New News...
My brother and sister in law are expecting again. Which means I get to be an Auntie again. Which I love!!
I learned to corn row. This is HUGE in our world. We have been blessed with a lovely woman who is from Africa, and willing to teach us 'white mama's' what to do with our kids hair. Re has decided he wants his braided too. We shall see...
And the kids...
Well, it's been almost a year and a half. It feels normal now. It seems natural. Most days. Most days I feel like I have no clue what I am doing. But that also is starting to feel normal.
Re is doing really well in school. He is at grade level in second grade. We are awaiting ESL testing from this spring to see where we are at in language development. He is certainly fluent, and will ask if he doesn't understand. He is very literal. If you say dinner will be ready in about 10 minutes, you can bet at exactly 10 minutes, he will be at the table. The food issues are improving, and we are able to be reasoned with regarding food. He still struggles with being emotional with us, with eye contact, and yet is sure to give me a hug EVERY day before school. Er is a spit fire. She continues to see us as 'nice white volunteers'. Can't imagine why we would tell her no, or why she should listen to us. She makes us laugh with all her funny comments, and the attitude that comes with them. She is attending preschool, and will be going three days a week next fall. She continues to need a lot of attachment work. I can tell when we haven't had enough eye contact games, or connection moments. She talks often about being a brown baby. A brown baby in Haiti. That I fed and took care of. We spend a lot of time explaining that she had a brown mama in Haiti, who fed her when she was a baby. And a brown sister and brothers who took care of her. And then Molly and Joyce and the nannies. She is still trying to make sense of her story. It's always fun to hear her tell her story.
P has adjusted well. Which surprises us. She always surprised us. She is the sweetest big sister. She is playing the viola, and in choir. She loves to read to Er and most nights reads to her before bed.
Ce has struggled with the adjustment. Partly being 13 just sucks. Everything at 13 sucks. Having two 'new' loud and busy siblings suck. Sharing your parents with them sucks. And no one loves her. And no one cares about her problems. And. it. sucks. to. be. 13. I remember. So we get to practice grace. And be thankful we got at least one boy. Only two mores times through this stage.
R and I are hanging in there. We had no way of knowing the impact this last year and half would have on us, personally and in our marriage. We've made a pact. If one of us tries to leave, they get full custody of all four kids. You don't get to be the one that leaves, and the fun, part-time parent. You leave, you get to be the full time single parent. Seriously, we aren't going anywhere, but we are having to work hard at making it be good.
I wish I had something super exciting to post. Maybe that is why I haven't posted. Nothing exciting is happening. Which is a very good thing in our world. Seriously, a few months with nothing exciting is exciting.
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