I thought I’d give a little update on what is happening with our adoption. I cannot remember whether or not I mentioned that one of the directors for our agency was in America having her baby for almost two months, I believe. While she was away, IBESR was not allowing the other director or any other staff from our agency to pick up files. Everyone with our agency were anxious for her return and were hoping that good news awaited many of us. Our director returned just before Carnival, which didn’t benefit anyone, due to the fact that IBESR was closed down for a whole week to observe Carnival. We all waited patiently for that week to pass, only to find out that IBESR would still not see our director. An appointment is scheduled for Monday, and we are all hoping that she is well-received this time around. Such is life in Haiti.

There are many people with file numbers just before our numbers, just after, and several after who have been signed out of IBESR. I imagine that ours should be signed out, as well, and yet who can really say? A friend of mine has been in IBESR since April of 2006. There has been definite improvement with files getting signed out of IBESR under Madame Beaudin’s direction, but there still seems to be vast room for improvement.

Once we are signed out of IBESR, we will be in for another six or so month wait (an that’s as long as nothing drastic happens with any of the next few steps in the process) until our girls can come home.

I am trying not to get too discouraged. I try not to worry about them too much, or think about them too often. However, since I have held and loved them, it is near impossible to push them to the back of my mind for more than a few minutes or so. I can be doing the most mundane things, like folding laundry, and they will be right there with me. I will wonder how they are feeling, if they are eating enough, whether they are happy, etc.

When I received their update photos and information, I was determined to not miss the next Parent Trip this April. Well, we are in March and April is banging on the front door. While we were on our trip to Disneyland, I decided, once again, that I should not go to Haiti. It was very difficult to come to that conclusion. Even more painful, was acknowledging that we will not be going on any more Parent Trips. It is draining on our emotions, finances, the girls, our children at home, and our home life. We wonder at the benefits—are Georgia and Talley getting out of it what we hope they are, or are we just disrupting their lives even more? I have been through this a million times, and do not know what the right answer is. We hope we are making the best decision.

So, we’ve not made much progress. We aren’t going to see our girls again in April. And I am still struggling with missing them. How was that for an update?!

Do any of you out there have good news on your Haitian adoption?