WELL, HELLO THERE!!!

So sorry that we haven't updated since our return, but as you can all imagine, as brand new parents the word BUSY is an understatement!!!

We can't believe that today is already the 1 month anniversary of when we first met our daughters and so much has happened. As y'all know we arrived back home on Friday 3/16 and were welcomed at the airport with a beautiful entorage organized by Michael, all carrying baloons, flowers and of course "Muchos Regalos." The girls were soooooooooooo happy to finally be home. The 3 days running to do all the legal/embassy stuff in Bogota, then having to wake up at 3am to fly from Bogota to Miami and then 5am to fly from Miami to Detroit was brutal, they were such little troopers, but right before we landed in Detroit, Catalina and Daniela both got very, very sick on the plane. Let's put it this way, I am now a PRO at handling 3 kids by myself on a decending plane, with 3 complaining of ear-aches and 2 "tossing up cookies" at the same time!!!! :>)

Daniela was overwhelmed and was sick again on the way back home, but once we arrived at the house, she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and asked me: "Can we please stay here all day today and not go out? I love my home and want to saty here"! They acted as though a huge burden or weight was removed from their shoulders and they could finally rest; now it was all real to them, the dream became reality, all that we told them was true, they are finally HOME with their FOREVER FAMILY!!!

My brother Fred who had driven in from Canada with his family, treated us and all the guests to a delicious catered chinese meal and they had also bought the most delicious desserts and the most beautiful flowers. Then the door bell rang and a beautiful bouquet of gourmet cookies was delivered to our door, sent by a beautiful couple we know: Christina & Scott. Oh yes, Michael, my brother Fred, Michael's brother Stan and their families all decorated the home and the entrance with "USA and welcome home balloons, signs, banners and streamers." It was also wonderful to see our friend Claudia, who together with her husband Jeff are expecting their first baby. Our welcome home was just magnificent, we all felt soooooooooooooooooo loved, the girls specially, they asked us several times if this was all for them and after it all finally sank in, they kept saying they felt as though they were princesses living in their own castle - OF COURSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE!!!!!

Last week Michael and I were both very sick and I lost my voice. Thank God my Mom had arrived from Brazil to meet her new grandchildren and help us out, but a few days after we started getting better, she also got the bug. Needelss to say, last week. we were still very busy getting the kids enrolled in school, buying new shoes, clothes, school supplies and getting them familiarized a bit to their neighbourhood (the kids in our sub have been awesome, ringing the door-bell 100 times a day wanting to play - our girls are very shy, they prefer to cling to Michael and I, so we are working on them learning to reciprocate and socialize). Last Thursday, they toured their school, meeting the Principal and their teachers and Friday they started school. Tomorrow, they will start on the bus route with all the other kids from the neighbourhood. I can't believe that they are already in the swing of real American life, WOW!!! I must say, that it sure feels good to have them in school (HAHAHAHA)! :>)

Michael and I are rejoycing for we've been so busy since 2/26 (the day we got our beautiful girls), that last week when we got on the scale, he had lost 10 IBS and I had lost 17 - HALLELUJAH, WE FINALLY FOUND A DIET THAT WORKS!!!! :>)

Again, thanks for all your prayers and support. Please pray that they do well at school and are able to start learning english soon. The school does not have much experience with foreign students and does not have a well established ESL program, but the Principal and teachers are working really hard trying to help our girls and bring in the needed resources. For that we are very grateful!!!

*** We will post a bunch of new photos latter on today. We also have to buy a new digital camera, the kids "loved our brand new one to death" yes, literally, they broke it (another lesson learned the hard way: our expensive technical gadgets are not toys for the kids to use freely)!!! :>)

Hope you all have an awesome week!!!