Sorry I have not posted, but we are just so super busy and a lot overwhelmed, but all in a very good way.
We had an amazing time in Haiti and at the orphanage. It was so bittersweet to say goodbye to al his 'amis' and aunties. We took tons of photos and really tried to convey our appreciation to all the staff at the orphanage. But how do you thank someone for loving, caring, and taking care of your son when you are not able to? Needless to say, we said "Me'ci" a LOT and gave out some really crushing hugs. As we left the orphanage, we waved goodbye and Rory was smiling from ear to ear. He yelled goodbye out the window to his schoolmates. It was so priceless to see him so happy, we worried that he would be overcome with sadness, but as the Madame at the orphanage said "They want this day, they look forward to it and want it very badly."
The three plane rides were honestly a breeze. We asked Madame to explain to Rory that it would take three airplanes (avion) to get home and he understood. The first flight was to Miami and we landed at night. When he saw the lights out the window he said "WHOA!". We clapped when we landed because that was the moment that he became an American. Immigration was a piece of cake to say the least. One of the customs officials brought me to total tears. He said something to the fact that he knows that soldiers are heroes because they go to war, but we were heroes to him because we were opening our home to a child who needed it. I mean, come on! How was I supposed to hear that and NOT cry!?!? ugh! Rory loved the moving walkways and escalators as much as we imagined he would and shivered in the hotel room due to the air conditioning he was not used to. He slept well in Miami and the next day we were off!
Two airplane rides later we were home. Actually, he slept through the last flight to Indy from take off to arrival gate. We met Grandma and Malana at the airport and took Malana's "machine black" all the way home. He was a bit overwhelmed, but we showed him around the house and he had been looking at the pictures we had took of EVERY ROOM, so it was not the first time he saw the house. He like his room, but no more than every other room. He really likes the kitchen because the food is all there!
Over the last couple days, we've established a routine and actually made an outing to Aunt Mary and Uncle Don's house. He likes their big window and have his snack at their table. Then we went to the grocery store BRIEFLY to pick up some stuff. He loved the produce section and we took our time there so he could name all the veggies and fruits that he likes. Then he saw the canned corn and seemed to want some so we got it. However, he doesn't- at all!
There isn't much that he doesn't like. Mama's plain oatmeal wasn't a hit, nor were the green beans, corn, and peas. But holy moly, can this boy eat! They did eat a lot at the orphanage, but he likes almost everything and eats every single bite down to the last morsel. It is so cute because he likes to share his snacks with people. I told him I like the purple fruit loops. SO NOW, everytime he has fruit loops, he digs out every last purple CRUMB and feeds them to me. The red ones go to papa and he eats the rest. How cute is that!
We have 'school' everyday because we want him to keep up what he was taught by his awesome teachers in Haiti. So we sit at the little table that Grandma Vaughn got for him and we color and practice our letters. He gets a sticker when he finishes, which he just thinks is the cat's pajamas! Then, he runs to put his work on the fridge. When I color with him, he insists on putting my page up, too. We are officially out of room as of today!
His first warm bath was an adventure. He had the BIGGEST smile on his face and said 'cho, cho, cho, cho' over and over again which means warm or hot. He's never in his life had access to hot water, so now, washing his hands, he turns the hot faucet and gets antsy because the hot water just cannot come fast enough!
We've watched some TV- not much.. see our YOUTUBE videos for his reaction to the futbol on the tv. And, to my dismay, just like papa, he loves sportscenter and gets upset when we change it! He has very few toys, only the ones we took to Haiti and he is happy as a clam with them. We will introduce more as we go, but will keep it to minimum right now.
He's sleeping pretty well, waking up to go the restroom and adjusting more and more. He sleeps in his bed and we sleep in the guest room for now, but he seems to understand that it isn't our bed, that our bed is downstairs. We'll see how that goes when the time comes!
I will post more videos on youtube... I'm finding it hard to find time and I'm doing something wrong so that it is taking FOREVER just to download one stinking video. But, I'll work on it till I get it right!
