Re(?)unions

Is it considered a reunion to get together with friends that you've never actually met in person before, or is that just considered a union (without the re), or is it neither at all? Regardless of the answer.... This next week is going to be full of them!

Today we spent a few hours at a birthday party at Pump It Up (Happy Birthday Zach!!!) and the kids had a blast. Tomorrow we are headed back to Disneyland and are going to attempt to hook up with Mandy (and family) and Bryn from Washington. I met Bryn on the mission trip to Haiti this summer and liked her very much. I was thrilled to learn that next month she will be moving in with the HFC kids in Haiti for the next year! So meeting up with her could be classified as a reunion. Her sister Mandy on the other hand has been someone I've chatted with quite a bit online for a long time now. She is adopting Job and Bernadin (who I totally adore!) from HFC. I've been wanting to meet her for a long time and will do my best to be sure and meet up with her and Bryn while they are on vacation in So. CA this week. I can't wait!!! So tomorrow the boys and I are headed to Disneyland for some fun and in hopes of catching up with them.

Wed. our Kyle is turning 9 (can you believe it??). For his birthday he has requested to bring his best friend and spend the day at Disneyland and the California Adventure park. Jim will take the day off and we will likely take turns taking Kyle and his friend to all the big kid rides they want while the other parent takes Johnny and Luke to the mellower rides. I think there is a good chance of a sleep over happening too! ;)

Saturday is a very exciting day. I'm going to get to meet many friends from online that I've never met in person but have great friendships with online. We are co-hosting in our home the first ever get together for families that are adopting or have adopted from Haiti or Africa and live in Southern CA. One of the adoptive Moms is getting married next month in Haiti so we also plan to combine the get together with a wedding shower in her honor. These are some of the kindest and most amazing families I've ever known and I CAN'T WAIT to meet them in person finally!!!

So... If all goes well we should have a really exciting week ahead of us.

Flooding in Haiti (updated)

Our beautiful son Vilner
Vilcianne- The spunky and sweet Mother of Stephanie, Jude, Lovenie, and Vilner
On the day of our first meeting

Pictures of the flooding in Haiti

Thank you so much to the many family and friends that heard about this in the news and called us to see if our children are okay. As far as we know Jacques, Stephanie, Jude, and Lovenie are in a safe place. The people in danger are really the ones in huts with no place to go (and there are many people living this way in Haiti). That would include Vilcianne and Vilner. As far as we know they are still living in Cite Soleil and we have often asked for your prayers along with ours for their safety and health. I have no idea how this storm has affected them and am praying for God's protection over them. The news is saying that the storm swept through Cite Soleil.
Please continue to keep them in your prayers along with all the others that have been affected by Tropical Storm Noel (upgraded to Hurricane Noel).

Update--- I just received this information from a friend:

I did speak to the NLL office today. They, and the children at the O are all doing well. Things seem to be up and running for them and it will be business as usual!

HARDEST possible route

I just called again to the office reviewing my drivers license file. They have made the decision that before receiving my license back I do need to meet with an officer for an in person review. I just feel like I'm being punished when I've done nothing wrong! It's so very frusterating!!! I was really expecting word any day now that my suspension has been lifted. They took the liberty of schedualing my interview for the week of Thanksgiving when we already have reservations to be out of town! I did manage to get them to agree to a phone interview so I'll be able to go on vacation and still keep the appointment.

Then, just to really add frustration to the process, the person who I spoke to on the phone (not the person handling my file of course) said there is a note in my file that I need to have another medical clearance form filled out by the neurologist I orginally had an appointment to see MONTHS ago and who my insurance company insisted was NOT the person I was supposed to see. UHG! Sorry for all the cap's but yes, I really am that frusterated. This could get dragged out over months again. I have not driven for 1 year this month and have not had a seizure for 7.5 months, have been cleared by my Primary Care doctor to drive around 4 months ago, cleared by a Neurologist around 3 months ago..... now this!

Anyone want to place bets on what will happen first? Will we bring home or children or will I drive first. Neither is likely to happen in 2007. Let the race begin!

No happy dance today. I think I'm going to go and eat our kids mountain of Halloween candy- That should help. ;)

Sweet Memories

You don't see this everyday-- 3 animals going down a giant slide together

Kyle and Luke taking their shot at the Putt Putt game

Johnny and Luke looking real serious about the game.

