Tickets

OK. I know it's almost one in the morning and I am still awake. Some times as I had said before, there will be something that is bothering me and I can't sleep.  This last week was trying for me, as I took the girls out on Spring Break and got them off their routine.  Needless to say I lost my patience a few times, and I am grateful we are back to school.

For us it has been quite an adjustment as we are approaching a year of having the  girls (unbelievable!)  and we are learning to choose our battles, to give up on some house organization.  Our relationship has also had to change. We still spend time with each other.  We don't go out as much (although we never did very much), but it has been more of the pace and the activity present in the house.  As well as the amount of house work (the girls are just learning how to do house work, they are not very good at it) we need to do.

The worst part are the things that you forget and for me this is a lot, given also that at work there are so many things that I must remember  as well .  In the last few weeks our 'adjustment' has transformed in the area of receiving more tickets from the police that we are used to.  The day after the adoption Alex was racing home because she said she had to go to the bathroom and he got a speeding ticket.  Today I got a ticket because my plates where expired (I had totally forgotten) and was not carrying my insurance card (if you are not doing this, do it.  It is now a requirement in WI).  Last summer I got a ticket in front of the same school as I did today because supposedly I did not do a proper stop.  I was on my way to the first time the girls were doing a play.  Now I have two tickets on my record and Alex has one. Not good.  We have spent over 350 dollars in tickets in the last year.  That does not count a few parking tickets Alex has gotten downtown Madison.

Mine have been given by Middleton police. One by Sun Prairie Police. I'm glad I don't live in Middleton except my name will be in the paper again and our janitor actually reads this and reported to me one day that he had seen my name in the paper.  I don't think I had been that embarrassed in a long time.   Now I feel our car (the van) must be on some list.  I did not loose any points today, but have to pay another fine.  I had never had two tickets in my life.  I wonder if this is part of being a new parent. Truly embarrasing.

Yesica Tatiana

I have featured all the girls except Yesica Tatiana.  Yesica is our third child and the one that La Casita told us would be our easiest to transition.  Actually, Yesica has been the most difficult in many ways, and I guess in other ways not that much.  Yesica is a very sweet child and is the first to really show very positive signs of empathy.  She is the first to thank people and give someone a hug when they need it.  She has given us the most problems so far but I think that is  a sign that she is working through her own issues.  She is doing it now and we will have to work hard on others later.

She dislikes change and anything associated with it.  She wants constant attention (which could be that she is trying to make up for lost time) and approval and this can be a bit overwhelming at times.  She is learning that making your own decisions has its pitfalls and benefits.
Yesica (and Sucena) have not transitioned well into doing homework.  Not like the older two.  She does not like to study and pouts about it. She has gotten better at this, but still struggles.  I get the impression that not only was her homework and study practices different in Colombia but it also seems that because she is so sweet and nice (and pretty) that she did not have the same academic expectations as others (a problem we have seen in the US too).

Yesica has a tough time sharing with others, and is very possesive about material things.  On the other hand when she has a few extra things that she likes she is the first to offer them to others (a trait the others have not really learned yet).  She will give you the shirt off her back.
There are days when she wants to help and there are days she wants to do nothing in the house or study.  Yesica has definetely tested my patience in many ways.  So far Yesica has been the queen of the dramatic.  Not that others do not try to say things to get a response or exaggerate an idea to try to make a point.  She just does it more often and usually more effectively.  She says she is more interested in being a teacher but I think she could be an actress if she wants (she seems to be able to cry at will).
She has attached to Alex quite well ( a bit of a "daddy's girl").  Mercedes will ask her to do something and will get a whine and a grumpy demeanor but will be much more willing if not excited if Alex asks her to do the same activity.

Like her sisters she emphasizes on outer beauty and makes many comments about people's appearance (she vocalizes it more than the others, which doesn't mean she thinks about it more, she is just more open about her feelings).  She can be both compassionate and callous at the same time.  I attribute this to her lack of social skill development which is improving every day.  She is learning so many things in one year.   She loves little kids and connects best with adults and little ones, but not as much with her peers.  At her new day care she is making friends and we are very glad for that, since she does not seem to have made many friends at school.
Yesica is a pleaser, she wants you to be happy with her and we give her many compliments.  She has a great laugh and can be very funny.  Today I said "Yesica brings us back to reality" because when people are taking a conversation topic to an extreme she 'keeps it real' and bring us back to the reality of the topic.  I love that.  It is  a breath of fresh air.  When Yesica gets frustrated she gives herself a time out.  I have learned to do this from her. 



