Wow!

I don't know what else to say except, "Wow!" Things are going well. The girls came from a great foster home. The mother has been very helpful in the transition. There is always someone saying, "Mommy!" around here. I have to remember to find joy in the journey. They are precious girls. We started school today. They asked what we were going to do today and my response was, "We are going to wing it." They didn't know what that meant. I tried, "We are going to fly by the seat of our pants." They thought that was pretty funny also, but didn't know what it meant either. Anyway, they have journaled, read, we have worked on math facts, we have had a family devotional on being attentive and responding when called on by Mom or Dad. I gave them an early break so I could recover from an hour and a half of craziness. T, A, and M know the routine and just complete their work. I now have two more to train. I don't think it will take long. I have ordered some math and reading books to start with. Hopefully they will be here by Friday so we can have some order by Monday.

Nights are the most difficult for the girls. It took an hour to get settled in last night. I read a few chapters out loud from a Magic Treehouse Book. All of my children enjoy those books. One girl does fine after she goes to sleep. The other struggles during the night. We were up a few times and then she came to our room early this morning. All in all, it was a good first night.

Girls just came in. I guess tattling goes with having three girls also!!

Anytime now...

I am waiting on the girls to arrive. I am nervous, excited, happy, and many more emotions. The boys are helping pick up trash downtown right now. Morgan wanted to be home when the girls get here. I am ready for the story to continue. Today is a huge day in our lives and two little girls lives. The SW just called, they are thirty minutes away. I think I need some chocolate!! I will go dig in Morgan's candy, with permission of course. We have to ask permission to be messing with anyone elses stuff anytime now. I have always snuck chocolate from them with no complaints. Not anymore. I am going to have to create a Mommy stash!! Well, I am going to go busy myself for thirty more minutes. I think I will go cuddle with Morgan on the couch for thirty minutes!!!

When can I post face pictures? Do I have to wait until the adoption is final in 3-6 months?

Tomorrow is the day!!

The girls called tonight and are very excited. They will be here late tomorrow afternoon. This helps me out because we have all of our group classes tomorrow. Alex wanted to go and Morgan didn't. They won't be here until after class, so that works out well. They had their parties at school today and will travel tomorrow. They sounded tired but excited and ready to be here forever!!

I am very excited. I can't imagine how they feel, because I have many mixed up emotions right now and I am not eight years old!!

I wonder if we will start over again or if we can pick up where we left off with our rules?

Morgan...the big sister.

Morgan has really grown up in the last few days becoming the big sister. She has taken the responsibility well. We explained to her that they do not know any of the rules we have and she will need to guide them to make good decisions. She has done great! She has also had some struggles. She has had a few times where I can tell she is struggling. I manage to get her alone and hold her and she just cries. I reassure her that I love her just as much as always and that things will get better. Funny how she was having fun and a hard time with the new sisters and now she misses them and is ready for them to come home. She is learning and becoming a stronger person through it all. We knew it would be most difficult for her, but she is hanging in there!

Happy Easter!!

What a glorious day!! I hope everyone has a blessed Easter!!

We had a long day yesterday. We were all tired emotionally and physically. It has been a very long 4 days. We took the girls back to the foster family last night. We had a very good dinner with them. The mother and I talked about everything!! I told her everything we have encountered with the controlling daughter. We have the same rules at our house the foster mother has. She broke every one of them while here for four days. We caught her most of the time or she would tell us seeing what our reaction would be. One rule we didn't know about was chewing gum. She isn't allowed to chew gum at her foster home because she doesn't dispose of it properly. Well, that explains why she wanted gum in her mouth ALL the time. She is very sweet, but has to be watched constantly. I don't believe anyone can truly understand what this is like unless they actually live it. I thought I did, but I didn't understand the total magnitude of it. I was able to sleep well last night because I didn't have to worry about what they were doing or if they were okay.

I have friends that say they understand, but if you haven't fostered or adopted, I don't believe you can. It is very mentally and physically exhausting. It just can't be put into words.

I love these girls as my own already. It was hard to leave them last night. One cried and it wasn't the one I expected. Maybe she was trying to control, who knows. I think it was genuine because her chin started quivering and then she started crying. This is so confusing for these girls!! We kept reassuring them that they are coming back FOREVER Tuesday.

I need to take pictures for Easter today, but we are missing two people. I know that sounds strange, but it is weird. I feel like it isn't right. I will take pictures and know that they were part of our family, just not here today.

We went shopping at Target yesterday. It was a lot of fun. Three silly little girls in the dressing room giggling and playing as they tried on many clothes. They have lots of clothes, but many are too small. They also needed swimsuits. It looks like we are going to have three sizes. Girls XS, S and M. Sometimes two XS and a S. It was a lot of fun, but very expensive!! They all want to match with everything!! I wonder how long that will last? My boys were so good! They sat outside the dressing room and waited. The girls would show them their clothes and they would roll their eyes and ask how many more items? It was a good day overall.

Eventhough it has been a hard few days, I wouldn't change it for the world!!! I can't imagine life without them anymore!! It is definately quieter!!

I am sorry I rambled on and on, but this is my journal of our story. It also helps me to evaluate how things are going.

Fun Day

We have had a busy and exciting day today. We made homemade cookies this morning for our homeschool Easter egg hunt. The girls were in and out during the mixing and cooking. Morgan and Alex did most of the work. While they were baking Tucker taught one girl how to ride a bicycle without training wheels. She is now zooming around everywhere on her bicycle. (How cool is it that we have two bicycles that are two small for Morgan that we never gave away?) The other girl kept trying. Tucker and I both tried to help her learn. She kept saying she would wait on Daddy. So, Daddy got home from work and went out to help. It didn't take much at all and guess what, she is also now riding on two wheels. No more training wheels for anyone!!

We had a great time at the egg hunt. The girls blended in well. They each found their 12 eggs and began eating junk. They are having to learn that they can't just eat candy all day long. In this house, the candy goes in one place and they have to ask for candy. They are doing pretty well learning our rules and boundaries. They are doing really well considering they have only been here a day and a half.

I am hoping bedtime goes better tonight. We are going to start bedtime earlier to hopefully get to sleep earlier. Everyone is very tired which results in arguing and whining. Ugh...nothing gets on my nerves worse than that. I am hoping that if I am in their room, I will at least be in a bed by myself.

First Night

The bunk beds are put together with a cracked headboard. The replacement should arrive Friday. Tucker and Alex were the master engineers yesterday and put the beds together for me. I am sure they will replace the cracked headboard when the new one arrives. They have been wonderful!

The bedroom is really cute. I will try to take a picture before all of the clothes and toys are put in there because it will never be the same!! The first night went well. The girls, Alex and I all slept in the girls room. I slept on the bottom twin with one girl and Morgan slept with the other. Alex was the protector and slept on one of the top bunks. Once everyone was settled in, they had a good night. They woke up early this morning ready to go. They were outside before eight playing. I am so glad we are having pretty weather and they like being outdoors!!

So far so good!!