COuNt DOwn to FeBruArY....

I am going and bringing my mama. First time meeting her grandbaby so i think she is excited too. We are leaving Sun, Feb 8th, staying overnight in MIA and then headed to Petionville where we will be staying at the Villa Therese Hotel until Thurs, Feb 12th.

I can't wait! 1 month, 2 weeks, and 3 days!!!!!!!!

1st Quarterly Visit

HIS Home is setting up quarterly visits for families to visit and stay in PAP to spend time with their children and with other adoptive families. The first trip is Feb 9th and if i can go i will likely stay thru thurs so i can come back and work. Pray for me that it'll work out because, as you can imagine, i'd like to spend as much time with him as i can :) The hotel is small and fills fast so pray i can get a flight and a room that works.

Besos... baisers xxx

how friends & family can help an adoptive family

by Darrillyn Starr

..."motherly" advice, which i hope will reach the eyes and ears of people who have someone close to them adopting.

Many people, mistakenly believe that, since the adoptive mother has not given birth, she has been through no ordeal and needs no extra consideration. As anyone familiar with adoption knows, adopting a baby is generally an extremely stressful event. There have often been years of attempts at parenthood prior to the adoption.

In some cases, most often with international adoption, the potential adoptive mother has known about a baby who was already born and has been given a time frame in which to expect to be able to bring the baby home, only to have the time extended over and over again.

The adoptive mother may also be feeling badly for the birth mother, and even feel guilty about being happy, knowing that another woman is grieving. This is much like the "survivor guilt" that often occurs in people who have survived accidents or other catastrophies where others have been killed.

Worry, long distance travel (in many cases) and concerns about how to finance the adoption (which can run as high as $30,000 or more), can leave a new adoptive mother feeling like she has been through a battle. She is exhausted, physically and emotionally, and she may have stress induced illness, or worsening of any recurring illness that she may already have had.

It may sound like i'm dramatizing, but i am not! People close to a new adoptive family can be of tremendous service, by volunteering to have meals brought in, helping with housework or the care of any other children in the family, offering to pick up necessities at the store, etc.. Because of the financial burden that adoption usually bring with it, others can often help by choosing gifts of necessities, like diapers, strollers, carseats, etc..

...... the article continues...

The Announcement Letter

Dear family and friends,

So as some of you already know, over the past year i've been thinking, researching, and resisting... but it's meant to be... I'm adopting finally! A baby boy from Haiti and from HIS Home for Children orphanage. I've started a blog (no worries i'm not usually long-winded) and will post photos and news and FAQ type stuff for anyone interested.

His name is Kervenson Mérant and he's 7 months old. He was born April 29th, 2008 in City Soleil... a city named in '04 by the UN as the most dangerous city on earth, and certainly the poorest of Haiti. He is on track for his weight and actually a lil long for his age, which is a blessing bc many of the babies there are extremely underweight and malnourished. He has such a personalty. I am sure you all will love him! :)

I am really excited, and of course, really anxious about the amount of time, money, and faith the entire process takes... Let alone being a new mama. I am doing an independent adoption (no agency involved) and have already completed my home study and sent in the contract. As soon as i can complete and gather all the necessary documents for my dossier (authenticated and french-translated legal documents to gain custody of him in Haiti by the foreign court, so i can bring him home to the US for adoption here) and hire a lawyer, the process will begin. I've been told that from there, best-case-scenario, could still be a year and a half or so. It's really hard to think about how long it could take, but i hope to visit him as often as i can. Inshala. Since the riots earlier this year over rising food cost in Haiti, they now have a new Prime Minister, Michele Pierre-Louis. Supposedly things are running smoother than before (maybe w a woman it'll stay that way. lol) and this includes adoptions, so i pray that continues.

Ya, i just wanted to share the news and thank you for all your support and love. Happy Holidays to everyone this year.

Con todo mi cariño,

AT

A Bittersweet Month

Since the beginning of November I've celebrated my birthday with friends and family.

Lost a dear friend in Italy, Paco, who was like family (the big guy smiling in the middle).

Had a good friend, Mellis, moved back to Sweden for better healthcare (she's the one in front).

Had a lovely Thanksgiving with family. And recently made another trip back to Haiti, and have decided to adopt one of the most precious lil boys!!! So much has happened and I am grateful for beautiful friends and family. We should really cherish the time that we have.

"Cinderella" - Tribute to Maria Sue Chapman (2003 - 2008)