2 week update

It has been 2 weeks since we adopted. Overall, the adjustment has gone quite well. Elijah, Faith and Mercy are continuing on at the missionary school, and I have begun some preliminary homeschooling with Polita and Nthabeleng. It is good to have a routine, but I am a little bummed that we had missed so much school during furlough, so I couldn't have them stay home for a week or two just to get time to know their new sisters better. It is really neat to see some of their similarities as they get to know each other better. Polita and Mercy do not mind cold water for swimming, but Faith and Nthabeleng did not like the cold pool AT ALL!! Mercy, Polita and Nthabeleng really love the Buddy movies (5 golden retriever puppy movies and we have 4 of them). Elijah and I made some homemade play dough and all of them enjoy making things with play dough. Mercy is running a restaurant today and Polita and I are ordering food from her little menu! Good times!
We are figuring out health stuff as there have been fevers, a sore tummy and a skin rash in the last week with Polita and Nthabeleng. Having a language barrier makes a lot of things a guessing game, but we have managed our way through most of our problems. As sad as it is for them not to be feeling well, it is a good way to get some extra cuddle time. Although, I will like cuddling more when it isn't 95 degrees in my house. I went to the store for some different skin care products today as the skin rash has become quite annoying for my littlest one, and I hope it helps. I am trying to avoid Vaseline as I feel like it clogs pores, but we will see what her skin decides.
I enjoy my days with the girls, but I am also missing everyone at Beautiful Gate. I am their primary caregiver so I need to stay clear of BG for a while in order to help their bond grow with us as well as to help the older kids not get too jealous as they wait for the day they get adopted. Our adoption ceremony will be next Thursday, and so I will get to sneak back on campus for a day.
Tomorrow is Faith's 11th birthday, so we will be having a few friends over for a birthday party. I hope that having a birthday party for their sister will not overwhelm Polita and Nthabeleng. I imagine it will feel a bit strange to see her opening presents, but hopefully they will understand better once their birthdays come along. I got them both a tiny little gift so hopefully that helps, besides not seeing Elijah or Mercy get presents :) So I guess I am saying 2 weeks in and we are doing well, and they haven't fired me yet as a mother.