Getting to know you...

It’s really fun getting to know Prisca and Wildarne. They are amazing little girls. Their personalities are a little different from what I had expected. I thought you might like to hear a little bit about them and our transition.

Prisca is the older sister, but you might think she was the younger one. She’s definitely a “performer” and she gets silly when she is the center of attention. She likes to sing songs and dance. She and Fritzie play really well together, and of course, she and her sister Wildarne, are thick as thieves. Prisca is very active and likes to run and jump and play.

You would probably think Wildarne is the shy one when you first meet her. That’s what I thought. It’s not true. She takes a little time to warm up to people but then she’s WIDE open. Which is funny, because you don’t expect her to be so crazy. She’s very much a little girl and she and Nia get along splendidly. Yesterday we took a walk to the beach and she and Nia came home with their fists bulging with “treasures” they found… shells, rocks, beach glass, flowers, plastic silverware that had been discarded. When they got home they set all their treasures up and made a tea party. I tried to make sure they weren’t really putting the stuff in their mouths, cause I am not too keen on them picking up typhoid as one of their treasures, but I can’t be sure they didn’t. It was very sweet and girly.

Both girls are basically healthy, but we’re still trying to clear up Wildarne’s head fungal infection. I am excited for her because this weekend Nahomie is buying some fake hair to give her a weave. : ) I will be sure to post pics. Nahomie also speculates that Wildarne has worms. Wildarne doesn’t eat well and is VERY skinny. VERY. I can easily wrap my thumb and middle finger around her upper arm. We’re treating her and hoping that this plus good nutrition will fatten her up. She also has an umbilical hernia that we’re going to look into having repaired. I hope this isn't too personal of information for me to be sharing, but I am looking for options... I am trying to figure out how to procure a large supply of Pull-ups for nights, as she's still a bed-wetter. I priced them out in Port Au Prince last week and they were 899 gourdes for 20 pullups. Which is about $21.00US. Crazy. Right now I am using diapers for her, but am trying to think of solutions to perhaps offer her a bit more dignity. Anyone have any suggestions?

Nick and I have commented that Fritzie has really blossomed since the little girls came. SHE LOVES THEM. As I mentioned previously, she’d lived with them for the past two years prior to moving in with us, so she’s very used to them. She’s incredibly nurturing with them and an EXCELLENT big sister—anticipating many of their needs. It’s very endearing. She’s going to be an excellent mother one day.

So far things are really going well. We love having these three girlies as a part of our family. The Mangine kiddies (Nia, Nico and Josiah) are really rolling with it and seem to be thriving having the other kids to play with. Nia's Kreyol has EXPLODED. We’re trying to figure out how to be intentional about making special time for our three “Mangine” kids. So far our working plan for family time alone is on Thursday mornings when the other kids are at school. Sonlight curriculum has a 4 day option or a 5 day option and we use the 4 day option and take off Thursdays. It’s been working well.

Our house is NEVER QUIET. Even if the kids are playing outside there is always a faint giggling or chattering to be heard.

I love it.