Brothers

We got up and ready for our big day, had breakfast and met the rest of the team, headed to the airport with ALL our bags. People were looking at us strangely with all our luggage. We had six bags alone, much less the rest of the team. It always feels good to get them all checked in and lighten our load.

We boarded the plane and because we bought our tickets so late, there were no more economy class tickets, they gave us Business Class tickets - since I've never done that before, I didn't know if business class was the same as first class or what. Well, there we were all comfy and stretched out in our big leather seats, getting our warm towels for freshening up and our full meals served in glasses and silverware! I, of course, felt guilty the whole time as I looked back at all the people crammed in their tiny seats behind us eating their cheese and crackers. Then it hit me, that will be us on the way back and for every flight after that so I decided to enjoy this blessing, that it was another gift we'd been given and I was so grateful.

We landed in Haiti and quickly remembered how different things are here. It took about an hour to get all our bags and then its on to the craziness of getting to our van. We told Dakota to hold on to Tom and not let go - that's just what he did. All the adults on the trip were pushing carts loaded with suitcases and I was a few people behind them - all I could see was Dak's hand clutching the back of Tom's shirt as we pushed our way through the crowded lot with about ten different Haitian men trying to "help" us with our bags. It's chaos. I was prepared for it this time. Dennis is the amazing driver that we use for each trip. He greeted us warmly and helped us get in the van as the guys we really did hire to carry our bags loaded them all on a flatbed truck! Like I said, it's a little different here in Haiti, there are no limos or shuttles! Dennis is very kind, makes sure we stay safe and not taken advantage of and amazes me every time with his driving ability on the crazy roads and literally paths that we end up driving on!

As we head out onto the streets of Port-au-Prince, Dakota asked for Tom's journal so he can write some notes about his trip - this from our son who HATES to write! It takes him a half-hour to write a few sentences any other time. Well, here he is journaling like Jack & Annie in his favorite adventure book series "The Magic Treehouse". My heart was melting.

As we traveled to the orphanage, once again, I was shocked to see the poverty - the depth and breadth of it is beyond overwhelming and our van is pretty quiet the whole way. By the time we get there, it was dark. We had two of the other team members set up with our video camera and still camera to try to capture the moment. The kids were getting ready for bed and when they learned we were there, the nannies got them all assembled on the picnic tables ready to greet us in song.

I spotted Stevenson and motioned for him to come over and when he recognized us, he rann and gave me a big hug. I then introduced him to Dakota and Dak gave him a big hug and then on to Tom for the biggest hug of them all. Dakota was so cute - he just didn't want to let Stevenson go after that. The kids sang to us and off we went in the van.

I sat closer to the front so as not to get sick from the ride and Tom and the boys rode in the very back seat. I could hear them talking and laughing, but the one thing I heard clearly was "Stevenson, when we get to the hotel, do you want to wrestle?" My heart soared when I heard that - Dakota had been waiting for a long time to ask that question. The rest of the trip it was all I could do to keep from throwing up - the bumpy city streets, then the curvy, steep mountain roads and the horrible exhaust fumes didn't work well for someone who can't even take a ride downtown Chicago with out Dramamine!

Somehow I survived and we got to the Guest House we were staying at, sort of. It's to hard for Dennis' van to get to the door of the House so we had to walk the rest of the way in the pitch dark down a steep hill of gravel and rocks, and who knows what else since we couldn't see(!) ...it's always an adventure...:)

We made it to the door and we were greeted warmly and with a feast! The four of us were set up in the boys' bedroom with a bunk bed for Dakota and Stevenson and a futon bed for us - all of them equipped with mosquito netting. We ate and talked and the boys played. Every now and then I would catch Dakota squeezing Stevenson - he can't stop giving him hugs :)