Day 5 home

We really seem to be settling very quickly back at home. Only day 5 and the past two mornings have been very tranquil.

I didn’t sleep well, kept waking up, but I do feel more rested today thankfully!

Ericka did almost an hour on Rosetta Stone. She did lesson 1 twice, still isn’t passing it so next time I’ll prob sit with her and see if I can help…. After I figure out how to say “it takes awhile to figure out what the program wants you to do, and it’s ok you’re doing great”

The other kids wrote 4 colors several times in their new language and had a quiz on colors as we were just playing around the house…. And practiced counting to 20….

I let them watch a movie this morning and therefor got some bill stuff taken care of…. Still have some calls to make to try to sort out some issues (non-adoption related) we are having with our insurance….

Here is some reality – our biggest problem this far has been the kids stuff. We have three kids coming from a home where all toys were shared and two kids that have “possessions” and have always fought like dogs and cats over whose was what… For the most part Ben and Luciano are sharing good but the little girls almost had a knock down drag out over a stuffed horse this morning…. I don’t know how to be fair, I don’t know how to resolve this, I just don’t know…. If you are adopting and have kids already I suggest you let them keep 2-3 things and give everything else away am once you know your new kids go but them 2-3 things. Yup that’s gonna cost alot of money….. WOULD HAVE BEEN WORTH IT!!!!! Oh yes, I know that of course the others would want new ones too…. I think this is a no-win situation….

And I’m so conscious of trying not to “favor” the bio kids, (sigh and there is no politically correct way of saying this so just don’t get offended ok), that the “new/adopted” kids are getting more of their fair share. For example, yesterday Micah bought a clock radio for the girls’ room. The “fair” thing to do would be out it in the middle…. But Anna is in the middle and Angelly wanted me to put it on her dresser…. So I had a split second to decide if I said no to her and put it in the middle if this would look like me “favoring” Anna over her…. Or if letting her et her way too much would be worse for her in the long run…. This is where the language barrier comes in…. Really it needs to sit on Anna’s headboard for better reception…. But no way to explain that to Angelly at this point…. Sigh….

Well since it was a tranquil morning we decided to take them to the park, for mom to play tennis with Ericka while the little kids visited with Granny and all get to at on playground.

I was just sitting here thinking about Angelly and her behavior. I think it’s age regression. It’s something I read about in the trainings but expected it more from Ericka but Angelly is the one that sea to be experiencing it the most…. It may be the influence of a younger sister but she is acting more “baby-like” crawling around even and asking for the sippy cup and jumping up to be held, her speech and speaking is a little different today too… Hmmm interesting…. Maybe is, maybe isn’t but it’s interesting to see which way it goes as we continue to get more settled…. Could also be part of the sudden onset of more tears than we had on the beginning…. Although that could still be just regular areas of moving and tiredness…. 100′s of options! Lol

It’s just really hard right now because there is nothing we can do to “fix this”. We can only give love and be patient and let them mourn and heal from leaving Costa Rica. Even though they really wanted it, there is still pain attached and all I can hope is that I can be patient enough to withstand this time of tears….

We had a huge meltdown this afternoon when we went to the park. What started as a trip to play tennis with Ericka ended up being a console Angelly trip. I got to play a little tennis but mostly had to be with Angelly then about the time Angelly got better, Ericka got upset. We went to Walmart and Micah took the 4 little kids in while I stayed in the car with Ericka. It took tears and a translator but finally I figured out she’s upset bc her brothers and sisters take up so much of my time. I said I would talk to daddy and we would figure out something we could do by ourselves tomorrow. I know she would like to go shopping and she asked if we could drive to her friend’s house (adopted last year and lives 480 miles away)…. But she laughed. So I think it was a joke! Heehee

Right now everyone is doing good and we are watching puss in boots in Spanish. Hopefully we have an easy night…. We are thinking about trying to get them to bed early on night and sneaking out to a movie…. We shall see how it goes….

Well. BUENAS NOCHES and good night

Ok had to edit to add that while bedtime was late late late, it was great!!!! Angelly was super silly and her and Anna were running around acting like puppies. She wanted a pull-up in like Anna and I made zero deal out of it but gave her one…. And she was super cuddly! Most times when she cries she is super stuff and won’t cling or cuddle, but tonight she was super happy and cheerful and cuddly. Asked me to kay with her, verbalized “I love you” when I was telling her in Spanish…. This is the “normal” child we got to know the first 5 weeks…. Not the sad crying one of the last week…. I know in my head that its too much to expect them to e even this well adjusted at this stage in the game. I keep telling myself and daddy that most people say it takes the full first year to get to your new normal…. To be fully “attached” and what not…. Luciano was super talkative and in actually understood most of what he said and Ericka was watching videos but easily turned it off and got ready for bed when it was time…. She also asked me to come to her bed but she was asleep before I got there… Oops…. Well BUENAS NOCHES for the 2nd time….

