They'll soon be featured on the cover of the 2012 Join the Team Chargers Adoption Calendar alongside Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates. In this Adopt 8, we introduce you to Kandy and Cesar for the second time, while they still wait to find a home.
Sadly the fun felt three years ago has been dimmed by frustration and feelings of failure for Kandy and Cesar. They say the last year has been hard, because they haven't found a forever family yet.
Kandy and Cesar thought they had found a mom and dad, but through no fault of their own, their social worker says Kandy and Cesar were given back. The family had a change of heart.
"We really need parents with realistic expectations. These kids have been through so much in their lives. There's going to be hard times, there's going to be challenges. We need patient parents," explained Protective Services Worker Genny Wrocklage.
The hope is that their third time being featured on Adopt 8 is the charm. When we first met them, Cesar was just six and Kandy was seven. Now, they are nine and 10 and at an age where it's understandably more uncomfortable to have the spotlight turned on you.
"She's the more outgoing big sister that protects him. Cesar's more guarded, he's shy. He's a little slower to warm up, but he does warm up and he really looks to his sister for guidance," said Wrocklage. "So he just takes a little longer to engage and come out, but he does have a great personality in there."
Cesar can always count on Kandy to lift his spirits, despite the disappointments they've both endured.
"She has a really positive outlook on life, she tries to smile through the bad times," Wrocklage continued.
They try to stay focused on the good times, like when they met Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers.
Kandy and Cesar will be featured with Philip in the 2012 Join the Team Calendar, which is a partnership between the Chargers, San Diego County Adoptions and Adopt 8. It's an effort to raise awareness about the need for adoptive families and Philip is hoping these two siblings finally score a touchdown.
"They're such little kids. Their whole life is ahead of them and to think that what tomorrow's going to bring," he said. "Our hope, my hope is that they have a forever home."
They'll soon be featured on the cover of the 2012 Join the Team Chargers Adoption Calendar alongside Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates. But they'd gladly give up that coveted spot on the calendar, in exchange for something most kids their age take for granted, a family to call their own.
If you are interested in adopting from foster care, or becoming a foster family, call 1-877-I-ADOPT-U to learn more about getting started or go to their website to take that first step and fill out an adoption form.
