Cheri Kay in Haiti

Terrible, Horrible, No good, very bad day......

2012-01-22T10:57:00.000-08:00

This is what I was having 3 years ago today....UNTIL...in the midst of tears.......I received a call from the woman processing our adoption. What did she have to say? She said "we got the signature!!!!!" I couldn't believe it! After 20 months of waiting for this ONE signature, we were finally on our way to getting passports for the kids! I was in shock! This day means so much to me! Not only was it something that I had been waiting for for a long time, it was also another one of God's lessons and promises come true. I had been involved in a Bible study and realized just a few days prior, that although I was praying for this signature, I didn't really believe that it would happen. I didn't really pray as if God would answer this prayer. I was saying the words, but I wasn't trusting that God was big enough to come through for me. During this Bible study, I realized this. I repented IMMEDIATELY! Apologizing to God for not believing in Him. I immediately began praying with full trust that God could and would come through for us. Just 4 days later I got the call! Talk about a Miracle!!!!

I remember this lesson frequently. I remember that God is bigger than anything and if I believe in Him and remember that HE CAN and HE WILL, then my prayers are not in vain and He will answer in perfect timing! Thank you Lord for the 2 beautiful blessings that you have allowed me to parent!

Ecrissa's progress.

2012-01-02T10:23:00.000-08:00

Ecrissa has had her first Cochlear Implant activated now for not quite 2 years and her 2nd one for only 5 months. She is really doing a nice job. She is usinga few words consistently and is understanding more and more that is said to her. She still relies on ASL, but is more and more able to understand spoken language.

The 2 video's above were taken on 12/31/11 and she got a little nervous in front of the camera so her voice is a little more quiet than it usually is, but enjoy hearing her sweet voice!

5 more working days............

2011-12-11T15:01:00.000-08:00

And I get to be a stay at home momma for 2 weeks!!! I'm so looking forward to it!!!! I love my job. I'm the luckiest person in the world to be able to have a job that I look forward to going to every day....however, I love my kids more!!! I love every minute that I get with them and I'm looking forward to our Christmas break!

This was a fun weekend! We went to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services "Signing Santa" and had a blast! Both kids sat on Santa's lap. Ecrissa is so fun to watch in an environment where everyone is signing and she understands all that is going on around her. My Dad and step-mom joined us and they too were amazed at the difference in Ecrissa. Many people came up to me during our time there to tell me how much she's grown since this summer when she attended their day-camp. And, when I say grown, I don't mean that she's gotten bigger...I actually mean matured. She is able to hold a conversations, she understands when people are picking on her or someone else and she joins in the fun. She answers questions, tells stories and well.....is just amazing!!! :)

She also got to be interviewed! You can barely see it in this photo, but there is a video camera and they are asking her questions and she was answering them! SO. STINKIN. CUTE!!!!!!

Jaryse loved sitting with Grandpa! Aren't they cute!!!????

Jaryse entertained himself while his sister was being interviewed and was being the little social butterfly!

On Thursday night we were blessed with the opportunity to go to the Grand Rapids Ballet production of "The Nutcracker". What an experience. I have never seen the Nutcracker and the kids LOVED it! Ecrissa was so attentive all the way through the production! Jaryse asked me at the beginning of the show "Momma, do they talk?" and I told him "no, just dance" and he replied with "Oh, I wouldn't like being in this play, I like to talk!". LOL! Love this kid! He did enjoy the first act and then fell asleep during the second, as it was an hour past his bedtime at that point. Regardless, we enjoyed ourselves and feel totally blessed!

Well, there is always more to write, but I need to get things ready for the start of the week! Off I go!!!!

Can I request....

2011-11-26T15:13:00.000-08:00

a ground hog week?? Isn't ground hog day when the same day keeps happening over and over. Well, this past week was so awesome I want it to keep happening!!!! In the past 2 weekends MSU has won 2 football games and 3 basketball games and hopefully one tomorrow! Seriously, I love it!!!!! The kids and I got to go to one of the basketball games and we had a blast!!!!!!!

I had the week off from work and so was able to spend some time in both of the kids' classrooms. I LOVED every minute of that! I am amazed at how much my kids have grown academically, even since the end of the year last year. I loved seeing the things that they are doing in class and how they are doing in school. This also made them feel very special.

Last night we had a "family date night" at the new PF Changs that just opened near us! Jaryse's favorite food is Chinese and we all loved it! We all dressed up in nice clothes and the three of us (well, 4 if you count Ecrissa's American Girl doll) went out to dinner. It was so nice and the kids' were perfect! I was even told by an older lady that the kids' were so well behaved. That is always nice to hear.

Ecrissa loved the basketball game. She enjoyed dancing when the band played and she cheered and cheered! Jaryse was singing the fight song by the end of the game! Nothing makes me prouder!LOL

My mom, step-dad and my step-dad's mom came over to our new home for Thanksgiving! It was awesome! I have never had the opportunity to "host" my family for a gathering. I can't say that I was perfect, in fact, I never even got out of my sweats, did my hair or make-up, but the food was good and we had fun! My step-dad was awesome and helped me with some little odd jobs that I couldn't do (or didn't want to do). It was great!

We also decorated the house for Christmas! Our house is very festive and we love every inch of it! I am so incredibly blessed and I just can't believe that I deserve even 1% of what I have. Thankful for sure!

Go State!

Wow! It's been awhile!!!!

2011-11-06T11:03:00.000-08:00

Whew! I don't hardly even remember the last time I blogged!!!! I know that school started and then my life became a blur! We got to move to our new home on October 2nd and I feel like I've been working triple time trying to unpack and get us all settled! I have had lots of people ask for pictures of the house so this blog is my attempt to share some! I did not get any of the yard, but there is a nice back yard that is all fenced in with a play structure. The kids love it!

So, here are some pictures......in no strategic order...in fact, in a sort of random order!

The house from the front.

The kitchen (If any of you ever were in either of my last 2 apartments, you will know how HUGE this kitchen is for me!)

My bedroom (view 1)

My bedroom (view 2)

Living Room (view 1 with the sliding doors to the deck)

Living Room (view 2...including the munchkins!)

Jaryse's Room

Dining Room

Ecrissa's room (view 1)

Ecrissa's Room (View 2)

Laundry Room

Well, there you have it...well most of it! I realized I didn't put the pics of the bathrooms though! The house has 2 full baths with one of the baths having a jacuzzi tub in it. We do feel like there is alot of room and we are all feeling very blessed!

Other than unpacking our home, we've been busy with karate, dance, IEP meetings, soccer, school and school related activities, work and family fun! I will try to post some pics of the kids soon!!!!!

Hope you all are well~

luvs and hugs

CK, J and E

Beginning of the school year 2011

2011-09-13T05:52:00.000-07:00

First, I just have to say.....They have gotten so big!!!!! Sometimes when I look at pictures I have to look twice because I can't believe that either one of those kids in the picture could be my baby!!!!! The first week of school went great! Jaryse even enjoyed it! For any of you that really know my boy, you'd know that this is just short of a miracle!!!! Ecrissa ALWAYS loves school and she is doing great!

The second week of school as started off a bit rockier! Jaryse is home and was home yesterday with strep throat! UGH! He is such a trooper, but he has EVERY symptom that could possibly go with Strep. You know, you read the list of possible symptoms and most people get a few of the most common symptoms, well not my little guy! When he gets sick, he does it right and he gets EVERY symptom...even the rare ones! He is on the mend today and beginning to feel better, but is still not well enough for school. So, the reason that I have time to post on the blog!!! Yesterday I spent all day cleaning while he was in bed...trying to get rid of the nasty germs attacking my home, but this morning I have a few minutes to share the last weekend before school started! The following pics are just a couple from our last weekend before school!

My kids love Chuck E Cheese and my parents are quick to take them! This is amazing to me. Given that when I was a child, I NEVER went to CEC unless it was a super special occasion. This is the difference between being a parent and a grandparent apparently. When they were my parents, the answer was NO, but now that they are grandparents, the answer is YES. Anyway, we have a lot of fun there as you can see by the faces on my angels!

Regardless, I'm happy to be a part of their lives! I'm blessed!

Summer is flllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyying by!!!!

2011-08-14T09:30:00.000-07:00

And so was someone else!

Yep! That tiny little speck at the top of the first picture is my little dare devil doing the Rip Cord with her Grandpa and Cousin at Michigan's Adventure last weekend! She is afraid of NOTHING!!!!!!!!! She went up there and free-fell 180 feet and LOVED every minute of it!!!!!!

She loved all the big roller coasters and even kept her hands high in the air, all the while giggling and laughing hysterically!!!! Before the ride was even completed she was looking at me signing more and again with a huge smile on her face!!! It was so fun riding these rides with her. She had me laughing and laughing the whole day!

Jaryse had an awesome time too! He rode the bumper cars multiple times (I think 4 or 5!), the little go-carts, the big go-carts with me, and any other "driving" ride he could possibly ride! He was all about the cars and driving! He is still to little to go on the big roller coasters and truth be told, that is just fine with him! He was happy drive all the different kinds of cars and to ride the train through the park 3 times! (He is not my dare devil, but he sure is cute!)

We also got to be a part of the Haitian Adoption Reunion here in West Michigan 2 weeks ago! SUPER FUN! We met many families with children of all ages adopted from Haiti. The kids had a blast meeting new friends and so did I!

We are down to just a few weeks left of our summer. I was sorta hoping that the summer would never end, but alas, it will. I am so grateful for the time that I've had to be with my kids this summer and the fun that we've had with friends and family! We are definetly blessed!

Summer Fun!

2011-07-14T14:19:00.000-07:00

Whew! The first half of the summer has gone by so fast already!!!!! I was thinking that when I had time off of work that I'd well......have time off!!! LOL!!!! We have been super busy with all fun stuff! We enjoyed our third 4th of July home in the States. We went swimming, took a nap and then we stayed up late enough to watch the fireworks! Jaryse was a bit nervous at first, the loud noises and we were pretty close and he kept telling me that it was going to get into his eyes! After a few minutes he was enjoying them too!

Ecrissa LOVED the fireworks! That big wide-eyed, open mouthed smile that you see above is what she did the ENTIRE show! She loved hearing the BOOMS and loved the colors.

Last weekend we went to the Coopersville/Marne Railway. It was super fun! We got to ride an old train and be a part of a re-enactment of a train robbery. The kids LOVED it! It was super cute.

Ecrissa had her Left cochlear implant activated last Friday. It was an interesting appointment where Ecrissa did not want to cooperate, but in the end, she is now hearing from 2 ears. This coming Tuesday she goes back into the audiologist to have it checked and programmed again. I'm sure each time will get better and better. She is wearing both of them all day with no problems and dealing with it so well.

This week and part of next week she is attending a day camp for children who are deaf. She is really enjoying it.

Aside from all of that fun, we have been super busy with doctor appointments! We have all had our eyes evaluated, I am being treated for a re-occuring infection (Thank you Haiti for Staph), I had a wisdom tooth pulled (ugh) and Ecrissa is at speech therapy once a week! We also have various follow-up appointments for Ecrissa's implant (doctor, speech and audiologist), dental follow-ups for the kids next month another eye follow up for me! Yay for summer time and time off to allow for all of this to happen! I am thankful for health insurance all the provisions that the Lord provides and keeps all of us healthy and moving forward in so many ways.

2nd cochlear implant!

2011-06-18T17:05:00.000-07:00

On June 16th Ecrissa had her second surgery. She was implanted on the Left side and in 3 weeks she will be activated and have access to sound from 2 ears!!!! We have been talking about this implant and I asked her if she wanted it and she said yes! We have been talking about surgery day, reading the same book we read last time, looking at pictures from last time and just trying to prepare her for the day.

She was AMAZING pre surgery. She was happy, compliant and excited for her surgery.

She woke up much better than last time. She did not try to hurt me and she was not literally climbing the walls. She did not like the IV's in her arm and once those were discharged and taken off she was much better. She still really wanted to pull the bandage off of her head, but other than that she did a really good job.

Once we got home she calmed alot. She layed on the couch, ate a little and took her meds with no problem. But then, the vomitting began. She was not tolerating the pain meds well. She was complaining of stomach pain and head pain and she vomitted when I gave her pain meds. So, I called the doctor and they called in a suppository for her for the nausea. UGH! GREAT! I thought she would really protest to that, but she is taking that like a champ and she is now able to keep her pain meds down.

Saturday morning we were able to take the bandage off of her head. That is where the real problem began! She saw the area of her head that was shaved and she is HEART. BROKEN. She keeps asking me if it'll grow back and if she'll have hair there again. I keep reassuring her that yes, her hair will grow back, but I think she's a bit concerned that it won't! I bought her a new really cute hat and that helps!

Jaryse has been a trooper through all of this as well. He had to hang with me (and my step mom) at the hospital all day on Thursday. Allllllllllll daaaaaaay. We were there from 9:15 am until 5:30 pm. It was a long day and he was such a good brother! He even fasted with her and he refused to eat breakfast because Ecrissa couldn't! Needless to say, we were very hungry at lunch time when Ecrissa was finally taken in for the procedure. Then, the past couple of days have been kinda hard here at home with Ecrissa being kinda sick and in pain and he has been such a good boy with helping me and Ecrissa. He is starting to get a little tired of being couped up in the house, but hopefully Ecrissa will be able to get out a little more each day!

Please keep us all in your prayers. Pray for Ecrissa's pain and understanding that her hair will grow back and that she's beautiful no matter what, for Momma's strength and endurance through all of this and for Jaryse as he has to hang out with most of Momma's attention on Ecrissa and he has to wait for me frequently.

I'm grateful for this technology and relieved that the surgeries are out of the way! I am super excited for activation in 3 weeks! Can't wait to see if she reacts differently than the first time or what she will do!

And so Summer 2011 officially begins......

2011-06-10T06:41:00.000-07:00

The kids are at their last day of school right now as I type this! Can it really be??? I am alwasys so amazed at how fast the time goes.

I am currently enjoying a 3 week vacation (I work on an adjusted school calendar and will work a few weeks throughout the summer) and I LOVE LOVE LOVE being home with the kids. I got to help in Jaryse's kindergarten class one day last week and I also got to attend their field day activities--SO FUN! I also got to attend the Deaf and Hard of Hearing end of school party with Ecrissa. I'm amazed at how much they have both grown in so many areas throughout this school year.

(at the Children's Museum!)

Ecrissa will have her second cochlear implant surgery this coming Thursday. We have talked about it and she is excited to have an implant in her left ear. She has been telling people that she is getting one. I hope that she remembers her excitement when she is waking up from the surgery next week!!!! :)

(fun on the trampoline at the Deaf and Hard of Hearing party)

Even though today is officially the last day of school, we kinda started our summer fun a little early. The past few days have been so warm (just the way I like it!) and so we've spent quite a bit of time at the pool at our apartment complex. Jaryse had a friend over after school one day earlier this week and had a different friend come over for a sleep over a couple of days ago! They are all so cute at this age!

I have recently been in a pretty big "I miss Haiti like crazy funk!". I think about Haiti constantly. I dream in Kreyol, I want to be there. I miss my friends. I miss the kids that I did therapy with. I miss Mangos, Haitian Coke, and rice and beans. I really want to go back. I don't know if I can swing a short trip this summer or not. If I do, it will have to be without the kids as I financially cannot afford to take them. This tears at my heart too. I want them to go back. I want them to see Haiti again. I want them to always know where they are from and have a sense of who they are culturally. Of course, when I hear myself think this stuff, I realize that I want the WORLD for my kids (as all us parents do) and I just need to step back and remember that God has it all in control and the kids and I will make it back to Haiti when the time is right. I do hope that at least for me, it's sooner-----rather than later!

IT IS WARM!!!!! YAY!!!!

2011-05-22T15:46:00.000-07:00

It is sunny, warm and beautiful outside!!! YAY!!!! This is the way it is supposed to be! After living OUTSIDE of Michigan (either LA or Haiti) for the last 10 years, the winter was very very miserable for me! I was so thrilled to have a sunny day! We walked to church and had shorts and T-shirts on again!!!! YAY!!!!!!

We had a picnic today after church and had A BLAST!!!!! Jaryse and Ecrissa ran around and played in the grass, blew bubbles, climbed trees and just had so much fun hanging out!!!! I played with them and sat on the blanket in awe of them. If you look closely at the picture above, you'll see how talented Jaryse is at picking out his own clothing! :)

Ecrissa is enjoying her new birthday presents and has had a great week at school!

Isn't she super cute!!!!

Birthday Girl, 3 days and 3 celebrations

2011-05-14T17:10:00.000-07:00

Ecrissa had an awesome birthday!!!! She got to celebrate with me and her brother on Thursday as well as both of her classrooms at school. She was so super happy all day long!

