A few pix, in chronological order. Now with backstories!

 

After 2 hours of receiving information about the kids, regarding everything the foster parents thought we should know to 2 pages of questions we had thought to ask, they handed the kids over. Isaac had been screaming in the background for 30 minutes of it (clearly he knew something was up), Madelyn was just clinging to her guh-guh (older brother).  Between the time change, the excitement, and the abject terror, I don't think I recall a word of the advice.

Theresa in the new standard position with Isaac. Isaac has a huge appetite (leaving home without snacks is tantamount to declaring war) which is good because his weight had plateaued, but his height had continued to increase for the past 4 months. His foster mother said that he was eating poorly for the past few weeks, perhaps because he sensed the regime change.

He's happy because he is in his highchair and knows that food's a comin'. That is his security blanket which he hold and smells while sucking his thumb when nervous. It's really cute.

It's undoubtedly a sign of normalcy, but the hardest thing for me thus far has been seeing Madelyn grieve for the loss of her foster family.  We spend 1-2 hours per day with her crying and me comforting her (she won't go to T yet, particularly during these times).  The first night, she cried and cried for her Mama and her Guh-guh.  This is challenging in a 2 room hotel with 2 toddlers!  After I initially had tried to put her down, about 30 minutes later we heard a thunk, and she was standing by herself in one corner of the room just crying and sobbing to herself.  She would also keep crying out (Aye-Ei Guh-guh (she calls herself Aye-Ee). 
One thing she does not do (yet) is throw tantrums.  Bath time is traumatic and there is constant crying, but she will continue to cooperate with the removal of clothes and putting on of pajama's, all while continuing to sob. 

At last, Madelyn's elusive smile caught on CCD! Thanks to the Agora Gardens finest chefs!