Rain

Today was my first occasion to spend some time playing with the twins inside. It’s been raining since this morning pretty hard. In here, there are no storm sewers so all the water floods the roads instantly and drivers don’t hold back. So you have to walk through 4 inches of water to cross the streets and be about 15 feet from the roadway to be safe from being given a mud-bath!

For the morning visit, it stopped raining, so I was able to make it back and forth just fine. Only the twins were allowed outside and since it was a bit cold, they were well wrapped in extra layers of clothing and the infamous pink tights. It was on the chilly side but a bit humid. Papa was more than comfy. So we played in the yard all by ourselves, mostly swinging, saying the numbers in English, etc. We also walked a couple of laps around the orphanage.

This afternoon it started raining again probably around 3pm and has not stopped since. I’m writing this at 8:45pm and it’s still going. My little compact umbrella that I store in the glove compartment of my Jeep didn’t do much good, except keeping my head dry. I was pretty soaked by the time I got back. Now I have the fan blowing on the clothes to help them dry faster.

When I got there, the caregiver was signing for me to go in and she led us into a room with a ton of toys, adjacent to their bedroom: bikes, tricycles, an electric motorcycle, a plastic car, building blocks, cushions in all sorts of shapes, balls, jumping balls…you name it! I spent most of the time re-packing all the toys that they were taking down into the middle of the room. They were going nuts! I guess this could classify as over-stimulation?! I had to get things under control as Isaac kept banging toys on other stuff or kicking the wooden blocks around the room or swirling ropes, while Isabella opened every bag known to man and dumped the contents on the floor while holding a toy broom. My attempts at actual play were futile, so I realized I had to gain some level of control. I can already sense that my patience is going to be tested and stretched to it’s confines in the coming months. So for those that work with me: you’re warned! Here’s a picture I took a while ago of their bedroom.

So I packed everything off the floor and didn’t let them take anything else. We finally managed to play a bit with a ball, the car and the broom. Both liked the bouncing balls and I goofed around too, pretending to be chasing them around on the bouncing ball. No, I didn’t actually bounce on it :p Isabella was riding the broom like a witch and then I did the same on Isaac and lifted him up, making a swooshing sound as I “flew” him around the room. He picked on the sound right away and repeated as he ran around with the broom between his legs. I think he would make a great Seeker.

So that was it for the day. When it was time to leave, both held my hand and led me to the door. I was confused as they seemed to want to go out. I knew that was not going to happen, so I told them “Pakaa, Pakaa” (that’s “bye bye”) and when I took Isaac’s hand off, he threw a fit; pretty much threw himself on the floor and cried hard. Isabella didn’t want to let me go either, but she listened and sat down. I’m not sure but perhaps they don’t particularly like the caregivers working the evening shift?? I’m sure if Alla was there, this wouldn’t have happened. Anyhow, here’s another photo I took a while ago of their TV area (that’s Isabella in pink).