Jaryse on the other hand slept all the way through her dinner at Applebee's! Guess it's not as exciting when it's not your own birthday!!!!

Ecrissa loved her food and ice cream at Applebee's. Then on Friday, we went to dinner with my mom and opened more presents.

Then on Saturday, we celebrated at Chuck E Cheese with my dad's side of the family. She got more presents and tons of fun at C.E.C's!!!!!

She is now fully exhausted and in bed! I am fully exhausted and about to go to bed! I am so glad that she is so loved and so special to so many people! But, I am also glad that birthday week is over!!!!! That is too much stress on the momma who wants everything to be perfect for her princess!!! Sleepy time! Good night!

The most fun thing about this birthday.......

2011-05-11T17:49:00.000-07:00

......is that Ecrissa is anticipating it!!!! In the past, she has not had the cognitive skills to fully understand what her birthday was all about, understand days, months, or time in general to grasp that she was going to have another birthday or that it was coming.

This year is different. She has been talking about her birthday for about 2 weeks. She keeps asking when it is, singing (signing) the song, and for the past couple of days telling everyone that it is her birthday! This is such a fun thing for me to watch! Such a confirmation of her overall growth over the past year!

One of the "family traditions" that I started when we got home from Haiti was that for every holiday I decorate the table. We have a calendar on the wall with various explanations, with pictures and signs, of the holiday's of the month and the kids put up the number each day. The day of the holiday, after the kids go to bed, I decorate the table for that holiday. It helps to cement into Ecrissa's brain that this day is special. She got out of bed and saw me get a couple of things and so she is now so super excited because she KNOWS that her special day is tomorrow and that the table will be just for her in the morning! I look forward to sharing her day with her tomorrow!

Ecrissa's Birthday Table!

The reminder by the calendar with her birthdate, signs and pictures to help her learn about her birthday and other holidays!

Our "MAY" calendar! Very busy month! It doesn't always look this chaotic!

Hopefully Ecrissa sleeps tonight amid all of this excitement!!!! Looking forward to a great 8th birthday with my little princess!

And so begins birthday week!

2011-05-09T15:53:00.000-07:00

Ecrissa will turn 8 years old on Thursday. I am so AMAZED. Time flies!!!! Is it because I met her when she was 17 months old???? Is it because she was almost 3 years old when she finally began living with me??? Is it just because she is SO. STINKIN. AMAZING. that I just can't believe my baby girl is growing up so fast???? I think I'm going with the last one!

This week serves as another week of reflection for me. Not because I remember the week before she was born, and not because I remember the day that she was born. Unfortunately, I did not get to participate in those moments of her life. I reflect on so many things. How much she's grown, how much I've grown and just on our lives in general. I'll share some of those reflections over the next couple of days.

Yesterday, I wanted my baby back. As I watched her play, I really longed for that baby. My almost 3 year old that began living with me. The tiny, fragile, 18 pound baby (I know, 3 years old isn't a baby, but she looked like a baby wearing 9-12 month old clothes) that I carried with ease. The little tiny thing that needed a bottle, that was in diapers and depended on me for everything. But then, I remembered. I remembered the tantrums, her fear, her anxieties, her screaming all day, her no sleeping screaming nights, her skinny and malnourished body, and her pale infected skin and reddish thin and fragile hair and I decided that I am so thrilled that I don't! She is now healthy, 50th percentile for height and weight. Her hair and skin glow and are beautiful beyond words. She walks, runs, jumps, and hoola hoops with the best of them!!! She enjoys playing happily during the day and her nights are spent sleeping peacefully. She has a cochlear implant, hears the world around her and is beginning to understand spoken language and is making noises and sounds that are meaningful. She uses sign language well and is able to communicate with her peers. I can have a conversation with her. She is academically advancing and is becoming independent in many daily activities. She laughs, she tells jokes and she is so very creative.

My momma heart will always want to hold that baby.....but even more my momma heart bursts with joy watching this amazing little girl grow up! How blessed I am to have been chosen to be a part of it!

More on Ecrissa this week as we lead up to the 3 day birthday celebrations!!!!!!

Well....I'll keep the blog

2011-04-23T16:00:00.001-07:00

So, I had more than one request to keep the blog. So, I'll keep it! I am honored that this blog blesses even one person, let alone more than one!

So, I got a new computer and have enjoyed some of the new things that I can do with it. It has been kinda fun.

Over spring break the kids and I went to Frederik Meijer Gardens with my dad and step-mom. We had a blast!!! It was colder than I would have requested for it to be, but we had fun anyway!

I know that having family, especially grandpa's and grandma's around us is the most beneficial thing that has happened since moving back to Michigan. The JOY that my children emit when they are with their grandparents melts my heart. Jaryse explodes with happiness when there is a grandparent around. If nothing else was good for us here in Michigan (which is not true, there are lots of good things), the relationships that my children have with all of their grandparents far out weighs anything else.

Jaryse had another belt testing this week and he is now an orange strip belt. He is getting more and more confident and watching him mature has been so much fun!

Long time no post!

2011-04-17T14:15:00.001-07:00

I have a TON of excuses as to why I haven't updated my blog however, I'll spare you the boredom!!! I have debated as to whether or not I want to continue to keep this blog up. I sorta feel like with facebook, anyone who really wants to follow me and the kids they can, but then this has been a good place for me to "journal" our lives. I don't feel that right now our lives are anything out of the ordinary. We are moving along happily. Both kids growing, changing and becoming amazing new people each and every day! God is so faithful. I love my job, I love being a momma and I am super content with my life right now! Not that I don't have goals and things that I want to do...because I do. But, I am so sure that God has that all in line for us that I am content to give my life to him and enjoy every day. Do I have hard days--OF COURSE! I am a full time working single momma of 2 kids, one of which has special needs. Of course there are hard days, but 90% of the time, I feel totally content with where we are. Ecrissa is really doing well in school and speech therapy. She is still behind her same aged peers, but she is doing awesome and moving forward and making progress. What more could I ask for? She is happy, healthy and doing great! Jaryse is doing great also. He is keeping up with his same aged peers and loving Karate. I love watching him develop into quite a little man. I will continue to debate, pray, and determine whether or not I should keep up this blog, but for now I am going to go enjoy my babies!

Remembering

2011-02-23T09:44:00.001-08:00

Well, my goal was to always update my blog at least once a week. I certainly am NOT meeting that goal right now!!! However, staying home with a sick kid lends just a bit of time to catch up on the blog while I lay on the couch with her. Ecrissa is my super tough kid. In so many ways, she has, does and will continue to defy all odds. She RARELY gets sick, but the poor thing has strep right now--ugh! She hasn't been really sick since she had malaria in Haiti. She is handling it like a trooper though (just like she did with the malaria)! She rarely whines, she is trying to eat, she drinks her water and she takes her medicine. I think that as much as her throat hurts and as yucky as she feels, she is enjoying laying on the couch, being waited on, and hanging with Mommy.

Things here are going really well. I am so blessed. I have read through many of my older blogs lately as this was the time 2 years ago that we were finally moving forward in the adoption and getting ready to come home to America---as a FAMILY. It's such an emotional time for me. I remember much of the last 3 months in Haiti being filled with excitement and fear. As I read through my old blog posts, I remember the lessons that I learned, I am reminded of how powerful God's promises are and that HE will provide and deliever AT. JUST. THE. RIGHT. TIME. Not my time. Not the time that someone else thinks is best. But at just the RIGHT time! That helps me as I get anxious about various parts of my life. Whether I am wanting something to happen quickly, or wanting something else not to happen, what God took us to and through during the 4.5 years of the adoption process and especially the last 6 months reminds me that HE has it all under control. When I look back at how scary things were and how out of control I felt and I can see now how IN control God was, I am so thankful! It is not always easy to remember this in the middle of a "crisis", but I do feel that with each "crisis" I am getting better at trusting that God knows this is hard, that He will not give me more than I can handle, and He will be glorified through it all. I remind myself to trust that the Lord KNOWS what is best. Not to just know it but to believe it and trust it. To pray with BELIEF that the Lord will accomplish all things for good. I'm excited to continue to remember our homecoming in the middle of March as I am praying that God will use my memories, old blog posts, pictures, etc. to bring me one step further in my walk with him.

Busy busy busy...........

2011-01-29T09:14:00.000-08:00

We have been non-stop since school started after Christmas break! It's been so much fun, just doesn't leave a lot of time to keep up with other things.....you know.....like updating blogs! :)

My little man earned his orange belt in Karate. He is learning a lot and having fun with Karate. It's fun for me to watch him learn and grow.

My dad and step-mom bought Ecrissa American Girl twin dolls for Christmas. The funny thing is though, she wants nothing to do with the boy doll! She loves the girl, she loves dressing like her girl doll, but doesn't want anything to do with the boy. She INSISTS that it's for Jaryse. Jaryse....well....he is fine with that! He wrestles with the doll, throws it around and the two of them have a blast!

Here are my Haitian American dolls with their American dolls! Aren't they adorable! :)

So, between school, Karate, Ballet, Speech Therapy, church, parent teacher conferences and my job we have been on the go and loving it! I am gearing up this week for 3 weeks of NOT getting my PJ Saturdays. The kids have the opportunity to do an acting class for 3 Saturdays and so I will be taking them to that rather than having my PJ Saturday! Ecrissa will have an interpreter so I am very excited for her. This should be a great learning experience and hopefully lots of fun too!

I'm a blessed girl!

The New Year Post

2011-01-03T17:24:00.000-08:00

This post has been bugging me! I feel like I'm supposed to reflect on 2010 and hope and wish for 2011....isn't that what I'm supposed to do??? Well, I have reflected. Sure, a lot happened in the year 2010 (when you think about it, there are 365 days in a year, shouldn't a lot happen????) Most of which was very positive and moved our family into a new home closer to family with a better school and better job. I do have high hopes for this upcoming year as well, but thinking about what I'd like to accomplish in a whole year or making resolutions for everyday for a whole year seems a bit overwhelming to me. My prayers is simple. I am not praying that I'll have a wonderful 2011 but that I am the Momma that God wants me to be to the 2 children that He entrusted to me. I am not praying for the whole year 2011 today, I am praying for this moment. One moment, one minute, one hour, one day at a time. To let go of the hustle and bustle, let go of the perceived demands of the world and focus on what God wants me to do and be the woman He wants me to be one moment, one minute, one day at a time.

Why so simple???? 2 reasons. 1. They deserve that (just look at those faces!). 2. That is what God asks of me. Looking forward to the next moment, next minute, next hour and next day in my life. Thank you Jesus for loving me.

The after Christmas post!

2010-12-29T05:21:00.000-08:00

Christmas this year was truly THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!!!! Every year gets better and better! This year we got to enjoy so much fun family time. I am so impressed that my two munchkins cherish their family already! Just an example, Jaryse was complaining the other day about being cold when getting out of the bathtub and I told him "that's what we get for moving to this crazy cold state!" He looked at me, stopped his little body from shaking and said " I don't care about the cold Momma, I just want grandma's and grandpa's". That makes my heart melt. If I've learned nothing from the last 5-6 years of my life (which I've learned a ton, but this is a big one!), I've learned that it's people and family that matter. It's our relationship with others that will make a difference in our lives and in the lives of others and make an impact on the world. I'm grateful that my kids got to experience this wonderful season with so many different family members!!!!!

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Christmas Eve at my Grandma's is a HUGE tradition! I loved having my babies there, hanging with the family and opening presents! It was awesome!

Jaryse is my Love Bug who gives away all of Momma's Suga!!!!! He is always so happy to see Grandma's and Grandpa's!

Ecrissa has matured and grown and become such a fun little girl! In the picture above, she is picking on Grandpa and she thinks it's hilarious!!!!! She has really become more social and is able to communicate with people using various signs, gestures, and using her voice to get their attention and make her point (with sounds and jargon). She hasn't said her first word yet, but she is constantly making noises. She will imitate a dog barking and a cow mooing. These are very typical of what we would expect at her level and hearing experience. I am very encouraged for this upcoming year!

Again, my Love Bug, so happy to see cousin Hannah! He loves his cousin and he loves people. The look on his face and the hugs that he gives are so heart warming! Gotta love it!

Ecrissa was such a ham and loved all of her presents so much! She played with each one of them and had us all laughing!

Christmas morning was full of anticipation! The kids were very excited! This for me was the most fun! I loved sharing in their giggles, anticipation, and pure Joy when they opened their gifts!

Jaryse is a HUGE Scooby Doo fan, as you can see by his eyes, He was in awe of his Scooby Doo coloring book! He got quite a few Scooby Doo items and was fully thrilled!

Both kids had a blast ripping into the paper and discovering what was inside! I'm blessed! Spoiled actually. I know I don't deserve the wonderful life I have been given and I do not take one second of it for granted!

For now, this season is over. But the love of Christ continues and I'm looking forward to celebrating Christ's birthday with Him, my babies, and our entire family again next year!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-22T12:04:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from my little munchkins and me! We are so blessed! We have had the last few days off of school (and I off of work!) and we are loving our family time together!

As I look back over this past year SO much has happened! We are now living in Michigan near my family (kids are loving the Grandma's and Grandpa's!), I have a new full time job with the blessings of full insurance for all of us, a school work day with school vacations, doing exactly what I love doing, Ecrissa has been hearing via the cochlear implant for 10.5 months and is using her voice, responding to her name and is progressing with pure AWESOMENESS, Jaryse has lost a WHOLE BUNCH of teeth, they are both doing awesome in school---what could I possibly be lacking???? The Answer........NOTHING! God has blessed us so much! He amazes me daily with His love for us.

Merry Christmas to you all!!!!!

Luvs and Hugs from Michigan!

All I want for Christmas is..............

2010-12-04T04:21:00.000-08:00

MY TWO FRONT TEETH!!!!!! Yep, little man is losing teeth left and right!!!! He looks so cute with both top teeth gone!!!!!

We have had a busy yet AWESOME month! The kids are doing awesome! School is going so great and both kids are advancing and learning faster and more than I ever knew they would! Of course, I sorta had it in my head that they would always be my BABIES!!!!!! WHY OH WHY WOULD THEY NEED TO LEARN TO DO ALL THIS STUFF BY THEMSELVES, THEY WILL ALWAYS NEED ME RIGHT????!!!!! Just kidding! I knew that my kids would grow and develop and become the awesome 6 and 7 year olds that they are and I know that they will continue to grow and become awesome adults too!

We decorated Thanksgiving sugar cookies and had a blast!!!! We made all sorts of funny colors and had purple turkeys and yellow pilgrims and blue pumpkins! It was tons of fun!!!

Ecrissa has had a sorta rough week this week, choosing to be a bit defiant, but I've learned with her that when she goes through these rough patches, we are going to see some AWESOME developmental skills come out of it! She is already learned so much this school year and is now communicating in full sentences and full stories with her sign language. She is not just using one sign to communicate (for example "more", or "all done" or "spider"). Now she is saying, I want more, I am all done with coloring, I went to the haunted house and saw a spider, it scared me and I ducked! Yes, she says all of that in sign language!!!!!! IT"S AWESOME!!!!! She is even starting to use her voice more and more! She responds to her name about 95% of the time now! I think the other 5% is pretending she didn't hear me!!!! :) She also has learned that a dog barks. If I ask her "what does a dog say?" She will use her voice and bark!!!! She is starting to "moo" when I ask her what a cow says too, but she's not as consistent with that yet! So exciting to see her grow and mature and learn!

My crazy munchkins LOVE the snow!!!! I, on the other hand, was not thrilled to be welcomed into December with a snow storm and about an inch of snow!!!! Oh well, I am sure I'll live through it!

On November 1st, the kids started their first extra curricular activities here in Michigan. Ecrissa has joined a dance group called Hearts In Step. It is a christian dance studio and it's awesome! She does not have an interpreter with her and so she is having to use her lip reading, the hearing that she does have and understands and her ability to follow others to learn! She is doing great, the other girls in the class love her and they are all learning a few signs here and there. So far, it's been a wonderful experience and my little ballerina is happy to be back in dance class. Jaryse has begun Karate! Let me tell you, this is SO SO SO SO cute!!!! He is doing so well and I can already see improvements after only his first month of classes! He loves it!

Well, we have our tree up, we have fires in our fire place every day, have been enjoying some hot chocolate and just enjoying our new busy lives here in Michigan! Family time has been awesome and we just have so much to be thankful for! I am daily reminded of God's love for me through this amazing life journey that he has blessed me with.

Halloween fun with the family!!!!

