Window on the Clearwater
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Editor's Note: Window on the Clearwater has joined the Wednesday's Child network to help spread the word about children that are waiting for families to give them the loving care that they need. Each Wednesday we will profile a different child. For more information about Wednesday's Child and how you can be involved check the web site at: http://www.idahowednesdayschild.org/.

Nicolette, Ariona & Maggie

Twirling and giggling in ballet tutus provided by their photographer, these busy little sisters kept us laughing with their antics. With endless energy, they jockeyed for a chance to catch soap bubbles as they floated to the ground. "Busy" and "extremely high maintenance" are words their foster mom and caseworker used to describe a normal day with these active and imaginative girls. "They have missed so much attention, instruction and structure in their early years, they deserve parents who can provide that now," said their foster mom.

Nicole

"My name is Nicole. I got Cinderella and Baby All Gone and teapots for Christmas. I like chicken nuggets and fries and hamburgers and broccoli and apples. I go to school. I like to read and use computers. I love Ariona. Her three. Hers like to play with me. We play Barbies. We play food...make food. At night I say my prayers. I can sing, Crinkle, Crinkle Little Star and Itchy, Itchy Spider. I play wif my sisters. We play with Barbies.

Nicolette (goes by Nicole) is repeating kindergarten this year and doing very well. She would do well with a parent that has worked with an IEP and has an understanding of Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity. She is very active and likes to play outside, especially at the park. Her stuffed animal and reassurance go together well with night routines. Nicolette's anxiety over new situations can be handled best with a reliable routine and calm prompts and "readying" when she is dealing with a new situation.

Ariona

"I Ariona. I three... I play kitchen stuff...and color! Maggie can't have crayons. She eats them."

Ariona likes to play with her dolls and doll houses. Her foster mom describes her as "a homebody." She likes to go places, but usually wants to go home after just a few minutes. Ariona likes to sleep with a stuffed animal and may need frequent comforting after nightmares. She will need follow-up with a pediatric optician each year and help adjusting to a prosthetic eye.

Maggie

"I Maggie. I got Baby All-Gone. Baby eats!"

Margaret (goes by Maggie) loves her big sisters and likes to play with them. She likes baby dolls and stuffed animals. Maggie is developing normally and hitting her milestones appropriately.

Nicole, Ariona and Margaret (Maggie) love playing together, even though they spend some of that time engaged in sibling rivalry. In just six months, within a dedicated foster family, they have overcome developmental and communication delays and are nearly caught up with their peers. They are ready for an energetic, experienced couple who will build on the gains they've made. A structured routine and lots of positive reinforcement are crucial as they learn rules that will keep them safe and secure. According to their foster mom, "They are a lotta, lotta work." Plan on being exhausted by the time they are in bed and asleep. But their adoptive family will soon agree with their foster family: "They are a wonderful group with endless potential."

The girls' adoption team will be selecting a family with a strong support network, such as older brothers and sisters or extended family members who can provide extra help and a break for tired parents. Their caseworker is eager to speak to couples that already have a current home study and experience with children who have special needs related to a trauma history. Knowledge and patience when it comes to toilet training would also be a plus. One at-home parent is a must, as these girls need a safe and stable environment in which their movements are supervised each moment. Plan on spending many reassuring hours reading, cuddling, reinforcing rules, and accessing community services.

Portrait by Barb at Barb Bergeson Studio Gallery

To find out more about Nicole, Ariona & Maggie, adoption or becoming a foster parent, email the Idaho CareLine or call 1-800-926-2588. In Idaho you can dial 2-1-1. You may be asked to provide this reference number: 30435.

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Window on the Clearwater
P.O. Box 2444
Orofino, ID 83544

Telephone:
Orofino 476-0733
Lewiston 208-503-7107
Toll Free 1-866-376-9810
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