Chess Tournament and Daily routine.

About 3 weeks ago there was a small chess tournament in the nearby town of Guadalupe.  Our chess teacher went and invited our kids to participate.  I actually played as well, in the adult bracket and held my own against some of the pro's.  Gerson did well and placed second in the kid's division and actually won 30 soles.  

The chess team. Gerson on the right with his certificate.  Coach in the middle.

So I realize I haven't even really shared with you guys my usual routine yet.  Technically my shift in the orphanage is from 7:00 pm - 7:00 am.  But that's not how it has been going really.  A typical start of shift is like this. 

7:00 PM - 8:00 -  Technically my SHIFT STARTS.  We finish eating and the kids come back inside. I start warming up bath water for the baby while the other kids are usually playing some card games or fighting over whatever.  Older kids start taking turns showering.  

8:00 - 9:00  Little kids go to bed and I give the baby a bath with usually the Gerson helping.  Older kids are finishing showers and playing card games, gameboy, chess.  After the baby's bath I give him some milk and brush his teeth, then put him down to sleep.

9:00 - 10:00  - Older kids go to sleep.  I split time between the two rooms just kind of hanging out with them and talking about whatever they want (usually the girls they have crushes on). 

10:00- 11:00 - Everyone is in bed and I check up on the news, email, etc. 

11:00 - 5:45:  Sleep if I'm lucky.  Sometimes the baby wakes up I give him his bottle and he goes back to sleep.  Sometimes I clean puke and diarrhea off the floor from a sick kid. And this morning I woke up at 4:15 because the older boys thought it would be a good idea to wake up early and take showers before school.

5:45 - 7:00- Wake up and wake the kids up for school.  Make sure they get dressed and I feed them their breakfast that I made the night before.  They have chores to do like sweeping their rooms and cleaning the bathrooms and taking out the trash.  Kids are out of the door at 7:00.  

7:00- 8:00AM SHIFT ENDS. The other house mom comes in.  She gets the remaining younger kids ready for school.  I hangout with the baby.  He usually wakes up exactly at this time I get him out of his crib and change his diaper then we play on my bed until about 7:30.  I bring the baby out to the other house mom about 7:45 and go back to my bed.   

8:00- 12:00 I try to get a morning nap in. Then I bring my computer out to the kitchen table where I can play for about an hour or so before the internet gets too slow to do anything.  Also I've been trying to study a little bit of computer and web programming.  This is also when I do any errands I need to do.  Like buying food for myself.

12:00 - 1:00 - Little kids come back from preschool, we eat lunch then they run around like crazy animals.  

1:00 - 3:00  A little bit more free time here.  I usually try to get in a decent workout and more studying. Meanwhile the little kids are terrorizing everything everywhere.  

3:00 - 6:30- Big kids get back from school.  Let them play around for a little bit then they go off to do homework.  I usually help a bit with that.  If I'm not helping with homework then I'm helping control the other kids. Or playing ping pong with the older kids that didn't have homework that day.

6:30 Eat.  

7:00 PM -  SHIFT STARTS

Well...

So if you have kept up with my blog in the last month then well, I guess you've realized that I haven't posted anything.  Some of you are probably wondering why and some of you already know why.  So first, I'm sorry that I haven't really been updating for those people who actually do read my blog.  Second, the explanation.

I got here in high hopes that soon five of the kids that I love as my own children (I know that's weird, I'm 25 and I really don't know what it's like to have your own child, but I imagine I know pretty well because I don't know if it'd be possible to love more) would soon be receiving for real their very own family AND be close to me in the states, a double win.  However about a week after I arrived I went to go visit MIMDES with my mother to talk about the adoption process she's doing for two girls here at the orphanage (sorry mom if that was still wasn't out of the bag).   That visit didn't go so well as I finally got to talk face to face with the higher ups and they told me that the adoption would not be able to go through.  This news flipped my world upside down.  All my plans that I had, all my happiness pertaining to the kids, gone in just one sentence from the mouth of the government lady.

So this past month has been a hard one.  Calling everyone I could, lawyers, politicians, higher-ups etc.  And still we have two lines in the water hoping for a bite but it's just not looking to promising. I still haven't told the kids because of the faintest possibility of it working out, and that is what is killing me the most.  I just want it to be over, preferably in the favorable manner.  So far my coping strategy has been shutting down, not talking to anyone and not wanting to leave the kids for one minute.  Sorry if I haven't talked to you in awhile.

So, I know I've said this in the past a lot but I'll try and post more often again.  It might just be good therapy.  Plus a lot has happened in the last month unrelated that I'm sure you guys would be interested in knowing, so stay tuned.

Back with my boys

It's already been a full couple of days.  I got back to the orphanage Friday at 5:00 pm. and went straight on duty.  

Today one of the house mom's real daughters was sick so I needed to pull a full 24 hour shift which included ironing, cooking, washing clothes etc... Thankfully Sam was here to help with the baby or I might not have been able to make it.

The kids have school tomorrow, I thought they were going to be on break but I guess that changed.  So they are in bed right now which is great because I can get some sleep.  

Left to right: Luis, Nelson (standing), Anthon, Yhonson, Ricardo, Kevin, Baby , Joel,  Angel, Gerson, Devis, Doane

Heading Back

Tomorrow I will be heading back to Pacasmayo.  My mother will be accompanying me on the trip and will stay at the orphanage for two weeks while the kids are on vacation.  She will be giving them lots of crafts and activities to do to keep them occupied.  I've noticed that when I travel to Peru I always bring back the most random things, probably making security give me the second look.  This time I'm taking back two nintendo Gamecubs with games and controllers, special toothpast, nuby cups for the baby, floss sticks, three skip-bo card games, self defense mace spray for Sam, sore throat spray, and as always peanut butter along with other random food stuff friends requested.

So far the plan is for me to be there another six months before I return home.  Like I said while I'm there I will be taking care of the kids in the boys house which right now is;

1. Paulo age 13 months
2. Angel age 5 years
3. Doanne age 5 years
4. Anthony age 6 years
5. Devis age 7 years
6. Luis age 10
7. Joel age 10
8. Nelson age 12
9. Ricardo age 12
10. Gerson age 13
11. Yhonson age 13

Wish me luck. haha