They are getting so big!!!!!!

Not quite as big as a Gorilla, but it seems like it to me sometimes!!!! They have both grown up so much. Sometimes, I wonder where my babies went! Then, I see them. I see how they've learned, how they've developed and how they continue to change each and every day.

Our weeks have been pretty busy! Getting ready for school, trying to get ourselves on a night time schedule so that when school starts it won't be such a shock. We've also been trying to finish up as many doctors appointments and such as possible. 2 weeks ago, we had 7 doctors appointments between the three of us in 4 days. I was exhausted and they were DONE with doctors!!!! LOL!!!! They are handling all of the craziness well. I am looking forward to school starting because I think it will provide just a bit more structure for them and I think that they are ready for that. We had a schedule in Haiti and they were used to it and did well, but over the past few months as we've tried to settle in, our schedule somehow was lost! I hope we find it with school! They start school on Sept. 9th and they are both very excited. I am excited too!

I realized today that, since I started going to Haiti almost 5 years ago, this is the longest that I have been away. I have been missing Haiti so much. I did get to talk to some friends that live in Haiti over the past couple of weeks and I got to talk to 2 of the families that I did therapy for while there. I am not sure if it made me miss Haiti more or if it filled a bit of the void. Either way, I am glad that I have those relationships and I am looking forward to a time that I can go back to the country that my beautiful babies are from and where much of my heart continues to reside!

Aquarium of the Pacific

Today was another fun first for the Sessions troop! We got the opportunity to go to the Long Beach Aquarium for a very very low price! I was thrilled to be able to be a part of this opportunity with my two amazing children! They loved it!!!! They had so much fun watching the fish in all the tanks! Ecrissa loved touching the sting rays, they were both in awe of all the colors and the sizes of the fish, and I was in awe of how amazing they behaved!!! I am so lucky to have such well behaved little ones!

Jaryse was most intrigued by the baby shark that they had in a small tank all by itself. We learned that this baby was abandoned by his momma off the coast of Taiwan. They do not know why. What Jaryse was concerned about was "Now who is going to be his momma". He did not like the idea of this baby not having a momma! He looked right at me and said "Momma, he needs a momma". So, I explained to him that his first momma was unable to take care of him, but that soon, he would have a new momma. This relieved him, as we have already began talking about how he had a "first" momma and when that "first" momma was unable to take care of him, Jesus asked me to be his momma. He also knows, that when Jesus asked me to be his momma, I cheered! I was so excited that I'd get to be the momma of Jaryse and Ecrissa. He told me that they need to bring this baby shark his momma, because she needs her baby and she can't wait to be his momma!

This conversation was so precious to me. He clung to me and he had so many emotions running through his little heart, mind, and soul! I am so blessed by his loving personality and the amazing capability he has to love. He truly felt sad for this baby shark, but was relieved to know that he'd soon have a new mommy! How wonderful to know, that he is secure in knowing that the "new" mommy is going to be safe and fulfilling. That encourages me, that he is secure in me as his mommy and he is connected to me so strongly that he doesn't worry about the baby shark getting a new mommy. He just knows that it'll be a good thing and that the new mommy will take care of him and provide what he may need. I praise the Lord for the relationship that I have with both kids! I know that it's because of the Lord that they have bonded to me and I to them. What a miracle!

Both kids got to be a part of the interactive children's program in which they heard a story about a toothless shark. It as cute and they both followed directions really well! We had a ton of fun together today. I am so grateful for all that I've been blessed with.

Five Months Home!!!!

Whoa!!!! It's been five months today since the Sessions crew left Port au Prince Haiti for their new adventures in the U.S.A!!!!! I am shocked and in awe!!!!! As I looked at my kids today, I am still in absolute amazement of where we've been and were we are now and in such excitement for what God still has in store for us! We miss Haiti and we continually pray for that country and all our friends there.

Today we celebrated being home as a family by going to the Skirball Cultural Center to the Noah's Ark exhibit! It was very fun! The art work was fantastic and the kids had a blast climbing through a rope maze through the Ark and looking at all the different types of animals, and pretending to spend some time on the Ark. Ecrissa was having fun cooking food at the make-shift kitchen and cleaning up animal doo doo!!!! Jaryse loved climbing through the rope structure! The activities were awesome and the kids had a blast!

The last 2 weeks we have been blessed with our cousin Hannah! She is my first cousin and she has come to stay with us from Michigan for a while. She has been such a huge help to me! The month of August has been very busy with doctor appointments for the kids, work for me, and all sorts of summer activities. We love love love having her here with us! The kids are having a blast with her and it sure does decrease my stress of leaving them when I know that they are being so well taken care of and loved on!

There is so much going on with preparing for school and still going through the pre-cochlear implant evaluations. I know that God knows what is best for our family and I give it to Him! I am thankful that He has brought Hannah here and I am thankful for each and every day that I get to be the mommy of Ecrissa and Jaryse Sessions