a month ago today & Happy Birthday

It's hard to believe that a month ago today was the earthquake in Haiti which certainly changed our lives forever and brought us our kids 18 months sooner than expected.

Also, just over a month ago I was sitting here thinking about how we were going to celebrate Saraphina's birthday without even having met her yet. Today we get to celebrate her 3 year birthday with her - what an unexpected blessing!

Happy Birthday Saraphina!

two weeks (and a couple of days)

Well I had grand plans of a blog entry summarizing our first week together, then one when we hit two weeks, somehow we are on day 17 today. We have basically been in survival mode the last couple of weeks trying to figure out how to do the very basics of life and adjust to each other all in the midst of sickness and serious sleep deprivation. There has been a lot of steps forward with a few steps backwards(which is to be expected). Health wise we seem to be getting on track - Saraphina and Olivier had gotten over their congestion although Olivier's cough seems to have come back a little and his nose is still pretty yucky although he is teething all of his 1-year molars - Jacob got strep throat last Monday and then his illness induced asthma kicked in but we seem to be over all of that now. I (Jen) have finally gotten 3 nights of decent sleep and feel much better, it's amazing how much some sleep can help. All that being said we still have a lot of adjustment and bonding ahead but feel a bit more ready to tackle it.

I will try to write more as I get a chance but want to thank everyone for their prayers. We have really been carried through on those prayers the last couple of weeks and are more thankful for them than we can put into words!

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