ANOTHER new post!

Well, after weeks and weeks of nothing to report, I am writing with another update. I am so so happy to report that our agency coordinator just called with some news about stanley. We had been so worried about his health and lack of weight gain. She told me that as per the orphanage director (Marie), herself, he now weighs 22 lbs! Also, apparently, he has been staying at Marie's house in Port au Prince (Marie always has a few kids at her place) rather than in the large orphanage in Les Caye. Our coordinator wasn't entirely sure why but one thing we know is that the kids get more one-on-one care when they stay at Marie's house. It is so wonderful to imagine him in her home rather than in the crowded infant room at PAC. I guess this doesn't sound too exciting to any one else but to us, we get to go to sleep tonight picturing him sleeping safely and soundly in a bed in a house and getting some attention. Most nights, I lay awake wondering if anyone even hears him cry or kisses him good night. She also sent another picture and our official IBESR file number (which for some reason, we never got). It is just a number and since the files don't come out sequentially, it is probably arbitrary. But again, we are holding on to whatever we can.

sorry its been so long...

I know its been a while since we've written. Mostly that is because there is NOTHING TO REPORT! Unfortunately, we have not received word on our file. We have friends whose files have entered and exited IBESR since we've been in and know at least one family who has been in IBESR since last August! We have yet to hear if we have even been sent for Presidential Dispensation yet. All this time, Stanley is not home and our paperwork is sitting on a desk somewhere!!!

The latest pictures that we received have us concerned- his hair appears in some of the pictures to have a bit of a reddish tint to it- a sure sign of malnutrition for black people. We are also concerned b/c it doesn't appear that he has gained any weight in the past three months. We have asked our agency coordinator to follow-up with the orphanage to get a better handle on his health. It is terrifying to wait each day for someone else to tell you if your child is healthy and then wonder if they are telling you the whole story.

We are gearing up for another visit- hopefully in October/November. We are literally dying to get the travel plans and start planning. We are, once again, beginning the process of collecting stuff to take with us. We know that the children have some things that they always need:

* Toys for toddlers/babies
* Formula
* Diapers- especially size 3
* shoes- especially for toddlers just learning to walk!
* over-the-counter medicine
* high fat foods (peanut butter, beef jerkey, etc.)

We are thinking about setting up a paypal account so that people can donate money for us to buy stuff for the trip. I'll update on that as soon as possible.

In the meantime, we celebrate with our friends Kendra and John, who are bringing home their two boys next month from Haiti and to all the other families who are that much closer to being complete. Please keep little Stanley (and his damn file!) in your thoughts and prayers!