AC 360 I love you!

Anderson Cooper is back in Haiti…when asked by people here why he went back he said because he feels that Haiti is being forgotten about already, that it has taken a backseat to other news…when asked by people in Haiti why he left…he felt guilty and said he really had no good answer other than he just needed a break. He admits in his blog that the whole time he was back in the states he felt bad about it, something just didn’t feel right…That’s why I like you AC 360! And since we are being honest here, you are also easy on the eyes…

Let’s not think that we have done what we needed to do for Haiti. We have yet to scratch the surface people…

Sleepless in Children’s Hospital…

I had been out of town in Ft. Lauderdale for a work trip, that was exhausting…and got wind that my sons cold had taken a turn for the worse (he has Asthma and bad colds hit his lungs hard) and he had a fever of 102. So on thursday I told my partner to take him to the ER, they gave him some treatments, prescribed meds and sent him home…friday they called to say the Xrays showed a spot of pneumonia on his lungs and he was prescribed some antibiotics as well. I didn’t hear back from them on thursday until 10:00 pm (really 11pm FL time) so I was a worried mess…I booked a flight home friday instead of saturday and thank goodness I did. I snuggled him in bed with me all night and he could hardly breathe…breathing treatments, given every 3 hours didn’t so much and by sunlight I decided we were headed to the ER again.

They admitted him and I spent the next two nights on a very uncomfortable pull out couch/bed. There is nothing worse than watching your child suffer. The worst was when they wrapped him up in a bedsheet so they could insert an IV into his little hand…tears streaming down his face, crying, wheezing, eyes closed and finally it was like his poor little spirt was broken and he had nearly cried himself to sleep. There was blood and tears (mine and his) and it was just so sad. He was so scared. My normally friendly child started yelling, “No!” to every masked adult that entered the room.

He is home now, resting in his crib and so far, all is well…let’s hope it stays that way.

He’s on his way to the USA!

If any of you have been following my blog the past few weeks you know how much this whole Haiti thing has shook me to the core and that there have been some adoptive children I have been rooting for to make their way back to the US to be with their forever families. Well, word is that Ronel and his dad got on a Military flight this evening and should be in the sky as we speak headed to Miami. Their wait to get home is not over, as there is additional processing here in the states, medical exams (and it sounds like Ronel and his father are both now getting sick…funny how sleeping on an Embassy floor in close range with hundreds of people, being stressed beyond humanly thinkable and eating MRE’s can weaken your immune system, huh…who would have thunk?!) but they will be on our soil…

While it is a little bittersweet to think that Ronel had to leave his homeland on such bad terms, I have no doubt just by reading the blogs of this family that the Parkers will do everything they can to help offset that loss of culture for him, talking about Haiti, eating familiar foods, music, etc. There will be struggles, but he will be home soon…and for that I am extremely happy for them and feel a small kernel of hope for humanity.

Dear Haiti, I have never met you…but you continue to inspire me and provide me hope. I hope to get to meet you someday.

Your Secret Admirer,
Anne

All wrapped up in it…

So there is this family, the Parkers who have been trying to bring their son from Haiti home, on humanitarian parole for a week or so…in fact, the husband Ernest has been there, sleeping with his son on a cold floor of the US Embassy for over a week. They have been jacked over by our government and the Hatian government for a week…it is truely insane. And this poor boy is so scared that he will get left behind, again. It breaks my heart and i am amazed at how emotionally invested I have become in this family and their plight.

