Please pray

Just found out Isnaika is in the hospital.  ugh.
Severe dehydration.  Had been vomiting and diahrea on the weekend. 

Sounds simple...but the thing that is concerning is that the orphanage has IVs..so they can deal with dehydration so there is more to this story that I am aware of. 

One of the little kids that came home from the orphanage has been in the hospital with 106 fever..and they found he has ecoli...which can spread.  He just left the orphanage a few weeks ago. 

They're going to run some bloodwork so supposedly I'll know more tomrrow. 

I'm probably going to buy a plane ticket to go there by this wekeend.

More to do...

Well I've procrastinated long enough, the new house is clean and today is the day!  I'll be updating my homestudy today.  So, a social worker will come and check the house out.  Also, I have to get a physical, get massive blood tests, state criminal background, county criminal background ( um isn't the county in the state?!), financial report, water bill, two months of paycheck stubs, etc...I did is all one year ago.  And Indiana refers me to do it all over.  Ugh.  Almost done.

Thinking of my little Lamb today!

Isnaika Marcelin Lamb

This is her name as of......NOW!  It's official!  She is my daughter!  Legally my daughter.  A new little Lamb is added to the family.  I'm in shock.  What a great day!

What does this mean?  I could go to Haiti today, remove her from the orphanage and keep her forever!

BUT....... I can't bring her to the US until I finish a few more steps.  Visa. Passport..medical exams. Etc.  I don't know how long these will take.  One month?  Three months?   I also have an appointment for her birth mother to be interviewed by the embassy.  Unfortunately, that's not until January 30.  So, well see.

Until then, I'll keep waiting.

And ps.  I'll go through a re- adoption in the states where I'll rename her.  Still deciding on things.

What a trip!

Wow - so much time has gone by since I've last posted.  I'm sorry! 
Let me say, I had the best trip ever in September.  Many different things happened which allowed me to truly enjoy my time in Haiti, with my baby. 

First of all, I have to say thank you to my very good friend Bertony and his family for hosting me.  He's always allowing me to stay in his house and taking me to and from where I need to go.  I truly appreciate his friendship and what he has done for me. 

The orphanage has a strict policy that you can only take the child out of the orphanage and be at a certain hotel.  I have my opinions about that...but in any case, I continue to stay with my friend Bertony and just see Isnaika during the day.  When I came the last time, I stayed my entire time at the orphanage.  It was a very tiring trip because I couldnt have any real alone time with Isnaika.  100 other kids were constantly coming up to me.  Her toys seemed to have legs and walk away.  It was also very very hot and there was no really good place to sit.  All day long.  For a week.  This trip, I was fortunate enough to go when my adoption agency representative went.  He told me I could bring her to the hotel where the other parents are. 

So every day, I'd go to the orphanage, pick up Isnaika, and go to the hotel.  It was great because I could see the nannys every day, but also go and hang out with the other adoptive parents.  What a treat.  I really feel fortunate to be among those other parents.  There are some pretty wonderful people adopting from Haiti.  Jen, for example, went to adopt one.  Was asked by his birth mom to adopt his older brother.  She accepted.  She then also fell in love with baby V who, at the time, had a ton of medical issues.  Now Jen will be V's mom too!  So, every day, I would have Isnaika in one arm and V in the other...going through the bumpy streets of Port au prince.  What an experience!  I forgot to mention Jen already has other children and has taken it upon herself to make hundreds of dolls for all of the children being adopted and their siblings.  It's Isnaika's first doll.  It was great to meet Jen.  Jen also helped me get Isnaika's hand prints and footprints. 

I was also fortunate enough to meet the Scott and Melissa.  They are adopting Naika.  They have adopted others and have an amazing story of how they were led to Naika.  Naika is such a sweet girl who has special needs and it was clear that Scott and Melissa are the perfect parents for her. 

