She's ba-aack!

"Yes, I know;  I'm just as cute as ever!"

Yes, it's true.  Our missing child has finally been returned.  I went in and called her name, and her head whipped around, and she came running to me!  Very exciting, and it felt like a heartwarming reunion.  She was very happy to see Daddy, too.  The physical therapy students were there as well, and were charmed by her, but she wasn't so excited about them, and preferred to play with her parents.  She definitely remembered us.

She still has plenty of attitude, too.  Move over, S!  There's a new princessa in town!  I have a feeling that except for the getting poked, she probably had a wonderful time at the hospital and got lots of attention.  I was afraid that she'd be withdrawn, and traumatized.  At any rate, she seems none the worse for wear.

"This is my "surprised" look."

"Do you think you could let me finish chewing before you snap my picture?"

"My adoring fans-er-parents are thrilled."



"Chase me!  Chase the ball!  I have tons of energy!"


I went in to get our little boy, and he eyed me warily as I made my way across the room, until I got close to him, and then he looked away pointedly.  He didn't resist as I picked him up, though.  He wasn't going to have any fun with us, but you know David!  He wrestled him, and chased him, and threw him on the couch.  There were lots of giggles and smiles then.  My camera is just not quick enough to catch them.  Sorry!

"There's always time to get thrown in the air."

"Not the ribs!  Not the ribs!"

"I'm trying to get away!"

When I went in to get my big girl, she jumped into my arms, and stroked my hair, and called me "Mama."  It wasn't exactly unsoliticed, because I was telling her, "Mama is here to see you," etc.  It sure sounds great to me, though.  She wanted to sit with me, and we played for a long time until Daddy got bored, and started bugging her to play with him.  Then he spun her on his shoulders for awhile.  She didn't want that to ever end.  I say she has "infinity capacity" to be spun on shoulders.  She sat with me again, and played with a doll.  She really wanted to play the counting-fingers game on its hands, but sadly, the fingers are bent, so no go.  Twice she tried to pull my hair, but I stared her down, and said, "Nice!" in a very mean tone, so that fizzled out.  Then Daddy played airplane with her (less as an airplane, than as a bench-press type move.)  When it was time to go, she sobbed and clung to his leg with her feet as he carried her back, trying to get her to walk.  Breaks my heart.  Even real tears.  Took all the ladies to console her.

This smile says it all.  "I finally have a mommy!"

"And now, Baby, I'm going to show you a game..."

David, bench-pressing a large child.  She doesn't know this isn't really how you play airplane!

We've had another delay with obtaining the birth certificates, so it looks like we'll be here an extra week.  Sigh.  I'm trying to have a good attitude, and remembering that it's God's timetable, not mine.  He seems to ignore what I want timewise, but since he's the God of the universe, and I'm just his (humble) servant, I guess I'll do what he wants (when he wants it.)

The plan is to get the kids out when we take them to get their passports.  Most people are champing at the bit to get their hands on their kids, and get them out ASAP.  We're champing, too, but realistically, a week with three new kids, who don't know any of our rules (much less society's rules) about safety or anything else, in a studio apartment in a foreign country, just doesn't sound fun.  So sue me.  The orphanage people aren't used to this, I'm guessing.  They're starting to wonder-- are they ever going to take their kids out of here?