Going through, day by day, by day, by day......

Sometimes, I feel like I am going crazy, running from this thing to that thing for this person, for this kid, for that. AAAAAHHHH, the life of a mom huh. I know it's been a while since I posted, but we are doing well. We've struggled with little electricity, poor internet, sleepless nights, and busy days, but all in all we are doing well.

Ecrissa is the one who is really giving me something to talk about. She is learning so much. She has started putting two words together to make small sentences in sign language, I know, those of you without kids with disabilities may not get it, but every milestone is a HUGE deal for this mommy. She is recognizing the letters for her name, and beginning to understand fingerspelling. I am sooooooooooooooooo excited. It's alot of work, but she's moving forward.


Jaryse is doing well too. He stays with a Haitian friend of mine during the day while I work at the medical clinic and he told me this morning as I as leaving to "be a good girl". I love it, he is always saying something to crack me up.

They are both enjoying watching the Michigan State Spartans with me on our slingbox on the computer, when we have internet during the games. They both actually watch the game and cheer when I cheer. I am going to have some really great Spartan fans on my hands. Whoo hooo. Gooooooo Green.

Max Lucado

Right now I am reading an inspirational thoughts for each day of the year, written by Max Lucado. The book is called "Grace for the Moment" and even though I am a few days behind, this entry really did bless me. I hope it blesses you as well.

You are a great God.

Your character is holy.

Your truth is absolute.

Your strength is unending.

Your discipline in fair....

Your provisions are abundant for our needs.

Your light is adequate for our path.

Your grace is sufficient for our sins......

You are never early, never late......

You sent your Son in the fullness of time and will return at the consummation of time

Your plan is perfect.

Bewildering. Puzzling. Troubling.

But perfect.

As I live each day waiting and dreaming of the day that I am finally allowed to bring my children home to the United States with me, this small poem sure does fit. I cannot describe how difficult this is for me, but I wake each day and remind myself to keep my eyes on the Lord. He is protecting, He is providing, and I am sure that His timing is better than mine. Although, I could surely argue it at this point LOL. I don't understand the timing, I don't understand all of the struggles that are put in front of us on a daily basis. I am bewildered, I am very puzzled, and often greatly troubled by all that is put before us in this situation. But, with all that said, we are blessed. God's plan has made us a family and I praise Him for that. Clinging each moment to His promises that His timing is PERFECT.

I hope that this little poem blesses you as it has me. Sincerely, Cheri Kay

Sensory FUN

This has been a packed week full of fun, school, teaching, medical clinics, new friends and new activities. Whew, OK, I'm tired. LOL. But, earlier this week we had fun playing with shaving cream on the table. Neither one of my kids have done this (to my knowledge anyway) but the both had a BLAST, as you can see by the smile on little Miss Ecrissa's face. :) There was shaving cream every where, they loved getting it all over their hands and arms. Jaryse showed me that he could build a mountain out of shaving cream and beware of the picture below, because it's the scary shaving cream monster-GRRRRRRRRRRRR

The picture below is a picture of Ecrissa with her new friend Guerline. Guerline is a young lady who lives here in Port au Prince that I met at the free medical/dental clinic that I help with every week. Guerline came into the clinic needing dental work, and they needed a translator, not for Kreyol, but for Sign Language. Guerline is deaf and uses ASL to communicate. This is the same Sign that Ecrissa and I are learning. I stumbled through, but we understood each other. She lip reads Kreyol, which I can sorta speak too, but it's very difficult for me to sign with my hands and speak kreyol with my mouth, all the while thinking in English in my brain. WHOOOOOOO, too many languages for this woman. I found myself stumbling over my hands, lips and brain. Anyway, Guerline is going to come and play with Ecrissa every week. This was our first week and I am looking forward to Ecrissa having another person to communicate with. I could really see Ecrissa's face light up at the notion of having someone else that she could talk to and communicate with her. Having Guerline around will force me and Ecrissa to use our signs more, it will help me become more fluent in sign language as well as help Ecrissa become more fluent. We are trying very hard and hopefully this will just be one more thing to make learning fun for all of us. Ecrissa enjoyed her time with Guerline today and even cried when she left. I think this will be a fun thing for Ecrissa to add to her weekly schedule. Plus be beneficial to her academic and language learning.

We are off to Jacmel in the morning for our monthly therapy program in Jacmel. Fun pics to follow.

luvs and hugs from Haiti

Out of the mouths of Babes........

....are words that ruin a perfectly lazy Sunday ;0) So, I was having trouble motivating myself Sunday morning to get ready for church. I know, Lame, but come on, I am a single mom living in Haiti, do I need any other excuse??? LOL. So, I say to Jaryse as I lay on my bed procrastinating a shower so well that I had actually almost convinced myself into skipping church "How about we just not go to church today, and we rest instead?" Jaryse said "Momma, God says, "Will you PLEASE just worship me????" So, there you have it, I had to get up and get my lazy bum bum in the shower to go worship God. Sometimes, I am amazed at how the Lord uses my children to check me. We went of church and of course, I was blessed by the sermon. Glad we did. Thanks Lord, for using my little man to check me when I need it.

