It's been almost a year and the children are really getting comfortable in their new home.
Carlie Rose is doing great. The doctors have been keeping a close eye on her, but no problems yet. She started talking quite early and has become quite social. She does love dress-up and our daughters Isobel and Vivien take great delight in dressing her up in the frilliest, pinkest outfits they can find.
Aoife Kathleen is at the top of her class at school and is showing signs of a potential doctor. We all think she will make a great doctor. Aoife has managed to make occasional contact with her half-siblings, usually through e-mail and sometimes over the phone. Her mother visited a few months ago and it was an emotional reunion. As for religion, she is currently classifying herself as an Agnostic and we will support her every decision.
Christian James has been a bundle of fun. He easily makes friends and he and Isobel especially have spent many hours together outdoors. We are working with him, his teachers and his doctor to manage his ADD and so far he's been coping well. He recently expressed interest in knowing how his parents were killed -- he knows they're dead, just not why. We have avoided the terrorism talk and told him that their death was "an unfortunate accident".
Max Vincent is shy but swimming is definitely his comfort zone. He always begs to go to the pool, and he loves his lessons. He and George are almost always found together. Max has not made a lot of new friends at his school, but he's fine with it seeing as he has George and also Isobel and Vivien, who are close to his age.
George David has become the more outgoing of the two but is still quiet. He and Aiden have developed a special bond, George wholeheartedly considers Aiden his older brother. We hate to break George's heart when Aiden leaves in a few months (his mother has found work), but luckily Aiden and his mother will be living nearby and can still visit George.
Thank you for these amazing children!
:)