Monday, March 7, 2011

Coming out of the fog.

Sadly, this is the best I got so far... taken at midnight the night we arrived home. All four kiddos... together at last.

We haven't managed to get a shot of all six of us yet. Maybe sometime soon. Maybe.

The new normal is busy. Even though it was only a few short years ago that D was 17 months... I had forgotten what it was like to have a busy toddler walking around the house.

Oh yes... she walks. Waddles, really.

She follows the other kids around. In fact, there have been a few "races" around our dining room table. And... for now... Grace always is allowed to win. I'm not sure how long that will last. :)

Or all four kids crawling down the hall... Grace the last one, following all her crazy siblings around. AND the giggles. OH the giggles. Music to a parent's ears.

Well... except when you are really tired and the giggles turn to screams. And the screams give you a headache.

Grace is doing really great. She is really happy. Smiles and giggles all the time.

LITTLE signs of attachment.... she finds Steve or I and reaches up to be picked up. She has even laid down her little head on my shoulder a couple times... I know that sounds like such a simple little thing that one would expect from a toddler. But, for her this is HUGE. While awake, yesterday was the first time that we have seen any sort of "cuddle" from this little one. It just isn't what she is used to. It isn't what she knows. And every little thing... so often taken for granted with other children... are signs of her little heart healing. We know that is will take a long time. But we rejoice with every sign.

Last night she slept. OH she slept. all night.

Too bad we didn't.

Jet-lag still has us up in the middle of the night.

and a little basement flooding at 2 am didn't help either. Ugh.

But, generally... we are starting to feel a little better. I little less dizzy. I little less sick to our stomach. A little less tired. Yeah... these last couple days haven't been a whole of fun. But, I think we are starting to come out of the fog.

Below are pictures from our last couple days in Guangzhou that I haven't had the chance to share. Enjoy.
Bubble bath!

Pearl River dinner cruise.

S eating chicken feet.

Dinner with our group the last night in Guangzhou.


Waiting in Beijing airport for the long flight home.

On the plane in her seat.


Happy (for now) on the plane.

Looking out the airplane window as we passed over the Great Wall. Saying goodbye to China. For now.

3 comments:

  1. Welcome home! I love the first picture of all your children--great picture, especially with it being so late. Glad to hear of the "fog" lifting, too!!

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  2. he ate a chicken foot??? oh my-- what was it like?

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  3. Hang in there! It will get better, it will get better, it WILL get better! Jet lag kicked my butt and then sickness kicked all of our butts right after that. By the end of week 2 home, I finally felt normal. It took for-stinkin-ever! Ahhhh! Jet lag will not be present in Heaven!

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