Day 4 home

This morning was very tranquil! Up and breakfast and then lessons. The lessons went fine although there was some whining…. We went over the alphabet, which they are saying very well in English actually, and colors and numbers. I think I have decided to get Ericka the Rosetta Stone English. She loves to play on the computer and this would be a good way for her to learn. I feel like the Spanish Rosetta Stone helped me enough to warrant the price!

We went to the barn and rode the pony named Star and also Benito. I actually got to ride MY horse today!!!! Woohoo. I rode her for a little then Angelly rode her a little too. And then we gave her a shower.

On the way back to the house Anna found a toad and Benny of course caught it and the boys want to keep it so Benny has been looking for crickets since then!!! He was promised a hermit crab when we got home but unless I pack up and go to the pet store this afternoon the toad is what he wants to keep! Hahahaha. Most of them won’t eat once we catch them so I told him of it eats he can keep it…. First job, find a cricket…

We had a yummy lunch of leftover rice n beans and fresh eggs delivered to us from a friend! Woohoo! We had an even dozen! BAHAHAHA

During reposo Ericka fell asleep and untried to wake her up three times but she would not wake up! Wow! And now she isn’t tired and doesn’t want To go to bed. After I let everyone else out of reposo, Ben, Luciano, and Anna went outside and they found a cricket and got the toad to eat it…. So I guess it’s staying for a bit…. Angelly begged for a bath so I let her and she loves them! Heehee. The kids all payed outside on the back porch and found so old toys of Anna’s to play with. And hence the “whose is this? Oh Anna’s again” question and I just want to be able to explain that yes Ben and Anna have things and they will too. But we aren’t going out the first week and buying them whatever they want!!!! Man…. Language thing is hard!!!!

I still didn’t get the rule list found today but we did talk about a couple rules at supper…. Like not going outside without permission…. Need to re wrote it or find it and go over them first thing in the morning…. They are trying to obey the rules… They just don’t know them and there are a few new ones now….

I let Luciano pick a movie and then we had a yummy supper of stir fry and salad and rice and cupcakes for those that ate their supper. Angelly didn’t eat but wanted a cupcake…. I thought we would have tears but she decided not to eat it and not get a cupcake…. She is sometimes so much like Anna it’s scary! Then later she did have a breakdown but it was earlier and so at least bedtime was before 9pm today! That is the goal, to get it closer and closer to normal time everyday!

Randoms:

Angelly might have a little dyslexia… Several times today she was reading things backwards….. That is gonna be helpful learning English….

I did buy the Rosetta Stone English but so far haven’t gotten logged on…. I think something is wrong with the account bc I had to have them switch the email for me bc it wouldn’t bring up English, only my Spanish…. I need to start doing it again…. After I get the whole house put together again…. There is a mountain of laundry to sort and put up tomorrow…. I got overly exhausted on the travel days and can’t get it back together…. It’s the first exhausting week in Costa Rica all over again which means I’m eating more which is not healthy!!!! praying I get more sleep tonight and start to “heal”

Ok well. Can’t think of more but know I’m forgetting alot if little things today. Overall it was a great day…. Might go buy some tennis balls and go to the park tomorrow. Depends on how much sleep I get!

BUENAS NOCHES good night!!!!

3rd day home

I feel like I’m back in Costa Rica! I woke up at 7:17 to silence! Then thought, “uh oh, wonder if they all went outside already???? I really need to find my rule book and go over them again and add a few “farm ones”……” So I snuck down my hallway to check and they were in bed so I snuck back to bed! But of course then I couldn’t go back to sleep a little while later I heard someone up so I went to check and it was Anna. We played a little bit and soon Luciano and Angelly were up followed by Ericka and a really dragging Ben!!! I started breakfast for us all and I actually did good with only 2 eggs and no toast! Go me! Slowly weaning from carbs…

After breakfast we did our first English/Spanish lessons! We all wrote the letters and practiced pronouncing them the English way…. Then I did a couple extra things with Ben, Anna, Ericka…. Ben wrote his colors in Spanish. Ericka wrote hers in English and I visually worked in colors with Anna. It was a good practice!

Then it was FINALLY (9:30am) time to get to go ride horse!!! Hahaha. We got dressed and had to try to explain to the ticos why showers at night are better when you live on a farm…. Angelly REALLY lobbied for a quick shower but I put my mommy foot down…. We can’t be having 2 showers/baths a day each…. Just can’t.