2010-10-31T06:06:00.000-07:00

We are so lucky to be with family!!!!! I really didn't know how much we'd enjoy our time with family when I decided to move us to Michigan! It's starting to get cold (and I'm not happy about that) but the kids are having a BLAST with the FAM!!!!!!

We went trick or treating with my step sister, her kids, and my dad and step-mom on Saturday! We had so much fun! I took Ecrissa through a haunted house and she LOVED it! It was too cute when she finished, she looked at me and signed "AGAIN" with a huge smile on her face! He communication skills are getting so much better! When she saw Grandma, she signed a whole story of what happened inside the haunted house! TOO CUTE!!!!!

This is Grandma Sessions (Cookie Monster), Jaryse (Spider Man) and Ecrissa (Diva Bug)!

The kids had their most recent pediatrician appointment and I am forever amazed at how well they are doing! I am so thankful for their health and their constant advances forward.

Have a happy Halloween!!!!!

I know it's been awhile.....

2010-10-10T05:40:00.000-07:00

....but I'll update you later. Right now I want to reflect and remember.

October 8th 2004---The day I first landed in the nation that changed my life forever! A place that I had only planned on visiting for 10 days because the work in the orphanage would look good on my resume, the place I had never heard of before, the place that now holds a HUGE place in my heart.

Just over 6 years ago I met the two people that would forever change me! I met Jaryse and Ecrissa on October 8th and 9th respectively. Jaryse was just over 2 weeks old and he stole my heart the minute I laid my eyes on him. Ecrissa was 17 months old and was developmentally seriously delayed. By the end of my brief 10 days in I knew that I was leaving that country a changed person. I was leaving as a Mother. Becoming a Momma changed me. I never knew that I could love this much. I never knew anyone could love me in this way. I never truly understood how my parents felt about me until I looked at the faces of my Daughter and Son.

I am so thankful for that trip. I am so thankful for all that we have gone through since then. I am so thankful for God's plan for our lives. I am so thankful.

Ecrissa Danae and Jaryse James--Momma loves you SOOOOOOOOOOO much!

Holy Moly!!!!!!!!

2010-09-26T05:40:00.000-07:00

LIFE. IS. GOOD!!!!!! We have moved into our apartment in Grand Rapids, started school, work, and are settling into our new routines! We still don't have internet, so I feel quite disconnected, but soon! Right now I'm at my Dad's house, so I decided that I'd do a quick blog update! This week was Jaryse's 6th birthday! I'm just so amazed that he is 6. This is the first birthday that we've been able to celebrate with family and it's been the MARATHON birthday week! He had a party at daycare on Thurs, a party in his school class on Thurs., Momma and Ecrissa took him out to eat, then Grandma and Grandpa Packer took him out and he spent the night with them, then we went to the Michigan State Game on Saturday (GO GREEN!), then to Chuck E Cheese's with the Sessions side to celebrate with his cousin Ethan and then today, my grandma is having a dinner party for him!!!!!! He is a blessed little man I must say!

Grandpa Sessions, cousin Kyla, and Jaryse at Chuck E Cheese

Momma and Jaryse at our first MSU game!
(Jaryse refuses to smile when Ecrissa is taking pictures....such a brother thing!)

Ecrissa cheering at the game...She loved it!

A friend we met at Applebee's, he shares Jaryse's birthdy, only he is 89!

Jaryse and Ecrissa at Applebee's

Jaryse eating his birthday cupcake (should I mention that this is before school!)

And, just for fun......first day of school pics!

The kids totally ham it up in front of a camera! Jaryse was a little nervous to start school at a new school and such, but he's transitioned nicely and he is doing great! I have Ecrissa's IEP on Friday and I am so excited to get a chance to really sit with her teachers and see how she is doing. As far as the recent reports go, she's doing pretty good! I think that this school really will be a great place for my babies! I'm so blessed!

As far as me and my job....I. LOVE. IT!!!! I love what I get to do! I am still learning the "ins and outs" of the laws and such in Michigan and the paperwork (oh the massive amounts of paperwork!). We are blessed and I'm the luckiest (although a bit partial!)

Summer fun with the kids!

2010-08-29T06:26:00.000-07:00

Friday we celebrated the end of the summer by going to Michigans Adventure! The kids had a ball!!!! They loved it! I loved hearing their giggles as they rode the smaller roller coasters, drove the mini go-carts and the water rides.

They were both very excited when they saw Charlie Brown and Snoopy! Jaryse said that this was better than Disneyland!!!!! He is just loving life right now and is exploding with love and laughter and joy! Ecrissa has had awesome days and she is doing great as well. She has become more and more "chattery" and uses her voice alot. She is not yet saying any words, but she does have a few different sounds that she uses consistently for specific words..such as "uma" for "help me" and "naaaauuuu" for "NO" and "mmmmmm" for "more". She is definetly making lots of progress and I'm super thrilled for her!

I will start my new job on Monday and the kids will meet their teachers at the open house on Tuesday. This should be a busy, fun and exciting week! Looking forward to it!!!

lots of fun in Michigan!!!

2010-08-25T16:30:00.000-07:00

The kids have been having a blast! After being home from Haiti for 17 months, I figured most of our "firsts" have been met....I was wrong!!!!! These past couple of weeks the kids have had their first pony ride, their first ride on a lawn mower, first ride on a tractor, first time "helping grandpa fix the bike", first "camp-out in the living room with grandpa" and even time helping feed the cows at my Aunt and Uncles!!!!!! I'm slightly worried that my kids are turning "country bumpkin-ish" but it's been tons of fun!!! jk!!!! They've loved every minute of it!

We went to the zoo the other day and had a blast! The kids love the petting zoo and feeding the goats and giraffe's. Ecrissa enjoyed all of the sounds that she heard. She smiled when she heard the bald eagle make it's sound, the train whistle, and various other "zoo" sounds! What a great day of learning and fun!

Jaryse is loving being with Grandpa's (and Grandma's)! He helps my dad mow the lawn, move things, "work in the yard", and he loved helping Great Grandpa fix the bike!

I start work on Monday and I'm really looking forward to it! School starts September 7th for the kids and I'm sure within a couple of weeks we will fall into a "normal-ish" schedule and our vacation will end! I am thrilled that Grandma's, Grandpa's, cousins, Aunts and Uncle's are very close and this fun is just the beginning of more "family firsts" for my little ones!!!!! What an AWESOME life I've been blessed with!

Jaryse pole vaulting!

Found my camera!!!!

2010-08-11T16:33:00.000-07:00

YAY!!!!! It has been too long since I've taken pics of my sweeties!!!!! This week has been super fun so far! We love spending time with family and hanging out!

On Tuesday we went to Grand Haven again and spent a few hours hanging with some friends from Haiti! IT WAS AWESOME!!!!! Mrs. D has meant so much to me and Ecrissa and spending time with her was such a blessing. The kids had a blast swimming, playing in the sand and eating ice cream!

Thank you Lord for awesome friends, their love, support and prayers!!!!!!

oops, got busy!!!!

2010-08-09T09:26:00.000-07:00

So, we packed up my apartment, drove across the USA and landed in Nashville Michigan! It took a lot of day, little sleep and a bunch of my dad's teasing!!!!!

We are staying at my dad's for about 1 month when we will then move into our apartment in Grand Rapids. I was able to find a nice apartment near the school that I will work at and the school the kids will go to. My stuff is currently housed in my grandparent's rec room safely, but not so organized! I am not looking forward to loading all that stuff up again when we can finally move into our apartment in the beginning of September! Oh well, it's been nice staying with my dad for now!

I helped my dad with his big pole vault event and had a blast! We've had a small family dinner and that was fun! We went to a Haitian Adoption reunion and saw some friends from Haiti and met some new friends! That was AWESOME! The kids got to swim in the lake and have gone swimming in my cousins pool also!

So, needless to say, things are going well and I'm so thankful for all that we have been blessed with! I don't have any pictures because my battery charger is somewhere, but I'm not exactly sure where!!!! I've thought of trying to find it in the boxes at my Grandma's, but that may get a bit interesting!!!!

Otherwise, there will be no new pics until after September 5th!!!!!

More again soon!

Some news from the Sessions family

2010-07-12T11:22:00.000-07:00

In 2 weeks from today, my dad and step-mom will be flying to Cali to help us move back to Michigan.

I have accepted a physical therapy position in Grand Rapids MI and we are moving to Michigan at the end of July. Jaryse is super excited, Ecrissa seems to be beginning to understand and Momma is nervous, excited, and has a list 3 pages long of things to do in the next 2 weeks.

I do believe that this will be a good move for us. My family is there and the kids will get to be part of our family gatherings, birthdays, Thanksgiving, Easter and other holiday celebrations. I think that it's all going to be great...other than the cold and snow of course.

We'll keep ya' posted on our newest adventure as we prepare to drive across the United States from California to Michigan!

Loving others

2010-07-11T16:10:00.000-07:00

This week, the kids and I went through their toys and books and picked out the ones that they no longer play with or want. I asked them if they'd like to give them to the hospital Child Life Center. This way, the kids in the hospital have toys to play with and books to read. They agreed. I almost put them in my car on the day that I worked at the hospital to take them to my co-worker, and then I realized that this would be a good experience for the kids.

So, on Friday after we finished school and work, we went up to the hospital and gave our toys to the Child Life Center. I was all excited to have the kids participate in this and have them really understand what they were doing and get that wonderful feeling that you get when you help others. Am I crazy??? We walked in and they were immediately interested in all the other toys...you know...the ones that they don't have and all the people that they had never met before. They forgot why they were there and played with the other toys in the room and talked to everyone else about everything EXCEPT why we were there!

I left feeling a bit deflated that they didn't experience what I had hoped they would and then I realized that this has to be a lifestyle, not just one day. I thought back on whether or not I've modeled this for them and I think that in some small ways I have, through taking them with me to orphanages and therapy sessions in Haiti, having them help me distribute toys, food and vitamins and such to others in Haiti, but I realized that I haven't done so much of that since being back in the States.

I know that this is one step in the direction of a lifetime of teaching them and giving them opportunities to serve others is how they will learn how AWESOME it is to help others. I am going to make more priority of seeking ways to love and serve others WITH my children! Don't get me wrong, I'm not down on myself or betaing myself up, I just realize that God gently reminded me to remember that He wants me to be a servant, even (and maybe even especially) here in the States.

Maybe this made more of an impact than I realize that it did on them, but I know it made an impact on me and reminded me that loving and serving others needs to be a consistent priority in our lives. I'm thankful for that reminder of how I've been so focused on our lives that I've forgot about us INTENTIONALLY serving others daily.

"Momma, will you build me a Lab?"

2010-06-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

"Um, sure.....I think" was my response! My son has been asking for 2 weeks for me to build him a Lab in our house. I spent the last 2 weeks trying to figure out how to do such a thing! I mean...where do I begin? ....What does this 5 year old friendly lab need to contain?.....Where am I going to "build" it?

Well, yesterday I went and got a few things from the sale rack including a small globe, a cheap telescope, a super on-sale chemistry set (complete with test tubes), a planting set in which you learn all about plants growing, and a super cheap magnet set, then we grabbed a few things that he already had including his toy laptop (every Lab has a computer right??), his desk, a magnifiying glass, and his goggles and I built the boy a Lab in his bedroom!

The far corner of the room is sorta contained and all his "science" things are in there. He is so happy! I'm glad I didn't fail him in my attempt to build this Lab. I did not truly know what he had in his little mind...but so far...so good!

We spent some time today planting the plants

and bubbling strange concoctions of citric acid and baking soda

And my new little scientist was satisfied......whew!

A weekend of accomplishments!

2010-06-20T12:33:00.000-07:00

Saturday was Ecrissa's ballet recital! It was so super duper cute! She is involved with a group that holds classes for children with special needs. She gets to do a hip hop class and a ballet class with this group. The recital was just for the ballet class and they were so awesome! It was FORBIDDEN to take any type of picture during the actual recital so the pics I have are of the rehearsal night and after the recital itself.

Ecrissa looked so pretty and had so much fun being dressed up in her princess dress and performing on stage! She was so cute! She loved being the center of attention (surprise surprise) and she did a really good job with her dance moves.

Of course, it wouldn't be any fun if there wasn't any excitement....and so......One of the little boys in her class pulled the fire alarm as they exited the stage! He didn't realize what he was doing, but they had to evacuate the entire Royce Hall Auditorium (probably over 1000 people) and have the fire marshall come in and assure the safety of the building!

Ecrissa's favorite part was her flowers and she held them for hours and hours. I am very proud of this little ballerina!

And Also.................Jaryse graduated from Kindergarten!!!!

He and his classmates were so super cute and did such a good job with their song that they sang which was accompanied by sign language and the poem that they recited.

I can't believe my baby will be in first grade, but I'm so super amazed at all that he has learned and how far he has come.

I missed my PJ saturday, but it was all so very worth it!

The 12th

2010-06-12T10:25:00.001-07:00

Today is PJ day! YAY! Today is also 15 months after coming home from Haiti, 5 months post Haiti earthquake and 4 months post turn on date for Ecrissa's Cochlear Implant and one week left of our first year of school in the U.S. Every day I am amazed. I'm amazed at how we are still adjusting. I have come to the conclusion that we will most likely always be in a state of transition and adjustment. As we grow and mature and learn we will also continue to learn to be a family, how to function in the world, and how to be 'comfortable' in our newness of each phase of life. This is so exciting to me, yet scary at the same time. Being comfortable sounds so wonderful. To reach a point where we are all safe, happy, healthy and comfortable sounds so awesome! But, that would mean hitting a plateau. The last thing I want is for any of us to remain exactly where we are today for the rest of our lives. I want my 7 year old to continue to learn to use her hearing, to learn to read and do math. I want my 5 year old to continue to learn to read, learn about science and grow to make healthy and wise decisions. Yet, with each step they take, they will stumble. Then, I have to learn to support them, guide them, and to be the Momma that they need at that particular moment. These are such important things in our lives. The unknown can be so scary and yet so exciting.

When I look at the faces of those two precious angels that the Lord entrusted to me, I'm terrified of making the wrong decisions. Yet, I know that He does not make mistakes. He gave them to me and I need to believe that He will guide me as I parent these kids. When I became a Christian and as I was signing the initial papers for my kids, I prayed that God would raise these kids with me. That He would be my partner in their lives. I know that He has not left me or them. He loves us and is here with us protecting, providing, and leading.

Today is one of those days of reflecting. Reflecting on all that has happened and anticipation for all that may. Thankful for all that we have.

Awesome Awesome Awesome!

2010-06-06T18:20:00.000-07:00

This was an awesome weekend! We started it by Friday when I picked up the kids getting a great report from both teachers! Ecrissa's teacher assistant told me that she is doing an AWESOME job and behaved great for the substitute and is really doing a good job in class! That is MUSIC to my ears!!!! Jaryse's teacher told me that he behaved (which, believe it or not has been a bit of a struggle for him lately!) and worked very hard in class! He is reading well and his writing and math is improving daily! YAY YAY YAY!!!! Happy Momma!

So, that Happy Momma decided to take full advantage of National Donut Day! Yes, Friday was National Donut Day and so we got our free glazed donuts from Krispy Kreme!!! MMMMMMM MMMMM MMMMM!!!!!

Then we headed straight up the coast to camp Kramer Hess where we were so lucky to be a part of the 25th annual House Ear Institute Family Camp. This is a weekend camp for families who have a member who is deaf or hard of hearing! I LOVED this camp last year and I LOVED LOVED LOVED it this year! It is so awesome to hang out in a place where my little girl is completely accepted and fully understood! Where siblings know exactly what Jaryse is going through and parents are right there with me! They have awesome activities planned for the kids and great educational talks and activities for the parents!

We got to meet up with friends that we met last year! Jaryse was SO SUPER EXCITED when he saw Marin and her family walk in! The kids had a blast together!

The kids played in groups, did wall climbing, martial arts, painting, exploring, and even got to observe some of the sea life from the Aquarium of the Pacific in their mobile aquarium that they brought to the camp!

I met other mom's that are going through the same frustrations with school districts as me, the same issues when out in the community with their deaf child and the same sibling things that we deal with. I also met 2 other mom's whose deaf children are also adopted!

I learned a TON about different amplification devices and alerting devices for my home and school that can help Ecrissa. I was pleasantly surprised at some of the prices of these devices. I expected them to be super duper expensive, but they are really only a little expensive! Actually, they are very reasonably priced, lower than I ever expected. Now I am on a mission to try to find a way to earn/raise this money to purchase these things that can be so crucial to Ecrissa's success!

I am thankful for this camp and all of the families that I met this AWESOME weekend!

Thank you Lord for all of the blessings that you continually bestow on this tiny family!

not much of a post.....

