Roller Coaster Week

So this has been one ridiculous roller coaster of a week. First, we anxiously called the Embassy every day last week, hoping we would be able to schedule the visa appointment for our boys. Every day we were told that Immigration had not couriered over our dossier. Okay, that's normal. No biggie. Then, by Wednesday, we received an email stating that the visas couldn't be issued because our fingerprints had expired and we would need to get them redone ASAP. Okay - loop#1 in the roller coaster. Ugly, painful, but not unmanageable. Just a drive to Orlando and a 1/2 day sitting in an INS office. 

Wait for it...here comes loop #2. The Orlando INS office says it needs a paper to be able to process our fingerprints that the Haitian INS office is saying doesn't even exist! $20 in Skype charges and 3 days later, we get it worked out only to find out that loop #3 was upon us. 

We had moved and because we never submitted an update to our Home Study stating this, the Embassy was not happy and still not willing to issue a visa. This was contrary to the info originally given us, but that's a different story. So, now our original agency is unwilling to do just a simple update because they say since the homestudy is more than a year old, it will need to be completely redone at $1500. (Me thinks they want my $$) Another, much closer (in location) agency said they will do the update and that the other agency was incorrect. So, I'm just gonna go with what the American Embassy in Haiti is asking for and that's all. Immigration in Haiti emailed all the necessary paperwork to Immigration in Orlando on Friday, but of course, too late for me to confirm or find out what my next plan of attack is. So, come tomorrow, I could be looking at a very easy fix or a very BIG DISASTER. 

Oh, but we're not done yet. Loop #4. So, I get this email this morning: Phoenix has been taken to the hospital and is being admitted for surgery....call for more details. AHHHHH! WHAT? I know my little guy's been dealing with what the orphanage thought was hemorrhoids for the past month, but the hospital?  Yup, little dude's got a prolapsed sphincter. Um, ewww. So, they have to give him massive amounts of protein in his diet via some meds and tape his little booty shut between BMs and maybe, sorta, kinda it should fix itself in a month or two. Oh, and lets pray it doesn't pop out while they're giving him his visa physical or he won't be cleared to fly. WHAT? Sonova....are you kidding me? It's cause he was born so malnourished and remained that way for the first 11 months or so and nearly died form it that he's now having issues. 

Did I mention I've been dealing with all this whilst in the throws of a wicked head cold? Every time I have asked if it could possibly get any worse this week, the answer has promptly been yes. One would think I would learn to stop asking that question, but no. So now, here we are, about to start a new week. I am no less settled, no more in the know and no less terrified of the unknown that I was when this all started last Monday. My faith, what little there is left, is desperately clinging to what I hope is the Hand that is supposed to be leading me through this. In this past week alone I have doubted, praised, shaken my fist, been thankful for tender mercies, screamed in anger and frustration and jumped for joy at momentary relief. I have been more hot and cold in Him and towards Him this week than I ever have been in my entire life. Maybe that means I am finally feeling - finally growing and moving out of this hellova rut I have been in for so long. Maybe I'm just that 5th ball - the one stuck in the middle of the novelty desk toy - the one that's constantly getting beat on by two balls on each side, but never yielding itself?

So, I realize now my family update has turned into a spiritual tirade.  One for which this blog does not have the room, nor the inclination to house.  So, until I know more, for those of you who are willing, please pray for our little family to be reunited and whole very soon.

Cai & Jazzy's Double Birthday!

I still need to get some pics from my mom to complete the slideshow, but here's what I have so far. Jazzy's birthday was today and Cai's is in 2 weeks. But, since we won't be seeing any family even close to his b-day, we figured we'd do a double celebration! Cai indulged in his 2 current obsessions. He got a black Spider-man costume and ran around singing "Spectacular Spider-man." For Jazz's bday, all day, playing with his talking, interative Wall-E toy. I had already taken her to Barnes & Noble for a "girl's night out" where we gnoshed on yummies at the cafe and she got to pick out a couple books. Fun times, but 6 hours in a car all in one day is pretty exhausting.....

