Summer of HOPE w/ Juliet & Jaymark:
First, the KEY:
Jlt = Juliet
Jmk = Jaymark
JJ is both of them
Jny = Johnny
and
I'm deb
They are up and showered & bathed & dressed by 6:00 a.m. AND playing quietly when I got there at 7 a.m. Later in the day, Juliet will tell us that Jaymark, after being told he couldn't sleep with Juliet, crawled under her bed to sleep after he got up in the middle of the night, probably to go to the bathroom. All I had to do was ask them to where sneakers (tennis shoes) or shoes that covered their toes and they do as I ask immediately but when they come down to breakfast at 7:30, they are both in other clothes.✼✽✾❀. Oh, well, I really did like what they had on at first, and told them so. This will happen for the next 2 days, too.Today, they go up to Lion's Ridge for the day with Johnny, Nicole and Craig Blockey. I want to work in the garden, but I end up at a specialty dentist who charges me $75 for not finding anything wrong, after being referred by the family dentist. Grrr. By the time I am cleaned up in the kitchen, it is time to go to the dentist, then I drive all over town looking for a booster seat for Jaymark because he is so small. I looked at Sacks, salvation army, New2U, and then came home. The one excuse I got is they don't take them in because they have no way of knowing which ones where recalled, so it is safer not to handle them. I drop a note to Pastor Chip about needing a booster seat, he sends out a note to church body, and 5-6 persons respond right away and we have a booster seats to choose from. Then Johnny comes home with one ! Lots of help with that---all so greatly appreciated everyone ---THANKS !!
Lion's Ridge Trip, which is a trip to a camp in the mountains & where they play on a ropes course, play games, take a hike and do a variety of outdoor activities. When they get home, Johnny mentions that Jaymark has trouble keeping his mind on one activity, listening to instructions, and staying on task. I think it is normal for a child who only understands some english, is so young, has had trauma in his life (as he has had many) and is exposed to so much at once. He is interested in many things at home too, but eventually he finds his favorite thing(s) to do. I guess he seems like he is doing well considering --- but maybe I am just looking at it from a Preschool Teacher perspective.
Johnny also mentions what a wonderful drawer of flowers Juliet is --- I haven't seen this aspect yet. Good news. He doesn't think of grabbing the picture and saving it as I would so I have no proof, but I find a picture some one else has taken. (Thanks Nicole !) Jaymark seems to be hyper active according to the guys at the ridge, with low attention span. BUT, I ask if they had a good day, and it seems, that they had a GREAT DAY !! They tried all kinds of new things like hiking & a ropes course, they stayed safe. Good enough for me on day 3 of their time in a very different country !
Right now, the Doll house is the favorite toy in the house. Jaymark does try cars for a while, but prefers the dollhouse with Juliet. Later on, when I show him a pirate ship, he gets all excited, but only plays with it a few days. They will meee their favorite thing this evening.
Evening:
Spagetti tonight, with lots of vegies in the sauce (it is how I always make it) and they eat well. After dinner, we walk down they alley to meet our pastor---he isn't there, but the boys are, so we get a bigger bike for Juliet. My extra bike is too big and the one we found for Jaymark is too small. This extra bike from the Pastor's family is just right for her ! She takes off riding on her own and does pretty well. Wow ! Jmk is running down street after her yelling in his language and laughing. Fun scene sketched in my mind forever. Thanks YOU Zabrowski's !!
I go to work in the garden out front so I can see her riding, and as Jlt rides by she is yelling, "Tia, tia I riding !!!" How proud she was that night ! I cheer her on and laugh as Jmk is running as fast as he can to keep up with her !! What a big cause for celebration !!! Everyone is smiling.
I try and dig a hole in the ground for a plant, and Jmk wants to help. I show him how. Pretty soon it is too dark and we all go in.
It has been a big day for first's. They tried alot of new things. They eat all they take. They didn't like my putting hummus on their sandwiches for lunch, but after it is scraped off, they do better at eating their lunch. Sorry guys ! I thought you might like it. Juliet starts helping by washing the dishes at the sink and clearing the table. So wonderful.
They are such wonderful kids !! BUT, off for a bath now, clean teeth, a book, prayers and beds.
Jmk is again crying, and I sit with him and rub his back for a long time. I go & get Johnny and Jmk hides from him. Johnny just tries to assure him that he is safe & will protect him from any harm. At different times through out the month they will express both fear of Johnny and complete love for him, on & off, as it was the father that was harmful to them & their mother. At times, Juliet will actually flirt with Johnny and prefer him to me, and then another day she will avoid him and choose to be closer to me.
Yipes, another late night !
For more photos, see:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2033896&id=1053788011&l=5afd94d9c1
