one week - family pictures

Here are a couple of pictures we took on Saturday - one week from when we picked up the kids

meals

a few people have asked about providing meals for us so I am attaching the link and info for the care calendar that was set up for us:
http://www.carecalendar.org/
CareCalendar ID# 31381
Security Code# 1412

family pictures

Here is a picture of us just after picking up the kids and another of our family on our first night home.

We are still ear deep in adjusting to our new family but figuring it out as we go and covering it in prayer.

Kids are still coughing but hopeful for a better nights sleep tonight.

We are really behind on returning calls and email so please be patient and one of these days we will find a couple of free moments to catch up :-)

we are home

we are so happy to be back home - thank you all for covering us in prayer and we hope you will continue to as we all adjust and bond

the kids got along well last night and saraphina even said Jacob's name which is great since she doesn't choose to talk too much

our house is a complete disaster after only a few hours yesterday evening but hopefully that will get better as time goes on - we have realized we need to be a lot more organized with three kids

we took the kids into the doctor's this morning for their congestion and cough and overall they look pretty good - hopefully a little medicine and we can get healthy and sleep

we are going to try to get baths and showers for all of us and clean clothes - I am sure we will all feel better after that

well my time is up as there is a child crying for me - will post more later

Update from Florida on Saraphina and Olivier!

Greetings,

(My name is Kim and I'm friends with the Bettin family -- I just talked to Jennifer and she asked that I post on her blog and Facebook.)

John and Jen's flight got into Florida on Saturday morning and at about 12:30 Florida time, they were waiting for the Red Cross van to pick them up to take them to another airport in Orlando where Saraphina and Olivier were!! Jennifer said she knows a lot of people were praying for them as she was very calm when they first met the kids! (Thanks for praying!!)

Both Saraphina and Olivier (as well as all the kids from the orphanage) are quite congested as the air quality they had been breathing since the earthquake has not been the best. Saraphina and Olivier coughed a lot during the night, so no one really go much sleep. Olivier is taking a prescription to help his congestion.

Jennifer and John are REALLY looking forward to coming home and being united with Jacob (and being in their own home, not a hotel). Please pray that their flight back to MN would go well -- they plan to arrive back to MN on Monday sometime after 3:00pm.

Please also be in prayer for one of the boys from the orphanage that has been hospitalized with pneumonia (because of all the congestion) .... and for his adoptive parents.

I'm sure Jen will post again here just as soon as she can; at this time, she doesn't have access to be able to.

Thanks for caring for the Bettin Crew of FIVE!

Praise Him,
Kim

they are coming

we just got word that they have all the travel papers and will be traveling soon - we are going to try to catch the last direct flight out in a couple of hours otherwise will leave early in the morning - please cover our family and the other families in your prayers - will try to post if possible

how you can help

We have been so touched with all the offers for help and supplies - many people have asked how they can help and asked us to post something so very humbly here goes:

The thing we are most in need of right now would be girl toys - we only have a couple of things here, we are pretty much all boy around here. Saraphina will be 3 in February.

Once we can verify what size the kids are we will have a better idea of what we need for clothes, shoes, coats, etc...

A care calendar will be set up once we are back where people can sign up to bring us a meal and any other needs we will have at that point.

Most of all we need continued prayer for Saraphina and Olivier to get over here, our travels to get them, for Jacob while we are away and for the transition he has ahead, for all of our adjustment, attachment and bonding.

Thank you all for the many gracious offers over the past week and a half.