2010-05-25T18:57:00.000-07:00

Things have been pretty busy around here. The end of the school year is coming up and I think we are sorta in the middle of another transition phase and so we've all been pretty cranky! The kids are having tough days at school and I'm having a tough time knowing how to support them. I think being a parent is tough. I remind myself daily that God gave me these two kids because we were meant to be a family. None of us are perfect, but we are all 3 perfect for each other. I need to remind myself that God knew this bump in the road would be there. I am turning to Him, begging him to show me how to be the best momma I can be to these two amazing children. I often feel that they are short changed. But, again, I remind myself, God doesn't make mistakes.

Please don't get me wrong, we are OK. It's just a small valley that we are going through, another phase of life, and each transition is just another step that we take as we mature and grow.

I am thankful for all that we have.

Ecrissa is doing AWESOME with her hearing! She has started pointing out sounds to me! It is so fun to see the things that she is hearing.

Jaryse started reading! He has been reading one of the bedtime stories and he loves it! It's so amazing to see him doing this!

Please keep us in your prayers as we make it through these last few weeks of school!

Hangin' out!

2010-05-16T14:44:00.000-07:00

I don't have really anything to say since we've done NOTHING this whole weekend! Jaryse has an ear infection and was having a really hard time Friday and Saturday so we have just stayed in the house (for the most part, except for the quick run to the grocery store----gotta feed the munchkins!). I don't feel guilty for "wasting" 2 whole days. Nope. I. Don't. The three of us have lounged around the house, messed it up, watched movies, tickled each other, taken naps, eaten junk, and all and all just been a family. This is priceless to me.

Sometimes I feel like I should do more. I should have a cleaner house, I should work out more, I should read more to the kids, I should do more speech therapy with Ecrissa, we should ride bikes more, we should...we should...we should. But the truth is there are really only so many hours in a day. And it's weekends like this one that remind me that the only real thing we SHOULD do, is be a family that loves each other with the love that the Lord put in us when He made us a family. I'm grateful for this time that He's given me these past two days to hang out in our home and be together!

I think we are all well rested for this upcoming week! Jaryse has his first field trip tomorrow and he is quite excited about it. I think he'll be fine to go to school and enjoy the field trip. Ecrissa has been fine and she is learning more and more about sounds. She has actually started pointing out sounds to me when she hears them! So cute!

more soon!

Video of the class signing Happy Birthday to Ecrissa!

2010-05-12T20:23:00.000-07:00

Whew! I finally got that to work! I was having issues getting this very short video on the blog! But, I did it! I would apologize for the video not having any sound, but it doesn't matter, because there was not really any sound in the room anyway! Everyone was signing Happy Birthday and it's so cute! I will apologize for only getting the last part of the song, as they started so quick and I wasn't quite ready with my camera, but it's cute anyway! Enjoy!

Princess Ecrissa is 7 years old!!!!!

2010-05-12T20:14:00.000-07:00

Ecrissa woke up this morning like no other morning in the past few months!!! She woke up with a huge smile on her face and knew with no uncertainty that today was her day!!!! I always decorate the kitchen table after the kids go to bed for special days, so she knew that the table would be something special. This is what she found!

A table full of presents for her!!! She smiled and put both hands on her heart! After school she opened all of the presents!

And at school we had a small party for her at the end of the day. It was so cute! All of the kids are so close and they take such good care of each other! I had such a fun time being in the classroom and watching her communicate so fluidly with her classmates! She was so happy to be the center of attention and the other kids were glad to give her the attention. Such a wonderful thing to see!

We ended our day with a family dinner at Chuck E Cheese's and the kids had a BLAST!!!! They are both in their beds trying to calm down after an intense day of Happy Birthday Ecrissa!!!!!

It's a rare Thursday.....

2010-05-06T20:40:00.000-07:00

When I have the energy to blog. There is something about Thursdays that are hard for me. Nothing to do with what is scheduled for the day, it's just the day! I think that it's not quite Friday (so I don't have that pre-weekend adrenaline--mainly my weekly goal of PJ Saturdays!) and I'm already exhausted from all that is shoved into Sunday - Wednesday. I've always had a hard time with Thursdays, as far back as I remember, through high school, college, grad school, doctoral program, Haiti years, and even now that I'm back in the States. Thursdays should be banned! However, God strengthened me today! I don't know why, but today was a great day, I had tons of energy, the kids were great, I got a ton done and now I even have the energy to blog! Hopefully I don't crash tomorrow!!!

Anyway, this has been a great week for us. Monday and Tuesday were my later nights working and the kids stay with babysitters. They had a blast with both of my friends that they stayed with for the couple of hours after school until I got home. As a mommy, it's so reassuring to come home to 2 happy kids. I already beat myself up for leaving them with a babysitter (all of 5-6 hours a week). I have this image that I am supposed to do EVERYTHING and be their EVERYTHING. But, I can tell you, that I feel so relieved when I come home and they are happy and I can tell that those couple of hours were good for them! That is good for me!

Earlier this week, our caterpillar turned cocoon hatched! The kids were very excited to let the butterfly go. I'm not 100% sure what happened (as I am not a caterpillar/butterfly expert) but the poor thing never flew away. It moved, but didn't fly. Hmmmm...... guess we didn't do so good! Oh well, the kids had fun and they learned alot!

Tonight, Jaryse lost his first tooth and Ecrissa was my fairy running around the house all evening in her dress up clothes! What a great life God has blessed me with. I struggle weekly to have enough money to pay for the things we need, but God provides. What we lack in funds is more than compensated in the love and joy that we have in this house. I wouldn't change a thing!

Love having a good week!

2010-05-01T20:50:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, Ecrissa had a really rough time. The new hearing, the new input, the sounds, the demands on her had just pushed her to her limit. I felt so bad for her, but during her 45 minute tantrums, I still got a headache!

The past two weeks have been really good. She is handling things better and has made some wonderful progress over the past couple of weeks. She is now 11 weeks after hearing her first sounds, that is just about 3 months. It is expected that she will respond and develop in her hearing and language at the same rate as an infant would do so. So, she is expected to be functioning like a 3 month old baby in terms of her listening, hearing and language skills. She is doing that. She seems to be developing nicely. I am so thrilled. I know that we have a long road ahead of us, but each step of the way she continues to amaze me.

Jaryse continues to crack me up! He is always doing something to keep me laughing! He has his first loose tooth and is so excited for it to fall out! School is up and down for him. Most days are pretty good, but some days are tough for him. There are days he comes home and sleeps for over 2 hours. He is learning so much. He is beginning to read and he is writing all of his letters. I am just so thrilled for him. He is super excited for summer vacation though!!!!!

As for Momma.....doing well. I had a couple of kid free hours today as my friend took the kids shopping and out for lunch. It was awesome! The kids had fun and I enjoyed a few minutes to clean up the house, eat some lunch and watch a bit of TV. As I was sitting in the quiet house, I missed my babies. I am so thankful that I get to be a part of the lives of these two kids. I am so glad that they weren't gone any longer than they were! They energize me and I can't imagine my life without them! Right now, they are both sleeping and I'm catching up on a few things. I like the house being quiet AND having the kids here with me!

Wonderful PJ saturday again!

2010-04-17T19:47:00.000-07:00

The kids and I lounged around the house today! I cleaned, they messed up what I cleaned and it was a wonderful day all around!!! Last weekend, we didn't get a PJ saturday because we attended a birthday party and we went to a museum called KidSpace. It was put on by a group that works with families who have children who are deaf/hard of hearing. It was fun to have lots of other kids who are signing, parents who sign and siblings who sign. The kids had a blast climbing around all of the museum exhibits and looking at the ants, bugs and everything else. We "adopted" a caterpillar and we are watching it build it's cocoon and learning about the stages of the development of the butterfly. The kids are really enjoying that. These pics of Ecrissa are from the playground near the museum. She is such a dare devil and loves to be upside down.

The following are pics from today.............If only you could hear the screams and giggles that go along with that face!!!!!!

And this is my fat and purple toe..........

My almost certainly broken toe! It's a good thing that I had designated today to be a restful PJ day because walking really isn't the most comfortable thing to do! I think both kids have stepped on that particular toe at least 30x each today! UGH!!!!!

Now, we are settling in for the night. We are putting on a movie and cuddling into my bed as a family and will most likely all fall asleep in my bed watching a movie that we've probably seen about 30 times. I'm so looking forward to cuddling my munchins! G'nite!

Just a sample of our celebration......

2010-04-14T20:11:00.000-07:00

The kids and I had our family pics taken on our year anniversary of being home from Haiti. It was so fun! Here are a few of the pics!!!!

So grateful!!!!

A week late, but Easter was a wonderful day for us!

2010-04-11T20:23:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday was a great day for us! The three of us celebrated Easter together. They had a blast with their little baskets, miniature egg hunt in our apartment and then a morning at the park with our church family. It is quite a blessing.

I have really been overwhelmed the past couple of weeks with God's love for me. It is sorta sinking in (and I say sorta because it's beyond the comprehension of my human brain) that God chose to love me. He willingly created me, knowing what a failure I'd be, knowing the mistakes I'd make, and knowing how I would never deserve His love. Yet, He created me anyway, and CHOSE to love me. He loves me unconditionally now (knowing all of my past, present and future sins) and will always love me. It sorta blows my mind, that His love for me is so strong that He loved me before I loved Him and before I asked for forgiveness. I know this is true when I look into the beautiful faces that stare up at me every day. I don't know why He blessed me with them and I DO NOT take them for granted. I know that they are a gift to me. Not some reward that I earned, but a gift from a loving father. I know that I love them with all of my heart, knowing that they will not be perfect in their lives. Knowing that they'll be "naughty", knowing that they'll sin. I still love them now and forever. The interesting thing is, that I don't know what they'll do that will be "naughty" but God knew/knows exactly what my failures are and still He loves me. I can't imagine that anyone can love more than I love these 2 amazing children, but God says that His love is stronger......that blows me away. I am so grateful that this love is available to me and so grateful that this is also true for my children. That God loves them more than I could ever imagine. You see why this is only "sorta" sinking in? I don't have the ability to comprehend or the words to express the enormity of God's love. For that too, I am grateful.

My prayer tonight is that all will accept and bask in the love of our Lord!

Having fun..................

2010-04-02T17:09:00.000-07:00

Coloring Easter Eggs! Today the kids and I ran some errands and colored easter eggs. It was lots of fun! They did so much better this year than they did last year (I think they broke almost every egg last year!) This year, they didn't break any and we had tons of fun!

Off to Good Friday service at Church and to have a common meal with our Brothers' and Sisters' in Christ! What a wonderful day!

GO STATE!!!!!!!

(just in case you haven't noticed, I'm very excited for tomorrow's game!!!!)

UH OH.....................

2010-03-29T18:19:00.000-07:00

I'm slipping!!!!!!!

We made it home a full year and now I can't keep up on my blog!!!!LOL!!!!! It's been a very full couple of weeks but it has mostly been good things! We are starting our spring break and the kids are loving it! It's a little harder on me as I'm trying to schedule babysitters and such, but at least the demands of doing homework and preparing everything for school the next day has left me time to update the blog!!!!!

Saturday, we took a family fun day to the beach, the kids rode their bikes, I walked, and we played at the park. It was so relaxing and I totally enjoyed being out in the sunshine watching my kids smile, run, play and just enjoy being kids. I'm so grateful for the blessings that we have that allow us these simple pleasures. Sometimes I feel guilty for them, but I know that each minute I have is a gift from God!

Then on Sunday we had our typical church in the morning and Ballet in the afternoon...........Which of course was topped off with a MICHIGAN STATE SPARTAN VICTORY TO MOVE ONTO THE FINAL FOUR!!!! Yes, that's me screaming in delight!!!! I am one very very happy Spartan fan!!!

Church was fun though and it was fun to watch the kids. The were both so funny! They both acted like they were preaching before the service actually started. Ecrissa even had the Bible open in her hands at one point while making noises with her voice into the microphone. Very Funny and very cool. She is doing better and better every day with her hearing and listening skills. I am very impressed and very encouraged.

So this week I'm looking forward to a bit less stress and HOPING for another Spartan win (or 2!!!!)

Go STATE!!!!!!!!!

Believe it or not.................................

2010-03-12T06:08:00.000-08:00

Today, March 12th, is our 1 year anniversary of coming home to America! My amazing children became American Citizens on this day!!!!! I am in awe as I sit and look at these pics and remember the last year! I can't believe that it's been a year. I feel like it was just yesterday! Yet, so much has changed in all 3 of our lives, in Haiti, and in the lives of those that we love so dearly. We continue to pray for Haiti! The kids may have become American Citizens, but they are still Haitian and they, along with everyone in Haiti, has made my heart partly Haitian too!

Praise with us today please, as we celebrate God's promises and His faithfulness. God is faithful to finish the good works that he started in all of us. I've seen it first hand. It's hard to believe sometimes, but I can see it so clearly in retrospect, that what He promises He WILL deliever, in HIS timing, for HIS glory! Thank you Jesus for loving this little family!!!!!!!

Just a couple pics from the weekend!

2010-03-11T17:32:00.000-08:00

We have had a good week so far!

These pics are from this weekend. Our awesome friend, Mia (or auntie Mia to the kids) had a birthday and her friends and I surprised her with a little birthday party at our house. These are pics of the kids making her Birthday Cake!!!!!

And this pic is the kids hanging out on the couch for Friday Rest Night! We were just settling in for our family movie and they looked so cute sitting together under the blanket!

Friday Night REST!!!!!

2010-03-05T17:29:00.000-08:00

Our weekend has started! It's Friday night and there is nothing pressing that is scheduled between now and Sunday morning!!!! YAY!!!!!! The kids and I have begun our movie and we are just hanging out. I really cherish this time with them. Monday through Friday (until 3PM) we are packed full with all sorts of things that I really cherish our time on Friday nights and all day Saturday to just hang together with no real pressure to do anything specific.

Today I spent much of my day remembering. March 5th, 2009 was the day that the kids and I went to the US Embassy for our Visa appointment! I remember being so nervous. There were many days in my life prior to this date that I was unsure if that day would ever actually arrive!!!!!

You can read my post from last year by clicking on this link:
http://cherikayinhaiti.blogspot.com/2009/03/today.html

I'm so grateful for all that we have. I think I say that in almost every post that I make, but it's so true. I often pinch myself to prove to myself that this is all real!!!!

And now, here is my little girl, with her 3 week old cochlear implant learning about sound! No, I am not forcing her to become my little Cinderella!!!! Her speech therapist suggested that she get to vacuum to learn about the sound and begin to correlate that "noise" with the vacuum cleaner. She really had fun and hopefully she is beginning to understand that sound. Although, I won't argue with her if she decides to take on a chore!!! :)

Mission Accomplished!!! ;)

2010-02-27T19:34:00.000-08:00

My goal today was to remain in my PJ's all day....I did it! I was very productive around the house, but I was also a bit lazy at the same time! The kids and I had a nice day hanging out, playing, doing laundry, watching movies, re-orgainizing a few things and just hanging out. I am happy with this day! What an amazing blessing to get to just hang out with my 2 little munchkins with no pressure to do anything specific.

Ecrissa is doing well. She is hearing lots of things and responding to them sometimes. This is what we hope for. We hope that she will begin to learn that sound is around her all the time and that it is something to pay attention to. She doesn't respond to everything, but it's not expected that she would. There is a change in her that I began noticing right away. I noticed that her anxiety level has decreased. Ecrissa has always had some issues with anxiety. Many of her behavior issues stem from this fear of the unknown, fear of what's going on around her that she doesn't understand and can't access. Imagine, for instance, being in a room and everyone turns at the same time to look towards the door and all of a sudden the door opens and someone walks in. We all heard the knock on the door, the owner of the home say "come in", the door handle turn, the door open and the person say "hello". Ecrissa misses all of that. Her eyes dart around to keep an eye on her entire environment so that she is not surprised by an event occuring without warning. I noticed right away that her anxiety levels have decreased. I see this through decreased head turning, decreased eye darting, decreased body movements and just a bit less restlessness. Now, she's not perfect of course, but I noticed this right away. The speech therapist at her school was also noticing that Ecrissa seemed "calmer" and her face lit up when I said that I had also noticed that she seemed less anxious, "YES" she said, "she is less anxious, that's what it is" I'm hopeful that this is allowing Ecrissa to understand the world around her and that she will begin to feel safe within her world, her surroundings and her new abilities to recieve sound.

Jaryse is awesome! He's such a patient little guy. He deals with his sister's deafness, new hearing ability, and behaviors so well. He is such a helper to me and is often giving me kisses and telling me that he loves me at random moments. Those little random moments are so special to me!

