It's going "Swimmingly" Well!

Fatima attended Rebekah's awards with me yesterday morning.  She was playing on my iPhone the entire time.  She somehow turned on the music and I had a hard time figuring out how to turn it off!  She loves to take pictures too.  We gave her two dolls which she named Hannah and Jessica...really?  She is always taking pictures of them with either my or Grace's phone.  When we try to take it from her she always says "one more, one more!".  I don't think she understands that concept!  I bought her some play-dough which she loves to play with.  She makes things that look like Chinese dumplings.  I pretend that I eat them and she says "NO!".

Fatima loves the pool.  It's funny, coming from a landlocked country, that she would have no worries about jumping right in. All of the kids love it.  We have been to two pool parties and it's hard to get her to leave.  Last night she and the girls went over to our friends' house while Greg and I went to a movie.  Fatima got to spend a lot of time with Sonya, another Afghan girl who can speak a little more English.  When I came to pick them up I could tell she and Sonya had been scheming.  Fatima said, "Mom, I stay the night with Sonya?".  I was kinda sad that she would  want to leave me, but I also understood her need to be around another child who spoke her language.  We didn't have the sleepover last night , but we will be planning one for her soon!

Fatima should begin her dental treatment next Friday.  The first thing she will have done is extractions and then she will need several fillings.  I know she will come away from this this experience with better oral hygiene.  She is already brushing twice a day at our house.

Blowin' in the Wind

Grace's 7th grade BBQ was today and I had to help with it.  Fatima came along and I felt so bad because I know she was bored to death, and it was so hot!  All of Grace's friends were so happy to meet Fatima and they were all saying "She's so cute!".  Once we got home we both took a nap.  Fatima slept for 4 hours!  I think she is still catching up on the time change.

Fatima and Rebekah enjoying their cupcakes.

Tonight when I walked by the girls bedroom, Rebekah and Fatima were singing a familiar tune.  I heard " How many roads must a man walk down, before you call him a man?".  I asked Rebekah where she heard that song and she told me that Fatima taught it to her!  She asked me if I had heard it before.  Well of course, Bob Dylan!  I couldn't believe she knew it!  It's hilarious to hear her sing it in her little Afghan accent.   We also learned today that she can say and sign the entire alphabet.  This girl has a few tricks up her sleeves!  We love her and are so happy to have her as part of our family, if only for a short time.  I hope to video her singing and will post it soon!

Fun Times!

On Sunday we attended our regular church service.  We were greeted by Hikmat, another Afghan girl, who was so happy to see a familiar face.  She sat with us for the service.  I know they were bored, but they colored the entire time and were very respectful.

After church we went to the mall and Fatima chose pizza for lunch.  We picked up a couple more clothing items for her and then headed home.

That evening all of the families were invited to attend a Persian dinner at All Saints Episcopal Church.  The kids were so excited to see each other.  Fatima was chasing around the little boys!  The meal consisted of several rice dishes, some beans and greens, fruit and dessert.  I was hoping Fatima would have been a little more excited about eating, but she still only chose a couple of items just to please me!  She is a tiny little thing.  She weighs about 55 pounds and is almost 11 years old!  We will have to fatten her up a bit.

Today is pretty mild.  Cole got his braces off so I let him stay home from school, so Fatima and I went to Target and she got an Icee and popcorn.  I painted her nails hot pink (her choice), and she dressed her doll in a new outfit that we got at Target.  We are about to pick up Grace and that will make her very happy.  She LOVES her sisters.  They are getting along super!

Tetanus Shots Hurt!

Today Fatima enjoyed a visit from two of her Afghan friends, Somaiya and Husnia, while Grace and Bekah were at dance rehearsal.  She enjoyed showing them her room, bed, toys, etc.  They were so cute together, talking and laughing.  Fatima really wanted them to jump on the trampoline, but they did not like it!

We later went for her medical screening.  The pediatrician spoke Persian so she was able to communicate with Fatima and find out what health history she could.  Everything checked out well.  When they tried to get her to sit on the table she stood on it and we all laughed, including her.  She is so funny!  She didn't know what we were trying to get her to do, poor thing!  The worst part was the tetanus shot.  When the doctor said that they were giving it to all of the kids for precautionary reasons, Grace heard this and said, " I don't want a shot!".  I told her they weren't talking about her!  She was relieved and then began to tell Fatima it was no big deal.  I have to laugh because Grace is the biggest wimp when it comes to shots or medicine-taking.  Well they injected her with the shot and she cried her first tears since she arrived.  It made me feel so bad.  She didn't talk on the ride home and we couldn't get her to smile or laugh.  She went straight to her bed when we got home and fell fast asleep.  She's okay now.  I hope we don't have to torture her anymore.  She knows the word doctor and moans when she hears it!

