Thursday & Friday 10/22 & 10/23

Thursday and Friday were LONG days. Thursday my plane left Austin at 7AM and was set to arrive in PAP around 3:40 or something like that. The day was great, and I was just ready to get to see my baby. I was anxiously awaiting her being put in my arms forever!

When my plane landed in Miami my phone rang as soon as I turned it on. It was a number that I recognized coming in from Haiti so I answered it even though I was standing in the aisle surrounded by people waiting to get off the plane. It was Licia and she was obviously very concerned about Story at this time. She said she had been running fever, not awake much and not walking. They were freaked out by it. She wasn’t sure what to do b/c we were scheduled to fly out on Friday morning and she didn’t know if Story was up to it.

We talked for a few minutes and I reassured her that Story’s health was our number one concern, and not our flight the next day. I told her I could reschedule my flight and even stay longer if I needed to. We needed to take care of Story. She our call ended with us deciding to get an IV in her and see how she was doing.

I got off the plane and immediately called Aaron and burst into tears. Our baby was sick. It is an awful feeling for your child to be sick and you’re not there. A handful of times our kids have been sick in Haiti and it sucks. You feel helpless. We always are very reassured that they are very well taken care of by Licia and Lori. I knew too at this moment that Licia would do whatever was needed to take care of her. I would trust any my kids to the care of Lori, and that felt good as I was so far away.

I sat in Miami wondering what would happen. Would I get there to find her in a hospital in PAP. Would I spend the weekend alone with her in a very strange and unfamiliar place? I was set to do whatever it took to get Story better and do the best thing for her and not me.

 

By the time I left Miami they thought she was feeling better.  They had started an IV of fluids for her and she seemed to be a little bit more attentive.  I got on the plane heading to PAP full of a heavy heart and concern for my daughter.  I had no idea what I would find when I got there.

 

When I arrived in PAP I called Lori to see if she knew if we had the Visa in hand.  She called me back as I was walking down the steps off the plane and told me that the Visa was in hand.  She was FREE TO GO.  I yelled out thanks to Jesus for making a way for Story to come home.

 

We arrived at the WWV guest house and waited for Story to arrive.  When Zach pulled up, I realized that Licia had brought her in to me.  I was so happy that Licia was able to do that b/c she has cared for and loved her for the past 23 months.  One of my favorite moments when I went to get her was when I walked up to the car and saw her she looked so sick, but when she saw me a small smile came over her face.  I’ll never forget that smile.  Ever.  It was as if she gave it to me to reassure me in our journey.

 

…………………………….

Wed 10/21 – we have been approved.

Hello world!  Oh my goodness I feel like I can hardly come up for air much less update all you great people on here about our journey.  Each day something happens and I think, oh my I need to blog about that.  Then life happens and sitting down at my computer has been very low on my priority list lately.  You all have left the most kind comments on here and I just read each and every one of them.  Thank you all so much for your excitement, joy and happiness for us during this time.  I remember reading two ladies blogs (tanya & laura) during their waiting time and I still remember the feelings of overwhelming joy I had for two ladies I had never met.  I watched and waited as they journeyed to their Haitian kids and was so happy when they finally came home.  It gives all of us waiting hope that it does happen.  I can rest a little easier at night waiting for Amos, b/c, it does happen.   They do come home.

 

So, I think I’ll try and go back and recap from my memory what has happened up until now.  I haven’t written anything down, so my silly brain will have to remember it all.  Ha!

 

Just a week ago around lunch time I learned that our Visa had been approved and that we could pick it up on Thursday.  I remember running through the house screaming and Deacon asking me to be quiet b/c he was watching the Doodlebops!  I told him Story was coming home and he smiled and then asked, “what about Amos”.  That has probably been the hardest to explain to our boys.  Why one sibling and not the other gets to come home, when honestly they would have loved it had Amos come home first.

 

Lori S. called and gave me the news and Aaron, who was out of town, and I immediately started talking travel plans.  We had always said that we would NOT be “those” parents that jump the gun and make tickets to travel before the Visa is IN HAND.  Ha!  When I heard it was approved and we could pick it up I forgot all about reasoning.  I was leaving the next day.  I was not going to be late.  Ha!  I didn’t even tell the lady doing our stuff, we just booked it!  Once I got there she could be mad at me, but I was going!

 

We have an amazing friend who gave us miles for the trip for me and that was a huge blessing.  My ticket would have costs around $1500.  Praise Jesus for free miles!  So, Wed night he got me a ticket booked to fly out the next day and I would return on Friday with my daughter!