We took the time this morning to watch some of the videos that we've taken over the years. It's amazing to see how much they've grown, to hear their little giggles and Jaryse's early words! I'm so grateful for these video's. I'm glad I could take them and now share them with Jaryse and Ecrissa!

I'm feeling more rejuvenated after a "stress free" day! I'm a lucky momma and so grateful for all that I have.

Saving the world......?

2010-02-22T20:29:00.000-08:00

As I sit here to type this, I can hear the deep calm breaths of my sleeping children. They are nestled all cozy and sweetly in their beds, sleeping so peacefully. I am filled with Joy. The sound of their breath in this quiet apartment overwhelms me.

I've had one of those days. One of those days where nothing really went wrong, but it seemed that around every corner there was some sad story. Children in Los Angeles that aren't recieving medical care, or therapeutic intervention. Thousands of children that don't have homes and are in the foster care system. Millions of sad stories coming out of Haiti. And here I sit. Or so it feels. I work daily with children with special needs, and I poor my heart out to them. I love them. I pray for them. I take care of my munchkins that I was so lucky to be given the opportunity to be their mommy. I love them. I adore them. I would gladly give my life for them. I try to help others where I can. And yet, I feel so helpless. There are so many hurting. So many suffering. I feel that my daily life seems so insignificant to others whose lives are so full of suffering. I feel like I work and work and work and yet, still there are so many that I cannot help. I know now that I will never "save the world". Oh, I used to think I could. When I was growing up in a small farm town (which I thought was the whole world), I used to think that I would really do something great with my life. I'd save the world. There would be no more hurting. No more suffering. No more pain. I knew when I was a young girl that I'd adopt, and that, would be just the beginning. The beginning of no more suffering. Well, it took one trip to Haiti for me to realize, I wasn't going to save one family, let alone the world! That is when I realized that it will take God to save the world. And as I sit here right now, feeling so overwhelmed with the suffering, I realize, God sent His son, to save us. We may have earthly troubles, earthly pain, and earthly suffering but when we have Jesus living in us, we are saved. Saved! He came to save the world. I am so grateful for that. I am so grateful that I do not have to worry about saving the world......He already did!!!!!!!!!

I know that God is using me. I know He has me right where He wants me. No matter how badly I want to do more. No matter how insignificant my daily life seems to me. I know that I am doing just what He wants me to do. I am praying tonight for all of those suffering earthly things that they might feel the saving powers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Happy Valentines day......

2010-02-17T19:31:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I'm a few days late! But, the kids and I did celebrate Valentines day with luvs and hugs and candy and church and dance and lunch with Mia and Ashley!!!!!! YAY what a great day!

Both kids are doing great! Ecrissa is tolerating her Cochlear Implant so well! I'm amazed. She seems to be interested in the sounds around her, although, not necessarily interpreting the difference between the different sounds. We go back to the audiologist on Friday and I'm sure we'll learn more then!!!!

It's been a great week so far and I'm such a lucky momma!!!!

Day 2

2010-02-13T15:10:00.000-08:00

This is Ecrissa today!!! She is such a trooper! Look at that smile! This is a smile that I've never really seen on her before. I don't know how to describe it, but this smile is different! This is her "sound" smile! She seems so delighted by these noises!!!

So, I'm sorry for the delay, but here is the basic run down of what happened yesterday!

Ecrissa knows the audiologist and the office and was quite comfortable to get out all of the toys! This picture shows her taking out her left hearing aid, preparing for the testing. She's such a big girl, she knows how to take it out and shut it off! She's learning so much.

This is the device, at this point the wire that you see is hooking the device to a computer, allowing the audiologist to program the processor. There are alot of technical terms and I'm not up on all of my Cochlear Implant terminology yet, so please bear with me!!! :)

THEN......the BEEPS

That was Ecrissa's face when she heard the first beeps......Quickly followed by.......

This amazing smile that shows how awesome she thinks this input is!!!! Just look at it!!!!! I could stare at this face all day!!! She's so interested and intrigued and excited!!!!!! She then, immitated the beeps that she heard with her voice! We were AMAZED!!!!! Usually children HATE these first sounds, they cry, they are afraid, and they often freak out. Not Ecrissa! She thought it was awesome!!!!!! She smiled and smiled and smiled! She played with a toy zylophone and smiled and smiled and smiled. A few times, the audiologist would shut off the device to see what Ecrissa would do. Ecrissa would be hitting the toy and smiling, and then all of a sudden (when she didn't get the feedback) she'd make a funny face, shrug her shoulders and put the toy down and move onto something else, with a look of "well, that doesn't work anymore". By the end of the session, she was actually looking for the device to be on and would make gestures to tell the audiologist that it wasn't working and that she wanted it back on. This is a MIRACLE!!!!!

Today she has tolerated the implant on now for 8.5 hours and it's only 3pm. She's doing AWESOME. She has been banging on drums with that awesome new smile of hers and she's been much noisier in her play overall. Each day is a new gift and I'm so grateful for this opportunity for her!!!! We have a long way to go in terms of her understanding the sounds that she's getting, interpreting those sounds, learning how to listen and then eventually being able to make use of those sounds and speaking herself. But, she is one step closer!!!

Ecrissa modeling her very stylish Cochlear Implant!!!!!!!

Welcome to the world of sound....

2010-02-12T21:23:00.000-08:00

Ecrissa is 4 hours old. That is how many hearing hours she has....roughly! We spent 2.5 hours at UCLA today turning on her Cochlear Implant. It was such an amazing thing to watch. Right now, I'm exhausted and I can hardly keep my eyes open! I'll blog tomorrow all the details of this amazing time that she and I had. I'm just amazed at her!

We also celebrate 11 months home. I am grateful everyday to the Lord for His blessings and today was FULL of reminders of His presence in our lives.

More tomorrow PROMISE!!!!

g'nite

Remembering God's amazing abilities to answer prayer

2010-02-05T15:09:00.000-08:00

So, today is another one of those days that I am remembering my life 1 year ago. I'll actually never forget it!!! The kids and I were still in Haiti, just a couple of short weeks after finally getting the signature that we had waited so long for. I was having a good day, things were "normal" for us, but I was really hoping for a miracle. I had kept my phone on me all day waiting to hear if their passports had been released from Haitian Immigration. By early afternoon, still no call. "Bummer" is what I was thinking. I knew that this particular day was the earliest they would be released and that it was more likely to take a few more days, but I so wanted this miracle to happen! I was driving through Petion-vile to go to do therapy with a little girl and had enough time to run a quick errand. As I was driving, I looked at the clock, and realized that the government offices would be closing within minutes and since there was no call, the likelihood of receiving that call was very small. I began to pray. Begging the Lord to make this miracle happen. Telling him that HE could keep the offices open later, that HE could put it in the man's heart to print them and release them today, that HE could make the man picking them up to go and check one more time, even though it was too late in the day. HE. COULD. MAKE. THIS. HAPPEN. I pleaded with the Lord until I parked my car at the store. I ran into the store (forgetting my phone), asked the lady if she had the item I was looking for, she said no, I returned to my car. I didn't even shop. As I put my car in drive, I noticed I had a message. I listened. IT WAS THE CALL!!!! The message was from the guy checking on my passports, he had them in his hands. WE GOT THEM!!!!!!!! Unbelievable! The Lord did it!!! HE DOES IT!!!! HE answers prayers! Sometimes He answers them slowly (like waiting 20 months for a signature), sometimes He says no or wait. But on that day, HE said YES IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!! I cried and shook and praised and smiled and laughed and rejoiced all by myself in my little white car. I'll never forget that feeling. Not only the feeling of thrill for recieving the passport, but for that amazing feeling of God answering my prayers!

Today, I sit here right now with my son napping and my daughter snacking and I rejoice again. I also mourn. I know that the Haiti that I was living in 1 year ago no longer exists the way I remember it. The child that I was on my way to do therapy with is no longer on this earth, she did not make it through the devastation of the earthquake. I am so devastated for those people. I miss Haiti and I love Haiti. I continue to pray for all that are in Haiti. So, today, I thank God that He does answer prayers and I am reminded to never cease praying. I will continue to pray. And I believe, He will continue to answer!

1 year ago today........

2010-01-22T22:02:00.000-08:00

.......started out like most days in Haiti for me. The kids went to school, I went to the clinic (which I miss so very much) and hadn't heard anything on the adoption for months. My brain often calculated how I could raise enough money to support myself and the kids in Haiti, as it seemed that we'd be stuck in MOI for-ev-er!!!! We had already been waiting 20 months for this ONE signature.

Then, late in the afternoon, I got the call! THE CALL!!!!! THE Call that I had been waiting and praying and crying for! For 20 months, I'd waited, and finally we got it!!!! I'll never forget hearing Dixie's voice on the other end of my phone saying "We got the signature!!!". I was BLOWN away. My body shook, my heart raced, tears ran out of my eyes, my face was smiling, my knees were weak!!!! I was so happy!!!!!

This day was truly the beginning of the end of my 4.5 year wait to bring my Haitian Angels home to the US. Now today, I sit here, remembering. I remember my time in Haiti. I remember all that we experienced. I'm so grateful! I know that most of what I did know of Haiti is mostly rubble on the side of the street. The places that were once so familiar are now destroyed and resemble nothing but a pile of cement. My heart is breaking. Please don't get me wrong, I'm so thrilled that my kids are here in the States, that we are safe, that they are growing, learning and did not have to witness that tragedy. But.....my heart is breaking for the country that I called home for nearly 3 years. The people that I learned to understand and eventually communicate with. The culture that I began to understand, if only the little that I could. The beauty. The smells. The idiosyncrisies of Haiti. I miss it. But today, I mourn it. I know so much is lost. So many lives. So many families. So much dispair.

I will always love Haiti and I can't wait to go there again, hopefully to help bring some healing to at least one person, hopefully more! I know that God has us here in the States. I remind myself each day that if He had wanted me there during a disaster such as this, I surely would have been there. He would have made sure of that. But what He did, was made sure we were here. This is where I need to let Him lead me. I'm trying to do that each day.

As these next few weeks pass, and I am reminded of our final weeks of our journey to America, I will rejoice in all that the Lord did, does and will do in all of our lives.

A very heavy heart

2010-01-20T20:40:00.000-08:00

So much has happened in the past week, my brain is like mush. I am just going to start with thanking the Lord for who HE is. My heart is so heavy for my friends and loved ones in Haiti. I feel worthless here in the States. I know there is nothing I can do to take away the suffering that they have all indured.

Ecrissa is doing fine. She had her follow-up appointment yesterday and everything looks good. She went back to school today and had an awesome day. The kids in her class were very excited to see her! That is fun for me to see. Many times, Ecrissa misses out on so much because people don't sign and are unable to communicate with her. But, when I walked into her classroom with her this morning, everyone was signing and she was communicating and they all were smiling and it was so heart warming! I long for her to have so many more friendships and connections such as this!

Jaryse is still loving having grandma and Aunt Ginger here (as is Ecrissa). He is doing well, although, he'd rather not go to school everyday!!!

I celebrated a birthday today. I am so blessed by my friends that came by, my family that pampered me and my children. My children are a gift to me every day. I couldn't ask for a better gift than waking up with my two precious angels. I will never take them for granted!

Please keep Haiti in your prayers.

Cochlear Implant

2010-01-13T20:17:00.000-08:00

We made it!!!!! Today was a crazy day with lots of emotions, but filled with prayers from people all over keeping us full of peace!! Ecrissa had her surgery and is doing great!

The above pics are right after we checked in. She was so cute. The first thing she did was told the receptionist that she was getting an implant!!!

Then we went into pre-op where Ecrissa was a superstar! She kept her Franklin book with her and that helped her deal with all the stuff that was happening and she even asked for the gown and the bed!!! So cute! She got a little frustrated waiting for things to begin, as the surgery before us set us back about 30 min. Ecrissa has a hard time understanding why we had to just sit there and wait, so she whimpered a little. But she handled most of it well. They took her back at about 10 am and it took about 2 hours.

Jaryse enjoyed playing and watching movies with Grandma Sessions and Aunt Ginger

And then, at about 12:30 I was called back into recovery! Ecrissa had the one bandage on her right ear and she was still sleeping. She came out of the anestesia very very combative! This didn't surprise me though! I have a little fighter on my hands and she did the same thing after being put to sleep for the MRI and ABR. This time though was worse! She was super mad and super uncomfortable. She kept trying to rip the bandage off of her head, so they added some gauze. When she continued to pull on it, they added an ACE bandage! So, she got herself really wrapped up by the end of it! Finally, they had to give her some meds to make her a little sleepy and help with the pain. After that, she finally calmed down.

Since been home she's been great. She's not been whining, she's not been pulling on her bandages, she's been resting nicely watching movies. She has only eaten a couple of bites of bread and yogurt and a few sips of juice, but she has been up every now and then to ask for things and she's moving around well. A bit slower than usual, but moving nicely all the same! As I type this, she's lying next to me in my bed, sleeping peacefully.

I am so very proud of this very special little girl and so thankful for all of your prayers today! I know that the reason I held it together and was able to be the Momma that she needed today, that she's safe and that the surgery went well was because of your prayers and God's hand in our lives.

I know this is the beginning of a brand new chapter for us and I'm so looking forward to it!

Please, keep the people of Haiti in your prayers. They need them more than ever. The information that is coming out of that country is devastating and your love, prayers and support of the people of Haiti is desparaetly needed! My heart is breaking for these people and at times I'm so overwhelmed with the needs there. I just turn to Jesus and beg Him to be so clearly present there that all Haitians will bow to HIM!!!!!

May the face of Jesus show so brightly in that counry that no one can turn away from the one true Lord. The one that loves them more than they can ever imagine.

Today is the day

2010-01-13T05:48:00.000-08:00

Ecrissa goes in for her surgery in 3 hours. She is still sleeping and I am pacing! I know she'll do great!

I am praising the Lord for His greatness right now! I know that I can pray for him to hold my daughter, protect her and guide the doctors hands. I can also pray for the people in Haiti as they deal with this horrible disaster of yesterday. I can pray for what seems like so much, but to Him, it's so easy! He has each one of us in His hands and I don't have to choose who to pray for. I don't have to make decisions regarding who needs Him more! He can handle it all! How amazing! I'm so grateful for that!

Praises and Prayers

2010-01-12T19:35:00.000-08:00

Today has been, well, a day to say the least. I am feeling so torn in so many directions emotionally. Today is 10 months home from Haiti! What a wonderful accomplishment! Can you believe it! Then, as I'm praising the Lord for that, I hear that there has been a HUGE earthquake in Port au Prince. Huge, like greater than 7.0 with many after shocks, some greater than 5.0. This breaks my heart. This poor country has gone through so much and so many people are going to suffer and die because of this tragedy. I'm heartbroken. I prayed for people that I know, people that I don't and then I prayed and continue to pray that this earthquake will be the event that opens the eyes of the Haitian people to the Lord! I pray that they will see HIS face in this and that they will turn their lives over to HIM! This is my prayer.

Please Lord, make this tragedy into something good as you have promised you can and will do! Father, take this event and allow the people of Haiti to see your loving face. Bring them to their knees in worship of you and only you!!!!!

I am feeling sick. I am struggling with my allergies and my throat is sore and my nose and eyes are watery! UGH! It's tough with the momma is sick! Then, as I was waiting to pull into a parking space today, a guy in a BIG HUGE truck, was not looking where he was going and backed right into me! The kids and I are fine, but I had to call the insurance company and deal with that whole ordeal. Just sorta irritating, but I'm sure glad that it was nothing more than a dent in my car! Also, the kids were so great during this! They didn't make a peep. They sat and waited so patiently while I got the insurance information from the other guy and while I talked to the insurance company. I am so amazed at how patient they were!

Along with all of that, tomorrow is Ecrissa's cochlear implant surgery! I am so nervous!!!! I am so excited!!!!! I am just full of all sorts of emotions!!!!!!!! I have waited since the day I found out she was deaf to have this surgery for her! She sorta knows what's coming and she's telling everyone she sees that she'll be getting an implant. I'm not so sure she understands the full extent of what this means for her little life, but she has some grasp that something big is happening.

We are all sitting here on the couch watching a movie and waiting for Grandma Sessions and Aunt Ginger to arrive. I am so happy that I will have help for the next 10 days from 2 really great family members. God always provides. I'm tired, but so grateful for all that the Lord has provided in my life,our safety, our health, my children and His love that is always there and always so strong holding me and getting my through it all!

