Two Weeks Home . . .

And things haven't calmed down yet!  After the entire family welcomed us home, my sister and her family left the next day, and my mom moved in for the next few days to help me get on my feet again.  Shortly after she left, Mark's mom and dad came for 5 days, and just in the nick of time, as I got sick.

Nice timing.

As if coming home wasn't hard enough.

Why don't moms of very. busy. toddlers. get an exemption from illness??   I was knocked flat and yet had to drag myself to our travel doctor so I could be tested for all manner of African and exotic illnesses.  :)  Thankfully, all tests came back negative, and I just needed to GET THROUGH IT.  Feeling better, but I can tell my body is still fighting.  I think the stress of the trip and the exhaustion incurred on the way home took it's toll and my body said DONE.

And speaking of doctors, Maggie had her very thorough physical, and passed with flying colors.  Her doctor was very impressed (shocked, even) with how healthy she is and how well taken care of she was.  We are so thankful.  She does have giardia, but the thought is that she's likely had it since she was a baby.  So we're doing a 10 day course of treatment, which she hates, but takes it like a sport.

She has been busy charming the pants off everyone she meets - which is so fun for us to see.  She definitely is NOT a wallflower - this little girl has a *huge* personality.  Very outgoing, entertaining and a total crack-up.  We are constantly amazed by what she knows and what she catches on to (and how fast).  She repeats everything we say, so we have learned to be quite careful - funny how some seemingly harmless things we say sound a lot worse coming out of the mouth of a child.

The downside?  She hates dogs.  HATES. DOGS.  We have two.  Do we see the problem here?

We brought home our littler one - a cavalier who is 20 pounds and is the most kind and gentle-hearted dog ever (Murphy).  Initially, Maggie acted like he was Satan himself.  She's improved from that - will now at least be in the same room as him, but climbs us like trees if Murphy gets too close.  Her preference is being anywhere off the ground if he's around.

Meanwhile, our golden retriever, Tucker, is at a friend's house until we see some progress in her fear of dogs.  We dropped off some dog food for him today (while they weren't home) and saw him through a window in their garage and, ohhh - that was not a good plan .  It broke our hearts, and he looked at us like "WHAT is going on here?"  Kindof wishing I hadn't seen him - I was doing ok until then.  Just praying he'll get to come home soon!

And so we continue our adjustment, and constantly wonder what Maggie is thinking.  She seems to be adapting so well, but we know there are times when she is processing, and we desperately wish we knew what goes on in that precious little head.  I for one look at her and am constantly in awe of God and how He pulled this family together.  How He plucked her out of a hopeless, desperate situation and placed her in a huge family who adores her.  Which is a beautiful reminder of exactly what He does for us - plucks us out of our lost and hopeless situations and adopts us as His own.  Utterly amazing. 

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"  1 John 1:3