Luckily for Chip he was to young to remember the sights and sounds, but that does not mean they did not affect him. This was on top of alcohol withdrawal, and over the following months the high level of stress within the family. Then his mom took him back to New Orleans where he was completely neglected. When we rescued him 2 weeks later he was malnourished and had sores on the back of his neck where formula had been allowed to run and collect as he lay unattended day after day.
Even though Chip was so little, we see some of the same symptoms of trauma that we see in the older kids. We sometimes wonder how much comes from within and how much is learned behaviours from his older siblings.
Chip is now a healthy, happy and very smart little 3 year old. He loves music and claims the keyboard as his. A few weeks ago I was flipping through TV channels and ran across the opera version of Romeo and Juliet on PBS. Chip was walking through the room and stopped dead in his tracks. He stood in front of the TV with his mouth open, taking in the singing and acting. A couple of times he started to turn and walk away, but he would stop and continue to stare at the TV. In church Chip loves to watch TJ play the piano and direct the choir.
They like to say their prayers when they go to bed. Marquel, then Annie, then Charlie who likes to say the Lords Prayer. One night Charlie finished his prayer and in the bed next to him, Chip started praying. It was the first time he had done this, and I couldn't understand most of what he said, but I did hear mention of the movie The Lion King. I guess he was asking God to take care of the lions. The next night I sat on his bed and he prayed again, this time I caught, "don't yell, don't run, don't hit . . ."
Chip has always been very observant. As a tiny baby he would watch intently everything that the older kids did. Now that he is old enough to talk, he amazes us with his understanding of what goes on around him. We think Chip will be an amazing person one day.
When we met the family following Katrina, Charlie was 3 1/2 years old. Chip is just a few months shy of that age now. We wonder what would have happened to Chip if he was still in New Orleans. Would he even be alive?
Marquel let us know early on that she knew there was a better life out there for her, and she wants it. When she would meet our friends or church members would stop and talk to her she would say, "I wish I could spend the night at their house." At first I thought that in her mind that must be the ultimate acceptance, but over time I realized she just wanted to see how other people live. We use this to encourage her, to keep working and studying so that one day she can own her own house and have pretty things. Marquel has good taste and she knows what she likes. I can't wait to see her house some day!
Marquel is growing tall and beautiful and is smiling and happy most of the time. She now holds herself a little taller, more confident of herself and her abilities. She asks lots of questions, and she is learning that beauty comes from the inside.
Last year Marquel would roll her eyes about Victoria, who was the smartest kid in her class. During the summer, Communities in Schools had a summer program that we signed the girls up for. It was limited to 20 kids, and guess who was in the program. Victoria.
By the end of the 4 week program, Marquel and Victoria had become friends. After we had our meetings with the counselors at school, Marquel could not wait for school to start. She counted down the days. She could not wait to see Victoria again.
Now Marquel knows that she is just as smart as Victoria, and with a little time to catch up and lots of hard work, she can be on the honor roll too. We are going to work very hard to help her make that happen!
After our meeting at the school, I wanted to scream to the world, "This is huge!" This is so much more than just passing a test. This is a new beginning for this girl who now knows she can do whatever she wants to do.
What an accomplishment for a little girl who did not go to school until she came to San Antonio. Where would she be if she was with her mom in New Orleans? She would be on her way to another generation of illiteracy, drugs and welfare dependence.
Randy and I feel like we have a very unique position. We are not the parents or grandparents, therefore we do not have the same biological attachment to the kids. This allows us to be a little more objective and at the same time thoroughly enjoy the achievements of the kids.
We are to thankful for all those who help and support us. And we are so happy to be able to share these achievements with all of you.
To be continued . . .
Correction: Yesterday's reference to the story about pigs was on the National Geographic Channel
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I have but one comment. Like it or not, you are setting a moral compass...no...living a moral compass... and I cannot express the joy it gives me to see it :)
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