If you think of it, please pray for the people of Haiti and my little Haitian Princess as she has her surgery tomorrow!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T12:44:00.001-08:00

Happy 2010!!! I am so very excited about all of the wonderful things that the Lord has in store for me and my family this upcoming year! I read my blog entry from last New Years and I realize how much my life has changed since then. On January 1st 2008, I was recovering from a very difficult time in Haiti. I did not share all of this publicly, but I had had a phony kidnapping threat (started out that we all thought it was real, turns out is was a prank by a local kid), credit card fraud on my only credit card (which left me without a valid credit card for over 2 weeks), passport renewal l(eaving me without a passport in Haiti for a week and a half )and an audit by the IRS-----All happening between Dec. 15th and Dec. 31st. It was quite possible the hardest, scariest, and most stressful 16 days of my life!!!!

On Jan. 1st, I was still quite depressed from dealing with all of that plus I felt as if I was never going to get to bring my children to the states. I had been dealing with so much with the adoption and there did not seem to be any forward movement, that I had almost given into the fact that I'd live the rest of my life fighting that same fight. That I'd live in Haiti, with my wonderful and precious children, but never able to let them be a part of my family on American Soil. Little did I know, that 21 days later, we would receive that MIRACULOUS signature and only 2 1/2 month later, we'd be stepping foot on American soil as a family!!!!!!!

Today, I am full of praise for that. As I sit here and enjoy this holiday with my kids I am STUNNED!!!!! I am just absolutely amazed that I am this blessed! I am so grateful that last week my babies were able to be a part of the Christmas traditions that I have treasured my entire life. In just 12 more days, my little girl is going to be undergoing the cochlear implant surgery, and last year I thought that she may never get that chance! I'm overwhelmed by what the year 2009 brought to the three of us, and so very excited for 2010!

Thank you all so much for you love, friendship and prayers. We are forever thankful!

Please keep this sweet little girl in your prayers as she undergoes this surgery and life changing event!

Christmas for a week!!!!!!

2009-12-30T14:05:00.000-08:00

This past week has been crazy--But AWESOME! The kids and I got to go to Michigan for the first Christmas EVER that the kids have had with the family and my first in 4 years! It was so nice to be home, see snow (although I am not a fan of it!), and to finally introduce my babies to the family traditions that I've known for most of my life! What a gift!

The trip home was interesting! On the first flight, the kids got to go sit in the cockpit of the plane! They loved it! The pilots gave them wings and even let them touch buttons! Jaryse thought that was REALLY fun!

They travelled so well! They are such troopers! We had 3 flights scheduled for our trip to Michigan, 2 layovers! We first flew from LA to Denver, and everything was nice and smooth! The trip from Denver to Chicago was also easy, until we landed in Chicago. When we de-boarded, we were told that our flight to Lansing was CANCELLED! UGH! They told me that they cold put us on stand-by for the rest of the evening and all of the next day! OH my gosh, hanging out in the airport for 2 days---don't think so! My dad, the gem that he is, jumped in the car and drove 4 hours to come to pick us up! We hung in the airport for the 3.5 hours it took for him and my step-mom to get there! Again, the kids were AWESOME! We ate dinner, had some ice cream and then I took them down to the baggage claim area and just let them run around. They were so good. At one point, they were playing around and being silly, and Ecrissa was running away from me and Jaryse, and she ran right into the MENS bathroom! It was sorta funny, but I was a bit nervous as I had to go into the MENS bathroom to go get her!!!!!!! Always keeping me on my toes!

We finally made it to my Dad's house at 5:30 in the morning! We were all very tired! The next day I felt like I was sleep walking! We visited my Grandma and my Mom for a while and then returned to my Dad's house to decorate Christmas cookies with all of the cousins! So Fun!

The next night was the traditional Christmas Eve gathering at my grandma and grandpa's place! This night has been my childhood favorite night of the entire year! I have so many good memories of Christmas Eve and I have dreamt for years of sharing this with my children! It was almost surreal that it finally happened!

The kids got so many gifts from so many different people! We were all so blessed with so many gifts, so much love and a ton of attention!

Then, my Dad, step-mom, Aunt Ginger, Grandma, Grandpa, myself and my two kids all went to the movies! This was the kids' first experience with the movie theatre! They thought it was pretty awesome!

This outfit was one that Grandpa and Grandma Sessions got for Jaryse! Isn't he Handsome?!!!!

The kids also got to play in the snow a TON! They went snowmobiling (around the house) with Grandma and Grandpa Packer!

Sledding with Grandpa Sessions

And they learned out to shovel a driveway as well!!!!!!

Overall, this was such a wonderful, crazy, and exhausting week! I am so blessed by my family!

Our trip home was smooth sailing! The kids were awesome and we made all our flights and we landed in LA early! I had awesome friends that picked us up and fed us dinner! Wow! Life is so good!

Silly Kids!!!!

2009-12-20T20:38:00.000-08:00

The week is finally over!!!! Oh, bummer, and so is the weekend now!!!!! The kids finished school on Friday for the year! We are looking forward to 3 weeks with no homework!!! Well, I am at least looking forward to that!!! On Thursday, the school put on a Christmas program and the kids did so well. It was fun to watch all of the classes use spoken language and ASL (interpreters were used as needed!) I loved watching both of my little ones show how much they've learned!

Jaryse (the little one with the white shirt on the very far right in the front row!) was super cute! This is a hearing class, and so they sung a song about snow flakes and they used Sign Language too. Half way through the song, Jaryse stopped doing the ASL signs and looked over at me and gave me the "I love you" sign! It was so cute and so heartwarming!

Ecrissa did a great job as a reindeer in a skit about snowmen! She was too cute, as she walked up onto the stage and waved at the entire crowd! She quickly remembered why she was up there and went through her designated motions well!

Momma is looking forward to a week off, after of course, a shift tomorrow at the hospital, packing and flying to Michigan! We are all looking forward to spending time with the family in Michigan as we celebrate Jesus' birthday!

I think Ecrissa would like to develop a way to drive with her feet so that she can drive and sign at the same time!!!!!

Wishing you all a Merry Merry Christmas

9 months home!

2009-12-13T19:46:00.001-08:00

Yesterday we celebrated 9 months home from Haiti. How did we do this you may ask????? By not even getting out of our jammies!!!!! The kids and I had a day at home just hanging out! We watched movies, painted some arts and crafts, read books, colored, I cleaned a little bit, we ate snacks, and just played! We also looked at pictures of the kids from when they were little babies! I am still amazed at their journey so far and how little they once were! They enjoy seeing themselves and hopefully as we do this every now and then it'll leave a nice open and safe place for them to talk about adoption and ask any questions they may have. I'm so blessed to be chosen to be their mommy and to be allowed to be a part of their lives. Needless to say, yesterday was wonderful. IT WAS AWESOME! I am so thankful for all that the Lord has blessed me with and continues to bless me every day!

My tough guy!

2009-12-08T18:55:00.000-08:00

So, please forgive the no sound, old school video...but here is a bit of my man punching the punching bag today! Unfortunately, my camera is very old, takes not so great pics, and has no sound on the video, but at least something is better than nothing right now!!!! Jaryse had fun punching this thing for over 25 minutes! His little giggles were just priceless!!!

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas......

2009-12-07T19:28:00.000-08:00

And we are loving it!!!!! Granted, there is no snow here in Los Angeles, but our house is decorated, the kids are wearing their santa hats, stores everywhere have things up, houses are lit up with lights, radio stations are playing Christmas music, and this little family is just so excited to spend Christmas in MI with the family!!!!!! Every day I am thankful for every minute I get with my children! They amaze me! I love love love watching their eyes gleam with all the newness of the States and with all that they are learning and experiencing! I'm so blessed by them!

There's really nothing interesting to report, just weeks full of school, homework, family time, gymnastics time, ballet time, house cleaning, bike rides, park, hangin' out with friends and somewhere in there we all sleep! Both kids are doing well in school. Jaryse is having issues with runny noses and coughing, they come and go and come and go! There is no other real symptom, just a little cough. Dr. Ed told me that they'd get sick because they hadn't been exposed to the things here in the States. I was prepared. But, they didn't seem to be getting sick, up until just the last month. Jaryse actually had his first ever ear infection a few weeks ago. It was quite painful, but he was such a trooper. He had some drainage out of his ear for a couple days, and then the first morning that there wasn't he got out of bed and came up to me and told me "Momma, my ear didn't drool last night!" It was too cute!! He healed up nicely from his ear infection and seems to be on the mend from his latest cold.

Ecrissa is doing well. She didn't get the ear infection and hasn't really even gotten a cold! She's a strong kid that little Miss E!!!! She is learning so much and is really beginning to interact and tell stories in ASL and is able to more and more interact with the world around her! It's so fun. Of course, along with that comes a bit of testing! Throughout our time together, with each major growth spurt and milestone, Ecrissa tests her limits and boundaries! She can be a hand full. She is sorta in another testing phase right now. I think because her language has exploded and she has learned so much about herself, the world around her and how to communicate, she has decided to just see exactly what that all means for her boundaries! It's hard on me, but I try to remember, that these really are positive steps for her as she learns and grows. And, as long as I stay strong and loving, it is good for her and I as well. She learns through each one of her phases that Momma is strong and consistent and loves her no matter what! This is really what she wants and what she desperately needs. To know that I love her enough to maintain appropriate boundaries consistently! She is a happy and fun loving little girl that is such a joy to me.....even during hard times!!!! :) Watching her grow and learn through these times of testing is really quite amazing. Sometimes distressing, but always amazing!

I am loving my life. I'm fully exhausted by the end of each and every day, but I wouldn't change my life for the World! Thank you Jesus for blessing me with this life. The ups, the downs, the laughter, the tears, and all the positives and the negatives. It is such a wonderful life!

Um...no time to think of a title...

2009-12-01T21:01:00.000-08:00

I'm super tired!!! LOL!!! We have been so busy....doing what......well.....basically when we are not in school, working, or at a doctors appointment, or ballet or gymnastics, or church, or doing homework we are hanging out!!! I have tried to make our "family time" more family and less computer!!! So, when the kids are watching a movie, so is Mommy. Mommy is not updating status on facebook, or updating the blog, or whatever, the computer is down and Mommy is hanging with the kids and all three hang out! That's been good for the three of us, but bad for keeping up with emails, blogs, pictures, etc!!!

We had a very restful Thanksgiving! We did NOTHING!!!! I know, sorta un-American to not eat a turkey dinner, but, that's just fine by me! Jaryse wanted donuts, so we walked to the donut shop together and all got donuts for breakfast on Thanksgiving morning, then took a bike ride to the park in the afternoon. It was wonderful! We laid around on the couch, read books, colored, and did a little cleaning up. It was a wonderful weekend of NOTHING! Exactly what the three of us needed!

Life here is moving forward and we are looking forward to going back to MI for Christmas! We put up our Christmas tree the week before Thanksgiving and have been very happy to plug it in every night. The kids love it and I am enjoying every one of their smiles as they enjoy the Christmas decorations.

Well, just a short post to update you a bit. Hopefully, I'll get some pics soon, but I won't apologize this time, as the time spent with my munchkins has been well worth it!!!! I'm one lucky Momma and so grateful for all that I've been blessed with!

Loving life, moving forward, and thrilled to be a mom!!!

2009-11-19T20:44:00.000-08:00

Life is about to get very interesting for this little princess! I am pleased to announce that we got to finally schedule the Cochlear Implant Surgery for Ecrissa!!!! After lots of tests to be sure that she is a medical candidate and has the potential to benefit from this surgery, it was scheduled for January 13 2010!!! YAY!!! I am happy, excited, and a bit nervous too! I know that this is going to be a trying time for all of us. She'll be going through some pain, lots of adjustments, lots of therapy, and all sorts of new experiences. I am so excited for her, yet I know that it's not going to be an easy road, especially at first!

These two previous pictures were taken before her little ballet performance that she was so privileged to be a part of. SHE. LOVED. IT!!!! Her ballet group got to perform at the intermission of a ballroom dance competition and she had so much fun on stage performing in front of all those people! She is NOT shy!!!! She came out skipping, waving and bowing way before it was time to bow!!! LOL!!! She is full of energy and she loves to dance!

Jaryse refuses to admit that he's tired. Then........he conks out in the funniest positions, like sitting up!!!!! He refused to take a nap the other day, then 2 minutes later, I found him sitting up on the couch where he was watching the movie that I had put in for Ecrissa, sound asleep! He's so funny!!!!

Same with the picture below! We had been home for him to take a nap. He kept telling me he was NOT tired, and he did not fall asleep. Until we were at Ecrissa's ballet performance, in which he must have decided was not worth watching and he again, slept sitting up!

Hope you are all having a wonderful week! It's been a great one for us! Some how this week we've had time to chill on the couch together and we've not been running around like crazy people, but the weird thing is, that I've actually worked more this week than some weeks that seemed much crazier! I think it's my new commitment to not being perfect!!!! Read the previous post if you are confused! But, seriously, I really have allowed myself to slow down, live life and just be still at times! It is so nice! But, if you want to pee in a perfectly clean toilet, DON'T come to my house right now! But, if you want to hang out on the couch and color and read bedtime stories, or watch a movie with some popcorn, come on over!!!!

My new goal.

2009-11-09T18:41:00.000-08:00

Set forth from this day forward I will strive to .......................... NOT BE PERFECT.

Yep, that's it. That's my new goal. I am going to strive to not be perfect. To stop living each day as if I can somehow be it all in all and doing all and knowing all and doing all and all the all's that I just can't do! I am tired of trying to be so perfect in my life, that I live in frustration that somehow I'm letting my perfectly wonderful children down. I want to leave my house a mess for a day so that I can sit on my son's bed and read stories with him and his sister----WITHOUT feeling guilty for it. I want to forget that there is laundry to do so that I can take the kids for a bike ride and NOT FEEL bad about leaving the laundry. I can't do both! So, when it comes to choosing, I'm choosing my kids AND no guilt. Usually I choose the kids PLUS guilt. I am going to stop multi-tasking (to the best of my ability) so that I can enjoy making dinner and giving my kids a bath. I love my life and I am going to stop trying to be the perfect mother and just be the perfect imperfect mother that I am. And, I am going to love every imperfect minute of it!!!!

Today, I am setting the goal of accepting me. The perfectly imperfect me.

Another First!!!

2009-10-31T20:56:00.000-07:00

Yes, my little community workers went Trick-or-Treating!!!! In Haiti, we didn't celebrate Halloween or really even mention it. Since there is so much Voodou in that country, Halloween is not a holiday that I paid any attention too. Here in the States though, Halloween didn't feel evil to me. Not like I would feel during "all saints and all soul's day" in Haiti. So, the kids and I had a blast tonight! We went to my friends house and had dinner and then we did some trick or treating around their neighborhood.

This was not only a first for the kids, but a first for me! I had never TAKEN kids trick or treating! I remember being a kid trick or treating, but I've never been on the "mommy" side of it! It was so fun! The smiles on their faces were AWESOME! I did notice a couple of things though.

1. When I went trick or treating in Michigan, we were FREEEEEEEZing and it seemed like it ALWAYS rained! Tonight here in LA was a perfect temperature for a long sleeve shirt/sweatshirt and it was a full moon with a beautiful sky and no rain!

2. Since living in Haiti, I haven't done a lot of walking around in the dark. I still find myself home before dark and not really leaving after dark. So weird! I know it's much safer here than it was in Haiti, but, it has become a habit. It was kinda nice walking around the neighborhood and not feeling an overwhelming sense of fear. We really enjoyed ourselves.

The kids had a blast yesterday at school with their Halloween parade and trick or treating in the classroom as well. Both were very happy and excited when I picked them up from school.

And this little Princess Surgeon won "Most Creative Costume" for the First Grade! Go Ecrissa!

Ecrissa also lost her other top tooth today! That is always a bit traumatic for her, but she thinks it's pretty cool when it finally comes out!

They each ended this day with a HUGE plastic pumpkin chucked full to the top with candy and treats! What an awesome life God has blessed me with!

Carving pumpkins!

2009-10-25T15:22:00.000-07:00

This morning, Jaryse and Ecrissa carved pumpkins for the first time. Ecrissa wasn't sure she liked touching that slimy inside stuff, but Jaryse had a blast!

The pumpkin is wearing one of Mr. Potato Head's hats!!!! Good thing Mr. Potato Head doesn't mind sharing!

We've had a restful couple of days. We skipped out on extra stuff this weekend and mostly just stayed home. We ran one errand that took less than an hour and took a short trip to the park. Other than that, we stayed at home. We've played dress up, painted, watched movies, colored, read books, carved pumpkins, and basically just laid around and did not a whole lot! It's been nice! I think we'll all be rested to tackle the week ahead of us!