So she was disappointed to start the day bc she didn’t love the lesson then she didn’t get her shower…. Then we got to the barn and she didn’t get to ride first (bc I let Ben ride him to the barn)…. And then mommy was not being 110% careful and pinched her chin with the snap on her helmet then she was not happy that she didn’t get to ride the big horse she wanted to rode first…. Well by then I was pretty fed up with the pouting so I tried to have a conversation with her about acted like that when she doesn’t get her way…. Not sure it was clear but was apparently good enough bc she tried… So she rode Blackie, then Luciano rode Blackie, then Ericka rode Benito (the big horse that is NOT ours that all the kids love best…..) and then Anna rode Blackie for 2 minutes, and then Angelly rode Benito and then Ericka rode Benito again and Luciano rode Blackie again…. Did you follow that? It’s like a word problem…. Now… Who was the 2nd person to ride Blackie and the third to ride Benito?

We came home and the kids played a little while I got lunch ready and then I put them in reposo. I’m not sure what the boys are doing but it’s quiet so I don’t care right now (famous last words?) and I sat with the girls and Angelly fell asleep pretty fast (I’ve been saying that I think her biggest problem this past week has been tiredness…). I know it’s mine! I have alot of organizing and putting stuff up to do but I think I might try to go to bed kinda early tonight…. We shall see….

We went back up to the barn after I had the boys clean their room up some and I was helping with clothes and whose is whose and where they are gonna live…. We rode Keiren who doesn’t love to give rides, well the riding is fine. The swam of kids walking around him he doesn’t love…. But they did great! Luciano gets better every time! Rapidly. Like everything else physical he tries! Haha he had me walking at the end of the lead line. He is firm but not rough like a lot of young boys can be.

God is so good to have given is kids that fit so well into our lives! It’s truly amazing! From the way they eat and talk and things they like and are good at! It’s crazy! Dios es bueno!

Oh. Confession….. Before we went to barn the 2nd time, I made Ericka cry…. She was wearing her good swede boots instead of the boots of mine she’s been wearing…. And I couldn’t get her to change…. After like 15 minutes of trying to get her to change with techniques like waiting and patiently explaining…. Yup….. I snapped…. I yelled…. In English…. And she jumped up and said “I don’t understand anything” and went to her room and shut the door…. So i sat there and felt terrible so i went in and she was crying and I had to try to apologize in Spanish…. I told her it was bad of me to yell and I was sorry and would she forgive me. I said i am tired but that is not a good reason…. No clue if the Spanish translated right but she seemed to understand and said she forgives me and that we were ok…. Sniffle. And yes i cried too…

On other news…. All three now know what the electric fence feels like! Luciano touched it this morning. He was petting a horse and to me it looked like he purposely grazed his hand in it and it arched and snapped him and he jumped…. He laughed about it but in old him that was just a little one… Later Angelly was feeding horses and grabbed it and Ericka tried to pull her off so she grounded it and it went through her! Well that was a lesson learned for everyone!

After the barn, Ben and Anna and Luciano played outside in the sand and Ericka and Angelly took baths and got pajamas on and made more videos of dancing and singing…. Which I think is really cute…. The 3 outside had to have showers when they came in bc they were COVERED in sand. Actually Ben had to get in twice to get it all off!!!!

I had bought a huge bag if chicken fingers from the bread basket so I made those with rice and beans and salad and strawberries for dinner! It was yummy! The chicken was decent and the homemade BBQ sauce we bought in Michigan earlier this year really made them perfect!!!!

Ericka got to pick the movie which they started before supper then I paused while we are and now they are finishing…. Anna is sitting in Ericka’s lap in the rocking chair and Angelly is next to me on the recliner part of the sectional and the boys are piled together on the couch! It’s really cute!!!! Ok I had to get up and take pictures. Too cute!

Ok well tomorrow would be Ben’s last day of school if he was still in so we would like to wish a happy summer to his class and Ben hopes some of his friends are in his class next year! See ya soon!

BUENAS NOCHES! Good night!

2nd day home

I think I can. I think I can. Nope pretty sure I can’t do an update today….

Oh ok…. A short one….

Up early. Went to buy a chicken coop. Bought chicken coop. Went to kids school. Talked with head of ESL program. Toured school. Visited Ben’s class.