Two of the most precious days of my life........

Were four years ago today and four years ago tomorrow. It was Ocober 9th of '04 that I met the two week old baby boy that stole my heart from inside of my body. I had no idea that could even happen. But, the little boy below (yep, that's my Jaryse) did it. I fell in love with him and from that moment on, my life would change.

Then, along came this pretty little thing, and my heart was torn out again. How does that happen??? How can one child take your heart and monopolize all of the love that you have, and then the next one that God gives to you do the exact same thing?? Seriously, how many hearts do I have??? I knew that I was in love with this little girl with all that was within me.


I had to leave them. I met them, loved them, and had to leave them ten days later. Knowing that one day, I would bring them home to the US to be my children. That has not yet happened. But, God is amazing. He brought me to them. I am so amazed every day that I get to be the mommy of these two amazing children. I know I don't deserve them, never will, but by the amazing grace and forgiveness and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, he has given me the chance to love and mother these two precious angels. I thank him daily for October 9 and 10 four years ago.

Watching them grow is so amazing. Everyday is a new step, a new lesson, a new smile, a new laugh, a new experience. I cherish every moment.

They grow so fast from little tiny babies to amazing toddlers, and someday to adults (heaven help me). I am so blessed. I love you Jaryse James and Ecrissa Danae Sessions

LOVE ALWAYS, MOMMY

I thought these were a great series of photos.....

These pics are from a couple of weeks ago in Jacmel. My friend Leann, who is a missinary in Jacmel, sent them to me. She kept the kids for me while I went to do therapy with a couple of the kids that I see down there every month. So anyway, here is the commentary regarding the pics. Ecrissa is nicely playing with Play-doh. Look at the little white hand behind Ecrissa.........


HAAAAAA, the hand grabbed Ecrissa's hair, and Ecrissa was none to happy about it ;)

But, it didn't take Ecrissa long to forgive and forget and move on with her previous activities. I just thought these pics were so great. I am sure Ecrissa would disagree, but seriously, Ecrissa's look of disgust made me laugh. I guess it's a mom thing. LOL

Update on Ashley

This is Ashley. I have been doing her physical therapy for over a year and half now here in Haiti. She is six years old and has cerebral palsy. She is such a joy. Those things she has on her head, are actually for her hands. There was a wonderful OT here in Haiti visiting and she helped me make some splints for Ashley's hands. Ashley has alot of tone in her hands and has a hard time using them for anything functional. My hope and prayer is that these splints will help decrease the tone and through the use of the splints and exercises, we will be able to teach Ashley how to use her hands more funciontally in her daily life. I am lucky to be the therapist working with Ashley. She and her family are wonderful and I love the time I spend with her.

Here is Ashley with her splints on her hands and a big huge smile on her face. See, therapy doesn't have to be torture. LOL

luvs and hugs from Haiti

I am just going to have to face it.....................

She is a big girl now. My little girl lost her first tooth yesterday at school. Of course, all my plans for the tooth fairy and keeping all of her lost teeth are down the drain, cause no one knows what happened to the little thing. But, my little girl is not less one tooth for a while. She was at recess and the teacher didn't notice anything, and then after recess she went to wash her hands and the next thing the teacher saw was Ecrissa signing the "hurt" sign with her mouth wide open. They looked around for the tooth, but couldn't find it. It's either literally, down the drain or she swallowed it. OH WELL, she'll lose another one. :) She is so cute and her little tongue keeps going to the empty space in her lower teeth. It's weird, I am so excited for her, it's a new step and another first that we get to share together, but, it's also just another sign that she is growing up. OK OK OK, I know she's SUPPOSED to grow up, but I missed her entire baby days and I so cherish every minute that I have with her, I want to keep her little forever.

I am so proud of her and I am so lucky to be her mommy. She's an amazing little girl, who is now, a tooth short of a full set for a little while.

I try to be strong and independent............

But when it comes to killing a spider the size of the one above, I FAIL. I get the chills just looking at that picture. This is not a joke, this is the real spider that was in my house today.

Ok, so the story goes like this. I was putting away some donated splints and braces and such when all of a sudden, I saw this spider. I jumped about a half a mile, but thought to myself, through the shaking and immediate sweating "ok, I can do this, I can kill this spider without freaking out". BIG FAT WRONG. As soon as I sprayed the silly thing with bug killer stuff, he went running and so did I. I was shaking like a leaf. I immediately called my neighbor who came over laughing at me. NOT FUNNY. This spider is HUGE. He proceeded to easily spray the thing to death and then chase me into my car with it all the while laughing at me. Don't you agree that this spider is HUGE??????? Yes, funny, NOT. I never want to see another one of these crazy things again. Ok, well the realistic part is that the longer I am here in Haiti, the more likely it is that I'll see another one, but I hope it's not for a REEEEEAAAAALLLLLY long time. I don't care if they eat mosquitoes----so do geckos, and they are much cuter, smaller and not as hairy. :)


More soon.

luvs from Haiti