JJ is almost three. A silent, wide eyed, observent and careful 30 months old. His cornrows are intricate and perfect, although beginning to fuzz up a little. He lets me hold him. His skin is like my coffee - just as dark, just as smooth, just as warm. He smells good - someone has tried hard to care for him. Deedee is exactly one year and one week younger than her brother. She is round and sturdy, a solid presence with a wide smile built around the one index finger she keeps in her mouth at all times. She is friendly, curious, engaging. Her cornrows are equally intricate, tho shorter in length than her brothers and most definitely ready to come out. They stay close to each other. Both have stuffy noses, coughs, and JJ has a fever.
We spend the weekend administering Tylenol, Sudafed, and Delsym. They both sleep well, except one night that Deedee woke from coughing. She went back to sleep quickly though. JJ finally smiles, even laughs. The playground we went too was a big hit with both of them. JJ's smile is so bright, so unexpected even, that we all of us smile and laugh with him. His joy is zooming down the slide into my arms. Deedee just likes to toddle around, picking up acorns and leaves, stopping to plop her round diapered bottom into my lap whenever she feels the need to snuggle. These children know love - they have been loved, have had love, have felt love. They are able to give it back. What a treasure.
I dig through bins of clothes, searching for their sizes and pack their bags up with outfits and pajama's to see them through. They are with us only 3 day, 3 nights. I send them off with kisses, high fives, and cheek to cheek hugs. They move on, as most of our foster babies do, to another home. This home is one I know and I am happy for them. They will stay there now until... until... well, until whenever they leave.
Bless them God, little JJ and his smile, Deedee and her chuckle.
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