Grounded from Jesus

Today my older two kids were arguing and fighting (big surprise) over the Little People Manger Scene when these words came out of my mouth,

"That's it. Put it down. You are both grounded from Baby Jesus for one day!"

You know it's bad when I am grounding them from Jesus.

Further Proof

So in case you needed further proof that Josiah is "strong willed"...

The other day he was mad and started hitting me (which in and of itself is bad enough). But then I started holding his hands so he couldn't hit me. So he started headbutting me.

Yesterday he the same thing to Nia. So hard that he gave himself a bloody nose.

Sheesh.

Re-entry.

Re-entry is always hard for me. After any trip anywhere. But especially after Haiti. And increasingly so these days. I was writing an update to our supporters the other day and made a comment like, "every time we leave Haiti we leave a bigger piece of our heart there." It's true. But even all that "heart stuff" aside-- two weeks out of "normal" routine with three kids = miserableness all around when we get back home.

It is weird though, because it *should* be so much easier here--

• We don't have to heat water to wash dishes-- our hot water heater does it for us.

• We don't have to use bottled water to brush our teeth... tap water is sanitary.

• We have cars that start reliably.
• We have only three kids to look after.

• Even though we don't have Madame Emiline here, we do have a dishwasher and washing machine.

• I don't have to find matches every time I want to cook something to start the gas burners, the electric ones start with the turn of a knob-- no problems.

• I can take a long leisurely hot bath in my gigantic tub and if I stay in so long it starts to cool-- no problem, just add more hot!
• There's no adding diesel to the generator.
• There's no pumping water to the roof twice a day.
• There's no switching to the inverters.
  

etc. etc. etc.

But yet, even in spite of all this-- I am overwhelmed. I am tired. And I can't quite get my head around life here in NC yet.

It's a little irritating.

Sorry for the emotional barfing. I hereby vow not to blog again until I am no longer grumpy. :)

"Whose idea WAS this???"

That seemed to be the question of the day between Nick and I the whole day yesterday traveling with our kids. It was a LONG, LONG day (and into the night.)

Here's an abbreviated "day in photos."

Nico went along for one last school children delivery.

Playing in front of the voudou tomb (like you do) right across from the HCH while waiting for our driver. He arrived at about 8:15AM.
We found a corner where the kids could run around in the Port Au Prince airport-- and encouraged them to do so before the flight. That encouragment didn't help as Josiah was "that kids" (you know, the crying, obnoxious one) on our flight to Miami. Notice a distict ABSENCE of our stroller. Oh yeah, that's cause we FORGOT it at the HCH. THAT really helped set the tone of "fabulous" for the trip. That and the lingering car-sickness.

During our "short" (HA!) five hours in the freezing cold (and I DO mean freezing cold) Miami airport, I was seriously about to throw in the towel. Pay change fees for all our tickets, take a cab to a hotel and just sleep. And then I remembered that I would have to take all our kids with us. And hit security with them again in the morning. It was the DEFINITION of a lose lose situation. I was so miserable. Then some kind folks gave our kids lollipops and that gave them a few moments of quiet and I decided to just get it over with.

On the flight to RDU from Miami, I experienced "trifecta!" (Part one)

Parts two and three.

Nick's parents met us at the airport with one of their cars AND our car, so we could go right home-- definitely the highlight of our trip. They were so gracious to do this for us. One of our bags got lost. (Of course.) But I was so tired I wouldn't have cared if it was packed with bricks of gold. The temperature when we arrived home:

The time we arrived at our home-- a short 16 hours later. (Well, minus 2 minutes.) And that was with NO delays.

We made it, but it was not my favorite day ever. WHOSE IDEA WAS IT TO BRING THESE KIDS WITH US??? :)

We're home

got in safely at 12:15 last night

The last update :(

This is our very last update from Haiti. :( (Well, probably.)

Danny has returned. We're leaving in the morning and returning to NC. We aren't ready to go back yet. But, alas, it is the appointed time this time. We long for the time when this will be "home" in reality, not just our hearts.

Here's a few pics and stories:

Here's Josiah having a "breakthrough moment" with Berline. Josiah has been mostly rude to the Haitian people, the HCH kids specifically. (We think he might be racist.) Yesterday, Berline with her beautiful, quiet spirit seemed to crack his "Meanie" shell...

My future.

Nia and Slendia. Just being little girls. Cool Christmas lights, huh?

Josiah trying to decide what to throw next.

Okay, funny story. Never trust Nia as your guide in Haiti. She and her father had gone for a "run" the other day and when we went for a walk today she and I decided to take the same route. (One I had not been on before.) Long story short-- she had not been on THIS route either, though for a while she thought she did. We got very, very lost. With no money, no phone. Two hot little kids (Nia and Nico) and VERY, VERY limited Creole... It was surely an adventure. Here are a few images from the path...About 5 or so houses down from the HCH.

A boy with a rabid dog insisted I take his photo. Literally, I think the dog was rabid. He was constantly bearing his teeth and drooling. Plus he was on a leash. Which isn't typical for Haitian dogs... Thankfully, Chilo, the trusty 3-legged HCH dog was with us to "protect" us.

An hour and a half later, a bit sunburned, and VERY thirsty-- we made it home. Bad mommy.

Going to the airport to meet Danny. On the way over, Danny told the pilot (his friend Will) that Nia, Nico and Josiah were going to be meeting him at the airport and Will landed the plane, and then took off again (with Danny still in it) and circled around Jacmel once more so the kids could get a good look at the plane. It was a dream come true for Nico.

Pink eye, day 9.

It's ALMOST gone... woo hoo.

Okay, I should probably be turned in...

I forgot to mention this before-- it totally cracked me up.

So, Friday night I was going back and forth as to whether or not I was going to go the the English service at church. Nick was preaching, so I wanted to go, but my eyes were ally gross and so were Nico's and I didn't want to spread it around.

So I put off the decision until the very last minute but then decided to go.
*****************
I was heading out the door when Elinda stopped me and said, "You come to church?"

And I said, "Yes, I am coming."

And she said, "Quick, you change." (Meaning my clothes.)

And I said, "No, I am going to wear this." (I was wearing a t-shirt and a long skirt.)

She said, "No. You don't wear that."

And I said, "Yes. This is what I am wearing."

And she said, "No, pa bon (no good) You change now." (and shook her hands in front of me.)
***********
I didn't change and wore that outfit much to Elinda's disappointment.

So I realized later-- I am probably a good candidate for What Not To Wear if even Haitians don't approve of my attire.

Oh well...