Interrogation a Success

We woke this morning with wonder in how the day would go. Jessica didn’t want to get out of bed, which is unusual. I think she was just afraid. Once we finally got her to get up she refused to wear her dress. So we let her put on whatever clothes she wanted so she could come to breakfast and eat before we had to leave. She was perfectly happy through breakfast and Eric reiterated to them what today would hold and just what it meant. After breakfast she finally did put on her dress to be dressed up with the rest of us. Joaquin, my little Latino, decided he looked awful handsome in just his white undershirt and slacks. So we took his dress shirt with us in hopes he would get cold and want it on.

When we pulled up to ICBF Jessica was very excited to get out of the car and into the building. Joaquin agreed to put on his shirt, but it only lasted about 2 minutes. He took it back off and gave a little strut to show off his “bad” self. When we walked thru the hallways they both ran straight to the room we met them in, which was not where we were supposed to go. We told them we had to go to a different room, but at that point something caught their eye. We had to pry them away from the window. As it turns out there was a family in that room meeting their little boy, the little boy they knew from La Maria, their orphanage. They were calling his name and wanting to see him. Once the family was finished in the room Jessica and Joaquin called the little boys name and played with him for a few minutes. He was only a little over a year old.

We had to wait our turn for almost an hour, it was a long wait because Jessica and especially Joaquin were WOUND UP!!! I have never seen them so wound up, it was just nervous energy. However during that time Joaquin did pick me a very lovely pink flower (oops, not supposed to pick the ICBF flowers) and said, this is for you, my Mami, and gave me a big kiss. Look out girls, my little Latino has the moves. I have started calling him my little Latino (not to him, but in my mind) he has some jigs and moves only a Latino could have.



So when it was our turn we all gathered around the table. Of course Joaquin had to chi chi (pee pee) so we sat around the table in a little file room waiting for the potty boy to come back. When he came back he was still wound tight, climbing on the table, under the table, Jessica unloading and reloading her purse and counting every item. Just simply nervous energy. The ICBF social worker ended up not taking the kids into another room. My personal opinion is that the social worker was afraid she couldn’t handle them by herself and was thinking if this crazy family can put up with this, well, just let them have them. In the end we were just laughing at the kids, and the social worker noted she knew it was just nervousness coming out in them.

They did ask Emilee and Nate how things have been, and they both said not so fun in the beginning but it’s much better now. When they asked Joaquin if he was happy and how it was going here is what he said, “A few nights ago a monster came in the room and the whole family was scared, but dad did “something’ and now it’s all okay.” I about lost it. When they asked Jessica if she was happy she said, “No,” but had a big smile on her face and started giggling, then quickly said “Yes, Yes, Yes.” That little stinker. I think it was pretty obvious that everyone was happy, but they did ask us if we had any questions and if we wanted to continue with the process. We went around the table and each person said “yes.” Of Course.



When we finally got in the car to leave, Joaquin was sitting in the back with Emi and Nate. He asked if he could come up and sit on my lap…can I hear an “ahhhhh.” Jessica was so exhausted from the whole ordeal that she zonked for about 5 minutes on Papi’s lap. Oh I forgot to mention that on the way there Jessica was quizzing the cab driver and Andres if they were going to be part of the family too or if they were just friends. It was cute. Anyway, once we pulled on our street where Zuetana is, Joaquin started yelling at Andres, who was driving, “right here, stop, it’s right here.” He recognized where we are staying and was glad to be back “home.”

Andres, our driver, he's the best


When we got back they started playing, different than they have this whole week. They played soccer with the other kids, which they haven’t done before. They were laughing and having a great time. It was like they finally felt at home. It was different I tell you, something was different. I think it’s finally starting to sink in and they are making themselves at home. This may sound awful, but for the first time since we got them, this morning I finally felt in my heart the sense of all 6 of us as family. I’ve read about others who say it takes some time for that to click, and I think it clicked in all of us, just this morning. Even Emilee said she could see something different in their eyes.




We ate lunch, well we tried to eat. You couldn’t even cut the meat, let alone chew it. How much are we paying to eat here anyway??? We did get soup with lunch and Joaquin said he didn’t like it. Jessica was sure to tell him they have had this soup at La Maria and to eat it. This was the first time they have mentioned La Maria all week. So they mentioned it once when they saw the little boy at ICBF and once at lunch. Then after lunch was time for a siesta. Joaquin really does need a nap, not Jessica, but defiantly Joaquin. Jessica knows she doesn’t have to sleep, but she has to lay down in her bed and quietly play. This has been no problem really, until today when she decided to be stubborn and pitch a fit about it. Of course Eric took care of it, he is much more stubborn than her if needed, and she knows it. Eric said he felt like some of this was spiritual, and I agree. It lasted for a bit and then she decided it was time to be her sweet self again. Hopefully she gets over this before Eric has to come home. I can analyze the issue and behavior but he is better at dealing with it. By the end of the night she had about 4 good fits today. I am too tired, mentally and physically to re live it by journaling. I do want to remember everything, but this behavior is really wearing on us, all of us, even Joaquin. The last fit just ended and she is now asleep, but she screamed so loudly at the top of her lungs that it woke Joaquin up and he was holding his ears.

It's not all fun and games


Anyway, so after nap time we went to Mimo’s for ice cream before dinner. We were starved after not eating a good lunch. There was a small play area there, so they played a bit then we hit the grocery store for some snacks. We got back in time to play a bit before dinner and deal with a fit or two. It’s taxing, it really is, you do what you can to stand your ground and analyze the root of the situation, but in the end you have to be sure they know you love them and it’s all going to be okay.

General note, just so I don’t forget. It seems that brothers and sisters here call each other mi hermano or mi hermana (my brother, my sister), then sometimes tag the specific name on the end. For example, Joaquin says mi hermana Jessica all the time, when he is referring to her. I’ve heard of other kids from here doing that too. Nothing major, just kind of interesting and I don’t want to forget it.

Okay, now let me end with a funny Joaquin story. Here at Zuetana at the front desk they keep candy, wrapped mints to give people to welcome them etc. Well they keep a refill stash behind the counter where the front desk person sits. The kids can’t really reach the top of the counter, but have figured out where the stash is. Any time someone is at the gate and needs in the push a button which rings inside 3 times. You can hear it throughout the little complex. So Joaquin has figured out that when the bell rings 3 times, the front desk person leaves their station to open the gate and if he hurries he can run behind the counter and get a few pieces of candy in his hand before the person comes back to their post. It doesn’t matter what he is doing, the bell will break his concentration and he takes off running for the front desk. Sneaky little latino!

Ok, I can’t resist, just one more story. The other night at dinner Joaquin burped and without thinking, in less than a split second, he points across the table at Nate and says “Nate!“ to blame Nate. It may not be as funny in print, but in person, we all cracked up. So now every time he burps he blames it on someone and laughs. It’s the look on his face that makes us laugh.

I have pics from Mimo’s but I am just to tired to do any more.
Good night.