Haiti Journal
Day One: May 25, 2008 (Sunday)
We woke up at 4:30 AM in Ft. Lauderdale, FL to go to the airport. We hung out there for a couple of hours, very pleased to check our 300lbs of luggage. We boarded an airbus for Port-au-Prince Haiti. Violet still wasn't feeling well. I continued to give her Tylenol every 4 hours.
When we landed in Haiti, we clapped. Violet was so excited. I had her in the ergo carrier and I went down the steps from the plane to the airport. Violet was singing, “Welcome to Haiti” to the tune of “Let's go to the Movies” from the Annie movie. A group of drummers greeted us. It was overcast, but you could see the mountains all around the city. It was beautiful. I ducked into the bathroom quickly (Violet still in the Ergo). She said, “Are my brother's here? Is this the orphanage?” I said, “No, this is the airport.” Then she asked, “Is this Haiti?” I said, “Yes, this is Haiti. But, we'll see your brothers later.”
So, we proceeded through customs. We had a man help us with our 6 bags of luggage. Then, as instructed, we went out side to find “Mr. Big.” So, named because he is the biggest man you will see in Haiti. Sure enough, we walk out the doors and a very large Haitian says, “OK, come here.” We obediently followed him. He immediately called Vineil, the manager of the guest house, and instructed him to come and get us. We waited and watched. About 10 minutes later, Mr. Big's phone rang. “OK,” he says. And again, we follow him. Veniel is in a white van with his 21/2 year old daughter, Venaika. Violet asks, “Is she my friend?” They sit together holding hands in the van. Too Cute! Veniel is very handsome. He drives us for a about 5 minutes to the guest house, Wall's. He honks loudly at the gate and two armed guards open it. We pull in. Wall's is surrounded by concrete walls topped with Razor wire.
While we were waiting for our rooms on the patio, I met Isabelle, another adopting mom from Canada. Then I here SPLASH! I ran up the 2 steps the the walled in pool area and Violet was just there under the water in the deep in. I reached in a grabbed her. She's sobbing and we are both soaking wet. That was very scary and totally embarrassing! I felt like such a bad mom in front of all the other guests. Violet was OK, just scarred. Later that night, she said, “That was fun! I was swimming!”
We checked into our room and then waited to go meet the boys. Finally, we went over to the orphanage, Petit Angels de Chantal, or PAC 1. We met Marie the director. She and the nannies were getting the place ready for our Mother's Day party...as it was Mother's Day in Haiti. The kids from PAC 1 were running around all over Marie's house and we couldn't wait to see our guys. Our boys live in PAC 2 and they were to be arriving soon. Violet wasn't feeling good. She had a fever. John and I kept debating on going back to the guest house to get her Tylenol, because we didn't want to miss the boys' arrival. John finally went and got the medicine really quickly and made it in time.
Finally, some new kids start running around the corner. I thought I recognized Erickson, but I wasn't 100% positive because his nose and eyes are very swollen. He had quite an infection...goop coming out of his
eyes. His face is broken out with little bumps everywhere. He walked passed me and I said John, “I think that's Erickson,” while pointing to him. But, I wanted to see other kids to make sure. I was also looking for Lovekender. I went around the corner and saw that the kids had arrived in a white pick-up truck with tiny colorful chairs in the back of it!! Someone, I don't know who, was holding a tiny Lovekender! I went to her/him and got to hold Lovekender for the first time!!! I carried him over the where John was trying to talk to Erickson. Poor Erickson wouldn't even look at us. We have no idea what he was told or if he knew who the heck we were. It was very sad. We said to him, “Sa se fre ou?” Is this your brother? Pointing to Lovekender. He would nod his head yes. Finally, I just picked him up. He put his head down on my shoulder. Poor thing.
Then, Marie put some eye medicine in his eyes. Then, he let John hold him. He just put his head down on John.
We ate dinner. Violet wouldn't eat anything, Erickson ate some. I couldn't get Lovekender to eat. Finally a nanny took him and just started shoveling food in. Oops. I didn't know thats how I was suppose to do it! He ate a whole big plate of food.
Meanwhile, Erickson was hot and sweating bullets. His face had a rash on it and his right eye was very swollen. I was VERY worried about him. He was like a little rag doll and fell asleep in my arms. Marie had one of the nannies put him to bed. I was a bit disappointed. I wanted to hold him while he slept.
Lovekender is too cute, and did I mention TINY! John got to hold him and eventually made him laugh. Violet wasn't feeling well and all the kids at the orphanage wanted to pull on her hair because it is so different from theirs.