Tomorrow it's pancakes for breakfast! Woo hoo!
We had an amazing time in Haiti and at the orphanage. It was so bittersweet to say goodbye to al his 'amis' and aunties. We took tons of photos and really tried to convey our appreciation to all the staff at the orphanage. But how do you thank someone for loving, caring, and taking care of your son when you are not able to? Needless to say, we said "Me'ci" a LOT and gave out some really crushing hugs. As we left the orphanage, we waved goodbye and Rory was smiling from ear to ear. He yelled goodbye out the window to his schoolmates. It was so priceless to see him so happy, we worried that he would be overcome with sadness, but as the Madame at the orphanage said "They want this day, they look forward to it and want it very badly."
The three plane rides were honestly a breeze. We asked Madame to explain to Rory that it would take three airplanes (avion) to get home and he understood. The first flight was to Miami and we landed at night. When he saw the lights out the window he said "WHOA!". We clapped when we landed because that was the moment that he became an American. Immigration was a piece of cake to say the least. One of the customs officials brought me to total tears. He said something to the fact that he knows that soldiers are heroes because they go to war, but we were heroes to him because we were opening our home to a child who needed it. I mean, come on! How was I supposed to hear that and NOT cry!?!? ugh! Rory loved the moving walkways and escalators as much as we imagined he would and shivered in the hotel room due to the air conditioning he was not used to. He slept well in Miami and the next day we were off!
Two airplane rides later we were home. Actually, he slept through the last flight to Indy from take off to arrival gate. We met Grandma and Malana at the airport and took Malana's "machine black" all the way home. He was a bit overwhelmed, but we showed him around the house and he had been looking at the pictures we had took of EVERY ROOM, so it was not the first time he saw the house. He like his room, but no more than every other room. He really likes the kitchen because the food is all there!
Over the last couple days, we've established a routine and actually made an outing to Aunt Mary and Uncle Don's house. He likes their big window and have his snack at their table. Then we went to the grocery store BRIEFLY to pick up some stuff. He loved the produce section and we took our time there so he could name all the veggies and fruits that he likes. Then he saw the canned corn and seemed to want some so we got it. However, he doesn't- at all!There isn't much that he doesn't like. Mama's plain oatmeal wasn't a hit, nor were the green beans, corn, and peas. But holy moly, can this boy eat! They did eat a lot at the orphanage, but he likes almost everything and eats every single bite down to the last morsel. It is so cute because he likes to share his snacks with people. I told him I like the purple fruit loops. SO NOW, everytime he has fruit loops, he digs out every last purple CRUMB and feeds them to me. The red ones go to papa and he eats the rest. How cute is that!
We have 'school' everyday because we want him to keep up what he was taught by his awesome teachers in Haiti. So we sit at the little table that Grandma Vaughn got for him and we color and practice our letters. He gets a sticker when he finishes, which he just thinks is the cat's pajamas! Then, he runs to put his work on the fridge. When I color with him, he insists on putting my page up, too. We are officially out of room as of today!
His first warm bath was an adventure. He had the BIGGEST smile on his face and said 'cho, cho, cho, cho' over and over again which means warm or hot. He's never in his life had access to hot water, so now, washing his hands, he turns the hot faucet and gets antsy because the hot water just cannot come fast enough!We've watched some TV- not much.. see our YOUTUBE videos for his reaction to the futbol on the tv. And, to my dismay, just like papa, he loves sportscenter and gets upset when we change it! He has very few toys, only the ones we took to Haiti and he is happy as a clam with them. We will introduce more as we go, but will keep it to minimum right now.
He's sleeping pretty well, waking up to go the restroom and adjusting more and more. He sleeps in his bed and we sleep in the guest room for now, but he seems to understand that it isn't our bed, that our bed is downstairs. We'll see how that goes when the time comes!
I will post more videos on youtube... I'm finding it hard to find time and I'm doing something wrong so that it is taking FOREVER just to download one stinking video. But, I'll work on it till I get it right!
Tomorrow it's pancakes for breakfast! Woo hoo!
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