Tonight the girls are enjoying a relaxing evening together.  Bekah says she fits right in with them.  I am so glad!

Dental and Vision

Yesterday Rebekah stayed home from school for some much needed rest.  She was going to stay in bed until Fatima asked her, in her own way, to go to the dentist with her.  Bekah was beaming and so excited that she asked her to go!  We had an appointment with Dr. Mullens, who happens to be my kids' dentist, at 9:30.  She did awesome!  Unfortunately she has some major dental issues.  We will have many appointments ahead of us I'm sure!  We met with some other host families at Granada Park for a few minutes of fun time before everyone had to venture off to their vision appointments.  Fatima has perfect eyes!  Yay!  Several people have commented on how different she looks from the other visiting children.  Her eyes are a little more "Asian" looking.  This is just because of the different region where she is from.  While we were in Avondale for the eye appointment, we were directed to several other local businesses who so graciously gave out goodie bags to the kids and a free cupcake from Let Them Eat Cake!  When Fatima ate that she said "Yummy!"

Last night the kids got together with some other host families and their girls and they had a blast!  I couldn't go because of a previous engagement, but Greg said that the girls disappeared and he didn't see them all evening.  He just heard lots of laughter.  My girls told me that Fatima was so much fun.  She finally showed her true self and they loved her even more.  They said she is so funny.  I am so happy things are going so great so far!

Thank you for your comments.  It lets me know we are not in this alone and I really appreciate hearing from you!

Our First Day Together

Fatima and the group arrived in Jacksonville at around 1:30am on June 2nd.  It was a very emotional welcoming. All of the host families were gathered together, anxiously awaiting their arrival, and when they finally came walking down that long hallway toward us, you couldn't help but beam with tears.  They all looked so scared, but Fatima had a big smile on her face.  We went over to her and embraced her with a welcoming hug which was well-received.  We were all so tired and the drive home was a quiet one.  Rebekah couldn't stop crying for worrying about Fatima's feelings.  We all got into bed at around 2:30, but I don't think I actually fell asleep until much later.

We awoke early the next morning (4 hours later) and got Bekah to school because she was performing twice in a play that day.  She was still crying at drop off, but I was told that she did a fabulous job with her part.  Meanwhile I taught Fatima some of the basics of hygiene and dressing and then she, Grace and I headed out to her first appointment which was for her lab work. She got to have her first poptart because, as usual in our house, we were running too late for a sit-down breakfast! She did great at her appointment!  We then took her to Wal-mart to buy her a few necessities then ate at Wendy's.  She ate a burger, but picked the skin off of the fries!  Okay, so now we are totally exhausted.  We picked Bekah up early from school and brought her home to sleep and the rest of us had about an hour to relax before our interpreter visit.  AJ arrived at our house at around 2:30 and we spent an hour with him asking him a million questions to ask Fatima.  He patiently asked her everything we wanted to know and she shyly responded to most everything.  We dropped AJ at his next appointment and returned home for a few more moments of rest before we headed out to see the night time performance of Rebekah's play.  She did great yet again, but burst into tears right after.  This girl is tired and overwhelmed with emotions!  We finally got to go home and sleep the entire night and it was great!

Fatima, Cole, Grace, Bekah and Me

The girls have their signs ready!

Here they come!

Fatima is doing so great so far!  She has not shed a tear and is always smiling.  From what I am hearing from some of the other host families, we are very fortunate that she is not crying.  Others are not having such a great experience so far, but I am sure time will change that!  I have so much more to write but I am going to save it for later. Thanks for reading!

Still Waiting......

As I sit here at the computer sipping my Starbucks to stay awake, I see there is yet another delay in the flight that was supposed to arrive at midnight.  The new arrival time is estimated at 1:15, but that could change, as it has already 2 or 3 times!  I know those poor little children must be exhausted after over 50 hours of travel.  My own children are starting to fizzle out.  They have been so excited, wearing their Solace t-shirts and pajama bottoms, raring to go. (Not Cole, of course.  He's playing video games in the next room!)  As soon as we see that the flight has departed, we will leave for the airport.

Rebekah set out a few stuffed animals on Fatima's bed and she told me "only the nice ones, no lions or anything scary".  She is so sweet!  I hope Fatima can sleep once she arrives.  I worry about how scared she will feel in a strange house with people she will have known for only moments.  Will I be able to sleep?

Check Facebook soon.  I am sure we will document the arrival.  We can't wait!!!