Adoption Completed!!!

It took me a bit to get this up, but wanted to let everyone know that our domestic adoption was completed as of August 24th. The hearing was not what I anticipated, but I don't know what I did expect. The outcome is really all that matters. He's a Taylor! So proud of all we've been thru. I wish the citizenship would come just as soon, but it's all in His time and I feel so blessed with this. Thanks for all of your prayers

God is good. All the time.

First Day of School

He's just around the corner, but shorty started pre-school today at The Purple Dragon. Such a grown lil man!

Isaac livin it up in KCMO!

sometimes i forget not everyone has fb. some new pics of the love of my life!

raining baby showers

SHOWER #1

SHOWER #2

SHOWER #3

my heart is broken

Oh how life is precious and how being a parent puts so much into perspective... Every time my baby smiles I think I'm just a lil more relieved. He's safe with me.... But he's always been safe in GOD's hands. I don't worry so much about him (except maybe the fear of spoiling him too much). BTW... first word is "hello" but only when holding a cell phone to his ear LOL


What I do think (worry) about is the unsettled feeling inside me... I can't shake the desire to be back in Haiti. I want to help. I want to educate. I want to cry. I want a few days back where I was at that hospital, or back on my couch after I arrived home watching CNN n following news stories literally 24 hours a day. OK OK maybe I don't want that. But I know I don't want my old life back.


Experiencing a disaster like this one is too big for me. Thank God, He is much bigger. I've thought about how no one should ever see anyone die. Then I think how the bodies were too numerous to count. Then my mind goes back to particular instances... 
The older man we went to Red Cross to donate blood for that very morning in Port au Prince. His son found me in the crowd and brought me to hold his hand, pray over his father, and just BE there. None of his other family members knew his father had passed. And there was no way to call them.
The father who cried on my shoulder while we watched his baby being sewn with no anesthesia.
The young girl who latched onto me and cried in pain thru the night saying "kouche" (lay down) and "kenbe mwen" (hold me). 
The young boy whose arm was badly broken. His mother paced by our car repeating "I see one with my eyes. I have six, Lord. I see one with my eyes."


The need is so great... The death numbers still climbing. There is little to no infrastructure to take care of these people post operation, no IVs, no oxygen, no antibiotics, no basic aid, only to go back on the street, most without a home to go to. The physical, emotional, and spiritual turmoil of the people fills my thoughts and prayers.


Just days before the tè tremblé (earthquake) I prayed the prayer, "LORD BREAK MY HEART FOR THE THINGS THAT BREAK YOURS" and... my heart is now more broken than it's ever been.


This is a video made in 2009. The footage is from Citè Soleil, where Isaac was born. The dominos make me smile.

baby gettin settled

we've been speaking and to schools and had lots and lots of company. isaac is feeling much better and i have never enjoyed one person more (especially in such a small package)... told my mom tonight she never told me how great it was to be a mom, must not have wanted us to be big headed LOL

KC Woman Finally Brings Home Adopted Haitian Son

Thanks Amy for the story... and thanks to my fabulous family and friends for being there to greet us and spend time his first night in KC.


I talked a lil to channel 5 reporter Amy Anderson and as soon as this statement came out of my mouth i knew they'd pick that part to air. I said "So happy to be home. I don't think i've ever been so happy to be back in kansas city, ever" LOLOLOL... 

KCTV 5 - January 29, 2010

We Got Our Papers!

Just wanted to let everyone know. It hasn't been easy, but His House (so ironic right?) took AMAZING care of our children. Spent today at the doctor with Isaac and 3 other children who were sick or injured. Then got our Rx at Publix and headed back. They were waiting to take his photo and within 15 minutes I had my papers to take him with me!!! Of course we waited for rides and of course, I still have to ADOPT him. But I have 2 years to complete it. I've signed away my right to leave the country, even alone (OMG), without contacting DHS and will have so much red tape to go thru. But the amazing thing is he's here WITH me while i do it. Miracle after Miracle. He's absolutely the most precious child ever and i get to be his mama... :-)

Update... Miami and more waiting

Been a long day... okay long two weeks! Between the drama of not knowing if Isaac was coming and getting a ticket for this morning, cancelling it, rebooking it, etc. All i have to say is GOD IS GOOD. Isaac was granted humanitarian parole JUST last night and i want to thank Senator Bond's office for calling on my behalf. My file was one of only a few that had someone specifically lobbying for them and they knew that my baby was ill and needed urgent care.


