Hello from Port au Prince, Haiti

Teddy (my 7-year-old daughter), my friend Yolanda and I arrived in Port au Prince on Thursday morning. We carried over 350 pounds of luggage with us, comprised of medical supplies, strollers, portable cribs, car seats, baby formula, clothing, etc. I was surprised that we got it all onto the airplane! However, the counter people knew that all this was going to orphanages...so they are nice about the "extra".

The flight from Los Angeles to Miami was really bumpy all the way through. As a result, Yolanda and I did not get much sleep. Teddy was OUT!!! We made our connection in Miami to Port au Prince...and only were missing one luggage piece upon arrival. (We got it yesterday.)

We are staying at Barbara's village. We are sharing the room with a lady from Indiana who is here helping Barbara. So, it is Yolanda, Teddy, Luanda (from Indiana), me, Tamarah (my baby - 14 mos.) and two newborn babies...sharing a room. Last night, one of the babies kept crying....thus we all have been dragging all day long today.

Teddy is enjoying her visit. I adopted Teddy from Liberia, Africa in 2004. Most people here think that she is Haitian and are surprised when Teddy does not understand them. One of the ladies braided her hair. She did such a beautiful job!

Tamarah's adoption is done. I am going with Barbara on Monday to apply for her passport, along with six other kids who are ready to "go home". I had a heck of a time to get Tamarah to keep from sucking her fingers when we were having her passport photo taken. It took about 30 minutes!

Tamarah has really grown up in the last two months! She is starting to walk and has a bit of a temper! --- She knows me though. I was surprised that she remembers me. She cries when I leave the room or she loses sight of me.

Yolanda took over 500 photos over the last few days. Then she connected the camera to a computer that had a virus...we did not know...and the entire memory card on her camera was wiped out! So, now she has to start all over again.