5 & 1/2 Days Home

The boys are sleeping through the night in their own room with few exceptions. What a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE answer to prayer!

J & P are somewhat afraid of the kitties, but it only took a few hours for the real screams to become fake, "Are you gonna protect me, Mama?" tests. They have both enjoyed petting Pixie and Scout, as long as I'm holding the "lucky" cat. On his second day home Peterson spent a half hour playing with Legos while Scout sat just a few feet away. Amazing! I've got to hand it to bitter old Pixie... She really is trying to be sweet, okay cordial, to the boys. If you've ever met her you know that this is almost as miraculous as a virgin birth. Atticus is having the hardest time with the transition. He is hiding all day, poor kitty. But I know his addiction to belly rubs will get the better of him eventually and he'll have to come out from under the bed.

Justin loves daddy's grilled chicken. It is "suck every atom of meat from the drumstick, bite in to the dry bone, and then suck it like a lollipop" kinda love.

This tool, which I've made fun of for years, is now on my wish list. We're going through mangoes almost as quickly as we're going through diapers.

New food friends: daddy's quiche, shepherd's pie, grapes, Thai coconut curry w/ butternut squash, bacon, assorted nuts, golden raisins, 70% dark chocolate. The only thing they both did not like at all was grilled asparagus.

Getting these boys cleaned out has been pretty horrific. The sudden introduction of fiber in to their diets when they're accustomed to eating only white rice, corn gruel, sugar and other non-nutritive fillers has led to some majorly stinky explosions. Ten poops per day per child is not uncommon. But the boys are looking GREAT as a result. Petey is much more energetic and mentally "with it." Both boys had really dry, ashy skin a few days ago. Now Petey's legs are a lovely dark chocolate and Justin's are a rich caramel. They didn't look this good before even after I put lotion all over them.

Is there anything more rewarding than finding a diarrhea-filled diaper in the middle of your carpeted hallway... with matching poo footprints leading away from the scene? I don't think so.

My floors are actually cleaner than usual. The boys will eat any little crumbs they come across. Pieces of onion skin, potato peels, dirt from potted plants... It's all good for the tastin'. Silly me. I never though to put "kitchen trash can with lid" on my baby registry.

Justin found a can of coke in a closet and opened it right up. With his teeth! Eeek! Is that a Haitian thing?

The boys were superb at Wal-Mart. Aside from begging for candy at the checkout they were perfect angels the whole time. Even when we said no to candy. No joke.

Greg played Synchronicity and Justin really got down and danced for us. Hilarious!

Poh-deh-doe! This is Justin's version of potato. Peterson says peh-ta-tah. Adorable. Tonight we're having bwa-kee-leh and kee-tin, which is Justin for broccoli and chicken.

The boys "help" me with all my housework, but they are not allowed to be in the kitchen while I'm cooking. Raw meat, big knives, boiling water, hot burners... Too many opportunities for disaster when Mama's alone with the boys and can't see in all directions. So we've trained them to stand at the edge of the carpet where the kitchen tile begins. Now I just have to say "Mama's cooking. Time to get out!" and they go right to the carpet. Yesterday I was in the kitchen with J & P and I took out a pot from a cabinet. Peterson looked at the pot, then looked up at me and said, "Mama, OUT?" Sooo cute!!

Fresh mashed potato crumbs don't vacuum nicely. The trick is to let them dry a while first. Overnight is ideal. :) Meat and most veggies, however, can be sucked from the carpet shortly after impact. If you see the person who installed carpet in our dining room please send him over so I can give him a good roundhouse kick in the neck. Tell him to come alone. You don't even want to see my awesome roundhouse kick.

Petey is a "machine" freak. Okay, J, too, but Petey especially. He is UBER-excited about any and every moving vehicle. Even all the lame Buicks around here that all the retirees drive. He SCREAMS for the trash truck. The driver honked at him yesterday, and you'd have thought he'd won a billion candy bars! Those of you who've sent package gifts, THANK YOU! The gifts are great, but it's the thrill of seeing the UPS man getting out of his big truck and walking to our door that is most fantastical to J & P. I am pretty sure no one greets USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc. with the enthusiasm of our boys. The delivery dudes always leave with big smiles on their faces.

Apparently, singing songs about poop and pee is a universal thing. Justin makes up a new "tata, peepee" tune EVERY time we change Petey's diaper. On their second day home I asked Justin to get me a diaper while I was in the middle of changing Peterson. He tried to hand me something that was not a diaper, then something else. On the third try he figured out what I was asking for and got me a diaper. Petey started clapping and shouted, "Brava!" How funny is that? Oh my goodness, these boys are bringing joy to my heart!

What fast, beautiful days these are! Above all I ever dared to ask or imagine. I know things won't always be this easy, but for today I am jubilant- blessed beyond my own ability to even comprehend it. Thank You, God, for every bit of the agonizing wait. (I never thought I'd say that with sincerity!!) You used every tear-filled moment to knit us closer together as a family. It seemed impossible that such a thing could happen without them in our arms- by way of weak prayers to heaven for children across an ocean. I am in awe of Your amazing grace.


Petey "petting" Scout


Justin on the couch (Who IS this happy boy???)


Peter says thank you, Miranda, for the kaleidoscope!


Justin at a nearby pier


Watching the "machines" roll by...


Justin loves his bongos from Uncle Thomas & Aunt Laura!


My new "mom hair." Fab, eh?