Today was another "on the go" day, and Michel rolled along great with everything. We started the day with dental visits for several of her traveling companions. Michel did not have an appointment, but I was called to interpret for five other kids' appointments. Thanks to Davidson Family Dentistry for seeing the Kidsave kids yesterday! All of the staff were kind, courteous, and professional with the kids. Michel hung out in the waiting room with our kids. We came prepared with books, games, and lunch, and they kept themselves entertained for over two hours. Michel enjoyed seeing her friends while they were waiting for the dental appointments.
After the dentist, we took Michel for her inaugural visit to Costco. She said there is a similar store in Colombia and wondered if it might even be the same chain. (A little bit of Google homework tells me that she's may be referring to PriceSmart, a similar company with the same roots at Costco.) She loved all the samples and was willing to try every single one...although I don't think she'll be trying spinach dip again anytime soon. I think she beats everyone in our family for her willingness to sample new foods.
Michel and I played one game of Phase Ten this afternoon - her latest favorite. Any of you who have played Phase Ten know that it can take a loooooong time to get through all the phases. Michel has found that it's easy to play just a hand or two when we have some down time, then pick up where we left off the next time we play. She was so animated when she beat me today! As soon as Mike got home from work, she engaged him in another round of Phase 10. I think there may be a few games we send home with her to enjoy with the other kids in her foster home. They bring her so much joy!
A friend came over for dinner last night with her two boys. Her six-year-old son spent the whole car ride en route to our house practicing, "Me llamo Tyler." ("My name is Tyler.") He's not crazy about our dog, so after he ran to the kitchen table and climbed on a chair to get out of the dog's reach, I heard a little voice say, "Hola. Me llamo Tyler." Huge thanks to Megan for the new purse for Michel - she will love keeping her treasures in it. Up until now, she's been stashing little items in her lunch bag when we go places - notebook, pencils, markers, etc. I had to explain the silica gel packet at great length though - she was a little confused that I was throwing away part of her gift! I let her keep the paper stuffing from the purse, but the "DO NOT EAT" packet had to go.
Michel loved having a little one here last night (my friend's two-year-old son). I think she probably played with him more than the big kids! She followed him around throughout the night, trying to engage him in games and offering toys and hugs. Once he warmed up to the attention, I don't think he minded too much. Michel enjoyed trying to decipher his toddler-ese English.
Bedtime was late, but once Michel changed into pajamas and brushed her teeth, she settled down well. She spotted a copy of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" in Spanish on my bookshelf. She read one board book to the boys in English and Spanish, with Andrew assisting her on pronunciation, and then she read the chapter book on her own, while snuggled into bed with me and the boys. She said she has seen the movie version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. She must have enjoyed the book, because she kept reading long after I tucked two sleeping boys into their beds!
I'm not sure how to put this without sounding terrible, so I'll just jump in. In all the required training sessions before we hosted Michel this summer, we heard about lots of various hosting and adoptive parenting scenarios. In the online in-person training, we learned about the challenges that could come up while hosting. I hesitate to even bring this up, because I don't want to scare anyone off from hosting or adopting, but we learned about food issues and sleep problems and behavior challenges and attachment disorders. I admit - I loved the training, because it offered so many practical solutions to address the challenges that could arise. But after more than two weeks, we have seen...nothing. Mike and I have worked to foster positive attachment with Michel, but honestly, it has been easy with her. She smiles, she plays, she easily engages with all members of our family. I looked at her today, laughing hysterically as she ran through the house with our kids and the dog, and I thought, "She's a happy kid." No child is perfect (nor any adult, for that matter), but in our experience thus far, Michel is a kid who adapts easily, laughs readily, and wants to connect with the people around her. If you watch her play, you can't help but think she is one happy kid.
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