I have the note about adoption from the courier. The quest to speak to constance is in my journal. I've built a house with 2 beds. I already have Lucia as a daughter. Constance tells me Grelod won't allow the children to be adopted, and she wishes it was different. The quest will not update.

I saved, and killed Grelod. The children were happy Grelod is dead. Constance runs around screaming. No one saw me, they were all asleep and I was crouching and it said "hidden".

When I talk to one of the children the only dialogue option is to ask about Aventus, to start the Dark Brotherhood questline. I am NOT an assassin, and haven't started the Dark Brotherhood quest yet.

I googled the problem and found a couple of other people with this problem, but no one answered them. All of my saves are recent, and I don't want to remove my progress by loading them.

Does anyone know what's wrong and how to fix it?