New Changes for the Family (Private)

[justagirl4fun]

Peter shrugged. "Let's just wait and see how things go. At least no one is crying. What do you want to do for dinner? I can go out for takeout if you want," he offered.

[Shy-Diapers]

“Takeout is a good idea. How about Chinese? We haven’t had that in a while and Izzy always eats that well.” Michelle thought aloud. Isabelle tended to be a bit of a picky eater though when she liked a food she ate it very well. “Maybe taking her with you to pick it up will help.”

[justagirl4fun]

"Good idea." Peter called and ordered their usual dishes. The portions were usually pretty generous so he figured they could share if Rowan felt up to eating. "Hey Iz," he called after the order was placed, "I'm going to pick up Chinese. Want to come?"

[Shy-Diapers]

Izzy’s head shot up when Peter spoke to her. “Yeah!” She said excitedly. She jumped up and was about to leave the playroom, but remembered Rowan. She put up her bracelet supplies and headed to the front door, velcroing her shoes. Her hair finally broke free from her bun as she skipped to the car. She took her scrunchie out and shook her head, letting her curls fall down over her implants. “Can I get a soda there Daddy?” She asked hopefully. Occasionally Izzy was allowed a bottled soda from the fridge at the Chinese restaurant, though this was only a rare treat since her parents were conscious of the girl’s sugar intake. 

[justagirl4fun]

With Izzy gone Rowan came out of hiding and started exploring the playroom. She soon found a coloring book and box of crayons and started scribbling away.

"Yes, you can get one this time," Peter said, hoping to keep the girl happy.

[Shy-Diapers]

Michelle busied herself with cleaning up the kitchen before heading upstairs. She sorted through the clothes they had, putting anything that looked like it would fit Rowan into the dresser in her room. 
 

“Yay!” Izzy squealed happily. She hopped out of the car when they arrived and once Peter did too, ran up to the entrance to wait for him. Inside she picked out an orange soda and happily presented it to her father. When they got the food, she helped him carry one of the bags to the car, proud to be of help to him. 

[justagirl4fun]

"You're a good helper," Peter praised as he loaded the food into the car and watched while Izzy got buckled in. A few minutes later they were home. "Dinner's here!" he called before starting  to set the table.

[Shy-Diapers]

Michelle heard Peter call and came downstairs. She poked her head into the playroom and saw Rowan, not paying attention to what she was doing. “Hey kiddo, it’s time for dinner.” She said, taking the girl’s hand and walking to the kitchen.

Izzy happily dumped her whole carton of chicken lo mein into her bowl along with two egg rolls. Usually she would eat leftovers the next day for lunch so she always had her own. “Daddy do I have to wait?” She whined, being impatient and hungry. 

[justagirl4fun]

Rowan sat in her chair and wrinkled her nose, not liking the smell of the Chinese food. 

"Whoa whoa whoa, easy there kiddo! Let's start with half and see if you're still hungry after that," Peter suggested as he scooped some back in the carton.

[Shy-Diapers]

“Everything okay honey?” Michelle asked when she saw Rowan wrinkle her nose. 
 

Izzy frowned and sighed but didn’t put up a fuss beyond that. Now that Michelle and Rowan were at the table she quickly started digging in, shoveling food into her mouth with her fork, not chewing as much as she should, and taking an occasional sip of her soda, but not stopping her fast pace. 

[justagirl4fun]

"Don't like it," Rowan said softly. "Smells funny."

"Hey, easy, you're going to choke! Smaller bites," Peter ordered. "Geez, you'd think we were starving this kid!"

[Shy-Diapers]

Michelle couldn’t help but chuckle a bit. “That’s okay baby.” She said affectionately. She got up and got some of the formula from the bag the social worker had given her and sat back down next to Rowan. “Okay sweetie, I’m going to put your formula in your tube now.” She informed her before lifting the girl’s shirt a bit to do so, going slow so as not to alarm her. She laughed and shook her head at Peter. “She must be going through a growth spurt.”
 

Izzy slowed down a bit but was still starving. When she had finished what was in her bowl she quickly turned her father. “Now can I have the rest Daddy?” She asked while trying not to whine. “Please?” She added once she remembered her manners.  

[justagirl4fun]

Rowan nodded and let Michelle proceed. Michelle seemed much kinder and more patient than the couple she had stayed with the last few days and she sensed that she could trust her.

"Well, we just bought all those new summer clothes, so it better not be too much of a growth spurt!" Peter joked, then shrugged at Izzy's request. "If you're really that hungry go ahead. Just go slow."

