"New Sisters"

Annie has informed us numerous times that she has "new sisters". She is both elated and overwhelmed by this new twist in her life.

Today, she and Emie were playing on the little boys' playset upstairs...going up the ladder and down the slide over and over again. She excitedly turned to me and exclaimed, "chase," with a huge smile on her face. :)

She also gets very quiet and sometimes sad when they cry or have a tantrum. She is afraid to sleep with them in the little girls room. For now though, Emie and Katie have such a hard time settling down to sleep its almost simpler to have them separate. I look forward to when they are altogether though.

And, Annie has also been picking up Russian! Often, if I am calling her sisters to come or telling them to sit down or stay (all in Russian), she confidently and very bossy-like imitates me and tells them the same!

Thank you for all your encouraging comments on the previous posts. I feel better than even a week ago. Yesterday, for the first time in 3 weeks I wanted to take pictures of all the girls together. We have a long ways to go in the adjustment department but I know it will come.

And thank you to all of my wonderful friends who have been making us meals, doing our laundry, taking my older kids places and watching my younger children while I run errands. (Lee and I actually went out for a date Friday night! - thanks to the G's and my sister!) You have all been grace and mercy to me.

Thank you Laura, for helping me buy gates at Wal-Mart and arranging almost all of the above! What would I do without you right now. What an amazing friend you are!

And huge hugs to my sisters who came (from 100's of miles) to help this past week and weekend. I know you wiped more faces, hands and little bums than you have in years! Your presence helped bring back some of my sanity. I love you both so dearly!

Depression is a weird thing - you lose all perspective on life. Nothing looks like it really is but even though you know you're not seeing things accurately it doesn't change until you get better. I have felt some of my perspective returning. Thanks to all of you for praying for me. Thank you Jesus.