Taken from Aaron Ivey’s blog…

If you can, please, contact someone to help them…
THE PARKERS NEED OUR HELP
January 30, 2010
This morning, I mentioned a bit about our friends Ernest & Debra Parker, who have been in the process of adopting Ronel from Hait. Ronel lived in the same place where both of my kids are from, and Amos and Ronel are really good friends. Debra went on a trip to Haiti with Jamie and I, and immediately fell in love with Haiti and Real Hope For Haiti. Soonafter, they began the process of adopting Ronel. Because of new restrictions in Haiti over the last few days, they have yet to bring him home from Port-Au-Prince. Ernest is ending day 4 by sleeping on the floor of the US embassy in PAP with Ronel at his side. The US ambassador, his local congressman & the state dept. have been very little help at this point.
My buddy Robbie Seay sent me this, and I’m with him 100%.
“We are asking that each of you read the story of Ronel below and take 20 minutes today to call/tweet/FB and email the govt contacts at the end of this email. We are hoping for 2k people to join us today in making these officials aware of the Parker’s struggle and urge them to take action today. After calling, please RT, facebook message, email your address book & alert any media outlets you can for the Parker’s.”
Ronel was a part of the same group of kids that Amos and other friends of ours were a part of. He was supposed to be on that military plane that landed in Orlando, carrying Amos. He should have been home last week. He was one of the kids that didn’t get approval, and he was left behind. As I continue to rejoice for Amos, my heart breaks for Ernest & Debra.
Here’s what a missionary in Haiti wrote about Ronel the day Amos left:
“Later in the evening after dinner, the truck returned from the airport where 27 children were flying to meet their new parents. In the front seat of the truck was Ronel, the 6-7 year old that was staying in my room. I asked why he was still here and Tara told me it was because they needed one more paper for him. The other children got to go. She said she hoped they could get the needed paperwork tomorrow. I would never wish for you to see the disappointment on Ronel’s face because it would crush your heart… it did mine. It was dark and the power was off. He went into our room, laid down on the bed, pulled the sheets up and sobbed. It was so sad. Tara came in and talked to him in Kreole… I’m not sure what she said but I know she was trying to comfort him. After a time she got up and left as I sat across the room. I could not leave him by himself. I went over and motioned for him to move over and I laid down next to him. The tears were pouring out of him. He was still in his new [travel] clothes as he fell asleep.”
Three days ago, Ernest flew down to try to get him out. Debra posted on her blog: “I did not know I would literally have to fight for him.”
Because of UNICEF’s new involvement, the process has once again been stalled for people in legit pending adoptions, such as Ronel. Ernest got word that the US is deciding to comply with a request from the Haitian government. That request is to approve of all children who leave the country after they have been cleared by the United States. France and Canada have not complied and are getting their waiting children home.
Please pray for this situation to be resolved swiftly and also spend time contacting these officials and pass along to as many friends as possible to join the Parker’s side. (read more of the story on Debra’s blog)
HERE ARE THE OFFICIALS TO CONTACT, IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE TO THE PARKER’S CASE.
SOME TALKING POINTS:Be specific about the Parkers, the adoption is already finalized but red tape is delaying their release, sleeping on the floor in PAP at the US embassy, please do all you can to help, etc..
**contacting Congressman Poe by all means below is encouraged
U.S Congressman Ted Poe
Washington office – 202-225-6565
Kingwood,Tx office – 281-446-0242
Facebook: Ted Poe
Twitter: JudgeTedPoe
Raymond Joseph
Haitian Ambassador to US
embassy@haiti.org
p 202-332-4090
f 202-745-7215
Kenneth H Merten
US Ambassador to Haiti
Tabarre 41, Blvd 15 Octobre
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Haiti-earthquake@state.gov
P 509 22 29 8000
F 509 22 29 8028
Hilary Clinton/Dept of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
Main Switchboard:
202-647-4000

UNICEF and their meddling…

What people do not realize is that UNICEF has a lot of power and money therefore all the influence. UNICEF’s position on international adoption is pretty staunchy. The reason countries like Guatemala and China no longer are adopting out is due to UNICEF and their meddling, their want to revamp the Hague conventions instead of just change a few things has led to the complete shut down of adoptions in some areas. Currently in Haiti the US has agreed to do whatever the Haitian govt. wants, and the Haitian govt. is headily influenced by UNICEF, if not bought by them (dirty corruption everywhere). So children are not currently leaving Haiti, even those who are already by all accounts legal US citizens. Meanwhile, children in Canada and France are going home. Why? Because those countries said poo poo to you UNICEF…

Below is the last paragraph taken from UNICEF’s stance on International Adoption…

http://www.unicef.org/media/media_41918.html

The case of children separated from their parents and communities during war or natural disasters merits special mention. It cannot be assumed that such children have neither living parents nor relatives. Even if both their parents are dead, the chances of finding living relatives, a community and home to return to after the conflict subsides exist. Thus, such children should not be considered for inter-country adoption, and family tracing should be the priority. This position is shared by UNICEF, UNHCR, the International Confederation of the Red Cross, and international NGOs such as the Save the Children Alliance.

REALLY? Do you think Haiti has or ever had the infrastructure to find these people? Do they realize that these aunts and uncles are poor and likely have children of their own that they can barely feed? Family tracing a priority? They can barely survive right now…and have been that way for quite some time. Families sell their children, some have them live as Restavecs where they live with someone else as a domestic slave to be able to survive.

