Being a Weenie

HG is being a weenie. She has been a real pistol since yesterday afternoon. I'm not sure if she is extra tired (she did take a nap this morning at 10:30 a.m. for 1 hour and we got up at 8 a.m.), if she isn't feeling well, or if she is just being a weenie. Since we have little communication, it's hard to know. A lady at the pool yesterday told me how she thought I was so patient. I told her I didn't think so and perhaps if she saw me today, she would reconsider that comment. I didn't lose my cool with any of the kids today, but I know I was a little on edge with them all. After dinner tonight, we all watched the first 1/2 of "Evan Almighty." HV and HM selected that one. HM asked HV if she thought HG wanted to watch that one. HV replied that there was no way for us to know for sure since she doesn't talk to us yet. I'm ready for her to talk to us--NOW!

Some people have asked if I think we will have attachment problems with HG. I think that anytime you have a kid that has been raised in an orphanage/institutional setting for 4 years, you are going to have challenges. I don't think, however, that we will have PROBLEMS with attaching. While there are days like today when I am antsy and want/need something to do or feel productive, I know that the time I have here with all of the girls is so priceless. Aside from going to the bathroom by myself on occasion and taking a shower by myself on occasion, HG has been with me 24/7 for the last almost 4 weeks. I think she NEEDS that time. We sleep together. We shower together (I typically, however, take 2 showers per day and so I do typically get 1 by myself). We eat together. We walk together. I carry her on my back when we go far distances. You get it--we're together all of the time. I think that this is so important for her and her bond/attachment to us. Bonding and attaching take time. Lots of time. I am encouraged, however, to see her come to me for comfort, be selective in allowing other people to hold her (typically it's only for about 1-3 minutes and then she wants me again), calling for HV and HM when she can't find them, and her desire to be around me/the girls. To me, those things are all a start to forming a healthy relationship and attachment. Will there be days when she's being a weenie? Yep. There are days when I'm being a weenie. Will there be days that are more challenging that others? Yep to that one too. I know, however, that I'm doing what I'm supposed to do right now with my 3 girls. The whole thing is challenging, but it's good.