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Couple sharing their world

John Morang and Robin Monahan of Freeport welcome two Haitian children to a diverse family.

September 13, 2007

FREEPORT — After working three years to adopt two children

from a Haitian orphanage, Robin Monahan and John Morang

planned to document the kids' arrival on American soil with a

camera.

The plan didn't work out.

"When they came through the gate, we dropped our cameras and

ran to them," Monahan said of 4-year-old James and 5-year-old

Mica.

In a moment, James was in the arms of his new "Papa," and

Monahan was reaching out to a scared-looking Mica.

"I took her hand and she touched mine and it was OK," Monahan

said.

The Freeport couple, who have a biological son, Benjamin, 7, are

no strangers to adoption. They already had adopted Emily, 12,

who was born in China; Addie, 10, who is from Cambodia; and

Frank, 3, who was born in Chicago.

Monahan said they have learned that no adoption goes as

planned. Still, their effort to add two needy children from Haiti

took a series of unexpected twists and turns.

First, they had to raise money to afford the adoption. The family

held yard sales and raffles and received public donations and

support, such as a benefit evening at a local restaurant, to reach

their initial goal of $10,000.

Then a number of factors led to delays. Among them were Haiti's

political instability and the children's health.

James and Mica came to the orphanage severely malnourished,

given up by mothers too poor to feed them. They contracted

serious illnesses that had to be treated before they could leave

the country. Costs climbed to $15,000, and the couple had to

raise more money.

James and Mica finally arrived on June 29, and have had the

summer to adjust to their new family and their new home. Now

the family is inviting the community to an international potluck

dinner at their church, an event that's both "a welcome-home

party and a thank you to the community."

The Rev. John Ward-Diorio said the church is hosting the potluck

because "they're a fantastic family who have done some fantastic

things, and the congregation is trying to be supportive in as

many ways as we can."

Cooking pasta for supper this week while James and Mica played

with their new siblings, Monahan said, "It took a village to get

them here."

She, Morang and the children were wearing white T-shirts

bearing the phrase "HOME AT LAST" -- a reminder of the

family's long wait.

Frank, now 3, was just a baby when the couple decided they had

room in the house and their hearts for more children.

Monahan and Morang got home late at night with James and

Mica after a long day of hectic travel, and the other children

couldn't wait to meet them that next day.

But then, "We basically sat around the living room and stared at

each other," Monahan said.

They couldn't communicate well because James and Mica spoke

Creole and knew only a few words of English.

The kids could understand some of the French that Morang

spoke, but the Spanish that Monahan tried left them baffled.

Morang, 60, a retired teacher who runs a construction business,

had traveled twice to Haiti to visit the children and had formed a

bond with the children, who called him "Papa."

But Monahan, 47, a former educator who is now a stay-at-home

mom, had fallen in love with them only through photos.

"I was really scared because I had never met them and I was

afraid they wouldn't like me," she said.

It was clear this week that there was no such problem. Shy Mica

snuggled comfortably on her new mother's lap during a photo

session, and outgoing James -- whose nickname has become

Jimmy Jim -- is quick to run to either parent or his brothers and

sisters for a hug.

And somehow all the siblings were able to communicate with

each other from the start, even though they didn't share a

language, Monahan said.

Now, James and Mica are both in school -- James in nursery

school and Mica in kindergarten -- and they have mastered

some English. They call Morang "Daddy," just like their new

brothers and sisters.

Their siblings also helped James and Mica through "a summer of

'firsts,' " Monahan said.

The children had never been in a swimming pool, visited a beach

or toasted marshmallows. The family also looks forward to

introducing them to snow, Santa Claus and Christmas trees.

"That's going to be fun," Monahan said.

Family finances remain tight, as James and Mica continue to

have health issues, Morang said. James' veins have been pricked

to draw blood so frequently, he calls out, "No picky, Daddy, no

picky," whenever they pass a building that looks like a hospital.

Morang said the children's pediatrician is impressed with the

progress they've made, though.

And although home life is a bit louder and more hectic, everyone

is adjusting happily, Morang said. Watching Addie and Mica play

together on the couch, he said, "There's lots of love to go

around here."