Their beautiful daughter Allie has grown up so much since we last saw her.
Their sons, Darren and Ryan have also grown by leaps and bounds.
Even John came home for lunch to visit with all of them including her husband, Chuck.
After lunch we all had ice-cream!
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Paul is doing so well. He is adjusting faster than I thought he would. We see so many smiles from him now--- and he is proud of how he remembers basic rules around the house-- without being told twice. He fixes his bed without being asked, doesn't eat in the living room, and reminds his sister Anastasia that I don't like sunflower seeds or open chocolate candy in their pockets. He is so brave with swimming now too--- he wants to do everything his siblings do!
Anastasia is doing well too-- but she is struggling with accepting that she is still a fairly young girl. She has done a few things to test us especially me as her mother--- and one caught me off guard completely. At first I wasn't sure if I handled it correctly because a fly on the wall might have thought I overreacted-- but in all honesty I see what she did as a blessing because it allowed me to tell her things I had been too embarrassed to tell her before. At this point I indicated that her behavior left me no choice but to narrow her boundaries--- and she quickly realized that what I was asking of her really wasn't too much. Too make sure she understood, I kept those boundaries in place all day-- and she had her best day yet.
She has earned back what was taken away and I believe that we took four steps forward as mother and daughter.
We got our new dishwasher--- and the kids enjoyed the box till it could take no more.
Paul and Anastasia are eager to help. They watch the other kids do their chores and then Paul and Anastasia offer to help. So now they each help out with washing or drying dishes, folding clothes, straightening up the living room, cleaning the sliding glass door, or setting the table. With everyone helping the chores get done quickly.
Each time we have caught Anastasia helping out her little brothers-- we have smiled. Here she is helping keep the headphone in Alex's ear. It was sweet.
Today we got the kids' social security cards in the mail. Here I was fully expecting to apply for them once the kids went back to school and now I don't have to. What a pleasant surprise!
6 inspiring thoughts:
That was amazingly quick with those social security cards! My goodness!
I seem to remember you writing something rather similar about Rachel's first days with you - fear you'd overreacted, etc. I think your instincts are good. Anastasia may have bonded with Rachel so that she somehow feels on her level, rather than on the youngest rung of girls in your house.
Anastasia already looks so much healthier!! She has more of a glow about her face and her hair is so shiny! Well, I'm sure IRL she is a beauty, I'm just sayin' the pictures from the Internat and now show a happier, healthier her.
As far as overreacting - I think we all question that regularly. My 17 yo thinks I am much harder on her than on her 15 yo sister. She CONSTANTLY questions my parenting, to the point that I am very critical of how I handle most situations between the two of them. What I know is that the 17 yo (with FAS and attachment issues) does not learn the same as my 15 yo so things are not going to be exactly the same. There is no "fair" at my house. There is only everyone getting what they need and being treated/disciplined according to their strengths. That is not something a child is expected to truly understand, but in your case, I think you already know that if you set clear boundaries right away, there is less chance of testing and more security for them down the road. Anastasia seems to be near Rachel is alot of the pics you take, maybe she's her security right now and she views her as a peer instead of a big sister? Or maybe she's just a little girl who wants to be just like her big sister.
Christine,
I have been trying to answer your email from last night but it keeps getting returned to me with a message stating that your email address has a permanent fatal error.
I am just using the reply button on the email you sent to me so it should be going directly to the address you sent it from.
Is there another email address to use.
Angelique
I love how you worded the box play.
They played with the box until it could take no more. LOL
Boxes are so fun!
What a sweet post - you definitely are blessed! I would love to come and visit because your house seems so fun and busy all the time!
How nice that Anastasia helps out so much without being asked. :)
Her hair is so shiny, I love it!
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