So, it was great getting to sit in the hotel courtyard on the nice, soft sofas...hanging out with the other parents.  Even better was to be able to celebrate the holidays with them.  They first had halloween and dressed the kids up.  We also had birthday parties which were fun.  I brought mix and frosting to make cupcakes, but when Melissa offered me one of her cupcakes, I couldn't resist.  We broke out and sang Happy Birthday to Isnaika!  I missed her birthday by a week.  What a celbration.  I'll post pics of Isnaika in her birthday crown, shirt, and tutu.  She was so cute.  She didn't take to the icing very well.  She must not have ever had sweets.  My mom says to keep her off sweets as long as possible! 

Another fun activity we were able to do was SWIM.  Wow, that was nice.  First of all, because it's so hot in Haiti.  Second of all because Isnaika had never experienced that before.  The first time we did, she was kicking and splashing everywhere...just loving it!  On another occasion, I took her in the pool and she fell asleep in my arms in the pool. 

All week long, I kept asking if I'd be able to meet Isnaika's birth mother.  They told me that she was too hard to reach and lived far away.  I'll post about this adventure next. 

Isnaka's friend's birthday party!

How cute am I?!

Is she watching? I'm outta here!

Got milk?

Such a face!

Gettin into trouble!

I wouldn't want to eat that either!

Lovn the attention!

Walking with one finger!

Fun!

Does not leave mommy's side

Does not leave mommy's side

She loved the book, thanks grandma!

My baby and me!

Closer...

Just two more days until I see my beautiful one year old princess again.  I can't wait.  I'm sitting in the Miami airport wondering how this next week will go.  I'll go to the orphanage on Monday.  I have to go to two different appointments in port au prince...one at the embassy and one at court.   I've requested to meet Isnaika's biological mother, I REALLY hope we can make ts happen.  Makes me a little nervous thinking about that meeting...I don't think I've prepared myself for it just yet, but I'd much rather meets her than not, for Isnaika's sake.  I'm also wondering how Isnaika will be this time. Now that she's a little older, will she feel comfortable with me?  How will she be once I have to leave at the end of my visit?  Oh gosh, I'm really dreading that.  Is she walking?  Will I see her first steps?  I just can't wait to see her!  Going to squeeze her cheeks for grandma....plans to Skype with family and lots of friends...so exciting that so many people want to be a part of my journey.  I spent a lot of time clearing out the memory on my cameras and iPad....ready to take a weeks worth of pictures and videos...so I can hold on to those memories for the long wait until I get her.  I'm bringing several packages for many orphans, from their parents...those will be fun to deliver!  Excited for Monday to come....in the mean time, my good friend Bertony is humorist me by driving me to a resort...I'm planning on enjoying the Caribbean beaches for a weekend and put some money into the Haitian economy!  I'll be all rested up for Monday.  Had a great time at the airport this morning...saw my good friend Laura on her way to get married to Rod in Vegas!!  So cool that we were at the airport at the same time, such a treat!  Best wishes Laura and Rod!  Ok..done with the random thoughts...get ready to see posts from the orphanage!

Happy birthday!!!!!

Happy birthday Isnaika!  One year old today, such a great day!  Hoping and praying that this is your one and only birthday without your mommy,  I'm looking forward to seeing you in FIVE days to celebrate this day!  You'll have balloons, cupcakes, and princess birthday attire!  I'm also bringing a special gift for your crib, your first baby doll!  Hope the nannys give you a little extra attention today and I hope you have a great day!  See you soon!  

Special day.

Not only is today a special day because I'm in England....enjoying fine wine....Jamie Oliver's restaurant....went to a musical, The Lion King, but way above and beyond all of that....( drumroll please ) Isnaika's paperwork is out of IBESR!!!!!!!!!!!! Woooo hooooo!  On to the next step and not looking back.   Will post the timeline and remaining steps when I get back in the States.  Very very very exciting news...some have taken a year just in this step alone.  So glad to be out.  I'm thinking the latest she'll be home is spring of 2013.  

Can't wait to see her in two weeks and celebrate her birthday.

Good day, thank you God.

I wish that was my leg.

So cute

Standing in upper right corner of pic!