Twins

Some facts about the twins:

They are fraternal.

Cherub is a boy. Thumbelina is a girl.

Cherub's hair is thick, light brown with blond highlights, long and very curly.

Thumbelina's hair is fine, straight and blond.

Cherub has big brown eyes.

Thumbelina has big blue eyes.

Cherub is a sturdily built little boy who weighs about 10 pounds more than his sister and at least 3 inches taller

Thumbelina is very petite.

And still, I have been asked if they are identical or fraternal.

So, this video that my sister-in-law, E, sent me, made me laugh out loud.

March Madness

Lest March pass with no post, here are a few things going on in our lives.

1.)   John had a week and a half off between quarters.  That means that the kitchen is clean, weeding has started and the kids get to play “Daddy Monster” with him when we get home from work and school.  He has gotten them ready in the morning for me as well which has been such a big help.  Oh, and he makes me a coffee in a travel mug. I will miss this when he goes back to his school schedule.

2.) Each morning and evening, I put ‘lotion’ on the kids’ cheeks and lips. It’s Vaseline, but they call it wo-shun.  And they tell me where to apply it:  “And on my foah-head? And on the cheek? And on duh uddah cheek? And on my wip?”  This morning, Thumbelina added one, “And on  my boogers?” 

3.) On March 14, we had a permanency plan hearing for the twins.  Along with the caseworkers and the parents’ lawyers,  the kids’ teacher and the director of the center they attend were there.  It was really nice of them to go.  The judge went along with the DSHS plan of ‘return to parent’ in this case the father.  We, along with one of the case workers, have concerns and worries about him being a good choice, but we’ll see. We just don’t want the case be rushed and the kids given to him and then he does something stupid. Prayers, please.

4.) The twins will turn 3 next month! We’re having a little family party, and we’ll take treats to child care and playgroup.  They finish their therapeutic playgroup the week they turn three.  Seeing the progress they’ve made has been amazing.  I really wish I’d videotaped them when they first came to us.  What a difference!  They are so much fun, so funny and drive us crazy at the same time. But we would not trade any of it if it meant never having met them.  Thumbelina has been saying “My Mommy!! My Mommy!” whenever she wants me to hold her or she thinks I’m leaving.  Cherub has been saying, “My two Daddies!” since he has John and bio-dad.  If reminds me of the line, “Rhapsody has two mommies…” from Best in Show.
 

5.) For the first time in 9 months (since the twins arrived), we have been working on the yard again.  The weekend was gorgeous, so we got a lot of weeding done, and I bought some more spring flowers.  The kids picked out a primrose each. Thumbelina chose a red one with a yellow center, and Cherub picked a purply-blue one.  I think it would be nice to plant a primrose for each child who comes to our home.  They are hardy little flowers who bloom under less than ideal circumstances.

6.) We had a surprise visit from the kids’ case worker who lives one street over from us.  She had gotten a phone message from us that Cherub had bonked his nose earlier in the day, so she stopped by to see how he was doing.  The CW has a female pit bull who is very laid back and friendly.  Well, the CW was out walking her when she stopped by the house.  The dog poked her head in the house and we invited the CW in.  Thank God Jill was in the back yard! That could have been an ugly confrontation.  Both dogs are very friendly, but if Jill would have seen a strange dog in her home I think it would not have been good at all.  Long story short, the house was clean, the kitchen spotless (thanks to John) and the kids were happy and getting PJs on.  Nothing like a drop in from a CW to make you thank your lucky stars that the CW saw happy children and a pleasant home.

7.) The twins may be leaving us within 6 months or earlier depending on how things go with their father’s progress.  Most days I don’t want to think about that and just focus on the present.  But we must prepare them and ourselves for it.  We are trying to establish a good relationship with the father as well, and hope that if the kids do go to him that he would allow us to be in their lives in some way.   This Lent is a good time to take a step back and reflect on all of this.  Hope you all are having a good Lent!

Quick Takes

1.)       We had a week of sickness in the house last week.  Thank God for Mere Mere and Mimi, who took care of the kids and brought meals when I needed to get to work and then got sick myself along with John.  After 20 minutes at work last Wednesday, I knew that I couldn’t stay a minute longer and drove home to capitulate to the 24 hour bug.  Had to pull over on the highway and again at a church parking lot to gracefully puke, if one can do that.

      2.)   Yesterday, the permanency plan meeting for the kids’ case took place.  Because of confidentiality, we can’t talk about anything that was said in the room.  However, the father (who is snowed in somewhere on a job site) and his lawyer did not answer their phones for this meeting. Everyone else managed to participate. I hope he has a very good reason for missing the call.  Please keep this in your prayers. We want the best for the kids, and we don’t think the best thing is what the CW is recommending.  We pray every night that the judge make a wise decision on 3/14 at the court hearing.

     3.)  Our niece, Maddy, is in Madama Butterfly at Kennedy Center in DC!  She auditioned with other 4 and 5 year olds for the non-speaking part of “Trouble,” Butterfly’s child.  They were looking for kids who are good listeners and who can ‘sleep’ on stage for 8 minutes or so—not easy for little kids! We are so proud of her and excited for her.  Sure wish we could see her onstage.  After her wig fitting, she looked like a little boy in a kimono.  Amazing.  Love you, Madge! 
      
