Where are they now?

I shall take this opportunity to update some about each kid.

Brishen:  He is spending some time with Grandmother and Granddad, helping work on their new house addition.  I'm hoping for him to come home ready to tackle all my honey-dos.  My dad said he'll mostly be doing work demolishing at this point.  I already have plenty of help with that particular skill.  Before he left, Brishen completed a puzzle on his own in about a day.  He was determined and fast.  He is set to start his online classes after Labor Day.  I just ordered all of his (expensive) books.  I think he will have a great year.  He is very much looking forward to Physics and Calculus.

Basia:  I bought her some canvases today, and she already completed her first painting.  She also fixed a ripped seam in her comforter this morning.  Oh, and she made lunch for everyone.  She loves to sautee me spinach, and I don't mind a bit.  Today she had the five little ones around the kitchen table helping her beat eggs and do other little tasks to prepare for lunch.  She is amazing.

Soren:  He is worried about the first day of pre-k.  He wonders which of his friends from last year will be in his class.  He doesn't like his school uniform.  He is, however, very excited about his upcoming adoption.  He knows that we will soon redecorate his room after the adoption, and he will also get a cake to celebrate.  He is now sharing a room with Edison, and it is going very well.  He is a good big brother.

Cassia:  She has done really well this summer, and I'm a little afraid of the differences I may see once school starts again.  She is hardly sucking her thumb, and school brought her to the point of almost constant sucking.  She is not very happy that Tobias gets to have her beloved teacher from last year.  I was worried that she would hate her new school shoes, but she loves them.  Uniform requirements state the shoes must be tennis shoes in the color of grey, black, white, or navy.  It is really, really hard to find plain tennis shoes in those colors for little girls!

Zade:  I don't know if it is talk of kids starting school (is he worried he'll have to go or sad that he'll be left behind?) or if it is fall-out from vacation, but he is spending quite a bit of his time in time-out for hitting.  There's just this look on his face, and it is obvious that we aren't reaching him right now.  Even his dysregulated state is better than it once was, so there has been progress.  It is just sometimes frustrating to see him doing so well and then regress when life throws him a little uncertainty.  Will he ever be able to deal with change and uncertainty?

Tobias:  He is a boundary pusher these days.  I try to remind myself that he is still a toddler.  He often has one foot in the door of toddlerhood and the other foot in with the preschoolers.  He is now sharing a room with Zade, and it is working out fabulously.  He is a good example for Zade.

Edison:  He is insecure again, I supposed because of the vacation schedule.  He wants to know where I am going to be every second of his day.  His play is getting more advanced, and Legos are by far his favorite.  Well, OK, he also loves his trains.

Roo:  He is in a fun stage right.  He can clap.  He can say, "clap!"  He is trying really hard to say, "uh-oh," but the "oh" part is too hard.  He can stand on his own for a second or two.

It doesn't pay to be one of the littler ones.  I am nodding off as I type, so they are getting the short end of the stick as far as updates.  Updates are over.  Bed is ready for me!