I was too tired to post last night, so you're getting it this morning.
Horse therapy was amazing, as always. The kids are doing so much better! I wish I could post some of the video here so that you could see, but I can't figure it out with my iPad. Cade doesn't scream anymore and sits up straight in the saddle. He sits well on the horse, like an actual rider. Rosaline's increased strength is amazing. She sits up without much support, and she continues to smile brightly the entire time she's there.
Yesterday Elizabeth and I fitted the kids with riding boots that she had donated. The kids look pretty snazzy in them! She's also looking for riding pants for them. The push to get them decked out in riding clothes is because as part of the dressage competition she is organizing for the Equestrian Club is a lead-line class for special-needs folks. Cade, Jean-Daniel, and Christina will be a part of that. It will be a great experience for them (as long as Cade doesn't panic with the crowds) and great exposure for the Notre Maison horse therapy. Wouldn't it be great if it could bring in more financial support for the horse therapy???
After therapy Alix, Will, Sony, Roberto, and I went to Croix des Boquets because I had never been there. I bought a couple of small pieces of iron work, but the coolest part for me was listening to the sounds of the artisans tapping at the tin as they worked. You'll have to go to my Facebook site to hear it, though. Can't upload it here. Maybe I'll try to add when I get back to the States. Lunch was some fried plantains and pikliz bought on the street. Good stuff.
Before I left in May, I wanted to get out to the memorial for the mass burial of people who died in the earthquake. I know how to get there and planned to take the motorcycle, but I wasn't sure I wanted to go by myself. Well, Will has a motorcycle, so I asked him he would be willing to go out there with me. He took Alix on the back of his cycle, and I followed on mine. Great time! Traffice was heavy, but fullblown "blokis." It was great practice for me, and I finally go out to the memorial. Riding out on the "highway" wasn't too bad; I was surprised at how the wind blew the bike, but I handled it well. We took a wrong turn on the way back, so we saw a bit more of PAP than anticipated.
It was after supper that the night became a bit more difficult. See, for whatever reason, a number of the nannies didn't come to work. I don't know whether they're sick, need to be at home to take care of their own kids, or didn't come in because they know Gertrude is gone. No matter what the reason, it's hard for two nannies to care for 20+ special-needs kids. Supper was complete chaos! Again, I don't know the reason for this, but supper the last two nights has been cold cereal--corn flakes. The problem is that each child only gets about one cup of cereal. They were all hungry, and the special-needs kids were putting up a fuss. The food grabbers were in full form, and even the other kids were having a hard time not trying to get as much food as they could.
We went from that to getting the kids ready for bed. Oh boy. Ever tried to change the diapers of 10 special-needs kids with a two nine-year-old girls in charge??? Getting the diapers changed was a battle because the kids didn't necessarily want to go to bed. The kids who can walk kept taking off. Cade decided to make a game out of throwing wet diapers at people. Jephte opted to run around butt naked. There was poweder all over the floor. The older boys came in just to watch (we finally told them that if they were going to be in the room they had to change diapers. Yea, they left). Brilner wouldn't stay in bed. Just when I thought we were done, Mimose looked at me at said, "Jamie, poko fini"--"Jamie, we're not finished yet." We still had Alain, Joesph, Woodmeyer, and a couple others to go. I was ready to scream, and I would have if Cade had hit me in the face with a wet diaper! Alix had that privelege.
The kids were finally all freshly diapered and relatively ready for bed. I headed upstairs, but Wolton coucouth
No comments:
Post a Comment