Sunday, March 27, 2011

Kyanne's first gifts

The other day, I bought a book that you can record your own voice to tell the story. I thought it would be a great way for Kyanne to hear our voices before she meets us. I was not able to find a French book but I sort of translated the words to French. So tonight, Victor and I recorded our voices and read our daughter her first book. It was a bit emotional... The book is called “ Guess how much I love you”.

I alos created an album online using Shutterfly. The album contains pictures of our family and messages so that the volunteers can show her who her Forever Family is.
Once we were don’t, we gathered up all the little presents we bought her and Victor will be shipping the packaged tomorrow so she can have her first presents.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Kyanne's first monthly update!

I am so excitted! We got our first monthly update on Kyanne exactly 1 month after we accepted our proposal.

Here it is....

Happy March from God’s Littlest Angels, Victor and Sylvie!

Hello, my name is Susie Schuelke. I am the updates coordinator here at God’s Littlest Angels Orphanage in Haiti. I am from Wisconsin, USA and I moved to Haiti in June. I am truly enjoying my position here at GLA and I look forward to sharing Berline’s smiles and growth with you until she comes home. You can expect to receive a monthly update from me. It will typically include photos of Berline, her height and weight, and a written update as well. The updates will typically be sent closer to the end of the month. Do not worry that you haven’t received an update until the month is over.


This month has been quieter then last. All the new kids are adjusting well and we have even had three families visit their babies and get paperwork done. It is exciting for us to see the adoption process moving along for our kids and families! Although a virus went through our nursery at the beginning of the month I am happy to report all the children are recovering well and we are almost completely healthy in the nursery besides a few runny noses, of course.


This month I wanted to add a little variety to your update by sending some candid photos. Adoptive parents tell me these are some of their favorites but it is not as easy to get all these photos together so I plan to send a varied and candid update about every 3 months. This month I attached a collage showing a day in the life of your child. I also wrote the update in first person from you child for a different perspective. I did my best to illustrate a day in the life of Berline. Hope you enjoy!


Berline is in our Urgence B nursery where our babies who are active but not yet standing and walking live. She is such a happy little girl who gets along with everyone and is very well loved. I am looking forward to sharing her journey with you until she is home with you. This month is a special update. I do not typically write it in first person but it is the theme for the month. Enjoy…

Hi Mom and Dad. I want you to know that I am doing well this month. I love living here at God’s Littlest Angels. My nannies, my volunteers, and the staff here take very good care of me and make sure I am fed, clothed, and loved everyday. Although I love them all very much I am excited to meet you and start my life with you! I want to tell you a little about what I do every day here in Haiti.
 I start my day around 6am when I wake up and my nannies change me. At 7am I get breakfast, which is usually laboyi (a milky porridge). After getting cleaned up I get to play with my friends in the nursery or get to go on the balcony with my volunteer. On the balcony there are so many fun toys to play with. Sometimes we get to have a pool party in a little pool and we even have a jumping castle that comes out once in a while. I usually get tired in the morning and take a little nap for about an hour to. Every day is different but I always end up doing a mixture of all those things in the morning. Before lunch my friends and I usually get to go the nursery balcony to play and get some fresh air. I like to practice my crawling skills and play with my nannies when I am out there.


I get to eat lunch around noon. A lot of times it is cereal or some kind of pureed meat and vegetables. Then after lunch I get some juice and usually I like to take another nap. I also get to go on the balcony with my volunteer again in the afternoon and if I am not up there I like to play with the toys in the nursery. Dinner comes at 5pm and then after I get a bath and my nannies dress me up in my pajamas, I have a bottle and rest until I fall asleep for the night. I fall asleep dreaming of a fun day tomorrow and what life will be like when I come home with you. If I wake in the night I know my nanny will be there for me. I may even get a bottle if she thinks I need one.


Everyday is generally the same for me but it changes depending on how I am feeling, when I need naps, and who my volunteer is. I am well taken care of here at GLA. Thank you for waiting patiently for me to come home.


I was sick in the beginning of this month but now I am so much better now and my weight should go up next month! Here is where I am at now...


Height: 66.5 cm
Weight: 20 lb 6 oz


Blessings,
Susie Schuelke
GLA Update Coordinator



Saturday, March 19, 2011

Happy Saturday!

Happy Saturday!!! Today I don’t feel like studying at all. I think we are going to head for Moncton (city) and go browse/shop in baby/children stores. I received the book that I created by shutterfly with pictures and little sotries of our family so the volunteers can show Kyanne who we are. I want to send it to her along with a few other items. So shopping it is this afternoon. I’ll tell you all about it later.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Citizenship or Permanent Residence?

Now the fun part begins… I filled for Kyanne to be a Permanent Residence in Canada and then we would file for her Canadian Citizenship but I guess GLA wants us to do the Citizenship route for the get go! So back on the phone tomorrow with Citizenship and Immigration Canada. I wonder who I’ll get on the phone... The one that can’t answer a general question or the nice guy that could answer all my general questions... LOL!


I had a fun day today. I called the call center first thing this morning and decided to be efficient and wrote down all the questions I had on a piece of paper to be able to ask all my questions quickly without having to go to each form and look for my question. I thought I was being smart. Well the lady on the other line proved me wrong. I started by saying that I had a few general questions and she did not even let me asked the questions because she had to know the exact form number and what line I had a question for. I was trying to explain that it was just a general question for the whole package... she said I’m sorry I cannot help you....I need the form number first. So all that to say that I had to go back and find each form number and ask a specific question with the specific number. That didn’t go to well. I decided to call back in the pm and got this nice gentleman on the phone that was actually helpful and was able to answer all my questions. He told me that I could switch to Citizenship instead of Permanent Residence in Canada so I will call back tomorrow and see what I need to do and what other forms I will have to fill out.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

LONO Signed!

Our Province signed and sent us a copy of the Letter of No Objection (LONO). I was waiting for that piece of paper.... Reason why... I don’t have to deal with the province anymore for the rest of our adoption process. We will now communicate with the orphanage directly and not have to listen to the negativity... AMEN!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Another dossier passed IBESR in 3 months!

Nothing new and exciting happened since our referral except that the nursery is all done. The crib and everything is assembled. I just didn't decorate the room yet. I'll wait till I find something that strikes me and then start decorating.

I am looking forward to our monthly update and receive new pictures of our little sweetheart. I don't think I stopped smiling yet. I just stare at her beautiful happy face and just dream that I have her in my arms.

Last night I got an email from another adoptive mom saying that another dossier made its way through IBESR in 3 months. That is really awesome news once again.