Meet our Gêmeos (Twins)!

So I know it has been forever since I've written. That is not because of lack of things going on but instead because of lack of time to write about everything that has been happening. Just a bit of an update before I do introduce you to our new twins...
1- Fernanda- she is still doing absolutely amazing! God has completely turned her life around. She is now crawling toward people every time we walk in the room. She has become quite silly, laughing, giggling, and smiling all the time! And she is chubby!!! She now weighs over 20 pounds! She is a miracle!2- Graca- she is still struggling but gaining weight slowly. Food is still a bit of a fight but she has started eating a bit of yogurt, plumpy nut (a fortified peanut butter the government uses for malnourished kids), and baby cereal along with her milk. She doesn't cry all day long any more, which is a HUGE improvement from the first few weeks.3- Aleya (a fellow nurse and my roommate for 6 months) has left us. She spent her last week here with her brother visiting. It was a great way to get to say goodbye and have some fun all at once. We spent a great day in the city together...and even wore bibs during our "seafood rice" lunch! I had no idea what I was agreeing to, but apparently here in Moz that means crab legs, shrimp, clams, muscles shells and all in a big bowl of seasoned soupy rice...it really was amazing...messy but amazing- hence the bibs! But it was a sad goodbye and my house and world seem a bit quiet and empty without Aleya...I certainly am going to miss her!
4- We also said hello to a new nurse, Sheri. She worked here about 3 years ago for 2 years and has been away in England getting married. Now her husband Matt and herself are here to help! They are super funny and great to hang out with! Sheri will be taking over Erin's position when she leaves us the end of May. As for my position...basically the same as before...passing back my clinic responsibility when Iarra gets back (June 1st) and continuing to help in both areas (clinic and Baby House that is)!

Ok...on to our new twins! They are 2 1/2 years old and their names are Marta and Eugenio. They are definitely a bit malnourished and Marta has a few developmental issues but we are working through all of that. Eugenio has quickly joined the rest of our 2 year old gang of boys in the Baby House at the moment. He has opened up into quite the chatter box. Marta is still VERY cautious at the moment. She watches everything her twin does to make sure it's ok...eating, taking medications, walking toward us. But she's warming up as well...slowly but surely. Today she was laughing with me in the car on our trek to get chest x-rays. The twin's mom abandoned them with a grandmother who can't care for them. God willing these two will only be with us for a year or so until they are old enough to return back to family safely. For now be praying they get to feel the Father's love and their bodies develop properly and absorb all the nutrients they have been missing!

Here's Eugenio during our car ride this morning:Here's Marta in the car with me as well:One more of me feeling like a real Mozambican mama carrying the twins for their consult this morning...and then we went to ShopRite (our grocery store) after. Eugenio road in the cart and I kept Marta on my back...many people stopped to ask me about them. "Are they your children?" "Are they orphans?" "Are they twins?" I'm sure we were quite the sight!