Is this right? Well, their culture is saved and they are still with “family” so I guess according to UNICEF, sure it’s all good.

How to solve Haitis homing crisis…

The United States biggest export is air, that’s right air shipped in empty containers headed back primarily to Asia. Of the shipping containers that make their way to California alone, only 40 – 50% of them make their way back to where they originate from. This leaves a HUGE influx of empty shipping containers just sitting in container yards. Most often it is cheaper to use a new container then to ship an empty container back to where it originated. There are an estimated 17 MILLION unused shipping containers.

Facts about shipping containers:
Waterproof
Extremely durable
Easily insulated
Easily ventilated
Easily transported
Paintable
Modular = stackable
Made of metal, which can withstand shaking in an earthquake

Shipping containers like these pile up all over ports

This is a one bedroom, one bath and family room made with 2 20' containers

These could also be used for schools, hospitals and businesses…
What are we waiting for?

More Nudred pics…

Not so sure about this thing yet…let’s see what he looks like when he wakes up tomorrow. The potion is all natural and smells nice but it sort of greasy.

Nudred attempt one

I’m undecided on the Nudreds ability. I think Carters hair on top is too long.

Haiti being lost in the news…

If you go to CNN’s webpage you’ll see that Haiti no longer occupies the whole page, in fact you will have to search and scroll for any news about Haiti. This is a shame! It’s a shame because I do not care about congressmen and their infidelities, I do not care about how much money Ford made, I do not care that the Pope whipped himself (insert funny jokes here). Do NOT forget about them! What I DO care about is that in a country already very difficult to live in people have lost their homes, their limbs. I have a broken leg, and life in America with all of it’s ADA requirements and devices has been very difficult…imagine living in a place with one limb where you may not have crutches…and a walker or wheel chair is not going to do you much good because it’s not like there are paved sidewalks. What I DO care about are children going to bed on the ground with empty bellies and hearts. Children being taken advantage of…predators lurking in the shadows waiting for their opportunity.

Do not forget. Do not let others forget. And keep giving!

Oh Apple how I love thee…

The Apple announcement was/is a big deal in this household…last night I said, “Honey! Guess what tomorrow is?” Staci’s reply, “Wednesday?” Me, yelling louder, “HONEY Guess what tomorrow is?” Staci, laughing, “The State of the Union Address?” Me, not believing how stupid she is at this point, “HONEY!!! GUESSS WHAT TOMORROW IS? YOU suck at this GAME!” Staci, laughing, “I know…it’s the Apple announcement.

So, without too much of a surprise, other than details and the name…the much anticipated iPad was announced. We are a BIG apple house here. I personally have a MacBook, Nano, Shuffle, old G4 and the 2nd Generation iPhone…I don’t really NEED the iPad, but I sort of feel like I have to get it…to add to my collection of techno gadgetry. The kids each have an iPod in their rooms and for when we fly (watching cartoons on a tiny device versus a giant portable dvd player cannot be beat)….Staci has an ancient MacBook, a newer MacBook and the newest MacBook, my old iphone (1st generation, which I still think had the best body), 1st generation Shuffle and iPod…she just texted me and asked me if I was going to get the iPad…after we both agreed in our texting back and forth that we do not need the iPads we said we would both be getting one anyway…it’s a sickness here. Hey, the kids both know how to work our iPhones…did I mention they are 1 and 2 years old? Did I mention that when I enable Genius on my phone it lists preschooler games based on my current downloads…oh Yeah! Peekaboo Barn is a hit in this house.

Funny story, last night I was putting Zoe to bed and Staci was putting Carter to bed…well, she says, “Where is Lua? She is crying, she is trapped somewhere (Lua is our cat)”…I say, I don’t hear her, you must be hearing things…she insists it’s Lua, and now Carter is concerned and partially crying saying, “Where kitty cat?” So now Staci nor Carter can rest until they find out where the crying is coming from…I finally go downstairs and find Lua asleep on the guest bed…Staci says, “I still hear it, there must be a cat outside.” I go outside on the porch and make “here kitty kitty” noises…nothin’….a half hour later, Staci comes downstairs and tells me it was the Peekaboo Barn game in her pocket…a Kitty was in a barn crying…turns out she didn’t stop the game just put it in her pocket. That would explain why she and Carter were the only ones to hear the crying cat. LOL