Here we are. In our home exactly 12 days from when we touched down in Vancouver with our two new girls. It's been tough, almost impossible, to find the time and sanity to sit down and update this blog with everything that's been going on. The past week has been just crazy but here's a brief re-cap.I won't go into the crazy details behind the Nightmare In Frankfurt -- that consisted of Gunther and I chasing Yuli and Fana around the airport trying to pin them down for 5 minutes to just sit still and relax. For 6 hours they bounced off of every wall in Terminal B, despite several attemps to color, watch videos, etc. They were like two animals that had been let out of the cage and it was insane.
And I really can't re-live the episode of "Yuli and Fana Terrorize the Airways" Gunther and I owe about 350 people, from first class to the back of the plane a big thank you (and several drinks) for enduring the screams, shrieks and shrills for almost 9 hours (of course they slept through the landing into Vancouver). It was the most trying experience Gunther and I could have imagined. The girls were just FREAKED out...but we got through it and actually managed to meet a lot of really nice and understanding people. For this we are so grateful because it was a NIGHTMARE!
In retrospect, we should have probably stayed a bit longer in Sofia to just spend along time with them to transition time. They may have been freaked out a bit less if we had. As much as we are SO happy to be home quickly, it was a tougher way to go.
Our first week 10 days home has been been nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster, filled with love and kisses, amazing family moments and the full gamut of transitioning that is part of this whole adoptive process. The first night I spent 8 hours (of course night hours) going toe to toe with Yuli testing every boundary conceiveable in our home. After spending the last week battoning down the hatches and putting every item that a 5 year old could break, throw, eat, etc. out of arms reach...we have finally arrived at a state of calm and peace. I think that the clouds have begun to part and we can actually see the light of what's to come. I never thought that a five year old could push me to the brink like she has but it's in the past, at least for today.
The emotional duress that Gunther and I have felt over the past 12 days is probably nothing compared to what these girls are probably going through. To think they've been plucked from the only life they've ever known, limited if not absent in love, nourishing and unconditional love, into the wonderland that we consider our new home...I can't blame them for pushing the boundaries to ensure that we're the real deal.
Today -- Yuli had her first haircut and we took them down to English Bay for a hot dog (which they loved) and chased the birds, played on the beach, etc. Yesterday, we visited Daddy in his office for the first time and their amazement at standing at a floor to ceiling window on the 17th floor looking down over the city was something to witness -- they were fascinated. Actually, every new experience, the expressions on their faces are of complete wonder. What must be going through their heads.
They love being out and about, but home time is still the toughest...they continue to push the boundaries over and over and over again, especially Yuli. They are 5 after all...combined with the fact that this is all so new. They are naturally curious and interested in touching, tasting, smelling and feeling everything...and I mean everything...
Each of these girls is so unbelievably unique...you can't believe it. Here are some highlights:
Yuli crawls into bed with us every night at around 3 a.m. She puts my hair behind my ears and rubs my cheeks and then kisses me on the lips. She then falls asleep next to me.
Fana aka "chompers" shows her affection sometime with her teeth. We hope she grows out of this phase...the doctors tell us as she settles, the biting will stop. We all have the battle wounds so beware. She is already biting way, way less...unfortunately this is how she communicates sometimes when she's over-stimulated.Yuli already has about 20 English words...she is incredibly bright and smart...sometimes too smart for her own good. Her favorite words are I Love You and Momma...which she says about 2000 times a day.
Fana likes to pull her pants down...coming through the security in Frankfurt she just ripped her pants down...and the guard in a very German accent said "i didn't ask her to do that" and blushed. Gunther and I laughed our heads off!
Yuli likes to sing Bulgarian children's folk tunes to her daddy...and she puts her hands on her hips and sways side to side or bounces on our couch as she does. Gunther is starting to sing along with her in Bulgarian.
If you touch Fana's food....she shrieks like a mad person.
Momma does the morning and is with them all day long (with some great friends to help!) and , daddy does the bath and bed...this works well for all of us big time. Every night, it's food (I've mastered Moussaka which they love), bath and they pass out in from of the fireplace with us and we carry them to bed. We'll get them used to falling asleep in their own beds eventually when we can communicate. For now, this just works.
Fana likes to sit in any kind of box or bag...suitcase, shoebox, anything she can plant her butt in.
Gunther and I have watched ABC All-Stars about 42 times but they love it and are quiet, so we love it even more.
We've had the most unbelievable help over the past 12 days from our amazing family and such great friends...I can't say enough how you all saved us from going slightly nutbar. This is the hardest thing we've ever endeavored and we know it's just going to get better with time, with the obvious trials and tribs of parenthood.
This transition process of bringing an orphan into the home is the ultimate test of patience for all involved. Now that we see the glimmer of some peace and comfort with them, I'm glad we went through it (o.k. not glad, perhaps relieved) and even happier it's somewhat behind us. They're amazing girls and the tide is turning!
I'm going to try and keep this blog updated with our progress...may it keep moving forward!
In the meantime, thank you for your blessing and support!!!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO,
Gunther, Cheryl, Yuli, Fana (and cats, Frankie and JJ too)
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