[Shy-Diapers]

Michelle smiled and proceeded to use the syringe to get the formula into the girl’s feeding tube. “Do you want anything to eat or drink?” She offered. She knew anything she ate or drank was just extra but she figured the girl still got thirsty or wanted food sometimes. 
 

Izzy smiled and poured the rest of the carton of food into her bowl. She made sure to go slow but still ate it all, feeling absolutely starving. 

[justagirl4fun]

"Juice? Please?" Rowan had a hard time understanding hunger cues, since she got fed whether she was hungry or not, but would almost always accept juice if offered, though she didn't usually drink much.

[Shy-Diapers]

Michelle smiled and nodded. She got up and poured a cup with a straw and lid full of apple juice. They let Izzy drink it once a day or so, and most foster kids who came through would drink it, so they liked to keep it on hand. 
 

Once all the food was gone, Isabelle finished her soda. “Can I have a fortune cookie?”

[justagirl4fun]

Rowan took a few sips and pushed the cup away. Even though it was still fairly early she was already getting tired and yawned a few times. 

"Sure go ahead, you can have mine, too," Peter said, not being a fan of the cookies. 

[Shy-Diapers]

“Let’s go get you ready for bed sweetie.” Michelle said when she was done feeding the girl and noticed the yawning. She picked her up and carried her upstairs to her room, not wanting to exhaust her any more. “Do you wanna pick out your jammies?” She offered kindly. She checked the girl’s pull-up to see if she needed a change before bed. 
 

Izzy quickly devoured the two fortune cookies and then helped clear the table. “Daddy can we watch a movie before bed? Pleeaaassseee?” She asked hopefully since Michelle was taking care of Rowan. 

[justagirl4fun]

"Babe, wait, don't put her to bed yet. She needs her medicine first!" Peter called upstairs after Michelle. "Go ahead, pick something out and I'll be right back." They had set up a Netflix account for Izzy, so he knew she could find something appropriate to watch. He checked the list, gathered up the required meds and a handful of syringes, and headed upstairs to help Michelle.

Halfway through her meds Rowan grunted, and suddenly her previously clean diaper was decidedly not. She looked at Michelle sheepishly. "Uh oh." 

[Shy-Diapers]

Izzy frowned when she watched Peter run off. Usually she handled the new children getting more attention but for some reason her dad running off after Rowan when they were going to watch a movie wasn’t sitting right with her this time. She sighed and hopped up onto the couch, scrolling through Netflix, eventually deciding on Honey Girls. She waited impatiently for Peter to return. 
 

“Thank you.” Michelle said, having completely forgotten about the girl’s meds when she saw her so tired. “It’s okay sweetie, we’ll get you changed after your meds.” She said softly, glancing at Peter. The social worker had said she wasn’t reliably potty trained, but it seemed like the girl wasn’t potty trained at all. She made a mental note to herself that they’d have to get some diapers the next day, feeling that pull-ups wouldn’t cut it. 

[justagirl4fun]

"You got that?" Peter asked, feeling a little guilty for sticking his wife with dirty diaper duty - and that one did not  sound good. "I told Izzy I'd watch a movie with her."

[Shy-Diapers]

“Yeah I got it.” Michelle said when the girl had finished all her meds. She dug around for a pack of baby wipes and started cleaning Rowan up. Once she was in a clean pull-up she grabbed a pale yellow nightgown from the dresser and got her dressed. “Do you want to read a story before bed?” She asked after disposing of the dirty pull-up. 
 

[justagirl4fun]

Rowan nodded. She liked being read to and didn't really care what was being read.

Peter went back down and joined Izzy on the couch. "So, what are we watching tonight?"

[Shy-Diapers]

Sensing the girl’s exhaustion, Sarah grabbed Goodnight Moon and sat on the edge of the bed. She tucked Rowan in and started reading, checking periodically to see if she was asleep. 
 

Izzy was sulking on the couch when Peter came back down. Her expression changed when she saw him and happily snuggled up to his side. “Honey Girls!” She said happily, having stumbled upon the movie and liking the aesthetic from what she saw. She happily rested her head on his shoulder, suddenly feeling more and more tired as the movie went on. She was usually tired on dance days, but this was especially early for the seven year old to be tired. 

[justagirl4fun]

It didn't take long for Rowan to drift off, still clutching the little doll. Halfway through the book she was snoring softly.

Peter had never heard of the movie, but it seemed okay. He was surprised to see her falling asleep so early, but figured with a recital coming up soon they must have worked especially hard in class that afternoon.