September 24, 2006 continued from Part One...

I started feeling emotional when we pulled up to the orphanage gate. Everyone got out of the van as quickly as possible, and immediately searched out their children. I was worried that Georgia and Talley wouldn't be there yet, like last time. So I was please to see Talley sitting on a table between a man and a woman on the patio. I said, "Talley-Po!" She looked at me and smiled. I hurried inside. there was Georgia Jane, sound asleep on a chair. I walked passed her, while Tim scooped her right up, and went out to the patio for Talley. I held out my arms to her and she reached for me.

We started to feed them immediately. Both Tim and I were pleased with how much healthier Georgia looked this time. Her hair was even longer. Her skin looked healthier (despite being covered in scabies again). We were so happy. She definitely remembered us, and I really think Talley did, too. Georgia made eye contact almost instantly.

Talley looks the same, except she has more hair and three teeth. She also has scabies again.

We figured out eventually that Georgia is potty-trained. So that's good. We hung around the orphanage for quite some time. We had my friend, Tana's daughter, Cora for a good half hour. She is so cute! We never went upstairs this time, so we only saw the kids that were on the main level or outside. I saw my friend, B's son, R, too. He was really watching the parents with their kids. Apparently we are not allowed to leave the hotel, so this was my chance to see people's kids. I was pretty preoccupied with our girls to look around this time.

It started raining while we wee hanging around the orphanage. It got pretty hot and humid, and Ryland kept begging to leave.

We were finally told that whoever wanted to return to the hotel could go get in the van. We made a mad dash for it, only to sit and wait for about 20 minutes to make sure we got everyone wanting to leave. That is the name of the game in Haiti--waiting. The neighbors around the orphanage took the opportunity to come out and stare at us. I love how most Haitians will give you the hugest grin and wave if you just smile at them first. The Haitian people are beautiful!

Continued...