Me and Kyle both won a cake at the cake walk.

You've GOT to be kidding me!!! See the mountain of sweets?

We all had a great time together. We started off at a church Fall Festival where the kids played many fun carnival games and at each one were given big handfuls of candy. At 8 we decided to leave early and have one hour of trick or treating. We drove to a neighborhood on our way home. Many of the homes put a lot of work in to their decorations and were very scary and fun. Since not many children came by the neighborhood they were giving the kids big fistfuls of candy at each door. By 9 their bags were getting too heavy to hold so it was time to go home.

We had so much fun together. The carnival was a lot of fun as we got to see friends there and play many games. There was only one little downside when a grown man was teasing the kids about how they were throwing the bean bags and saying really mean spirited things. I let him know that was enough and totally unnecessary--- He stopped. I guess a mad Mom can be a bit intimidating to even a big man. (who needs the scary costume?) ;) I can't stand to see kids bullied, but by an adult is ridiculous.

The trick or treating had us all laughing. The kids would ring doorbells and decided they would surprise people by saying "Jingle Bells." Everyone was so friendly to the kids and they made us proud by remembering their manners and being really kind back. The kids were so excited and goofy. Good times! Now... what do we do with all this candy and cake??????

Happy Halloween

Or for those who do not celebrate this Holiday: Happy Wed, October 31st!

From our wild animals to yours.

Okay, I know you won't believe whatever I say we will or won't be doing but I'll share anyways what we have "planned". After much going back and forth between going to Disneyland or a carnival tonight the boys have all voted for the carnival. So, as of now.... Jim's going to try to come home early and we will head off to the carnival tonight. It should make for a great time.

Last years Halloween seems like it was just a couple months ago. Where does the time go? We certainly could have never imagine that we would be starting another Holiday season without Stephanie, Jude, and Lovenie. The greatest comfort is to think of the many we WILL get to spend with them once they are home! I'm dreaming of Princess costumes for our girls!!!

Don't Believe me

Don't believe me when I say we are or are not going to do something or go somewhere. I tend to change my mind a lot. ;) Sunday night I posted that we would not return to Disneyland until after Halloween and that Jim would spend a few days working from home. I was wrong about both. Yesterday Jim dropped me and the boys off at Dland and headed off to work. It was my first time there all day alone with the boys and we had a BLAST together!

Jim IS working from home today and is starting to feel better. Thank you to everyone asking about him.

Here's a few moments from yesterday's outing:

Every now and then Johnny comes to me and says "I have an idea for a funny picture Mom".

This is one of them.

My boys: They make me so proud when we are out in public. They are such good boys! Sometimes I just need to spend time around lots of other kids to remember how good ours are. It was not difficult at all to spend all day with them at Dland by myself.

Kyle took this picture of Luke and me just HAYnging out. Check out the girl in the corner of the picture doing the classic "oops, I didn't realize you were taking a picture". Cracks me up!

Do you think I can get one of these for home? Discipline has a whole new look.

Being "Goofy"

Checking my mailbox everyday but still no word on my drivers license!

The boys are car shopping for me in hopes that I will be able to drive them around again soon. Which one will I get? Tough call.

Until the okay to drive again comes in I will continue to be looking to be chauffeured with a bit of flare!

Some Good News:

I got this from USCIS (immigration) this morning:

We have just received the response from the U.S. Embassy in Port-Au-Prince. They have made a favorable determination of the orphan status of the children, Stephanie, Jude & Lovenie.

You may now complete the final adoption of the children.

WooHoo! We're that much closer!!! I think the last line is quite funny as they make it sound so simple to go ahead and complete the final adoption, haha. It still sounds really great though!

Or not :)

Why is it that I ever think I know how anything will go? I posted on Friday our weekend plans but in reality it was totally different. On Friday we headed to Disneyland and it didn't take us long to realize that it was a mistake. California Park had a big Halloween event and both parks were PACKED and the lines were crazy. We went ahead and stayed until close but I think we will avoid it until after Halloween. Saturday I was just totally beat from all we've been doing and I've been feeling the need for a break from the kids. I love them lots but kids 24/7 will start to get to even the strongest woman! So my amazing husband took the kids to a party Saturday afternoon and I got to stay in PJ's and watch girl flicks in a quiet house. It was SO great!