It is a MIRACLE he's here. We (some adoptive families) spent the evening/night/early morning hours in a room at the Miami airport and then on buses to wait for the kids to land from Orlando! We left the airport to go separately to a 'remote location' to be interviewed with DHS. 

Still haven't held my boy... but just arrived back at the sbeach hotel now for a lil rest... 3 hours yay! Isaac's sick but in a bed for the first time in 2 weeks at this wonderful 'remote local' where they have cottages, food, medicine, and good people to care for them. AND i saw my sister before she headed to catch the grey hound. Can't tell you how good it was to hug n talk to her for a while :))

We will be back at it again mañana (a few hours actually). This is a process that's never been done before. Continue praying - for it to go smoothly tomorrow, for our adoptions to be completed quickly (we have 2 years parole to get it done), transitioning for the children here, and for all the orphans still in limbo. 

MUCH LOVE,

AT

Isaac's in the US

Half-way home... okay not half way, but the hard part was getting him from Port au Prince to Florida. They left in the middle of the night bc a new law today was going to make it more difficult.


Natasha flew on a flight and arrived about 1 a.m. with news that Isaac was coming an hour later or the next morning (depending on who you talked to). She thought we had all been called and i explained that i hadn't been called at all.


Last night after finding out from the Haitian Adoption Task Force (these volunteers were so nice and so wonderful) that he was granted the Humanitarian Parole, i went ahead and booked the flight to Miami that i had on hold. Within minutes i had an email stating "I am sorry, but Kervenson will not be flying on this trip." Heartbreaking.


I cancelled the flight and tried to sleep. Got news from Tash about 2 hours later. It's been a rollercoaster and is def far from over. Thanks to everyone who's been praying and supporting. It means more than words can express.


Keep praying. I'm getting frantic phone calls from parents who don't have word. Give them peace of mind. Pray for the process to go quickly because it could take a while. I really want to see him today. And continue to pray for all the children of Haiti.

Miracles Come From Tragedies

When i have time i will finally begin to look for tickets to Miami to meet my baby. INSHALAH. And start looking for winter clothes for him. OMGoodness.... 


Thank you for continued support and donations. Hope to see every one of my KC peeps at P&L tomorrow! We have a very long journey of recovery, rebuilding, and rebirth in one of my favorite countries in the world.... HAITI

(¯`v´¯)
.`·.¸.·´ 

Feliz Navidad

Baby doesn't like Santa too much. LOL love this.

May each and 
every one of 
you be blessed 
to spend Jesus' 
birthday with 
loved ones!

Isaac's health update

Since my last visit, my prayers have focused much more on one realization: my baby is getting older and I desire so much for him to do so with me. I want to give him the one-on-one attention and interaction he deserves. His life, just like all of ours, is in His hands. I have faith that it will all be fine, but as a mama I just want the very best for him always.  


Kervenson (Isaac) recently went to the doctor. He has been shaking his head quite a bit, especially when sitting alone and when there is a lot of commotion around. She thinks it's a habit kind of like sucking his thumb. (A self-stim behavior). She did not think it was a neurological disorder, but encouraged his caregivers to make sure that he gets lots of extra attention, as he doesn't usually do it when he is focused on something.  


He was also evaluated by the psychologist (he needs these evaluations for his file as well) and just got that report back this week.  She feels that it could be neurological, but isn't sure so she recommended a neurological consult to get another opinion. They will try to schedule that within the next week. On his psych. eval. he tested at 1 year, 3 months instead of 1 year, 6 months. This does not worry me too much bc as many of you know children are behind by own development standards in these types of environment and in developing countries. His issues are that he is not walking or holding a cup to drink by himself yet... (although he did the cup thing fine with me :) ). She recommended the same thing as the doctor... Lots of 1 on 1 attention. And thought that he would catch up quickly with that.


His recent cold/cough is gone and Chris has been giving his meds AM and PM. She is having the girls bring him up to the balcony in the afternoons so they can meke sure he gets lots of attention :)  The upstairs at the "O" is where Chris and Hal eat, sleep, and care for their own kids as well as those with extra special medical needs and new additions. It makes me feel so much better to know he'll get the extra attention and LOVE. 


Please continue to PrAY pRaY PrAy!

Before I was a Mom

Author: Unknown

Before I was a Mom I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom - I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put them down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom - I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom - I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

Mandado Del Cielo

baby Tasha, Kevenson's niece

one of HIS homes newest additions

   

Not flesh of my flesh

Nor bone of my bone,

But still miraculously my own.
Never forget for a single minute,
You didn't grow under my heart,
But in it.

lookin fresh ;)

bedtime... playtime... same thing