Our first week home

We have been home from China for just over a week. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. With the boys in school, our life is in full swing. Doug, Kailahni and myself seem to be adjusted to U.S. time...more or less. That jet lag was a real butt kicker.

Most of my friends and family have now had a chance to meet the baby. She seems to love all the attention she is getting. Everyone is so excited to finally have her home. Jacob and Benjamin are wonderful with her. They love her to pieces. They laugh at every little thing she does. Watching the three of them play together is a riot. It's one big, giant screamfest. The three of them roll around on the floor together and scream with laughter...it's adorable. The boys are already trying to teach her naughty things....like shaking her head "no" when you ask her anything. They think it's hilarious to ask her, "Is Mommy your favorite?"...she shakes her head "no"...they laugh (positive reinforcement for not so positive behavior) and then they ask her another question. They can do this for hours.

Her pediatrician visit went great. She now weighs 15 lbs, 9 ozs. She'll see him again next month for another weight check and blood work. We are working on switching her to U.S. formula. She seems to be handling the change well. We are also trying to introduce as many solid foods as we can. She still struggles a bit with solids, so we have jarred baby food to help ensure that she's getting enough fruits and vegetables.

I still can't believe she is home. I can't believe the wait is over. I can't believe we went to China. We've been looking at our pictures from the trip and reliving so much of our time spent there with our family and friends. That's been a lot of fun because the trip goes by so fast that you forget all that you did and saw. I feel endeared to that country. I will always treasure the time we spent there and do my best to inculcate into Kailahni a sense of pride in the place where she came from. China will be in our hearts forever and the people, especially the children, of China in our prayers.

 

 

 

 

Home Sweet Home!

We are finally home! It's the weirdest feeling in the world to have Kailahni with us at home. A good feeling, but so surreal. She is doing great. Her brothers LOVE her. I let them stay home from school today, and they couldn't get enough of her.

Our flight (or I should say flights) were long and little bit tough. None of us slept all that much. Kailahni had a few bad boughts of crying (screaming, really), but it could have been worse. I think it was the lay-overs that really got to us. Over 8 hours of lay-overs...YUCK! But, it was all worth! We made it home safe and sound! We had the world's best welcoming committe waiting for us when we deboarded in Phoenix. Actually, we had a welcoming committe in L.A. also (we're so special). My girlfriend Machel and her kids, Ashley and Travis, drove up from La Jolla to catch a glimpse of Kailahni. Although our visit brief, it was very meaningful. Thank you Machel, I love you!

Seeing our boys and all of our friends and family at the airport was such an awesome experience. You never really realize how much you miss someone until you see them again. We even had three fellow "March Mamas" at the airport to greet us! That was so special!

I think we are all adjusting well. Last night went great, tonight is starting to look a little different (Kailahni is very turned around on her sleep schedule). I don't plan on doing much for the next few days. Adjusting to Phoenix time and loving on each other is about the only thing I have on my schedule. That, and visiting with my friends and family who stop by. We have such supportive, patient and loving friends and family. I came home to two VERY well taken care of boys, a clean house that was stocked with food, and precooked dinners from my Mom. How awesome is that?! I don't have many pictures to post from our arrival (for once, I wasn't the one taking them), but I'll add them later when I get some from others.

Thank you to everyone who followed our trip so closely. It was fun having you all there with us. It really made us a lot less home sick than we would have been. Doug and I are grateful beyond words to have each and every one of you in our lives.
Saying "Goodbye" to China.

On the plane headed for home..



Waiting in Toyko for our flight to the U.S. (only 16 hours to go...uugghh)


Home at last!