Today I got some more alone girly time when Jim dropped me off at a salon where I got a fun make over and got to chill without the kiddo's. We managed to make it to another get together and had a great time there. It did end on a bit of a bad note though when Jim suddenly started having bad chest pains. By the time we left he was in a lot of pain and having a little trouble breathing. He's really healthy and athletic so I usually don't have to worry about him at all but he has quite the long family history of heart problems so that is one thing that freaks me out a bit. He's no baby when it comes to pain so when he suggested we head straight to Urgent Care " just to be safe" I started to really worry! They took him right in and did an EKG and it came back fine--- HUGE relief!!! We were at the hospital a couple hours and the results were that he likely strained some muscles when he picked up Luke at the party and twisted at the same time. We'll take it!! So he's up in bed for some down time that he rarely takes or needs. On the bright side he will work at home at least tomorrow and maybe for the next couple days if he needs to, so I'll get to take care of him and see him more.

We didn't make it to the BBQ we were supposed to head to after the get together but we think they'll understand and forgive us.

Weekend Plans

As of now we have another busy weekend planned with 2 parties, 1 BBQ, and another day at Disneyland. We are also going to look in to the Calvary Chapel Relief foundation to see if there are things we can do to help our many So. Cal neighbors who have been affected by the fires. This of course trumps parties and BBQ's if we can find a way to serve. For more information about how you can help:
http://www.limitlessboundaries.org/Relief/sandiego.html

October 2007 update!

It's here, It's here!!! We knew we were running out of days in Oct. and we had not received our monthly update yet so were excited to get it this morning. Still no Vilner in the picture so he must still be with his Mom which is great because I think that's where he needs to be. Please keep their health and protection in your prayers as I believe they are still living in the very dangerous Cite Soleil.

I miss our kids so much I almost can't even look at the picture, and yet can't stop looking at it either. How can that be? I was again disappointed to hear we are still not in MOI.... UHG. Will our kids ever come home???!!!! We're so close to the end but I think it's time for another trip to Haiti. I need to remind my precious Jacques to smile for the pictures. :)

Gran souri Jacque O!

Update from the NLL:

The monthly updates is brought to you as you were surely waiting for it.
Stephanie: 84 lbs 59 inches.
Jude: 55 lbs & 52 inches.
Lovenie: 19 lbs & 45 inches.

They are in perfect health, the picture will give you a clear idea.
Your dossier is very close to get in MOI.
God Bless you always!!!!!!!
NLL, Reginald

Venus and Mars Vote

Men and women certainly speak two different languages don't they? We've got a little debate going on here at home that I would like your votes on (I'm counting on winning since most of my blog visitors are women!). My Dad called yesterday and I was giving him a hard time about the comment he left about my driving. He said if I get my license again he is glad he lives in Northern CA not Southern near me. Okay, in all fairness...it's possible I may have added my "signature" to a few of their precious vehicles as a teen. Maybe I drove in to the side of the garage once or twice, and maybe I backed in to another car. It's really all about the practise, right?

Well, before I talked to my Dad on the phone he talked to Jim first and made a comment about it and Jim's response was "Our vehicles are not in that great of shape anyways!" What???? What kind of response is that? In the 10 years I've been with my husband I have not been in any accidents... not even close to one! Wouldn't a nicer response be along the lines of "She's a great driver." ?

Okay so the debate--- My Dad insists that what Jim said was a compliment. Does anyone else see a compliment in there somewhere? No need to worry. No one is really fighting and I find the whole thing quite comical. I did give Jim a bit of a hard time about his response because when my Dad told me he said it I accused my Dad of trying to start up trouble (public apology to my Dad) just to find out after hanging up that Jim really did say that.

Help me out ladies.... Do I just not know how to take a compliment as my Dad insists or are the men in our lives just REALLY nuts?

ADOPTION DECREES!!!!!!!!!

This morning I checked my emails to find that NLL had scanned and sent us copies of the adoption decrees for our children!!! It brought me to tears as I read the official certificates stating our children's name followed by OUR last name. We are so excited. It was final many months ago but we are just now seeing a copy of the decree for the first time.