Grateful

2009-10-22T19:55:00.000-07:00

This past week has been a week of reflection for me. After finally making it home from Haiti with my two amazing children, getting the kids enrolled in school, finding work, dealing with and finally coming to the end of the bulk of the doctors visits, and trying to make a schedule for the three of us that is looking at least similar from one week to the next.....sorta.....I have finally had a chance to think and reflect.

What have I discovered? I'm not sure!!! I am still discovering feelings that I have had and haven't had the brain capacity to realize that I've had through all of this!

It was 9 months ago today that we finally got the last signature that we needed and had been waiting for over 17 months to receive! At that point, without even processing my previous feelings of despair and depression, I was onto the highest level of elation possible to mankind!!!

Then, we made it home and have had so much on our plate that I haven't even thought of me and my adjustment. I know I've not adjusted well. I've been very stressed and anxious. Scared. Scared mostly of failing my kids. Scared of not being perfect. Scared of not being able to help people here the way I was able to help and serve others in Haiti. I've been reflecting on all of that this week. Usually my brain gets so overwhelmed that I find something else to do or think about because I just can't process all of it. But, what I realize, even though I still have a long way to go in terms of processing all of what has happened over the past 5 years from the very first trip to Haiti, beginning and end of the adoption, and up until now is that I am so very grateful!

I am grateful for my health. I'm so blessed by a working and functioning body and mind. I'm grateful for my opportunities that I've had my whole life. I was born and raised by my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. I had siblings and cousins all around me. I never went hungry. I never went without a bed. I was clean and well cared for. I was (and still am) loved. I am grateful for my education. Many in the world don't even get one day of school let alone all the way through to a doctorate. I am grateful for my job. I am grateful for my church family. I am grateful for my children. When I look at them I see so clearly that they were not just born to be mine, but the reason that I was ever born was to be their mommy. I know God chose them for me and me for them before I was even born and that just blows me away! Lastly, as hard as it is, I am grateful for all that I have gone through. I am grateful for the hardships. They have taught me so much about God's love for me. Had I known 5 years ago all that I would have gone through I never would have considered taking that first trip to Haiti. Can you imagine?????? I can't. This is when I realize that God will tell us all that we can handle and He'll slowly reveal to us what we can handle. I am SO GRATEFUL for that! I can't imagine my life without the two amazing people that truly complete me. This is what I am holding to now. I keep reminding myself that God has it all worked out, and He'll show me daily what I need to know...no more and no less. If he can get us through Haiti and the last 5 years, today is no problem for Him!!!

I don't know how long it'll take for me to be able to process all that has happened the past 5 years, but I do know that I am simply grateful.

7 Months home!!!!

2009-10-12T17:32:00.000-07:00

We are in the middle of a week full of amazing milestones for the Sessions family!

Today is 7 months being home from Haiti,

Wednesday is 6 months after moving to Los Angeles,

5 years ago yesterday I met my beautiful little girl,

5 years ago on Saturday I had met my little man!

I am so blessed and I cherish each day that I have with my amazing children and I give all glory to the Lord above for his promises!!!!

School, MRI's, and just life!

2009-10-09T16:31:00.000-07:00

We have had a week!!! It's been full of laughing, crying, cleaning, learning, growing, changing, loving and even a little bit of sleeping!!!!! Monday was a hard day. I woke up feeling crappy and I think that my mood rubbed off on my son because he had a pretty hard day at Kindergarten! When I asked him what happened and why he said to me "Momma, I just hit my limit with school today!" Poor thing!!!!! I couldn't help but laugh inside at how stinkin' cute this kid is!!!!!!

Ecrissa has been moved out of the Kindergarten/Pre-Kindergarten class and into the 1st grade classroom! I have had mixed feelings about it, but in the end I think the new challenge is going to be great for her, plus this class only has 5 students in it, so the extra individual attention will be great!!! We have her IEP Meeting for school next week, so I am sure we'll make some nice forward progress with school and the services that she recieves at school next week! I'm excited for that! These are the sorts of things that I was so anxious to have for her while we were in Haiti and I am so excited for her to get the support services that she needs so that she can continue to learn and reach her potential!

Which.....maybe becoming a doctor or nurse!!!!! She had her sedated MRI yesterday and while we were waiting for the room and the doctor to be available, she pretended to give me and the other nurse shots! She was so funny! She put on a glove, used the little alcohol square to clean the arm, gave the shot with her finger (we of course pretended that it hurt and she laughed at us) and then she proceeded to put a piece of tape/band-aid on where she gave the "shot"! It was awesome to see her go through each step so carefully and so correctly! I think we have it folks! I've got a hidden genius here!!!!!

Momma has been doing pretty good! I still feel like my days are battles on many fronts, but that is probably the life of a mom I am guessing! I think sometimes I've been so beaten up I can't go on, but then when I look into the faces of my two precious angels, I am re-charged and ready to go! I am looking forward to next week as I should receive the results of the MRI, finish Ecrissa's IEP and complete the preliminary process for the cochlear implant! IF all is well with the MRI, we proceed to picking out the device that we want and begin the scheduling process!!! Please pray that the insurance company will approve the request and we can proceed with scheduling her surgery!!!!!

I think........

2009-09-26T19:05:00.000-07:00

.....I am the world's worst blogger! I have two very amazing superstars that keep me one busy Momma!!!! Things have been pretty good! This week, the kids finished their third week of school. Both kids are doing really really well. They are learning a lot and I can see it every day! Each day they both come home telling me things they've learned or signs that they've learned or something! It's amazing to me! I don't remember making this much progress each and every day!!!! Both kids are very good about doing their homework each night and have been really good about the nighttime routine and getting ready in the morning! I am so blessed with 2 amazing children!

Wednesday was Jaryse's 5th birthday! First, I can't believe that he's 5 years old! Second, I can't believe we are finally celebrating his birthday in the states!!! WOW!!! So, we had a small celebration in his class with cupcakes, a crown and the singing of "Happy Birthday". Then we went and got the bike that Grandma and Grandpa Packer sent for him for his birthday. Then, we had friends over for presents and cake and ice cream. He was so SPOILED by my friends and family! What a great gift for this very special 5 year old!!!!!

The above picture is most of Jaryse's Kindergarten class at Marlton.

Jaryse and Ecrissa before school the morning of Jaryse's birthday!!!

Quick update on the medical issues! We have been working on doing the immunization catch-ups and making sure that the kids are as healthy as can be. The doctor wanted a whole panel of tests to make sure that there aren't any underlying issues that haven't been caught secondary to the kids not having the typical "well baby" check-ups. So far, OK. Jaryse has been referred to Urology to check on his hernia surgical sites and possible issue with the right testicle, Please pray for that! Ecrissa has been referred to Opthamology for her right eye as if often drifts off to the right. Hopefully that can be addressed simply. Ecrissa also undergo a sedated MRI as one of the final tests for the Cochlear Implant Evaluation. Hopefully a final decision as to whether or not she'll get the implant will be made by the end of October. So basically, within the next month between the two kids, I have at least 6 doctor visits scheduled as it stands now! I average 1-2 days a week in the doctors office with one or both kids!!!! It's worth it!!!!!

How is momma doing???? Well, the truly positive answer is.....depends on the minute! I am struggling with a few things. As you can see from this post, it is NOT the kids! They are amazing! Their behavior has been great, they are learning, they are growing, they are loving, they are just amazing! They bring only JOY to my life. I am just struggling with normal adult things. Trying to balance everything that is expected of me as a person, as a mother, as a therapist and as a child of God. I sometimes feel overwhelmed, much because of the pressure that I put on myself to be perfect. I am thankful for my friends and family, my children and grateful for each day that we make it through, and each morning that I wake up with a new chance to do it all over again! I do need to ask, if you feel led, to please pray for me as I deal with very limited finances, a schedule that gets overly full with doctors visits, work, running the kids to therapies, school and such, and just taking care of normal daily things like laundry, food, and cleaning the house. I find myself often anxious about our limited funds and an over full schedule. I know I need to trust that the Lord will take care of it, and I do, but for some reason my human brain keeps worrying anyway!!!! Nothing is bad, nothing is terrible, just sometimes everything, gets to be a bit much! Thank you in advance for your prayers!

6 Months!

2009-09-12T06:34:00.000-07:00

One half of a year ago today these three people were loading a plane to leave Port au Prince Haiti for the first time as a family.

They had been a family for over 4.5 years with a bond of love and a determination to make the best of every minute. Jaryse and Ecrissa became US citizens and this was the beginning of some amazing new opportunities!

Jaryse is a new Kindergartner with UNLIMITED opportunities in front of him! He loved his first three days at school and I can already see how much he has learned and will be learning! He has also been given the opportunity to start gymnastics (through a wonderful donation by the gym) and HE LOVES IT! His coach told me last week that he is very talented and has good strength. His face lights up when it's his day and time for gymnastics class.

Ecrissa has had so many tests and there are still so many unanswered questions, but she is truly an AMAZING little girl. She has blossomed here in the States growing over 4 inches in these last 6 months and learning so much sign language! She loves her dance and gymnastics classes and is showing so much improvement! These classes truly bring her joy! And, from Momma's Physical Therapy brain, so much benefit!!!!! (ps, the picture taken above was taken by Jaryse, isn't he getting to be a good photographer?????)

They have both experienced so many new opportunities including meeting grandma's and grandpa's, aunts, uncles and cousins for the first time. Playing in snow, bowling, ballet, gymnastics, kayaking, the zoo, the aquarium, the Wild Animal Park, museums (I think 3 different ones), parks, taking walks as a family, escalators, elevators, Malls, so many new foods and I am sure so much more! How much fun it is to watch these little people love life with such enthusiasm and get to be a part of it!

Momma is finally feeling like she can keep up! She has 2 part time jobs and enjoys them both a lot! Friends and family here have been so amazing and it's because of them that this transition has gone so smoothly and so enjoyable!

Today, we are going to enjoy our day together as a family at an ASL story time at a bookstore and then with some friends at their house, probably swimming! What a great day!

Labor Day, First day of School and an ABR!

2009-09-10T15:09:00.000-07:00

Whew!!! All that in 3 days!!!!! The kids and I celebrated our first Labor day in the U.S together at the beach! We had a blast! We played in the park near the beach and the kids played in the water and made sand castles. I love watching them and they are getting big enough that I actually got to just kinda sit in the sun and watch them! How FUN!!!!!

Jaryse spent most of the day running around, chasing waves and building sand castles, While Ecrissa hung out near Momma posing for pictures!!! :)

Then, Wed. Sept. 9th was the first day of school! Both kids are in kindergarten and they are both at the school for the deaf. Ecrissa is in the deaf classroom with a deaf teacher and deaf classmates. Jaryse is in the hearing classroom with a hearing teacher and hearing classmates. They incorporate sign language into that curriculum for those kids. Both classes play together at recess and have lunch together and do field trips and such together! I think it's wonderful for Jaryse and the others in his class to learn ASL along side their hearing impaired peers!

AS I drove them to school, I couldn't help realize how happy I am! How amazing life is. How wonderful our opportunities are. If you were to look at the statistics of children born in Haiti, how many of them get to eat three meals a day??? How many of them get new clothes??? How many of them even get the opportunity to go to school, let alone a good school in the US that teaches not only English but American Sign Language. It made me want to cry! I was so overwhelmed with gratitude to the Lord for the blessings that were sitting in the back seat of my car! Jaryse and Ecrissa are truly my little angels and I am so overjoyed that they get this wonderful opportunity for education that in all reality, many of their Haitian peers do not get the chance to experience.

Along those same lines, I became sad. I became sad that education is so undervalued here in the US. That our American children have no idea what a privilege it is to go to school and how many Haitian (and many other children around the world) would give anything to have the opportunity to go to school.

Today was a whole new experience for me and my little princess. Today she underwent sedation for the first time and she had a sedated hearing test that is called an ABR. Please don't ask me to fully explain this test, because, well, it's a bit complicated. But, basically, it is part of the Cochlear Implant evaluation process and it was quite an experience!

She was treated like a princess in the pre-op room getting balloons and stickers and getting to put on all sorts of "Doctor Garb!". They game her a medicine that made her go to sleep and off she went!

She was all hooked up to all sorts of electrodes and wires and masked and everything else. I knew in my brain that this was a painless and simple procedure, but seeing my little girl like that was a bit distressing!!!!!

An hour and a half later the nurse came to get me to tell me that she was a super star!!! Ecrissa was already awake, doing well and they had completed the test with no complications!

Ecrissa did not seem so happy!!! She was super uncomfortable and even a bit combative! This did not surprise me with the little fighter that I have on my hands! She eventually calmed down after basically yelling at me multiple times and each and every one of the nurses, doctors, and assistants!! She let us all know that she was not to happy about the way she was feeling! She was not in any pain, just waking up from that medicine is no fun!

After I got her home and in some comfy PJ's and turned on a movie and gave her a small snack, she finally looked at me and smiled and gave me her notorious "thumbs up!"

We will wait for the Cochlear Implant team to review these results and then go from there in our decision making process to continue to try to determine if this surgery is the right thing for Ecrissa.

Well, that there is a small update on the last few days here in the life of the Sessions' clan! I'd say, we are pretty blessed!

They are getting so big!!!!!!

2009-08-31T20:27:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-17T20:45:00.000-07:00

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!!!!

2009-08-12T17:43:00.000-07:00

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

Summer Fun!!!

2009-07-27T20:31:00.000-07:00

So far the past couple of weeks have been pretty low key. I mean, as low key as a home can get as you are settling in from a move across the country after moving from a third world country!! LOL!!! Summer school has been wonderful for Ecrissa. I know she's learning alot, she has a few friends (and they are all deaf and use Sign Langauge!) and she likes her teacher! I am thrilled and all of us are learning more and more sign every day! It's wonderful! We are still going through the evaluation process to determine if she's a medical candidate for the cochlear implant. I know I am always saying this, but some things just take time! We had to do a three month hearing aid trial, which is up August 7th and she then will complete a full 2 hour audiological evaluation at UCLA. Then there are a couple of other tests that have to be done and from there a team of professionals will determine if they think she's a candidate! I know that no matter what happens, God is in control and everything will work out perfectly for Ecrissa. I know that, because God loves her more than I can imagine!

The kids continue to grow like weeds, they are learning a ton, they are experiencing all sorts of things and we are just having a ball as a family. I am not going to lie to you.......I'm exhausted, but it's all worth it!!! I love watching them, I love holding them ,I love seeing them soak it all in! I don't know how they have all the energy that they do, but I love it!!! I end each day falling into bed fully exhausted and I often wake up just as exhausted, but each day is filled with something that is an encouragement. There are many many things that are hard, many things stress me, and a ton of things keep me moving and do NOT allow total relaxation, but I know that God is giving me strength to make each day the best it can be for my little angels.

I am amazed at this. I was reading some of my old blog posts the other day and broke down SOBBING. Those feelings of fear, frustration, anger, loneliness, uncertainty, and basically giving up on ever leaving Haiti with my two children came flooding back with such a familiar intensity. It seemed like I was still in it. I remember it so clearly. I remember the feelings of despair all mixed in with love for the country of Haiti and love for my children. I had so many emotions in me that I was a mess. Yet, at the same time, it seemed like those days were so long ago, yet also like it was only yesterday. I am glad we made it through that, I am glad I wrote about it. I never want to forget what God has done for us.

Grandpa and Grandma (my mom and step dad)Holton send us packages on a consistent basis (as does my grandma). We are so thankful for them and really look forward to them! Jaryse will check by the mailbox on a daily basis to see if "the package came", even if one is not supposed to be there! He also told me a while ago that the mail man brings the packages that grandma's send! I guess he thinks that is the only thing that comes in the mail! In the most recent package, there was a gift for Jaryse that was a pretend razor, pretend shaving cream, a brush, mirror and comb. Jaryse told me this morning that he needed to take a bath, cause "he needed to shave" . Gotta love it!

Another "first" at the San Diego Zoo!!!!

2009-07-20T17:39:00.000-07:00

This weekend was such a blessing!!!! I had the opportunity to take the kids to the San Diego Zoo with a very special friend of mine! Rachel and I have been friends for quite a few years and she went with me to Haiti the trip before I moved there. The last time she saw the kids, Jaryse was 15 months and Ecrissa was 2.5 years old. Well, needless to say, she was happy to see them on U.S. soil!!!

The first thing we did of course was check out the map and Jaryse was quick to help Rachel figure out where we were going. This was after we could get Ecrissa away from the Giraffe statue. She was so intrigued by the statue and the pictures and everything that she was seeing, it was hard to pull her away to go see the actual real and living animals!!! Once she did finally figure out that we were going to see live animals, she was so excited!!!