We took all the kids back to our guest house. We gave Erickson a ball and he was so excited, smiling and laughing. He's so handsome with that smile! Just a precious spirit! It was an unbelievable change from just an hour ago. I gave Lovekender a bath in the sink. I wish we had a picture, but no spare hands were to be had. Erickson and Violet played on the little balcony. Then, I gave Erickson a shower. I'm pretty sure it was his first. He was fascinated with the running water. I put him in a new outfit and gave him his sunglasses and backpack. He was a happy camper.
We only had him for about an hour and then we took them back to PAC 1. We debated whether or not to keep them in our room. But, our agency advised taking them back to the orphanage at night so they have some sense of normalcy. However, they were not sent back to PAC 2, where they live, they had to stay at PAC 1. So, I don't know what was best. Either way, we got them out of their routine.
What a day!!! I met my sons.
DAY 2: MAY 26, 2008
We spent from 9 - 7 with them today at the guest house. Lovekender is was very lethargic today. Erickson's eyes still oozing. Lovekender tries not to smile.
He actually bites his lip or purses them so as not to smile...the little stinker! Marie is taking them both to the doctor tomorrow. She said that they came to the orphanage very malnurished. She said it will take about 3 months for them to get better. Their little bellies are very distended. Tomorrow, we will see them
after the doctor's appointment.
We took the kids to the mountains today. We had no idea that it was an hour drive on bumpy curvy roads in the back of an un-airconditioned van. No telling what the boys were thinking. "Who are these white people and where are they taking us.?" Veniel was taking us to a restaurant. But, when we FINALLY got up the mountain, the restaurant was closed. John bought the kids some hats from a vender and then we went back down the mountain. The kids were sleeping in the back of the van. Lovekender was sticking to me with sweat. When we got to the restaurant, Lovekender had a blowout. I had to change his diaper (diarreah) on the floor of a bathroom with no light. Then when I went to wash my hands, there was no soap. I had poop on my skirt and on his clothes. It was awful. Poor little guy was sick.
We spent the rest of the day with them at Wall's.
DAY 3: MAY 27th, 2008
So far, my favorite quote from John is, "Three kids is more than one kid." I'm not even sure that it is grammatically correct, but I think I need it
on a t-shirt!
Today Lovekender had an opinion about things. He wasn't happy most of the time, but that was great! Yesterday, he was a ragdoll and I thought
he was sick. In hindsight, I think he was just completely shut down emotionally. Today, he actually walked toward the toy cars and played with
them awhile. I didn't even know if he could walk. He cries if Violet gets within 2 feet of him. Meanwhile, Violet continues to want to be close to him,
pet him, mother him. It's very sweet, but I have to keep her away from him. He's not a fan! I keep calling him, "Lovey," which of course will not
fly in middle school, but I can't resist these few days! Dad, I've made a conscious effort to call him "Butch" a few times :) I finally figured out how to
feed him....just shove it in his mouth. He won't reach for the food, he just whines. I realized that that means, "shove it down my throat rather aggressively
like my nannies do."
Erickson came to us today with open sores on his face. His eyes look much better. John continued to put the drops in his eyes today. His faced
looked better by dinner time. Erix was awesome at dinner. He ate 3 chicken legs and then cracked off the top, ate that and then sucked the marrow.
Now that is how you eat some chicken! Erix was giddy when I took him swimming today. It was me in the pool with three kids. (John smashed open
his toe and that's a whole other story). Lovekender aka Lovey/Butch also loved the pool. He stopped crying for about 30 minutes and made the most
beautiful cooing/talking sounds. He even splashed a bit. Compared to yesterday, that is monumental!
Word on the street is that it's going to take 2 years to get these guys home. I'm still hoping for sooner, but prepared for the long haul.
Violet is the best kid ever. She is such a trooper!! What an awesome kid. John is amazing. I just can't thank him enough everyday! He's constantly
speaking Creole and working with Erickson. Today, Erickson was testing boundaries a bit to see what we were all about. John handled all of that
fantastically. We are doing great and taking it day by day!
Violet and Erickson are thick as Thieves. Lovekender does not like Violet so much. Violet loves to love on Lovekender. How many times can you get love in a sentence?
We are staying at a great Guest house. We feel so safe and secure. We love the manager, Veniel. And there are other wonderful people here adopting, starting water projects,
etc. What an adventure! Boy Howdy!!
DAY 4: MAY
I'm figuring out Lovekender. He doesn't want me to put him down, and he doesn't want to go to John. Today, I learned that he loves his sunglasses
and hat. He gets almost a smile...like he knows he looks good. However, most of the time, "Nothing will do." I'm just glad I figured out how to feed him.
