Things are going good around here. Bella is starting to settle in a bit, I really enjoy this age so much. Mackenzie is really coming
into herself and I find myself falling more and more in love with her everyday. Emily and Olivia are fast approaching their 4Th birthdays and I am just in awe of the both of them. Olivia for her keen intuitiveness/sensitivity. The day I arrived home with Bella she was standing by the door with a stuffed animal and told her that she didn't need to be scared, she knew she would miss her mommy very much and be scared. She also told her that I am a very good mommy and will love her very 
much. Olivia has been such a great role model to both Emily and Mackenzie and they have modeled after Olivia in their warm sensitivity and loving acceptance of Bella. On a few occasions Bella was crying looking quite scared...all three girls came running and literally surrounded her with reassuring smiles, pats, hugs and kisses...I was about to step in out of fear that they would overwhelm her when I noticed that Bella was smiling and giving loves back. They amaze me so much they bring me to tears. I don't know what I would do without them. These 3girls are just suddenly so MINE its taken much longer than I expected to be quite honest but I am really really feeling like a FAMILY now. I can't possibly imagine my life without these girls. Emily has just completely blossomed! 
When we brought her home at the age of 38months saying " I want apple juice" is about the most complex utterance we heard from her. She grunted, pointed, drooled, and her ability to communicate was so limited that we immediately began teaching her ASL of course speaking each word as we signed it. She picked it up so fast that she was at over 30signs within the first month and now both her and Olivia have literal hundreds and Shana is beginning basic conversational sign with them. I was almost brought to tears this morning when I was doing Emily's hair because I realized suddenly that I was having a conversation with her. Not just asking basic questions receiving one-word answers/signs/gestures but a fluid and very clever conversation. Once this occurred to me I decided to ask her if she knew what adoption was. She said to me: YES silly mommy! I grew in your heart and Olivia grew in your tummy. I said: is anyone else in this family adopted? She said: Mama adopted Olivia and me and Mama are adopting Mackenzie. I lol, and then asked her if I could adopt Mackenzie too and she said no(grin). She then asked me if we were adopting Bella and I told her no, that some babies stay forever and some just stay for alittle while(such as in the case of D, R and A, all of whom she knows/remembers/talks about). Emily and Mackenzie will stay forever and Bella just for a little while---(Thanks Susan!) 
She then said Bella mommy get all better and Bella go home? I said yes. Then she really broke my heart and said: Mommy who hurt Bella and gave her those boo boos? I told her that I didnt know but who ever did wasnt being very nice. she then agreed with me and told me she wanted to go kiss Bellas boo boo's. SO In 10months we went from " I want apple juice" to ALL THAT!
She just blows me away!
into herself and I find myself falling more and more in love with her everyday. Emily and Olivia are fast approaching their 4Th birthdays and I am just in awe of the both of them. Olivia for her keen intuitiveness/sensitivity. The day I arrived home with Bella she was standing by the door with a stuffed animal and told her that she didn't need to be scared, she knew she would miss her mommy very much and be scared. She also told her that I am a very good mommy and will love her very 
much. Olivia has been such a great role model to both Emily and Mackenzie and they have modeled after Olivia in their warm sensitivity and loving acceptance of Bella. On a few occasions Bella was crying looking quite scared...all three girls came running and literally surrounded her with reassuring smiles, pats, hugs and kisses...I was about to step in out of fear that they would overwhelm her when I noticed that Bella was smiling and giving loves back. They amaze me so much they bring me to tears. I don't know what I would do without them. These 3girls are just suddenly so MINE its taken much longer than I expected to be quite honest but I am really really feeling like a FAMILY now. I can't possibly imagine my life without these girls. Emily has just completely blossomed! 
When we brought her home at the age of 38months saying " I want apple juice" is about the most complex utterance we heard from her. She grunted, pointed, drooled, and her ability to communicate was so limited that we immediately began teaching her ASL of course speaking each word as we signed it. She picked it up so fast that she was at over 30signs within the first month and now both her and Olivia have literal hundreds and Shana is beginning basic conversational sign with them. I was almost brought to tears this morning when I was doing Emily's hair because I realized suddenly that I was having a conversation with her. Not just asking basic questions receiving one-word answers/signs/gestures but a fluid and very clever conversation. Once this occurred to me I decided to ask her if she knew what adoption was. She said to me: YES silly mommy! I grew in your heart and Olivia grew in your tummy. I said: is anyone else in this family adopted? She said: Mama adopted Olivia and me and Mama are adopting Mackenzie. I lol, and then asked her if I could adopt Mackenzie too and she said no(grin). She then asked me if we were adopting Bella and I told her no, that some babies stay forever and some just stay for alittle while(such as in the case of D, R and A, all of whom she knows/remembers/talks about). Emily and Mackenzie will stay forever and Bella just for a little while---(Thanks Susan!) 
She then said Bella mommy get all better and Bella go home? I said yes. Then she really broke my heart and said: Mommy who hurt Bella and gave her those boo boos? I told her that I didnt know but who ever did wasnt being very nice. she then agreed with me and told me she wanted to go kiss Bellas boo boo's. SO In 10months we went from " I want apple juice" to ALL THAT!
She just blows me away! *The mascot at the races thought it would be cute to walk off with my babies, LOL
8 comments:
Holy cow! You really are adding kids! I thought you were just fostering before, now you've adopted two? Awesome!
So sad giving them back, and Emily hit it right on the head... giving her back to the bad mommy who made all the boo boos. I always hated giving them back, especially when I knew I could give them everything and would never hurt them.
why did you have to make me cry? here i was thinking you were just going to talk about our afternoon and instead you make me bawl.
hugs,
rae
:::cry::: :)
That is so sweet. I'm glad Emily has really come in to her own. She couldn't have done it without her family :)
You are an awesome mom!
This is so beautiful. You must do an amazing job with these girls, Renee. Pat yourself on the back.
Such insightful little people your girls are! And a great and heartwrenching conversation. Good for Emily for blossoming and good for Olivia for helping the others trust enough to grow. And good for you for your great parenting!
-Kate-
What an amazing story! And what an amazing family you have. You are truly wonderful people. I've just found your blog. I look forward to following it.
wow emily sounds like she has come such along way, sorry to hear about the genetic results, was it something you expected?
Olivia sounds like being a big sister is a great role for her
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