 

Last Wed night, Maris and Ginger brought over Chuy’s to celebrate and I did last minute stuff around the house.  I had the kids all worked out and I was ready!

 

I still can’t believe it’s been a week since we found out that our daughter was indeed coming home.  Although we knew we were close, we never felt in the clear until Miami.  It always seemed as though there was always a “what if” waiting around the corner.

 

My blogging time is over and I have a sleepy girl on the couch with the boys.  I still look at her and feel as though this is a dream.  I just can’t believe that she is truly here.  The boys have asked several times if she has to go back.  We have explained a million times that she is here forever.  She is an Ivey.  She’s on our team now.  She’s one of us.  She’ll live with us forever.  Then Cayden will interject, “well at least until she gets married, then she’ll move out!”.  They too are having to realize that this truly is happening.  She is here FOREVER.  We are so thrilled that she is finally here FOREVER.

STORY IS IN THE USA!

hey guys this is Aaron, Jamie’s husband, blogging on her behalf!  she asked me to blog tonight for her, so here it is!

Jamie is almost asleep with Story at Dell Children’s Hospital.  I’m here with the boys back at the house.  Jamie is LOVING having her baby girl home!!  We’ve absolutely seen God’s hand and perfect timing all over this adoption.  We’re so GRATEFUL to have her here in the USA with us.  We found out today that Story has viral meningitis.  They are watching her closely until she’s able to eat/drink/walk as normal before they  will release her.  Because she came from Haiti, they are doing all kinds of thorough tests to make sure she has no parasites or any kinds of other bacterial infections.  They are doing an amazing job of caring for her at Dell.  We’ve had so many friends come by and bring food and gifts… it’s been amazing to see our community (online and local) gather around us and pray for Story’s homecoming and healing.

Jamie says she has A LOT to blog about…but since she’s pretty much got Story in her lap 24 hours a day, she’s saving the blogging time for when she gets home.  She says she’ll give a re-cap of ALL the amazing things God has done.

Please pray that Story starts feeling well enough to move/play/eat very soon so she can come home.  Also, please pray that our sweet AMOS gets to come home very soon as well.

Thanks for your concern, support, and prayers!!

Aaron

visa in hand.

I am here and doing good.  Landed early and got a phone call that the visa was in hand.  I literally said outloud “praise you Jesus” as I was walking down the steps of the plane.

 

Story is sick.  Doing better but not good.  Our plan is to watch her and get her home soon and possibly to the doctor when we get home Friday night.  She has some weird symptoms and I’m sure as soon as I walk into the hospital with a sick baby from a 3rd world country they will rush her back and begin the run down on tests!

 

One thing that is super cool is that when Licia & Zach showed up to the guest house with Story when she saw me she smiled.  It was a sad smile, but none the less  it was a smile from my baby b/c she saw me and knew me.

 

We had a blow out diaper tonight, so I’m begging Jesus to not let that happen tomorrow on the plane!!!

 

I have her passport with Visa attached & all my paperwork that I need to get through customs.

 

If all goes well I should arrive in Austin at 7:10 tomorrow night.  Come out and visit if you want, but know that Story is not feeling well, so she might look sad!  Also we’re not going to be passing her around so we can bond well.  If you come, you will see one happy mamma!!!

no visa today.

Today was our Visa appt day!  I was so excited, but also not stressing out either.  I knew that one of two things could happen.  They would say YES WE GIVE YOU A VISA or they would say WE WOULD LOVE TO GIVE YOU A VISA BUT WE NEED THIS FROM YOU.

So, I was prepared for both.  My friend Lori was so nice to call our facilitator in Haiti and find out for me what had happened at our appt.  Turns out they had lost two pieces of our paperwork. Great.  One paper was not that important and the other was very important.  Not sure why they required a paper that was not that important, but whatever.

After a few more phone calls I was told that they found a copy of the important paper and they’ll take it back there tomorrow and that should complete her file.  Then they’ll either give her a visa in the same day (highly unlikely) or tell her to come back the next day or Friday to get the Visa.

So, not a terrible day even though it didn’t go exactly as planned.

Someone asked if I was doing okay with this. YES I’M DOING GREAT.  For real.  I never cried today, stressed out or  lost my emotions!  I think being 2 years into this you expect this.  If things had gone of perfect without a hitch I would have been totally thrown off guard!  This way is normal!