The kids had so much fun and they were so intrigued by everything and it brought tears to our eyes watching how they just took everything in with such interest and excitement!

I remembered to bring the sign language dictionary so I was able to look up some of the animal signs that I didn't know! That was fun too! We did all of the signs that we could with both kids and they loved it! A great learning experience for all of us!

The kids were such troopers and so well behaved! We spent about 6 hours at the zoo and the kids were AWESOME the whole time (with just a few minutes of melt down right before lunch, but food solved the problem!). They loved all the animals and they enjoyed a puppet show and they got to feed the Giraffes! They had SO. MUCH. FUN.

I don't think I could be happier than I am right now! I LOVE LOVE LOVE sharing all of these experiences with these amazing children. What a great weekend! Big loves and Thanks to Rachel and her husband Daryl for taking us in and spoiling us this weekend!

Home for 4 months!

2009-07-15T14:22:00.001-07:00

This post is a couple of days late, but it's been a bit crazy around the Sessions home! Sunday, July 12 was our 4 month anniversary of leaving Haiti. We left March 12th and spent a month in Michigan and came to Cali on April 14th. On Sunday, we celebrated God's promises and the children were publicly dedicated to him. What an amazing thing! I am so grateful that God has entrusted me with these two little lives but even more grateful that He promises to raise them with me, if I give them to Him!!!! I did, I do, and I will!!!!!! I have faith that because of His love and guidance, these two children will grow and develop into the amazing people that He purposed them to be!

In other news, Ecrissa has grown so much that after only 2 months of wearing hearing aides, she is due for new molds. So, we had an appt. with our audiologist yesterday and new impressions of her ears were made and we should have new molds in about 2 weeks. We have more visits scheduled to keep moving forward towards the cochlear implant. We have not yet been 100% cleared, accepted and given the go-ahead to schedule that surgery yet. Please keep praying for this!!!!

Ecrissa is also LOVING school! She is learning and I am thrilled for her! She is a happy girl and definetly growing up way to quickly for her momma!!!!

Fun!

2009-07-09T15:51:00.000-07:00

Just a couple of cute pics and a funny story!

So, many of you who know my son, know that Jaryse likes to "give away Momma's Suga" (aka Sugar). For those of you who don't know, Jaryse thinks it's HILARIOUS to kiss someone else, while momma says "NO NO NO NO THAT'S MY SUGA, DON'T GIVE AWAY MY SUGA, GIVE IT TO ME!" So this is a crazy funny game that started when he was probably only about 17 months old and continues today! Well, his favorite person right now to give "Momma's suga" to is my friend Amanda!

She also thinks it's funny, as you can see by the look on her face.......

But then, well, Jaryse gets a bit out of hand..........

and yep, the husband of Amanda (aka John) has to step in and sit on the Suga Giver!!!!! Don't worry, John isn't hurting Jaryse! He was careful not to squish all of "momma's sugar" out of my little man!!! :)

I am so blessed with beautiful children and wonderful friends! Thank you Jesus!

One of those days.....

2009-07-07T18:37:00.000-07:00

Well, I guess everyday can't be wonderful! The kids are wonderful, Ecrissa is doing well in school and Jaryse is FULL of hugs and loves and kisses and awesomely nice words for me, but the world is taking it's toll on me today!!!

Dealing with life, bills, and making ends meet is making me nervous! I know God has it all worked out and I am so thankful for all of His provisions. Basically, I'm just sad today dealing with all of the stress that comes with being a mommy that wants the world for her precious babies.

My step-mom sent me the following "story" via e-mail. I liked it and I thought it might bless some of you as it has me, so I decided to share.

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island.He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky... He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, 'God! How could you do this to me?' Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! 'How did you know I was here?' asked the weary man of his rescuers.'We saw your smoke signal,' they replied.

The Moral of This Story: ?? ? ?

It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

My prayer today is that no matter what happens, God sees yours (and my) smoke signals tonight and rescues us! I pray this in full confidence, knowing that HE loves US and will come through for us!!!!

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-05T17:48:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful day and I trust that you all did as well! God has blessed us with so much that I don't even know what to say! Every time I looked at my kids yesterday, I was in complete awe of where we've been and in complete wonder and anticipation of where God is taking us! We had an all American day with some rest and relaxation.....

Pictures.......

hanging with friends.........

eating hot dogs, chips, rice krispie treats.......

and swimming.

We finished off our night with some beautiful fireworks over the LA sky! What more could our family ask for!!!????

Thank you friends, family, and Jesus for all that we have!

Looking forward to the weekend!

2009-07-01T17:31:00.000-07:00

I know, it's only Wed., but it is Wed. night!!! That means I'm on the downhill slope to the weekend right???!!!!! I am excited about this weekend because it will be the first 4th of July with my new little Americans!!! I am so excited to spend this holiday with them!!!!!

We have had a good week so far. The kids are doing well and are enjoying gymnastics camp again this week! I am keeping them busy so we can all sleep at night!! :) They got to go Kayaking again today. This is Jaryse's favorite day of the camp. HE LOVES the boat!!! I am so happy that he gets this opportunity! Ecrissa seems to like it too, but she likes the gym and ballet class more, she is definitely the girlie girl who likes to spin and watch her dress (and ballet outfit) fly!!!!

The above picture is of Jaryse as he got out of his boat. I know it's hard to see, but I had to take them from so far away. He's the little speck in the middle of the picture, standing with the yellow life jacket on!!!!

The picture below is of Ecrissa just before she docked. She's the little one in the boat!! :)

So I have a Jaryse "funny" and an Ecrissa "cute" from this past week! First, Ecrissa. On Sunday we went to her ballet class, I was proud of myself for getting all three of us out of the house by 7:45 am with her in her ballet outfit, church outfit in the car and the stuff for the beach (as we had my baptism at the beach on Sunday) as well as my beach stuff and Jaryse's beach stuff all in the car! Whew! Score! Super Mom!!!! WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As soon as we pull in, I realize that I forgot Ecrissa's ballet slippers. AAAAHHHHH, darn! Well, I think to myself, maybe she'll forget that she needs them or that she has them (this is only her 3rd class and only the 2nd with the slippers). Maybe I'll get a pass this week. WRONG AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ecrissa quickly remembered when we got to the studio and saw the other kids. Darn again! She looked at me and pointed to her feet, looked at me with a look as if to say "um, mom, the shoes". I signed to her, "I forgot". Her face dropped into a horribly disappointed look. Then, her face changed to "well, maybe I'll give her a second chance" and she again pointed to her feet (where her slippers obviously should be) and looked to me again. I smiled meekly and signed "I forgot, at home". She shook her head in utter disappointment, sighed and walked away shaking her head as if to say "my mother, sheesh!!!" LOL! It was so cute. Her body language was hysterical. Like to say, "come on mom, you can do better than that! Where are the slippers that should be on my feet!!" Maybe I'll do better next week!

Now Jaryse. Last week one night (they all run together for me!) he was exhausted! He had had a long day, no nap, and we were running late getting to bed! He was done. But, you know when you get that tired, you can't do anything. You want everything, but want nothing, need help, but want to do it alone, and you know, basically just can't deal anymore! So, I decided, time for bed (good mom decision huh! ). So, I asked Jaryse to go in and brush his teeth and he didn't want to. So, I helped him to the bathroom, and put the toothpaste on his brush, all the while he's crying, saying he's not tired and doesn't want to go to bed. So, I handed him his toothbrush and he quite seriously looked at me and YELLED " WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE A GOOD MOMMA????? I DON'T WANT A GOOD MOMMA!!!!" I couldn't help to laugh, but I am glad even when he's mad and sad, he thinks I'm a good momma!!!!!! In the end, he brushed his teeth and fell asleep in my arms within minutes of laying him in bed! God is good!

You know you are addicted to Diet Coke when......

2009-06-25T20:37:00.000-07:00

You have two open cans at once!!!! YIKES!!! :) I didn't realize that I hadn't finished my first one and I opened a second, in an different room! YEP, I think that shows true addiction!!! Oh well, I am not joining Diet Coke's Anonomous just yet, I much to much enjoy my addiction! Plus, hey, I'm a single mom with two kids, isn't one small addiction acceptable????? :)

We've had a good week this week. I am so blessed! Sometimes I feel spoiled that God would bless me with my two amazing kids AND take care of us too!!!! We are still getting on our feet, slowly but surely my caseload is picking up. I am always thrilled to watch how God multiplies the loaves and fish when it comes to finances and making ends meet for us! I don't know how He does it, but I sure am grateful that He does! We always seem to be just a bit short when I add it up, but somehow, when it comes time for the check to be mailed, there is enough! Thank you Jesus!

We got the results from Ecrissa's CT scan and it is all normal! YAY!!! One more check in the "so far so good and eligible for the cochlear implant" box! We have just a couple of small things left to complete and then the audiology evaluation in August and then we should be able to hopefully move forward in scheduling the surgery! YAY!!!

She will start summer school the first full week of July, which I am so excited about! I know that she will have a blast and learn a ton too!

The kids have had a blast at camp this week and playing with their friend from church. When I get the pics I will share them!

OOPS! Catching up on the blog!!!

2009-06-21T17:45:00.000-07:00

I could have sworn that I just updated this thing, but apparently over a week has gone by!!!!! This past week was crazy busy and was filled with at LEAST one appt. for Ecrissa each day! Needless to say we had a productive week and I felt good Friday night as I was getting into bed, feeling completely exhausted, but so thankful to the Lord for working everything out and totally having His hand in our lives! She had her CT scan (which is part of the preliminary evaluation for the cochlear implant) in which she was a super star!!! She mostly held still, until the very end, and the technician did not think it'd be a big deal and that the scan would adequately show what they needed to see. We still need to complete a few more things before being able to make any final decisions regarding the implant. The IEP went well, and I am hopeful for a productive and educational school year! Her medical/nursing evaluation showed that she has grown 2.5 inches since we've come home from Haiti, that is almost an inch a month! Call me crazy, but I think that is ALOT!!!!!

These are pictures of Ecrissa in her ballet outfit!! She loves ballet!!! There is a group that we've joined that is a ballet group for kids with special needs and they've given Ecrissa a scholarship from the financial obligation. I am so thrilled and delighted that she gets to be a part of this and she has a BLAST!!!! She is so happy and the teachers say that she does a great job! It's hard for me to watch, cause she doesn't pay attention to the teachers but to me when I'm there, so Jaryse and I take a walk together and have some Mommy/Son time while Ecrissa dances her little heart out!!!

My kids have had fun taking pictures this week! It's been quite comical the pictures that I've gotten! I have many of the inside of Jaryse's nose, the floor, the ceiling and even inside the toilet! LOL! The following 6 pictures were taken by my little ones! I'm never sure whose pic is whose, since they really are very good at taking turns, and I'm being serious here, they take turns posing and they really do a good job of sharing the camera!

This is the entrance to the school where they both will attend in the fall (and Ecrissa this upcoming July for summer classes). It is a school for the deaf, however they have kindergarten through 5th grade for hearing siblings. The siblings are taught by a hearing teacher in a hearing environment, however Sign Language is incorporated in the school day. I am thinking that this should be a good thing for both of my kids. I am looking forward to the school year and praying for lots of great learning to occur!

This is me working on the enrollment packet for them to enroll in this school, there are lots of pics of me doing this!! :)

More of the school :)

Mommy on the phone....................and Mommy doing hair! I am always amazed at how many pictures that they manage to get of me! LOL, I am hoping it's because they love me and not because they are trying to embarrass me!!!!!!

We are looking forward to a busy week this week too! The gymnastics program that I am working for is having camp in the mornings for the upcoming 2 weeks. I am working the camp Tues. and Thurs. and the kids are enrolled for Mon., Wed., Fri (again scholarships, as I can't afford it at this time, but see how God works everything out! He's amazing!!!) I am so excited for the kids to have some awesome experiences this week and for mommy to have some kid free time! I am a bit nervous, as I am ALWAYS with my kids and I hate missing the fun and exciting things in their lives, however, I know it's good for them and I know it'll be good for me too! I am looking forward to hearing the stories and hearing how much fun they have this week! It'll be a packed week, and hopefully some early nights to bed and deep sleeps all the way through the night for all three of us!!!! :)

Three Months in the states..........

2009-06-12T20:29:00.000-07:00

Seriously???? How can that be????? If feels like yesterday, no wait, it feels like a hundred years ago, I mean, it feels like last week, but wait, I miss Haiti too much for it to be last week, it's really been 19 years, no wait, Jaryse is only 4, so, it must be less than that, WHOOOOOAAAAAAA hold on, too many emotions!!!!!!

The truth is, we left Haiti 3 months ago today. March 12th! Whew! So much has happened and I've had so many emotions and my kids have already experienced so much! I am so grateful to all of you that have made our homecoming and our time in the states so far so wonderful. Thank you for understanding that we are overwhelmed. Thank you for being there to help, thank you for praying for us, thank you for being there, thank you for giving us space, thank you for understanding how hard this is for us, even when sometimes we don't even understand how hard it is for us!

I am grateful to the Lord for his grace and mercy and for all that He has taught me, all that He has provided, and all that He still has in store for us! I can honestly say, that I wake up each day and thank Him for it all! The good and the seemingly bad. I have learned, that the bad, or what I think is bad, He really really honest to goodness does use for Good! He promises that He will and HE DOES!!!!! For what is meant for evil will be meant for Good! I clung to that in Haiti and I continue to cling to that promise now, for I have seen that God does keep His promises! I see it each and every day in my life and the lives of my two amazing precious Haitian Angels!!!!!!!

Home sweet Home?????????

2009-06-11T10:15:00.000-07:00

Is home Haiti or Michigan or Los Angeles????? Well, yesterday was home at a Haitian restaurant in downtown LA eating Haitian rice and beans!!! Jaryse had been asking and asking for rice and beans, so yesterday we went to TiGeorges' Chicken downtown LA for some rice and beans!!!!!!!

Jaryse was all smiles and super happy to be eating this dish! We had a wonderful conversation with the Haitian man that runs the place and I got to practice speaking Haitian Kreyol! It was so fun!!!! I was thrilled that I hadn't lost my ability to speak Kreyol and George was boggled by the fact that I could speak Kreyol!!!! LOL!!!!! It was a fun time had by all.....well.....until Ecrissa choked on her chicken and vomited her whole lunch up! GROSS!!! There is always a silver lining....She made it to the bathroom and the toilet!!! Whew!!!!!

Thank goodness for a little piece of Haiti here in Los Angeles!!!!!

House Ear Family Fun Camp!

2009-06-08T18:59:00.000-07:00

This weekend was SUCH A BLESSING for the Sessions' family!!!! We were able to attend the Family Fun Camp put on by House Ear Institute because of a generous scholarship that they awarded us. This camp is for families who have a member who is deaf or hard of hearing! It was such a wonderful experience for us. This was the first event of this sort that we have ever attended and I am so glad we did. We arrived on Friday evening and left Sunday afternoon after wonderful workshops for mommy, camp activities for the kids, meeting of new people and wonderful opportunities found!

It was so relaxing to allow my children to enjoy their weekend in such a safe environment and watching Ecrissa in this place was soul lifting. I did not have to translate for her, I did not have to explain her behaviors, I did not have to watch her every move for safety reasons and she was able to communicate with just about everyone! It was awesome! I learned a ton in the workshops and from talking with other parents, not to mention how wonderful it was to have adult conversations while the kids were playing with the camp counselors!

The kids made new friends, learned about the wildlife, played sports, played in an ambulance, got prizes, did arts and crafts and just had a wonderful time with wonderful camp counselors who used sign language and spoken language.

This camp was such an encouragement to me. I had a rough week last week (as you could tell from the lack of a blog update). I was emotional, felt out of place here in the states and wondered when I could go back to Haiti, worried and worried and worried about finances, fretted about my decisions regarding Ecrissa's education, couldn't sleep as my brain worked and worked and worked all night long on all of the stresses in my life.

This last weekend did not solve my problems, but it gave me a break. I was surrounded by families who truly understand my role as a parent to these two children. I have not had the opportunity to spend time with families and children who live in the world of the deaf and hard of hearing. It was such a wonderful release of tension to be able to express myself with these families who TRULY know how I'm feeling and what I am going through, feeling and worrying about. I was able to really think through and talk through my thoughts and feelings with people who have experience with this and who actually listened---All while my kids were safely playing with other kids and counselors who wanted to play with them!!!!!!! What a treat!

Life hasn't lost all of it's stresses by spending 2 nights in the middle of nowhere in a cabin, but I feel rejuvenated to face it all one day, one step, one minute at a time!

Thank you Father for providing this to me and my children!