Opps, we did it again!

We have yet another new "addition". We are helping a 16 year young woman who is expecting, through foster care. We didn't "plan" for us to truly foster and children, but God did!

Adoption day!

It finally arrived! It was such an emotional day! Sunday is our celebration day. Many exciting things. We are dedicating Casserra, Nicoll, Josh and Noah at church and having a gathering to celebrate the adoption. So thrilled! Here's a few photos of the day. I will try to post more later!

You must check this out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khtBvQdxta4 Cant wait til it opens!

Girls....

Here are a few photos Licia so kindly shared with me today so I thought I would share them with you. I fell in love with these girls!! I am sure you will too. First is Mytha - 7 months Next is Rose-Marie and Rose-Manie - 15 months.

Girls....

Please pray....

Casserra's grandmother, Alice, who raised her for the 1st 10 years of her life, is not well. She has been in the nursing home for nearly 3 years and has been hospitalized twice in the last three weeks. She is not returning to the hospital. The doctor decided it is best for her to be kept comfortable.

HAPPY FINAL FOREVER AND EVER DAY TO CASSERRA!!

Today is the 3rd anniversay of Casserra and our Final Forever and Ever Day! This was just taken last weekend.... front - Josh and Noah middle - Dani, Nathan, Me and Brian back - Nicoll, Coral and Casserra!

Awards Night!

This was right before the final awards night! It was empowering to see so many women achieve so much and know they did it while putting God first, famiily second and career third. If they can do it, we ALL can do it!

The first night of awards.

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Prom!

Nicoll went to prom this evening...looking gorgeous! Kyle looks pretty good too!

16th Birthday

We had Coral's 16th at a skating rink. LOADS OF FUN!

Coral is 16!

Here I am hours away from Coral turning 16! How amazing and what a journey! She is an amazing girl and I am so very proud of her. She has taken on the roll of big sis without hesitation. 16 years ago, I couldnt wait to meet her and now that I know her, I am so blessed! I love you babygirl!

I just got back from hearing more about Haiti. Zach was there and share his "passion" for Haiti. I get it! It's been a busy weekend. Friday we had cheerleading tryouts - which I really need to make some calls on. I am sure many girls are wordering. Then Casserra had a dance. Quiet night really. Saturday was GORGEOUS!! Finally! Brian had to go play with dynamite and wasnt home, Josh had a football jamboree and we stayed to watch Nicole's boyfriend play baseball. Then a nice realxing evening at home...and we still were late for Sunday school this morning! Another work week is about to start and I am not over last weekes yet. Things that happened still turn in my head. I dont understand. I know God will handle it though. Rose-Manie is not doing so well. It stinks because there is treatment that could help if she was here in the states. Please pray for her.

It's so til 11. I am tired. I am fine physically but drained emotionally. I am so glad I am loved. I am so glad I have family & friends. I am so glad I have God in my life. Yesterday was stressful. I had a very distraught client who was trying very hard to find a way out of this life. He called me to share his last desires. Long story that I cant get into, but it was hard. I had the Lord to turn to for strength. I am so thankful for that. The last 24 hours have been difficult for me to understand. I had a Mary Kay function after work last night. I had my first class. It was weird. My life went on. Fortunately so did his.

Special prayer request for Rose-Manie http://haitirescuecenter.wordpress.com/

Please click on the above link. Rose-Manie is a chld who holds a very special place in my heart. I witnessed her having seizures and basically die and be brought back to life by Lori. Lori fought so hard the night before we left Haiti to come back to the states to keep Rose-Mainie alive. She has a twin. They were brought to the clinic when they were hours old weighing less then 3.5 pounds, if my memory serves me correct. Their mother died while giving birth to them. Their culture sees the fact that she died in child birth very differently then we do. They dont have family who visits regularly. Please say a special prayer for this beautiful little girl and her twin, Rose-Marie (pronounced Rose - Marree). The photo I have hear was taken the morning we left to come home.

Rose-Manie is on the left.

Adoption update

Just wanted to update everyone. Last week we received some news on the adoption. Standard rule of thumb is that when adopting through the state, the children will reside with you as foster children for a period of 6 months prior to a petition for adoption being filed. Our 6 months will be up on June 11. Last week they informed us we do not have to wait any longer!! We have a document that needs to be returned from the State, but once we have that, we can file our petitions! WHOA! We are so excited! The kids are all changing their names in some little way besides switching to Cain. It will be so nice because we should have it all completed June 5!!! Three days prior to my 40th birthday! Can' t think of a better gift!

Chicago weekend

This is Brian, me, Danielle and Chad while visiting Navy Peir on our Chicago weekend! We (12 of us) took the Amtrak from Rensselaer to Chicago and stayed in the Embassy Suites for the weekend. It was a blast! We had such a wonderful time.

Chicago weekend

Here are all the kids, Noah (in orange) Casserra (holding Noah), Sidney, Haley, Nicole, Coral, Josh and Ian at Navy Peir.

My new adventure

I am starting a new adventure. I have become a Mary Kay consultant. I am excited about this opportunity and have many hopes and dream for this business. So should you need product or know someone who does, I will happily help. I would love to share what Mary Kay can do to help you discover your dreams. God bless you and your family! Talk to everyone soon! Stay in touch. I have lots of other great things going on as well that I will be sharing with you soon! The kids will be ours sooner then we thought! Lots more! Take care of your self and each other.

Update

Well more then a month has passed and what a busy month it's been! As for Haiti - we have had our team wrap meeting. Things went fairly well on our trip, not much tweaking to do for 2010. We shared our photos with Hickory Grove and friends. Memories! I miss it so much already. If they asked "Can you come back tomorrow?" I would be there! In heartbeat. Monday night we have a call out meeting for 2010. I want to go, although I am not certain 5 of our children (and Brian too) will let me out of their sight even then, but I am working on them.

