Welcome Home

After two days of travel and insanity, we finally made it home. We came home to snow and Luke has stamped out Welcome Home in the snow in the front yard. So sweet. We were welcomed home by our boys, the Johns, Baysore and Clark families. It was wonderful. The brought tons of food, gifts and tears...yes, they were all crying when we came in!!







The girls were very shy at first. I'm sure they were wondering "what in the world is going on?" They were a little clingy at first but finally got down and explored the house. The girls did NOT like our dog Truman. He is a rat terrier, so not a big scary dog. But no matter how small he was, they were scared of him. Liza would scream bloody murder. Ava would climb up your body if she was standing on the floor. It didn't take long for Ava to warm up to Tru Tru as she calls him. Now she won't leave the poor dog alone. Loves on him, kisses him and covers him up with her dolls blanket. Liza will tolerate him, won't really touch him, but they can at least be in the same room and she won't freak out.

We have such a wonderful church family. I don't think I had to cook for about a week and a half. Everyone brought us wonderful yummy food. It was so nice. I was so tired from jet lag and just emotionally exhausted, I was so grateful for help with dinners.
The girls have been home just over 6 weeks now. What a difference 6 weeks have made. They are honestly different children.
It was tough the first few weeks. Mainly, going from 3 to 5 kids, two of those being toddlers--that don't know English. Communicating with Ava was really hard the first few weeks. But she is now understanding us most of the time and she is picking up English fast. Liza is also picking it up--she just tries to repeat what Ava says.

I was really worried about Ava at first but things are so much better. She used to cry.....she would get into a "zone" and just cry and moan. It was awful and there was nothing we could do for her. She had to just work through it. I would just hold and rock her. It just broke my heart. She hasn't had one of those episodes for some time now. I guess that was her way of mourning.....
I'm a "fixer" and it just tore me up to have to watch her go through that. Liza never really cried like that, she was just very needy and wanted me to hold her at all times. Which was hard when Ava was having a break down. Believe me, we still have our moments, but they are much more spread out.

The girls have really come out of their shells and are showing their personalities. We laugh a lot at them, yes-at them. They like to perform. They love playing with their brothers and following them everywhere. Every morning Ava and I go through the same routine.....Ava: Owen? I say- he's at school. Ava; Luke? I say..he's at school too. Hannah....she's at school. Da da, he's at work. We usually go through this 3 or times before she is satisfied. Both Daddy and Luke have been home the past couple of days with the flu and she is totally confused!!!