Erickson is starting to figure out that we pick him up everyday and drop him off after dinner. Today, he started to shut down again before dinner time. I suppose
in anticipation of going back to the orphanage tonight. We talked with the director of the orphanage. She said that she would explain things to him on the last
day. He probably has no clue what is going on. He tested John today and John was awesome. Setting boundaries, but still telling him that we love him. Erix
also cried a pretty good cry today. We were happy about that. Some kids that go through this just stuff it all in. We were glad to see him show his feelings.
It's just so hard because we don't speak Creole. We have an adoptive parents phrase book that we use, but it definitely doesn't suffice for our lack of language!
Violet is also testing us. She cries and wants me to hold her while I have Lovey. She's actually doing awesome, considering. But, she is learning to share
mom and dad. She knows she can get away with more if John and I both have one of the boys.
Haiti is really sad. This whole thing is just very complicated. But, the happy thing is that these boys will get home to us someday. Erickson cried when we
dropped him off at the orphanage today. He is VERY attached to John. Poor little thing. They went to the doctor today. They got antibiotics, eye drops, a special
soap and a special milk for malnutrition. (To be mixed with sugar and oil?) When in Rome.....
This is VERY exhausting. Violet just threw up twice last night and was the fine today. THANK GOD! Last night, I was pretty darn worried that she might be doing this for the next few days.
It's hard having all three kids from 9 until 6. It's not like having them at your house. You can't relax like you can at your own home. We are at a guest house. I don't want Violet naked, kids crying, or them going into other people's rooms. And then there is the pool that Violet fell in not 30 minuets after we got here on the first day. I pulled her right out...but it wasn't a great way to start the trip!
GOOD GOD! So, John and I just herd cats all day. There are balconies, ladders to roofs, etc. Being at home with them will be infinitely better. Our fenced in back yard is just perfect. Just give them plastic swords and say, "GO For it." Also, it's hard to try and keep their snacks separate. I don't want Vi in
the boys stuff or water bottles. The boys have parasites and bacteria. My brain has room for no other thoughts when I'm with the kids.
Day 5, May 30th, 2008
Well, I think I officially think I'm attached to these kids, Leaving them today was hard. I cried today as soon as we walked out the gate of the orphanage. Wept is more like it. Erickson had another melt down today, but, he is happy most of the day. He loved the pool again today. He loves to put his head in it. I think we were a little over zealous with the sunscreen. All of the Haitians were probably laughing at us. Plus, they
think that it is too cold to go swimming. They probably think we are bad parents.
Lovekender still tries to avoid eye contact. That is hard. However, I did make him laugh today by tossing him up in the air a bit. That lasted all of 5 seconds....but it was a great (and reassuring) 5 seconds. He's in there somewhere.
Erickson gets very sad at dinner time. He knows he's going back to the orphanage. Today, I showed him a picture of our house and said that he was going to live with us ( in Creole). I'm not sure any one has told him that
yet. I just held him for a long time and he put his head down on my shoulder. I just keep telling him I love him, "Mwen renmen ou. Mwen renmen ou." and my son, "petit garcon." He'll just kind of whimper. I wish I knew what was going on in those little heads. I can't imagine. Tough day. I fell in love.
DAY 6: May 31st, 2008
Erickson still had his meltdown this morning. After about 30 minutes of crying, he fell asleep. Then, the rest of the day, he was pretty giddy.
I think he is just so overwhelmed, he doesn't know what to do with himself. He is in love with John . He doesn't want to share John with Violet.
And Lovey doesn't want to share me with Violet. Poor Violet. Erickson kissed John lots of times today on his own volition. It was just so sweet. Then, after John took him to the bathroom, he came running back into me and said, "Mommie!" He jumped into my arms and gave me a kiss! It was really incredible. Especially since I haven't been telling him I'm Mommie. I'm just calling myself mama Kendra.
Then, little mister short stuff, Lovekender, made his debut today! He cooed and was content most of the day. This is HUGE. He pointed to things and
"talked" about them. He stood up and played with a car briefly. Then, this afternoon in the play room, he wanted to sit and be pushed on this little
radio flyer. It doesn't seem like anything....BUT IT WAS HUGE! It was totally different from the floppy baby I've been holding all week. What a change!
He also let John hold him which is unheard of as well. Lovekender is just the most beautiful baby in the world. I can't quit examining him. He is
scrumptious!
Violet drew a butterfly on the magnadoodle. When new people come to the guest house, she says, "these are my bwuvers!" In the morning, she is
excited about going and getting them. I'm relieved. She could easily be saying, "I don't want them to be my brothers." I'm glad she likes them despite
the daily crying fits and demands on mom and dad's attention.
Tomorrow is our last day with the boys. Sigh.
Violet is asking for a massage now. I'm off to have girl time.
