Waiting in the tranisiton home for the big moment - Mom was really nervous too... but not like me. I was just sweating!
You’ve seen pictures and a little description of meeting the girls for the first and second times at the transition home, if you’ve been following the blog. But here is a little more.
Trying to get a smile from them on the first day. We went walking about the yard and explored, since they were sadder inside.
The first day we went to the transition home, I wasn’t sure what we would find, considering the food situation and everything. But the staff were holding down the fort, and after seeing the girls cry and quake, we thought definitely another day wouldn’t hurt. It took a while for the girls to leave the social worker’s arms, and then only spice would play with me little. Sugar just looked forlorn. They both cried a lot and were so scared.
Spice with her hoard of stuff - they carried around those ziplocks full of our care package (all their worldly possesions) for a week. I guess it's the first time they ever had anything of their own - and the only thing they brought from the transition home.
Sugar's face just about describes it - sad, worried and forlorn - and expectant and accepting of what is to come.
The second day we gave them their new hoodies… they were still wearing the Tshirts we had sent in our care package (back in Dec - they got it two weeks before we got there and didn’t take those shirts off for three days. They said that they wanted to go to Canada, but not with Mommy! ~honesty, anyway. They were SO little, and so afraid. I felt like their mommy right away, but had to take some time to get to know them so I could atually comfort them. For the first few days they cried and cried for their teacher, who they loved and napped with every afternoon. Like, they would scream/chant/gasp/cry “teacher - teacher - teacher” over and over and throw themselves against the door for 1 1/2 hours at a time, a few times a day. It was brutal on everyone - but mostly for them. Some people had worse issues with discipline and acting out and willfuless… but I don’t know anyone who had a worse time with grief. The poor little things.
Their teacher at the transition home... I think she definitely was their mother figure there.
So it was a rocky start - baptism by fire. I expected the worst, so I wasn’t surprised, but that didn’t make it any less tough. We thought on our feet - after a coupledays we stopped naps, which we a trigger with the teacher fits. And once they saw I wasn’t going anywhere, they started leaning into me crying, instead of sobbing on the floor and pushing my hands away. And we had flashes and hints of the good times to come - big smiles, Sugar’s tongues out, and Spice’s sense of humour emerging.
A hint of things to come - delight at their first ride with Mommy in the "mechina" - van!
September 8th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Thank you so much for sharing all of these details. I am loving hearing about your time with your beautiful daughters!
Mary
September 8th, 2009 at 7:51 am
Wow, that is such a great post! Very touching. Shows the power of love and patience. Way to go you awesome mommy!
Alysia
September 8th, 2009 at 10:09 am
my heart breaks for them…its so hard to wrap your head around that much pain in a creature so very, very small! But oh the light!! these girl are magic Nicky!! wow…there is something in their eyes…some kind of knowing or depth of being that is so beyond their years! and the mischief…like they have a little secret surprise and one day, when you least expect it even more of their wonder and beauty will spill out. I am so excited for all of you…what a journey!
September 8th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Thanks for re-telling the gotcha day memories. I’m sure it was a very emotional day for all of you! It’s amazing what a steady, consistent, loving person can do for such wonderful kids in a short amount of time!
September 8th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
I love hearing your story Nicki. I hope your first few weeks at home are going smoothly. The girls sure do look like they are having fun!
Heidi
September 8th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Your honesty and frankness are amazing… thank you for sharing so much (your’re keeping me hanging in there!). A
September 10th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Doesn’t it feel like it was just yesterday? You did such a good job with the girls those first few days. You were a natural right from the start!
k
September 24th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
I just found your blog for the first time. I am so glad that I did. I love your honesty and your writing. Your girls are beautiful. I look forward to watching your journey. I am adopting a 19 month old little girl in Ethiopia and our court date is October 14th. This is such an emotional time, but nothing compared to what it will be like when we are there. My heart is broken for our Orange and her birth mother. I can’t wait to be there with her to start this journey, even though it will not be easy. She will be broken inside and so very confused. But at least I’ll be there with her.
Bless you.
Theresa