Tomorrow they’ll take our paper in.  Pray that they need nothing else, that the paper is sufficient for them and that we get a Visa THIS WEEK!

kids at RC

One day we played with these kids for a long time in the area in front of the RC.  Fun times!

Visa Appt!!

We have a VISA APPT!!!!  Yippee!!!  We are so thrilled!  Her appt is next Tuesday.

Thank you all for your advice.  Aaron and I have talked about this lots since I got here.  We’ve gone back and forth on what to do.  For now, we feel it is best if I go home as planned tomorrow.  I know most all of you have said STAY, but there are other factors that we didn’t feel we should share here as well, and so that’s what made our decision.  I’ll go home tomorrow and then we’ll wait until we here that they have the Visa in hand and then make plans to come down here.

We are just thrilled that we have THE appt we’ve been waiting on for her!  Now we just need our sweet Amos to get through MOI!

to go or stay.

If you’ve adopted from Haiti I want your opinion on something.

I’m here in Haiti.  Our I600 got approved yesterday.  I’m supposed to fly out tomorrow.  I could wait or I could go.

What would you do?  Go home and wait for Visa appt and visa in hand, or stay here?  We all know it could happen quick, or something could happen to make it go slow.

I’ve been advised to stay by smart people and to go by smart people.  what do you think?

Day #2 AM

I cherish each day I’m with my kids, but if I’m super honest it is always kinda hard for me.  I wish that we could get in a car and go to a park, or go to a museum, or go and do something.  My always on the go American lifestyle is hard for me sometimes.  I’m learning to just sit and hold and sit and read and sit and sit.  It’s been good.  We’ll go downstairs and sit with the other kids, then come back upstairs, then go out the gate for a walk, then something different.

The kids have been awesome and I feel more attached to Story than ever before.  In fact sometimes she’ll reach for me when someone else is around.  That makes my heart jump for joy.  Amos is fabulous and remembers me all the same!

When Aaron left last time he accidently came home with Amos’ shirt, so I brought it back this time.  He was super excited to see it!

He still asks about every 30 min if Papa is coming today.    I smile and tell him not today, but in a few weeks.  So Aaron you better schedule a visit soon!!

*Notice the 3 fever blisters on the top of my lip.  UGH!  There are two on the inside too.  The stress of this trip and visa stuff is getting to me!

Today he’ll come up to me and just kiss all over me.  It is so fun!  He has also gotten very jealous today if I play with the kids downstairs at all.  I’ll start messing with the kids and he’ll tell me he’s ready to go back upstairs!

We have colored today:

Played downstairs with Hope & Faith.

My favorite pic of the kids so far and I can’t get it to turn!  you can turn your head and see how super cute they are!

Okay so none of them will turn for me now.  So this will be it for now.  Here is a man that brought his 10 month old twins to the clinic.  One is named Baby Love and the other is named Love Baby.  Go figure!  The one in is lap is sicker than the other and so she was admitted to the rescue center.  I can’t remember which one she was!

The kids are getting baths and then the nanny will put them down for naps.  I think I might go crawl in bed next to Amos and get a nap myself!  For some reason I must have temporarily lost my mind while packing and I brought no toys for the kids.  Seriously, what kind of mom am I?  When I first got here I went to get something out of my backpack and Amos and Story crowded around as if I was about to unload their gifts.  Nope, not this time.  I think I’ve been in a daze the past couple of weeks and this is part of the result of that!  We’re doing just fine though!

I emailed the adoption unit today and told them that I’m here for a few days and would love to attend the Visa appointment, so we’ll see what they say.    I’m kinda thinking I might be here for a few extra days.  If any of you can help Aaron, please email him!  I’ll know more tomorrow.   If I’m here until next week sometime and Aaron leaves Monday it could get crazy around our house!  Where’s my live in nanny when I need one!

Amos loves his Papa

Tonight this is how a conversation with Amos went between us:

Me:  I love you Amos!

Amos:  I love Papa.

Me:  I know you love Papa!  Do you love Mama too?

Amos:  yes I love Momma.

Me:  What about Cayden?

Amos:  I love Cayden

Me:  What about Deacon?

Amos:  I love Deacon

Me:  What about Magda?

Amos:  I love Magda.  And I love toys.

It was hilarious!

This kid loves his Papa.  One of the first things he finally said to me was asking me if Papa was here.  Most times when I say “i love you” to him he replies with, “i love papa.”.  I am by no means offended.  This kid loves his daddy and I’m thrilled over that.  I know that he loves me too!