Last night I could hardly sleep thinking about all the things that I felt we needed to work on with the girls, Alex's frustrations,our process, money we still have to pay etc... I don't think we are doing that bad, we understand that this will be a process and we prepared ourselves for this (probably for worse), but part of our frustration is also not having a clear understanding of how things are going to work, last minute changes of schedule etc. We have a few things planned for the next three days and we have to be somewhat flexible about this because our process will start Tuesday, when our interview begins and the petition for the adoption decree is scheduled.
Since I need less sleep than Alex I don't feel bad about this. I think is actually good because I am finally getting to the point when I don't feel exhausted. It is typical for me to sleep little during the school year. So this is good sign.
One worry I have is the fact that I am loosing weight so fast (not eating enough and having an intestinal problem right now) that I have no clothes to wear and what I have is practically falling off my body. I've had to borrow Alex's belt just to hold a pair of pants, and these were pants that I bought before I left! I also brought clothes for interviews and court and just a couple of things for the pool and around the house. Somehow I thought I would need more formal clothes and I have not touched them!
The girls are obsessed with frozen juice to make treats, but our freezer here is very small,and it's too hot to buy Popsicles at the store.
It continues to be hot here almost every day with temperatures most likely in the mid 80's. (I love it). There is a new mall opening across the way from us on the other side of the building. It opens May 7th. We are not sure if we will be here during the grand opening. We have been invited for a children's day at the bookstore that day in celebration of the grand opening.
Alex is still sleeping, which is good... we both have been getting up around 6 every day and going to sleep at around 11. Usually after the girls go to sleep I sweep,mop and do laundry. (I miss my dryer so much I could cry! If at least we could hang more than just 20 pieces of laundry a night that would help too). We also talk about the day, plan what we will talk to the girls about etc. Since we are getting to know the girls we also reflect on their reaction to the day, what we have observed that day etc. I'm sure you parents out there might be laughing and thinking this is what parenting is all about and it is strange that we would be explaining this on the blog. Oh well!! We know this is only the beginning. --MM
(By the way, I am usually the one that writes in the blog, it is not that Alex does not want to or like to, but we have problems with this computer and it only likes to be handled in a certain way when writing for some reason the way he puts his hands on the keyboard makes the cursor jump all over the blog or email.. we are not happy with this computer which we bought right before we left.. it is second hand but has more problems that we expected)
I wanted to comment on this quote from today: "I'm sure you parents out there might be laughing and thinking this is what parenting is all about and it is strange that we would be explaining this on the blog. Oh well!!"
ReplyDeleteYou are right, Mercedes, but I mean this in a GOOD way....many of the frustrations you write about I can relate to very well: the fixation on technological gadgets, fighting over them, not knowing what to do with unstructured time, learning how to use/save money, not flaunting money in front of siblings, learning the lesson the hard way about spending money on something that doesn't last.....ALL of those things I've gone through as a parent. I say that as a way of reassuring you that you're doing things right, your girls don't sound all that different from any other kids on the planet, and you've just gotta' keep plugging away at all those parental lessons. Bravo to you!! You're doing great. :) Love and xo, Laura
"It is easier to cope with actual hardship than with the vague dread of what the future might hold." - M.C.
ReplyDeleteDo not be afraid, for when the time comes HE will always be there.
Remember one of our favorite sayings: "Todo lo puedo en Cristo que me fortalece." Col. 4:13.
"If sadness be our continual state, who could bear it? If, on the other hand, things always went well, then who would not think little or them? Wisdom, the careful controller of all things, alternates the course of the temporal life of his chosen ones with a necessary changing between good things and bad. By such a regimen they will neither be crushed by adversity nor lose discipline through too much joy. Also it means that joys are more appreciated and difficulties more readily endured. Blessed be God for ever!" - Bernard of Clairvaux.
"No apagueís el Espiritu. 1Tes. 5:19.
Hay toda una Iglesia orando por ustedes Todo va a salir bien. Descansen en la confianza de Su amor y su poder. "Sabemos que Dios hace concurrir todas las cosas para el bien de los que le aman." Rom. 8:28.
Además: "Si Dios está por nosotros, ¿quien contra nosotros? El que no perdonó a su propio Hijo, antes bien lo entregó por todos nosotros, ¿como no nos va a dar con El todas las cosas (buenas)? - Rom.8:32.
¿Podeis pensar en algo mejor que lo que estaís haciendo?
En el amor de Jesús y María les quieren Mami y Papi.
Dear Alex and Mercedes,
ReplyDeleteSorry I haven't responded yet-just learned how to post a comment on the blog! We have been following your blog daily, and we love hearing about all of your experiences. Your girls really do sound like "treasures", and also they seem close-knit (a good thing). I love how you describe them "sometimes acting as one entity- one giving advice, one telling it like it is, one searching for fairness, and another giving comic relief". Sounds like normal and healthy sibling dynamics to me!
Ditto on what Laura said! Even with a 3 1/2 year old, we see the fixation on technological gadgets, and the need to learn how to best use unstructured time and use/save money. Even though Sophie doesn't have siblings, she has enough friends where she is having to learn how to share and take turns, also.
We, too, have a "behavior management" star chart! I'm impressed you already know what to do; we had to learn the hard way- that we had to do something!
Your surroundings sound beautiful, and what a special time for you and your girls. It sounds like you are doing so many wonderful things to create a strong family foundation. You must be exhausted, though. And the laundry situation...!
Best of luck tomorrow- we feel positively that it will go well. I'm sure the interviews and court session will show how strong your family is already!
Lots of love,
Telia