Please continue to pray for our children to come home! We did notice a couple errors on the decrees. One was just the english translation had a wrong date on it (the official paper in French has the correct date that has happened) and it's for a date that hasn't happened yet, hmmm...Could that be a problem? We also noticed that they have the address on it that we lived at when we started the process, but that was almost 2 years ago! Will this end up being a problem or will it just be corrected later on? Anyone had any experience with this they could share?

We are off to celebrate at Disneyland. We were going today anyways but decided it would be fun to call it celebrating at Disneyland instead of just going to Disneyland. ;)

So. Cal. Fires

Trouble in Paradise

I would like to ask you all to please remember Southern California in your prayers! It's absolutely shocking how many fires are going on and how many homes have been lost. For anyone wondering if we are okay...we are fine. There are a couple fires not too far from us. The closest is in Ontario. I'm not letting the kids play outside because there is just too much smoke to be breathed in but I don't think we will experience anything more then lots of smoke.

I heard on the news that we are having the most evacuations ever experienced by California. It seems as if nearly everything is on fire.

Our first news of all of this was when we were at Disneyland on Sunday. Jim had decided to go back to the car and get some things. He hopped on a tram where he heard a little boy say "Bye Bye Disneyland. We have to go because there is a fire by our house." We could see big clouds of black smoke. We had no idea of the MANY fires going on or that it would be this devastating.

Funny Driving Womb Baby Video

Is everyone but me already driving?

funny driving

What fun we will soon have!

HUGE celebrations sure to come

The kids are certain their Mom really has totally lost it as I run around the house dancing and singing as goofy as it gets (I'm so glad I don't live in a house with video cameras!). I just found out that my drivers license form was FINALLY released from our HMO's insurance office and was received by DMV a week ago. I called DMV and learned that it could go 2 ways... If they are satisfied by the medical paper work that I am indeed okay to drive my license suspension will be lifted immediately. If they are concerned they MAY make me make an appointment for an interview before making a decision. Please, Please pray with me that they will not do that and continue to delay things. Why am I singing and dancing? They claim to make their decision in 1-3 weeks. My form has already been there 1 week so it is POSSIBLE that I could be driving again in within the next 2 weeks after not driving for almost 1 year!!!!! You just can't imagine my excitement. It's like turning 16 again! Dare I believe they will really make a decision quickly and that it won't go the hardest possible direction... yes, I think I dare. That is why I'm running around dancing and singing songs about all the places I will drive to when I have my license. Stay tuned......

Lesson learned from all this--- License good, seizures bad. When you get in your cars today please take just a moment to think of what a priviledge it is to get to drive. I hope my thankfulness for health and priviledges remains long after the seizures are gone and I'm running around town taking care of all the errands.

Totally Spoiled

We are having a fantastic weekend of being totally spoiled. It started last night at a friends house for a game night and being stuffed with treats. Then today we spent all day at the park for Jim's work's Company Picnic. From the moment we got there they began spoiling us. The kids each got a cooler/lunch sack filled with presents and candy. They had a big bouncy house, slide, and many games. We came home with a bunch of prizes. First thing won was from a raffle and Luke won a brand new shiny red bike which he gave to Johnny (because it was big) with the promise of getting Johnny's littler bike that he won at last years picnic. :) Then Kyle played a game and beat all the other kids winning a SpongeBob Operation game (which was later traded with another kid for Battleship). I won at Bingo winning us a 5 disc CD player, And we won 3 more times at the raffle drawings (!!!) so Kyle also got a cool kids digital camera, Jim got a cordless drill, and Luke got a Surf's Up gift set (which was traded for a very cool Thomas toy). On top of all of that we had unlimited food and drinks all day including as much ice cream as we wanted (how happy the kids were). Then on the way home we checked the mail and there was a surprise envelope from my Mom. She's always sending us thoughtful and unexpected presents. The boys were thrilled over their 4 foot long balloons (Thanks Mom!) and I got a cute magnet about Mom's of boys.

Sound like a full weekend? We are just getting started. Tomorrow --bright and early we will be heading to Disneyland again. Life is good!

Night At The Roxbury Tribute

Night At The Roxbury Tribute

More Dancing--- This ones for my Mom who learned all her moves from this movie! Enjoy Mom! Warning to other Mom's and Dad's--video just a bit PG