As for our family...its wonderful! I love having a big family. Our house is always full and I am learning organization is a must.

Brian & I

We are just trying to keep up. Actually, I do have some news....I got baptized last Sunday! It was awesome. My children were present and it meant so much to show them how important the Lord is in my life. He has blessed me with each of them. I look back and I was sooo very unworthy but He loved me and I am so thankful for that. I am now a Mary Kay consultant too! I have some big goals but I love it! Spring break is here and after many doctor appointments and dentist appointments, we will be heading to Chicago for a few days with our good friends and their 3 children! Can't wait! We are taking the train. Hope God continues to bless and keep each of you. Please don’t be strangers!!

Nathan

He and Danielle just returned from a trip to Tennessee. They rented a cabin with two other couples. I fed the cats while they were gone - my grandkitties! I was asked this week if they had set a date and no, not yet. Danielle did buy a new car - she got a Pontiac G6. Very pretty! She is proud of it and rightfully so.

Coral

Coral - oh Coral - we have had a rough time with Coral. After she received her mid-term grades and we realized how much her grads had fallen, we knew something was up. At first I thought it might have something to do with the additions of family members, but after talking with her more, that didn’t seem to be the concern. So I called the school, spoke with her guidance counselor, talked with Shane and Brian and then came to the conclusion that maybe we should take her to the doctor. Good thing we did...she has been diagnosed with seizures. She mad an EEG on Thursday and an MRI on Friday. We will return to the neurologist on this Thursday to have the final diagnosis of exactly what type of seizure and where it is coming from in the brain. He feels confident that she has temporal lobe seizures, which is the same type my dad has. UGH! She is struggling with not being able to take drivers education this summer. She wasn’t ready last year and now that she is, she cant. She will have to have her seizures under control for a year before she can get her permit. Hard for a girl who is less then 45 days from turning 16 to take. Boys basketball 9which she managed) is over as is dance, so we need to find something else to keep her busy.

Nicole

She has finished up managing with managing the girls basketball team and has moved on to track. She had her fist meet on Tuesday and did well. She threw 24 foot 10 inches and earned 2nd place and the 4 by 1 relay team placed 1st! She was happy with her first high school meet. She has a lofty goal that she can certainly reach of breaking the school record of over 30 feet by the time she graduates.

Casserra

Is now 13 and I think finally starting to grow up and into a beautiful young lady. She has been in her braces a year now and still looks to have a long way to go. She is running track too, but they have not yet had a meet. She loves distance running. Cheer leading is over now and our banquet was just last week.

Josh

Math bowl is over and his team earn 4th place in competition! We were proud. He will be starting both baseball and spring 5th and 6th grade football when they return from Spring Break. He will be busy.

Noah

Just had a birthday on Monday, now he is 5! Round-up is soon. He will be starting T-ball soon as well. Right now he is happy to play on the John Deer Gator he got for his birthday.

Made it!

I am not sure what time it is. But we made it! Hungry! Planes in Chicago and Miami both were delayed due to maintenance issues. Love to all!

Wednesday

WOW! Cant believe day 1 is gone. Its warm here, ok I lied - ITS HOT!! The girls, Fed & Brit have been reunited with their families. I cant imagine what has gone through their little 3-4 year old minds. They have had a life time of experiences already. The guys built and painted shelves. I installed a printer and a monitor for Lori and Licia's office. No running water as far as showers or toilets. We do have good water to drink - right from the river! Via a filtration system that was just purchased since the hurricanes. At last check, there were 394 cards handed out this morning by 6:30. That means there were 394 people that needed to been seen in the clinic. There are about 70 kids in the Rescue Center. The people smile so much. They have been welcoming. I got to hand out a bunch of stuffed animals and toys to the children - they came running once they figured out we had goodies! We went walking this evening right before dark and handed out rings and glow sticks. They loved that - adults included! This is something EVERYONE should experience - Hard to look at things the same. We are so fortunate to have been born in the USA... that's the only difference between us - we were born in the US - a free country and they were not. The little ones touch us a lot - want to see if the white rubs off! They are funny. I will share photos with you once I return. My Blackberry is not working - Verizon - I am not happy given that I paid extra for it to work! CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Night!! Love to all ~ Shawn

We made it!

We have arrived and are getting ready for bed. My blackberry wont work - imagine that! But They do have a computer I can access, of course not all my email...only brian_shawn5252@hotmail.com. The trip was long and I cant wait to share more later. I wanted to let you all know of our arrival. I will try to at least blog daily. Not sure if I will get to share any photos but I certainly will try. I have already been to the rescue center holding babies. A great joy was meeting up with Fed and Brit on their return to Haiti. Please check out their blog for a few more updates.

One flight down two to

One flight down two to go! We are in Chicago and will be leaving at 850et. Hope all is well with you! Love to all!

What I leave behind...

Wow it's finally here. Tomorrow night, I will be leaving for 8 days. This is what I leave behind. My mission trip has been in the works since last April. At at time I thought I would be leaving behind Coral and Casserra to take care of Brian. But now, things have changed. Now, I leave Brian to take care of Coral, Nicole, Casserra, Josh and Noah. I am blessed to live so close to my parents. It is so wonderful to know they will all be fine. Of course I will miss them dearly, but I know they will be ok.

Blogging on the go

I. Hoping to blog while in Haiti. Hope I have set this up right!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

And were off....

Well, I gave it a stab! Here goes nothing. First let me clearly state I am not a blogger, computer tech, computer guru or anything related. Ok now that that's out of the way.... I just decided to try to create a way to update those I love (and hopefuly love me too) while at the same time creating memories for my kids and expressing us! Who knows, maybe someday we will get Brian to blog.