     4.)  For months and months, I’ve neglected to exercise. L No more! I have to get back into running shape for a ½ marathon in June, and just for my health and sanity.  A few days of running, a few days of Zumba, and a few days of some good lifting will get me back to where I need to be.

      5.) John has finals in 2 weeks.  I cannot believe he is halfway through grad school! He does an awesome job both at school and at home.

      6.) My next home project is our small bathroom.  It really needs an update. The medicine cabinet is huge and covers part of an outlet.  There’s no good storage, and we need it in that small space. That reminds me that I never posted after photos of the main bathroom.


      7.)   I’m hoping to catch up on work this weekend.  Thank God for the VPN.  With all that’s going on, I got behind on year end reports.  It’ll all get done!

I Do, February 10, 2001: A Decade Later

Ten years married today.  10 years. Married. Today.  How in the world did John C. ever convince himself to marry Jenny M?? I sometimes still marvel at that. Most days I marvel at that.

We became friends in one of the the most romantic cities in the world-Rome during our semester abroad.  A year later in February 1997, we started dating.  A couple of break ups, a vocation search, a move to DC and the best proposal at the Lincoln Memorial later, and here we are: in WA state, a career change, some infertility, a foster parent license, and a set of twins later, in our own piece of heaven on earth.

Thank you, my dearest friend and husband, for gently nudging me towards striving to be my best, for your patience, for your humor, for your being just you who I met in a state called Texas and fell head over heels in love with 14 years ago in a country called Italy.

You are the best thing that has happened to this Florissant girl, to Little Man, Cherub and Thumbelina and Jill.  Please, don't ever change.

To paraphrase a line from "Sense and Sensibility" (John and I do not share a love of Jane Austen :) ): May I endeavor to deserve you.

Happy 10th, dearest John.

A Tale of Two Cities and Two Sacraments

Our family has been blessed to have celebrated two sacraments within a week of each other. First was Zelie who is the newest member of our family and is now a member of the family of God.  She was baptized at her new home parish on January 30! John was able to be present as her godfather.   From the photos I’ve seen it looked like such a happy and peaceful event.  I’ve been showing the twins the photos from that weekend, and every time I point to the baby, they say, “Bay-bee SAY-lee!”  She looked so sweet and beautiful in her baptismal gown, quietly sleeping as her happy parents, friends and relatives gazed down upon the little girl who has brought such joy to us all since we learned of her existence and the possibility of her joining our family.  God bless you, Zelie Yvonne.

                          Newly baptized Zelie with Mommy and Daddy.

            Zelie with Uncle Jeff, Uncle John, Mommy and Daddy (Missing are Aunt Miriam and Uncle Joe)

         Pere Pere (pronounced "Pay Pay") with his youngest granddaughter.

                        Mere Mere (pronounced "May May")

A week or so later, John’s sister, Miriam (Confirmation name Gianna) was confirmed at our beautiful parish by Bishop Eusebio Elizondo along with several other teenagers and a few adults.  Her sister Ellen, was her sponsor, but due to her new status as mom of a newborn in another state,  I honored to be Miriam’s proxy sponsor.  Miriam’s mom stood in for me at the baptism since I was home with the twins.  The family that proxies together….

Standing behind Miriam and seeing the young woman she has become made it difficult for me not to tear up. Where have the years gone?? She is a lovely, responsible, talented, fun person much beloved by her nieces and nephews, especially by two of them who melted down an hour and fifteen minutes into the confirmation Mass. Thank you, Mere Mere and Pere Pere for helping Daddy so much with the kids!

"Gianna" and the Confirmati.  She is on the far left standing next to our pastor.

                              "Gianna" (middle) and friends.

Our family now has a baby Catholic and a fully adult Catholic.  God is good.

Pampered Chef!

I don't usually post about things I'm hosting, but thought I would today.  If any readers love The Pampered Chef like I do, I'm hosting a catalog show that is open until January 31.  My close friend, Erin, is a consultant with 3 young daughters and another child on the way this summer.  So, if you'd like to add to your PC collection, go to Erin's personal website and enter my name as the host.  If you don't know my last name, comment or leave me a message and I will send it to you.

Happy MLK Day!

All Done with M.aybe Days

This morning as we were getting ready for the day, from the bathroom I spied Thumbelina in her room.  She was picking up a book and sitting down on the red toy box (of John's childhood) which is now their shoe box.  She was dressed in her little purple skirt, off white tights and brown boots with the flowers on them.  As she maneuvered herself to sit down on the red box, she picked up a book and said, "I read "M.aybe Days."

This is a book written for children in foster care.  Our twinks are only 2.5, and don't understand the gist of the book.  They enjoy the pictures and being read to.  But the book is geared toward school age kids whose questions  to their foster parents are often answered with "Maybe."

-Will I go back to my parents?
-Maybe.
-Will I stay with my foster parents?
-Maybe.


However, John and I find ourselves using the word "maybe" in our own conversations with each other.  
Maybe if the kids are still with us in March, we can get their 3 year portraits done."  
Maybe if they are with us in April, we can have their birthday party.
Maybe if we can adopt them, we should move.

So many maybes. All of these thoughts passed through my head as I finished cleaning up the bathroom and focused on the day about to start.  In my heart, I don't want their parents to fail, but also in my heart, I don't want our dearests to leave.

Then I heard Thumbelina say out loud to herself as she stood up, "All done with M.aybe Days."

Baby Girl, we are, too.