Beauty from Ashes

From best friends and crib-mates to sisters. My girls lost everything. They lost their families when they were brought in to the orphanage. They lost their friends, caregivers, language, and culture when we brought them here. Though they now have the medial care they needed, a family that loves them fiercely and advocates for them, more than enough food, new friends, a good education, etc...., we can’t take away the loss or trauma they experienced. Adoption can have gain, but it’s deeply routed in loss. I’m thankful that they will always have each other.

(For those of you wondering, Deena was in Ramya's third orphanage.  They were best friends for the almost year that Ramya was there before coming home.  I met Deena on my trip to bring Ramya home.  Shortly after my return, we decided to try and adopt Deena.  The process took about 2 1/2 (very long) years.)

Something Crazy I Noticed Tonight

Deena has been wanting to read her adoption book so we have been looking through it together often.  Tonight, though, was the first time I noticed something just totally crazy.

Deena's admission date to Vathsalya orphanage is November 11, 2008.  Madi's birthday is November 11, 2008. 

On the same day, on opposite sides of the world, these girls were experiencing moments that would forever alter their history; and forever bring them together as sisters.  One child experienced a great loss, the other a tremendous gain, but now, both girls join together as sisters and daughters. 

A Quiet Week and a Cute Video

This week we had a much needed quiet week at home.  We had no doctor's appointments, no dance, no karate, and only our 2 in-home therapies.  It was wonderful!  I got so much organizing done and even caught up on a little bit of work that I was behind on.  Wooo hooo!

Madi's vesicostomy is healing up nicely.  It doesn't seem to bother her any more, and though she has asked me a few times why she needs it, she is ok with having it and being in "normal" pull-ups again.  I am very thankful for that!

Here's a little video I took of the girls singing today in the car.  They are so cute.  I love when they get along this well (notice they are holding hands).  Though it's very obvious that they love each other, they are true sisters, and do their fair share of arguing as well ;).  They sure do love to sing!