Well, here it is, the finale! Tomorrw Jazz heads home and we breathe a momentary sigh of relief before we spend the next 3 weeks, breathlessly preparing for the arrival of our boys. Each child received a scorecard of their performance over the week. Logan was good in most all areas, but was advanced in his individual footwork skills, meaning he had the ability to effectively execute individual technical moves. Jazzy was equally good in most areas, but was advanced in her shooting accuracy and power. All in all it was a really great experience for them and they're both way excited about playing soccer on a team in the fall. Can I get a HOLLA! for the end of summer!

Soccer Camp-Day Four

I don't have much to say about Day Four. And that's all there is. Here's a pic.On another note, the kids did one of their last crafts today. This one was REALLY hard, but the end results looked great!

Soccer Camp-Day Three

Pretty awesome stuff today. They practice most of the morning, working on essentials, them have 2-3 World Cup matches of 15 minutes each at the end. After each the kids sit down in their groups and the coaches make a few individual kids (different each time) stand up and be acknowledged for the some awesome display of skills in the previous game. Guess who got acknowledged today? That's right - LOGAN!!!! They said he got 2 World Cup saves, had a couple great tackles and 2 goals! Yup! Soccer Superstar! He kicks butt on the soccer field and plays harder than I've ever seen him play!

I also saw Jazz execute a few tackles, a save and assist in a goal. Super awesome! They're having fun and loving it!

How to buy a child in 10 hours

People have often asked us, "Why Haiti?" That question is considerably more difficult to answer than what people might think. Africa and all of its troubles are featured in countless reports, articles and fundraising efforts, but Haiti (which is far worse off in many respects) is largely ignored by the US. Truth is, Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and its child trafficking and slavery issues rival that of any country on the planet. It is discomforting to know, devastating to watch and see first hand. Check out the article, pictures and video from the NBC Nightline exclusive that aired the other night by clicking here. While watching and reading, try to remove yourself from the comforts of your spoiled, self-centered, American life and ask yourself, "What if I were so poor I could not afford even the smallest bite of food to keep my child alive? What if the only option I had was to give her to someone whose promises of a better life I believed, but knew deep down were not as true as spoken? What if fate had chosen for me to be born Haitian instead of American?"  

Once you have watched and read, I encourage you to not just walk away saddened, disturned or worse, apathetic. Do something. For HIS Glory Outreach is a ministry that supports an orphanage and community outreach program in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.  Though they currently have well over 100 children in the orphanage who they feed, clothe, provide shelter and education for, they must still turn away over 80 children per day.  For the cost of a single Starbuck's latte a day, you can have a hand in helping them provide a safe environment for these abandoned children.  Check out their website and follow the links for donation.  And check out this video, which explains a little more about the plight of the children and what this ministry and orphanage is doing to help. (Double click the video to start viewing)

Doing nothing, being apathetic, only serves to perpetuate the problems and seal the fate of these precious children.  So click, become educated, do something.

.....because the more you know......(bing bing bing BIIIIING)

Toothless Wonder

So, in the 6 weeks Jasmine's been here, she's had 2 teeth knocked out.  Yes, knocked out.  Granted they were loose to begin with, but only slightly loose.  The first was the week she arrived and it was Logan's foot to her mouth.  Then, last night, a very excited puppy jumped up and clobbered Jazz in the mouth with her head.  Out popped the tooth and down flowed the blood.  Mmmmm, blood.  I mean, really....

Soccer Camp - Day Two

Bruises, Bad Days and Brits

Day 2 was hotter than day 1 by far. Mostly overcast, but still enough sun to fry an egg on the sidewalk. Ridiculous! I arrived, as usual, about 15 minutes early to watch the kids play their "World Cup match." At kickoff, Logan faced off with a much bigger boy and promptly received a kiss from the soccerball square on his cheek. The kid was much bigger and I could feel the impact from where I was standing. Luckily, Logan did not see me, or it would have been all tears, but he sucked it up and tried to continue until the coach told him to go sit on the bench and chill. That's when the tears came, but in a markedly lighter rain than had I been present. Jasmine woke up today and was playin like she meant it. All in all, a good day of scrimmage.