Okay, quick recap of the twin thing:
We adopted Evie in November 2006.
February 2007 I get an email from someone overseas saying they've just come back from Guangxi with their daughter, joined the SWI (Social Welfare Institute) group, looked at the photos on file and think our daughters look very similar. Do we want to see a picture?
I'm sceptical but know these things do happen and of course I say yes.
I cry as the referral photo of their daughter downloads. She looks exactly like our girl.
So a long distance relationship starts up. We share as much information as we have. We scan photos, we send video, we use webcams. The likeness still makes my heart leap 2.5 years on even as they naturally change with their environments. It's not just the facial similarity, it's the same funny little run, the same distinctive laugh, the same intonation when they speak, the same phrases they use, the same names they give their toys...
What we know is that they were allegedly abandoned separately. A month apart. They both have estimated birth dates (three days apart) but one is likely to be more accurate than the other so we celebrate on that date. They were found in the same place (allegedly, but so were all the other babies ever adopted from this SWI). Their Chinese names are Snow and Ice. It was when we discovered this that I realised that the SWI staff also believed that the girls are twins. But Chinese adoption regs state that an SWI is not allowed to 'assume' twin status. If there is any doubt, or rather no proof, the children's papers must be submitted to the CCAA (China Centre of Adoption Affairs) separately. Because of this, we believe they were raised separately at the SWI. Two different rooms and different carers.
Despite this, the photos that both families received at adoption are of the same child. We know this because I blew them up and examined the very dust at their feet (CSI, watch out). The pictures are of the same child just frames apart. We don't know if it's Evie or Eva. Yeah. Eva. Who was called Evie until the little matter of a twin came along.
So Eva and her mum are coming to stay for two weeks later this month. Just as we move house! Can you imagine the chaos? It's going to be hilarious! Especially with these two characters. We're not entirely sure this sceptred isle is big enough for the both of them. We're finally going to do a DNA test - not because we have doubts but because we feel the girls will wonder why we didn't if we don't. (I will also admit to a degree of wanting to yell, 'In your FACE!' at some people even though they're not listening but then I'm petty like that.)
It's going to be a strange time for us all and most of all for these fabulous girls who, at 3 and a half, are bright as buttons and can grasp so much and know about their China Mummy's tummy but can't possibly understand what's about to happen for them both. It's the most wonderful thing and yet it breaks my heart.
That's adoption. Twin or no twin.
