The week that changed our lives...

Monday 3.12.12
We are here. It has been such a long journey to get here but we made it! This weekend was very strange. We kept saying... this is the last time for a while that we will... eat out alone...book into a nice hotel...go shopping as just 2...    it was very strange! But wonderful. The past 11 years have been amazing. It would be so easy to see them as a struggle, time we could have been a family, time lost. But we know the good that has come from this. A strong marriage and friendship strengthened by time and facing difficult things together, time to understand each other, and a real appreciation of what we have.

9am
So today we meet you. We are staying in a cottage nearby and looking forward to seeing you sooooo much! We hope you are up and about now. You will be having your breakfast and getting dressed like us. We can't imagine what it will be like to touch you, hear your voice, see your smile and play with you.

We are going to come and see you at lunch time. We are nervous too! We hope it all goes well and you don't cry too much!!! Today is a day we will never forget for the rest of our lives xx

10pm
We were thrilled to meet you today. We were pleased that you were happy, even if you are full of cold! You made the day very special, and we loved playing with you. You were dancing, hitting balloons and filling bags with bricks! Very special to get cuddles and smiles.

We are praying for you and look forward to seeing you again tomorrow. We have bought extra wet wipes and tissues just in case! See you in the morning. Sleep tight xx

Tuesday 4.12.12
Last night was strange too! Talking about the events of the day and feeling a sense of excitement about seeing them again. We can see how you focus shifts as they bring such joy to the room! We are just praying for the attachment to grow now from both sides. That we would all have a growing sense of our link to one another, and that we would build up trust so that we begin to become a unit. Please pray too for a smooth transition from the foster family to us. It is lovely to see them together, and we know the move will be hard, but so far we have known a great peace, and want that to continue. As we get closer to the time to go home, may they know they are safe and be ready to come with us.

8:30am
We are excited about seeing you today. We look forward to having lunch with you and playing games. We hope your cough is getting better! We are hoping to see you smile when we come in; maybe you remember who we are!? We are having a quiet breakfast looking out on the fields. Don't think your breakfast will be as peaceful! See you soon xx

9pm
A great day of playing games! It was great to just hang out today and see your cheeky side. We played with sock puppets, danced to music and ate cheese sandwiches. Good fun! We put you down for a nap and were there when you woke up. After popping out we came back and had some nice cuddles. You shared your chocolate, held hands and waved when we said goodbye so you could have your tea. We will be up early tomorrow to see you and give you breakfast. Sweet dreams! xx

Wednesday 5.12.12
We were very tired last night! Emotions and years of waiting take their toll! We are so pleased that so far things are going well. They are smiling, happy and relaxed in our company. She is a bit more cautious still, and will hopefully relax more as each day goes by. He is happy to play and happy to cuddle! We are going out and about today. Adventure at the play centre!

7am
We are coming to see you early, to get you up and dressed and go out to play. We hope your coughs are better and you are feeling up for some time out of the house. We have plenty of wet wipes! We look forward to getting closer to you and seeing your smiles. We will stay for lunch too and then pop out. A busy day ahead!

9pm
Today was really nice. It was great to get out and about with you and play. We saw you smiling and playing, and it was lovely to be there early in the morning and get you up. We fed you milk and breakfast, got you dressed and enjoyed filling bags with toys- again! We also woke up to snow, and you were keen to see and touch it. You liked feeling the cold and dropping the snow on the floor. We fed you lunch and danced around the lounge when  you were tired! We watched 'copters out of the window and then said good bye. Apart from the car breaking down, it was a lovely day! See you in the morning. Sleep tight xx

Thursday 6.12.12
A full day ahead where we get to have the children at our place. Should be nice to have them and feel relaxed, doing things slowly. Need to get the car fixed too!

10pm
A very full but fun day! You came to us at 10 and we played with toys and bags. You settled quickly and had a snack. We went out to the see the sheep next door but it was very cold so we weren't out long. We had lunch just the four of us and you were tired. Just as the social worker arrived you went to sleep, one in the cot and one on us! It was lovely, and a chance for us all to rest. Then we woke, had a snack and played a bit more. You really laughed when we were jumping on the bed! Then it was time to go back for tea. The car was finally fixed and we got home for tea just in time. We gave you both a bath, and then put you both to bed. It was great to spend so much time with you and we look forward to doing the same tomorrow. Sleep tight xx

Friday 7.12.12
Another full day to look forward to. Cold and windy so we will be staying in.

9.30pm
We had a busy day indoors! We collected you at 9:30 and brought you to our cottage. We tried to say hello to the sheep but it was very cold, so after 1 minute we came back in! We ate lunch together and played with bags again. We took you back at 4:30 and met all the extended foster family. They enjoyed playing with you, they love you very much and you liked having cuddles with them. Sleep tight xx

Saturday 8.12.12
Praying that the children have some good sleep with us today and we enjoy some time out and about. It will be nice to go out and have little hands to hold!

10:45pm
Today we collected you at 9:30 and went to a garden centre. We looked at all the animals. You liked the fish, especially when they followed your finger and you could look down into the water to watch them swim away! It was nice to show you new things and get out of the cottage. We came back for lunch, and then drove you back when you both fell asleep! We left you in the car for a moment and then woke you up. You were a bit sleepy and grumpy but soon cheered up when you were offered some chocolate! We know you had a special afternoon with the foster family, and we went shopping to buy a few gifts and went out for our last meal out before you come to stay! We are tired now and looking forward to our last lie in tomorrow ! Sleep tight xx

Sunday 9.12.12
A full day ahead, with the children staying for tea. We are really enjoying the small things. Waking up tired and lying on us, being there when they pull funny faces, hearing new words. Hopefully they will sleep well today too!

9:30pm
We are amazed at how much you eat! For such small people you can put it away! You enjoyed seeing the digger today, you slept in the car and we went to a pet shop. You made each other laugh by pulling faces and tickling each other through the travel cot. It was very funny! It was nice cooking and eating our first tea together. We gave you both a bath and stuck foam letters to you! Before going to bed we enjoyed you dancing along to the Strictly Come Dancing results. We are looking forward to getting you up in the morning and giving you breakfast. Sleep tight xx