No Cavities!

We are amazed but both kids checked out with no cavities at their first dental appointment this morning! Considering their rice and beans diet and lack of vitamins in their early years, we were very pleasantly surprised. Pierre has a great set of teeth with only the one chipped tooth needing repair. He is losing the teeth one would expect of a child about his age, so this reinforced that he is just big for his age. Ange-Laurette, on the other hand, has not lost her bottom baby teeth yet and is just on the slower end tooth-wise. But she has strong, healthy teeth also! The dentist got a kick out of our story when Pierre lost a molar here a couple weeks ago. Pierre just came up to me with the large tooth in his hand and said, "Mom. Finished." and went to throw it in the trash. I told him that he could leave it out on the table overnight, and a tooth fairy would bring him money for the tooth. You should have seen his face...as if I had truly lost my mind! We Americans do have some doozies for traditions. He agreed to go along with the craziness and was happy to find cash there in the morning. :)

Hidden Talents

Ange-Laurette tried out her first night of dance class on Tuesday. She has two friends in the class, and we are friends with the teacher. She was adament that she was only going to "look" this first week, not dance. Knowing her better than that :) I talked her into wearing her sweats and tennis shoes, just in case. Sure enough, as soon as the Cha Cha Slide started playing, she took off her fleece jacket and joined the girls on the dance floor. She participated the rest of the hour, following each move a split second behind the leaders. The only difference was...Ange-Laurette had REAL rhythm. We South Dakotans only THINK we can dance!


Bruce had taken the boys along for an oil change. Nate always likes it there since he can get a slush and popcorn while they wait. This day, there was a man making animals out of long balloons. Pierre was intrigued. He came home, took their balloons apart, and put them together again and again into dog shapes. The next day we bought him a package of long, skinny balloons and a hand pump. He proceeded to form mice, elephants, and all sorts of dogs! I told him he could make a mint at birthday parties and carnivals if he kept this up. Ange-Laurette and Nate got into the action and learned to make their own flowers and long dogs. Who'd have thought!

Long-awaited first day of school ~

Today, to me, is almost as big as the day Pierre and Ange-Laurette arrived to South Dakota. The chance to receive an education was such a big part of why their birthparents chose adoption in the first place. I so wish there was a way to tell those mothers where their children are today! Pierre and Ange-Laurette seem to understand the importance of today. They were giddy all morning and wanted to dress up so nice. In the past two days, they have been working so hard on their reading skills. Just last night, Ange-Laurette read every word of Green Eggs and Ham. I about cried! Pierre is practicing on that story each day too. They both packed our two copies of that book in their backpacks, hoping to get to share them with the ESL teacher.


Tigi is the wonderful lady from here in Watertown who has been helping us as an interpreter for the kids. She was born in Haiti and speaks Creyole. She joined the kids today as they walked into their new school, and she will be shadowing them throughout the first 3 days. That way, we can be more certain that the kids understand directions/expectations/routines from the get-go. Tigi will also be able to reassure Pierre and Ange-Laurette and interpret any questions/concerns they have. What a blessing. As their mom, it was harder than leaving a kindergartener their first day! I am confident, though, that both kids will do well. Their teacher and classmates are so very excited and supportive. The entire elementary school has been so interested and encouraging. These are two very lucky kids! We cannot wait to watch them blossom.

We promise there is GRASS under there!

Can you imagine arriving to this winter? Even life-long South Dakotans are getting tired of the constant shoveling and cold. Ange-Laurette sang her own version of a song, "Go away snow. I want to swim." Pierre is always eager to help Bruce with shoveling, but soon the cough sets in. They must be wondering where in the world we have taken them!

A friend sent our kids supplies for snowman artwork. They know all about snowmen, snowboarding, and building forts now. Have you ever seen a snowgirl with pink feathers for hair though? :) IF they had snowmen in Haiti, I am sure they would all be as colorful as Ange-Laurette's version!

Shots were, in their words, "No Good!"

Before the kids could start school, they needed their first series of immunizations. I told them they would be getting two shots in each arm and that we'd go get ice cream afterwards. Ange-Laurette negotiated, "Four shots, four ice cream cones!" When we were called back by the nurse, she corrected herself, "Mom, no shot, no ice cream cone, ok?" :) Unfortunately, Ange-Laurette had a bad reaction to one of the shots, which led to a high fever and a week of arm pain with bruising. She slept most of two days, so it might have been another bug she had as well. But she is back to her super spunky self now!

Those couple days without speaking Creyole with Ange-Laurette and hanging out non-stop with Nate, Pierre really improved in his English. Bruce talked to him on the phone last night and even thought it was NATE that was speaking! Pierre is talking with all Nate's intonations and phrases. Pierre made a hat with string, like he had learned at the orphanage. Nate was a good sport and wore it for a bit. Both boys have smiles pasted on their faces nearly every hour of the day together!

One of those "Forever" photos

We had wanted to try to get a professional photo last weekend, but sometimes these "hurry squish together" shots are the best! Our oldest son and his wife were able to travel here from Minneapolis to meet Pierre and Ange-Laurette for the first time. It was one of those 'beaming parent' weekends, watching 6 very different individuals, at different ages, and with life experiences a world apart interact so well. Their was tons of laughter, foosball, games, and tackling! Bruce and I just really felt like everything was going to be ok. :)

Lest we forget....

Pierre has a notebook with a handwritten message from his birthmother. One part reads: Pa bliye kote ou soti which means "Don't forget where you came from." That advice is something Bruce and I will hold onto tightly as well. We simply cannot have the same expectations for Pierre and Ange-Laurette as we do for our other children, especially after only a couple weeks. It would be easy to do with their quick adjustment, improving English, and great personalities. However, as we watched the Haiti recovery coverage on CNN tonight (the first we have watched since the kids arrived), we were once again shocked at what might have been! We cannot believe God's protection over the orphanage and his sheltering of our kids from what could have been even more trauma.

So, as we work through the busyness of each day and each new experience...we need to remember: any lack of manners, inappropriate behavior, or noncompliance is not a reflection of our parenting nor of the kids' individual personalities. It is partly just the result of spending years in an orphanage setting with 50 other children. It is also due to the lack of social opportunities in their early years with parents nearby as coaches. Add to all of that how we ALL tend to act in new and unusual circumstances!

The most promising fact is that both Pierre and Ange-Laurette always fall asleep with smiles on their faces; sleep soundly through the night; and wake up with a vibrant "Good morning, Mom!" All the "in between" chaos and misunderstandings and squabbles...well, we will take that, too. :)