General Updates

My day was filled with a variety of activities, none more important than the other, just a wide variety.  As usual, I started on the roof with my morning caffeine (Diet Coke this morning since I made it to the market yesterday) and a good book.  Then breakfast.  After I ate, I headed downstairs to watch the nannies scoop up the first morning of scrambled eggs with onions, tomatoes, and green pepper.  We have just implemented a nutrition program by switching out breakfast with something more nutritious, and this is our first week.  Yesterday's oatmeal when over better than the eggs today.  The nannies were not impressed with the amount per child.  At least two of them said to me that it would not be enough, and the nanny scooping it out had a continual look of disgust on her face while giving a running commentary about how the kids were not getting enough to eat.  I assured them all it would be enough because it was good protein that would stick with the kids.  

Christine wasn't so sure about the eggs

Sandra loved the eggs!

 What I wanted to say was that I ate a scrambled egg and a piece of fruit for breakfast, and look at me!  It's more than enough!  They were a bit mollified when I told them that Brunel was coming back with a banana for each child as well.

Bananas for the morning snack

The kids enjoyed it, and feeding went much faster because there was a fraction of the food to shove down the kids's throats to feed them.  A few of the kids who have issues swallowing weren't quite sure what to do with textured food that they had to chew or move around their mouths, but the figured it out.  I just recently learned that textured food actually helps kids with tongue thrusting issues learn to swallow appropriately.  So there, you doubters!  It's actually a part of the therapy!

Next came therapy.  While Meghan and Mandy continued to share with our visitor how to do therapy, I organized the shoes from yesterday.  Once that was done, I went through the gifts bags that the Soles4Souls group had left for the nannies and made some extras so that every female staff member had a gift.  Then, I got to deliver them!  Sweet.

Madame Robert and her gift

Lunch consisted of my standard crusty, slightly stale roll with Laughing Cow cheese.  It's not much, but it's tasty.  And, the stale bread means it takes longer to chew, which means that lunch lasts a bit longer than if I had fresh bread.  

Manda and Meghan and I needed to replenish our lunch stash, so we headed up to the Star 2000.  Shirley came with us.  I don't care how often I do it, I love taking moto taxis and tap taps!  Haitians think I'm crazy, but I don't care.  Love it.

Shirley and Rosaline during therapy

Upon our return I took some time to relax on the roof, but I soon headed downstairs and outback to hang out with the kids.  I even took a turn at jumping rope!  Haven't totally lost it, but the girls are way better than I.  That's okay--they're like 8 or 10.  They should be better than I.  It was fun hanging out until I had to start disciplining.  I realized today that that is the turning point for me.  I've often wondered why I can only handle hanging out with the kids for so long, and I figured it out today.  Once I have to start mediating or disciplining, it's no longer fun for me.  I love just being with the kids, playing with them, goofing with them; but after too long, the kids start misbehaving and I have to become the disciplinarian.  The key in the future is to stop the fun before I have to switch roles

Tomorrow will probably be another typical day.  I hope so.  I like 'em like that.