Haha the kids were really shocked when Ben’s friends all knew their names and who they were! His teacher has been reading them the blog and showing them pictures! We got there as they were going outside and so Benny and Luciano and Anna got to play with them while Ericka, Angelly, and I went to the middle school for a tour! It was really fun to get to see Ben’s class and he really enjoyed it as well as having letters from his class waiting here for him when he got home! Too cute! Thanks so much for that and everything!

After that we went to Pizza Hut and had lunch and ran into a few friends from church. We were so hungry so Pizza Hut buffet was perfect! We sure cleared the eggs out of the salad bar! Haha

Then it was home for reposo and I went out to the bread basket for some “whatever I could find there I needed” that is such a great place to shop! That was probably the farthest I’ve been away from the kids since we took them to the apartment like day 3…. Weird….

After reposo we went to a friends’ house for a little visit which ended up being longer and muddier than expected!!!! But they enjoyed it.

Back home to make supper and bedtime ended up being very late for us tomorrow it’s time to really start recouping and getting back to a routine! Micah is working night shift the next few days so I would like to envision some restful days were the kids play and ride horses all day and go to bed at a decent hour…. Also tomorrow is the start of study times. Spanish for Ben and Anna and English for Ericka, Luciano, and Angelly!!! We are going to eat then study then ride then eat then study then ride the eat and showers and bed!

Randoms:
both Ericka ad Angelly discovered baths….. Oh my water bill is gonna explode…. Heeheeheee

No tears today although several close calls

Ericka is really understanding alot of English and Luciano and Angelly are starting to speak really clearly! Can you say wow????

Ok well here’s to a couple of calm days at home and then maybe we’ll go to the park and play some tennis (me and Ericka) and let the little kids play on the playground with granny watching!

BUENAS NOCHES….

GOOD NIGHT!!!!!!

1st day home

Now I’ve gotten in the habit of daily I have guilt at the thought of going to bed without an update!!!!

Anna woke first at about 7 bit asked to play quietly and of course I said yes. But then I got up and started unpacking bags and slowly the rest woke up.

First question asked over and over- can we go ride horses yet. Finally I have them breakfast and we went to the barn !!!! And stayed for at least 2 hours!!!! And would have stayed longer if their granny hasn’t come to visit for the first time! Hahaha. They love meeting family! Even if they are shy and can’t talk to them!

Angelly was amazing with the horses! She rode for 5-10 minutes with me double bareback on one of moms horses then she rode with me double but in a saddle on our friend’s horse and I showed her how to steer for about 5-10 minutes then she wanted me of so I or off and walked bedside her while she steered and then she wanted me to go to the side and she rode home completely on her own!!!! Seriously!!!! Then she rode along time on him then she switched to the other horse again then she went with mom to get the super pony Blackie and she rode him another 15 minutes!!!!

I’m used to my kids riding 5 min at best! I had zero sunscreen on and it’s hotter here than in costa rica Central Valley and I think my shoulders are pink!!!! 6 weeks in Costa Rica and my first day in Ky and no sunscreen and too much sun!!!! Funny!!!!

Well they had a good time meeting Granny but then Anna made her play only with her all afternoon the little bossy britches! Hahahaha but it was great having the extra set of eyes around to help keep an eye on them all while we were trying to unpack and organize!

Ericka found Arnold and he was in for a surprise!!!! BAHAHAHA he got a bath, then got a shirt put on him, then he was wrapped in a blanket and put in a basket with a pillow! Then they painted his nails green and put sunglasses on him!!!! And he went to sleep and stayed in there for like an hour!!!! And when I went to get him out he growled at me!!! But never even did growl at the kids through all that! I totally take back every bad thing I’ve ever said about him!!!!

Later Ericka was so exhausted that she wanted to nap at 4pm so i said she could for 30min and that I would wake her up.

Aunt monica came over and talked Spanish to them which Ericka loves and got her nails done and hair done we all got our makeup done! Hahaha a little salon was here! Haha.

But then we were all so exhausted that I had to get some of the kids cleaned up for bed and Anna got her first bath in 6 weeks and Angelly discovered baths….. I think she’s converted! Hahaha. Then she had yet another meltdown and cried. I think she is still just ridiculously tired so tomorrow an the rest of the week we are gonna try to be here mostly and get a reposo in! We need to recharge!

Tomorrow however we visit the school in the morning and buy a chicken house! Thank you Boyle county high school carpentry class!

And for our church friends….. Micah is working night shift Wednesday so we won’t be at church…. See ya Sunday!!!! And do we have any kids in next gen that speak Spanish?????

Going home

Woke up at 3:00am (5:00am ky time)!!!! Showered then started waking the kids. They all woke up really sleepy and tired but they got dressed and woke up.

