52 Weeks of Family: Week 14

Mila:

You are fighting your first illness since being home, poor thing. You sneezed so hard at school that you blew the hair of your teacher across her face. That's some power!  You'll be better soon, I promise (also, remind me to buy some Purell Shampoo for your teacher). 

You've started struggling to find the right word both in English and Albanian...this is right on schedule. Studies show that native language starts to fade permanently after 3 months of secondary language immersion. I have mixed emotions about this. I'm excited that English is becoming easier for you and you'll soon be able to express what is in your head & heart. But I mourn the loss of your first language--the language that the nurses at the Abandoned Babies Unit cooed over you with and the language the Sisters shared Jesus with you, the language that you shared jokes with your BFFs at the institution.  I'll do my best to keep Albanian apart of your life, even if it just Albanian worship on YouTube. 

I've been praying with you at night as I tuck you into bed. You seem to look forward to this and I've already seen some softening of your heart as we pray through some issues. As we muddle through trauma healing and language learning and cultural transition and adoption attachment it's my job as your momma to delicately weave in character building as well.  One step at a time is how we are climbing this mountain.

FROZEN...have I mentioned how much you love this movie?!  Perhaps it's the 37 times per day that you quote "Let it go" that keeps it fresh in my mind *wink*.  Our Annie found you an Elsa dress for your birthday (difficult to find in your size!)...and this happened (best 4 minutes ever!):

Isaac:

You've done a really good job this week serving your sister--bringing her her plate or coat or water bottle without being asked. She will learn to say thank you freely soon, but I am so proud of your heart that willingly serves.  Pounding on the bathroom door and scaring the liver out of her while she is in the shower is probably something she wishes you would stop, but I have to give you points for how fast you run away and act like nothing happened. Slick move, little brother. 

Seems there was an assembly at school this week featuring the Reptile Man. Your daily report said "did NOT want to touch the Alligator!" haha!  Apparently, everyone stood in line and had a chance to pet the 4 foot reptile, however you decided dropping to the floor and refusing to move until the Alligator went away was a better strategy. This feels like a really wise choice. Good job buddy! And we haven't talked about Alligator-Stranger-Danger once. *wink*

Me:

Two sick kiddos and a mother with an emergency, but thankfully short hospitalization made for an interesting week while working.  I'm getting over a cold now too and maybe wasn't as gracious with needy kiddos as I could have been in my dayquill'd state. I hope I can teach both of them the value & power of an immediately apology. Even mommies get tired and cranky...and even mommies can choose to stop, apologize and ask for a hug of forgiveness then start all over again with a happy heart. Sometimes all three of us are being parented at the same time. <3