Five weeks ago...

our three Haitian beauties came home. It's hard to believe that it has been five weeks already. I wanted to make a one month post in review last Saturday, but in addition to it being a month since they came home, it was also my birthday & I spent most of it away from the house being pampered. Then the rest of the week just sped by so here we are at week five.

It's definitely been a interesting ride so far. Week one was amazing in the fact that they were finally home but it was difficult as everyone tried to figure out what to do & how to fit into our family. Week two was better as everyone was getting comfortable with each other. Week three was good for the majority but not for Shakira which I still attribute to Randy being gone part of the week. Week four was up & down. One good day then a not so good day or a really good first part of the day & then a really not so good second half of the day. This week has been busy with appointments, some of which were last minute notice. But overall I think it's been a good week.

Phoebe & Samara are playing really well with each other. Now they just have to learn how to include Shakira. They started out including her but then they get frustrated or tired of Shakira "being Shakira" so they started ignoring her this week so I had to have a little talk with them. Today they played well with her. It's good that she's playing with them because she needs to be watching what they are doing...at an almost 5 & 6 year old level...not a 2 year old level like she has been doing with Caleb & for quite some time...the nursery kids at the orphanage. She does love him dearly though & he's always looking to see where she is.

So this week Shakira got her glasses, new shoes & orthotics. Samara got a hair cut & all 3 of them got some more immunizations. Randy, Phoebe, & I got our teeth cleaned :o) We didn't get to go to the pool much this week due to the weather & some bad attitudes but all 6 of us went today & I think we made the life guards earn their money today :o) I thought we were doing fine...a little water swallowing going on but no choking or drowning but the lifeguards watched us like a hawk. Shakira had a blast! She's actually doing much better in the water than I thought she would. And Samara...for any of you who saw her in the pool for the first time at the Guest House in Haiti & saw her scream, cry, & carry on...you wouldn't believe your eyes now! She was actually swimming today in the deep water with a life jacket on. Caleb had fun too. He enjoys me throwing him up & down in the water, as well as spinning him on top of the water. Phoebe continues to improve with her strokes as well as under water swimming. I will not be surprised if she's on a swim team when she's older.

Samara's English improves daily as well as her comprehension of it. She's eager to learn how to read it. I think she will really enjoy the preschool she will be attending in the fall. Shakira is saying more words but still repeats a lot of words instead of making sentences. Right now we are focusing on when she says, "Mama" I say, "What Shakira?" & then trying to get her to say something else other than "Mama" again, like "Mama, I love you" or "Mama, look at me." Our new motto is "Mama is a word...not a language." She's doing about 50/50% most days on the potty training during the day so that's a huge improvement. My goal is still to have her potty trained through the day by the end of the summer. Caleb is wanting to get in on the action too so we started putting him on the potty chair when he says, "potty."

Shakira & Caleb are both doing better at not following me around all the time. They are also getting better at just sitting, or sitting & playing with something for a few minutes. Samara likes to play with her doll that she can fix her hair, color, play dress up & school & house with Phoebe. Shakira is showing interest in books now & often goes to the bookcase in her room & gets a book or two & looks at it. Right now Caleb is more interested in the girls toys than his "manly" or educational toys...hoping that will wear off soon :o) Phoebe still likes to read & is often found reading to her siblings. She has asked several times to do homework since school has been out. She is really looking forward to the first grade. We are still waiting for Shakira to be assessed this summer so she can be placed where she needs to be when school starts in the fall.

Randy & I are doing well. We take turns being exhausted which is a good thing because it would be counterproductive to be exhausted at the same time :o) We are looking forward to a laid back, quiver full Father's Day.