Yet with all the tears that Yesica has poured, I feel ultimately she might be the best adjusted because she has let herself grieve where others have not.  She is not afraid of crying and showing emotion in this sense, while the others are more guarded. I guess 'she keeps it real' as I mentioned before and this is just beautiful about her.  I can't express how nice it is to have this when the others are such intense children.  Yesica just let's it down.

She and I are alike in many ways, (we don't like to get scared, loud noises or horror movies).  She has not done sports yet because she wants to do basketball and we have not had luck with signing her up.   Yesica is finding herself in this process and it has been difficult for her, she is creating a new Yesica, just like the others.  However, I think she will find herself first.   We love her and her hugs.  This was one of Alex's biggest fears when we met the girls.  But when we met Yesica we knew Alex would get all the hugs that we needed and more.

Yesica is special to us.  Watching her transformation is like a work of art.  We hope you like her pictures.  We love her very much.

Wisconsin Adoption Day

Today was our official Wisconsin Adoption Day! The girls had to skip school for this.  Sis and Andy came , so did Ginny and Julia and Ana.  My parents could not come, and I think the girls were disappointed none of my family came.  We didn't coordinate very well, it would have definitely been nice to have more people there.  We went at 8:30, we were the first case of the day, and we were  a little late. The nice thing was that the judge was late too. I was feeling a little guilty because we had plenty of time, but things happened last minute and we could not get out there on time.

Then we went back to Sis an Andy's room and the girls who had birthdays this week got presents.  Presents are a funny thing for the girls, they get extremely excited over presents, and when there is some confusion over presents (is this mine or hers? ) They get stressed.  I should ask people for family presents for a while.  We are trying to teach the concept of sharing for a year now, and even though it has gotten better it is something that we continue to struggle with.  Sucena cried over a ring she got, then she didn't like and gave to Mirellen and when Mirellen said that it was a mood  ring she wanted it back.  She cried for a bit and I had to take her out of the room to give her a little breathing room and talk to both girls about it. Needless to say I stayed with the ring and they will have to borrow it from me until there is a mutual agreement.  I almost went back to court and ask the judge for help!


We went to the Old Fashioned for brunch. The Old Fashioned is a restaurant that Alex and I have always wanted to go to but never have because it is always full.  So we finally went and had breakfast.  The girls were pretty good, but sharing became an issue again when Yesica had to share some donuts.  Again, this is a constant for the girls, and it is something they continue to struggle with.  After brunch Alex went to get the car and we stayed by the capitol to watch some protesters.  Some weird guy went back pointed and us and said "Mexico,  Cuba" and I said "wrong country".  The girls were fascinated by the protesters and all the things that are written in chalk on the sidewalks leading to the capitol.  It's weird to see security there now.  It will never be the same again. ...
On our way home Sucena said she had to go to the bathroom. Alex had had a bad experience with Yesica the night before where she didn't make it home on time ( I guess they're holding it last minute), so he speeded and  got a speeding ticket.  We tried to explain to the officer. He was nice enough to give us just the municipal ticket, instead of the state one.  Which saved us 130 dollars! We still have to pay $114 though.  So our plans for the movie were nixed, since the ticket took our money and we stayed home, did homework until I found out Mirellen had left her test information at school. Yesica and Sucena went to ride bikes and I asked Milena to go along, however they chose to get roll around in a puddle in front of the seniors apartments instead of biking. Milena came back complaining they were not paying attention to her.  I went out to get them and felt like my mom.  She would have done the same thing, oh well I guess we end up being our moms after all.  I  then had to drive all the way to school and back so she could study.  We watched a movie and then it was too late for a story (something I have been missing for a while and need to get back to).
So the day is gone, I'm exhausted but not sleepy.  I wish it was not night so I could go for a walk.
The days are getting warmer and longer. Spring is coming.