areas the kids came from. Very eye opening. Families live in concrete block "shanties" and many had no roofs. There was garbage everywhere. They all have so little. Everyone we encountered was so friendly and we were always safe.

I have a lot of photos to go through and videos. I didn't spend as much time at the O as some, so I don't have photos of all the little ones. I do have a lot of photos of the older kids.

It was so sad to give her back, I had to hide in my room for a little while to collect myself. But, the nannies love all the kids and I know she'll be safe until I can return.

Off to a Bumpy Start...and Halloween

I am packing up my documents that I have set aside to bring on my trip. There are 5 zillion documents one needs to adopt. My flight leaves in 7 hours and I am missing a page to our 2007 tax returns. Here is Mike's office, torn apart, as he searches to find it. Long story short...he found it, crisis averted.

Here's a few photos from last night. Guess I am not going to bed tonight...still doing laundry...have to leave for airport in about 6 hours. Tomorrow is going to be a LONG day! But it's all worth it!

November update...1 day early!

We never get our photos early! What a great surprise. Avery is looking so different each month, and I can't wait to meet her in 2 days! I probably won't be able to post photos until I get back from the trip, but if I get a chance I'll try to post a few while I am there. I am all packed and ready to go! More updates to come...

Happy Halloween!!

All Saints Day

Why?

Many people ask, Why would you want to adopt from Haiti??? What is wrong with our country? I find these questions a bit annoying but usually answer in a brief manner...we want to adopt from Haiti because there is a great need. Not that there isn't a need in our own country or other countries, but that is a whole other conversation. I don't feel the need to really go into detail, why does anyone want to add more children to their family? We have two biological sons who are the most precious two people in our lives and we realized we want to share our life and home with a child who has nothing. Stephanie posted this link on her blog which says it all. How can we not want to help children like these, who have no one to take care of them? No food or water? I only wish I had more money to help more...

Batman and Robin spotted in Blowing Rock

Yesterday, the boys, grandma, papa and I went to our favorite mountain town, Blowing Rock. It was their Halloween Festival and even though it was chilly, we had a great time. Batman and Robin ran all over the town and got to trick-or-treat at all the little shops. Capel rugs gave out free rugs to all trick-or-treaters! That was a first...I am not sure the boys were all that thrilled with being handed rugs in leiu of candy!

Mike, was under the weather with a stomach bug, so we had to leave him home. I took lots of photos, so he didn't feel like he was missing out on the day! Here's just a couple of my favorites....