Settling in...

Sorry for the gap between post. Life is a little busy these days! We have just been hanging around the house getting used to our new life. Anastasia seems to be settling in more and more each day. She is really coming out of her little shell. She had been more outgoing at the orphanage the first visit or two, but once the little crying episodes for her group began she had taken on a more subdued personality. She has really started to open back up this last week. Sophia has been playing a lot more this week. We still have times (daily) when she does her little sulking thing and refuses to participate, but at least there are more and more times when she will join in the playing. There are many things that took no time at all for adjustment.... they fully embraced ice cream cones and hot cocoa (our 'night cap'). Actually, they will eat anything that is put in front of them. I am thinking that Sophia does not like sweet peas though. She eats them last and they take longer than anything else. She also has this look on her face. She has only had them three times though. May be texture issues. I plan to serve them, but maybe smaller amounts to see if she will get used to them or if it is truly a dislike. Abby has started eating more and faster, this is a good thing. She doesn't eat with the speed the girls use, but she gets it done. We are still working on the girls shoveling their meals down too fast. We aren't so worried about the manners just yet, but choking is a concern with their eating habits. I'm cutting their food up which wouldn't be necessary if they would slow down long enough to chew!

It is still amazing to see their excitement over the things we take for granted. I've been showering the 3 little ones together the last few nights.... they have a blast. A ride in the buggy at Walmart has Sophia so excited she looks like she might bust! They have really enjoyed the $1 bouncy balls and running through the house laughing together has helped start turning these three little girls into sisters. Shelby is brought into the fray by their infectious laughter. We were woken up yesterday to the sounds of laughter. After a few minutes, Tim got up to peek in and see what was going on. He found Shelby had woken up and joined the other 3 in the bed. She had the little ones laughing!

This next week will be another busy one. Tuesday no one has school so we will all be home. Wednesday we have Shelby's annual appointment with her oncologist, Thursday is dentist for Sophia and Anastasia (we are doing better with brushing so hopefully they will be able to do a good cleaning/exam) and Friday is the PT and OT evaluations for Sophia and Anastasia. Of course you have to insert the school schedule for everyone else as well. We are getting it figured out. The speech therapist will evaluate later on since they are trying to get a translator for that visit. She has also told us about a new program that is starting soon. A special needs preschool program. It will be 3 mornings a week. They would be able to work with a special ed teacher and therapist on sight. We are seriously considering it. It would be a definite, but we want to make sure they are doing well at home before we immerse them in other environments. Well... better wrap it up. Anastasia has joined me so I'm having to edit more now than I get to type! :)