Bruce showed up with Diego to pick us up an everyone started carrying bags downstairs and onto the bus.

The airport was a bit of an issue…. Here’s the scoop. We knew the first part but then we didn’t…. You have to pay and exit tax to leave Costa Rica. It’s currently $29 per person. We paid that or everyone in our group and they give you forms to fill out. In the past we only filled out 1 and the other was a receipt you didn’t really need. Now you fill out both forms, front and back. (Found this out when we went to Delta’s line). Then we went to Delta’s line again and found out we have to have a stamp for the Costa Rican minors to leave the country. Yes even though they are traveling with both parents you have to do this. The embassy gives you a form you need to get the stamp but they didn’t look at them other than to see we had them… To do this you turn left and go almost to the Cafe Britt store then go behind it. It says immigration on a sign near it… We got that then back to delta line we go and finally got to go in it this time. Then on to the next person that thoroughly checked the forms and the stamps on the forms. Then on to the desk to check in and check the bags. One bag was 51 lbs but they let it go. The rest were 46-48.5. Hahaha. Then in to the next line where they check our passports and stamps again. Then through security. No hassle other than they almost dropped the laptop and kindle on the floor! Ugh. Then not o our gate. They had told us they would start boarding at 6:15 and we arrived at the gate at 6:11 so we went to the bathroom and then sat down maybe 3 minutes when they announced those needing special assistance can board. That’s us so we jumped up and they took us in the plane. They check your carry ons one last time on the ramp. You CANNOT take any liquids on the plane. Even ones you buy in the airport. But we knew this and had no problems. Then on the plane and try figure out our seating. We had 7 together and 3 several rows back and we ended up with me and Micah together with Angelly and my mom, toni, and Ruth Ann with all the other kids!!! I felt really bad about dropping the kids with them but couldn’t figure out another options…. Then on take off I realized we could have put mom toni and Anna back here and us up there with the others…. Oops….

They all did good on take off. Angelly and Luciano jumped up and down. Angelly kept opening and shutting f window. She didn’t want to look but loved it when we were up. Ericka was stressing out holding so tight to the armrest. And Ben was trying to get her to lighten up and enjoy it by poking her arm! Haha. But once we got up in the air and we could check on them she was fine. Now they all have their electronic devices on and we got a movie and are waiting for drinks!

Ok. The airport was misery but we made our flight and it was quick and we landed and got our bags as the boys would flash flash and are in the car heading home!

I’m exhausted so I’ll update you more tomorrow how they do at the house! Very exited right now! Late night for everyone!

BUENES NOCHES GOOD NIGHT

Day 46

The last day!!!!

Up early and went to Poas Volcano and La Paz waterfall gardens again! Yes the trip was that good that we did it again! Totally different weather but it was still a box experience! Got to to crater just in time to see it before a cloud rolled in and then it rolled out and we got some photos and it rolled back in so we hiked to the Laguna! Which was clear and pretty. The kids complained so badly but they are champs really!

Them we headed to La Paz Waterfall Gardens and it was rainy but not a soaking rain. We ate without a crowd at about 11:30 and started walking around. It was fun!!!

Randoms:

Anna and Angelly wear one each of two pairs of flip flops… Well one the plastic part has been coming out for days as today at poas we taped it! Hahaha. And then later that day the other one have out as there was no fixing it!!!! It was the pair Anna was wearing so she went barefoot for part of the Waterfall walk! That’s us ky folks! Hahaha

Angelly had a hard day. She kept getting upset and then bouncing back and of course out of 14 people she is the one that the chair flips over on at lunch luckily I’m learning and had spare clothes and a first aid kit! She’s fine but I’m sure she was hurting so I have her some pain meds….

Erika struggled for awhile…. Stomach pains…. But was better after she also got pain meds…. Jeeze huh!!!!

Luciano was great all day but was sad and came in the apartment crying this evening because of missing his friend…. We let him cry and then he voiced back later and for his bags packed too!!!

Ben climbed all over stuff all day we kept telling him not to and then he scraped his stomach….

What a day huh? It was a little rough

Then this evening everyone was excited as we packed!

Thank The Lord for having our good friends the Crawfords helping us pack!!! We would not currently be ready without them!!! Whew!!!

We have 6 checked bags and 7 carry ins plus our “personal bag” (backpacks) each.

They are excited but scared….

We get picked up in 6 hours so of I fell asleep right now I would get 5 hrs of sleep before getting up, showering, and then waking the kids to dress!!!! Not too bad!!!! And all we have left to pack is the clothes we are sleeping in and the bathroom stuff. Wow!

So. BUENAS NOCHES!!!!