Grace is taking a afternoon nap so I thought I would write a little bit about how she has done for her first week home. It is amazing to me to think of all the changes she has gone through in the past week and how we are seeing her blossom! Today on this hour 4:20 she was put into our arms for the first time. What an amazing feeling. Our Gift From God!! She smiled at us right from the start and did not cry. She did not cry until bedtime on first night.
Her first night we drove into a blizzard and had to pull over at the nearest hotel. This was probebly a blessing just to get out and stretch and play. When it came to bedtime we had a long night with her as she was missing her foster family terribly. She totally clung to me, and did not want anyone els. We prayed for this and we were happy that she found such comfort with me.
When we got home on
Friday the kids were so excited to show her all of her toys. We were amazed at all the things she was doing. She was happy to be home and able to crawl around and check everything out. She really enjoys going all over and playing alot. She loves peek a boo, and patty cake! She giggles and smiles alot. She loves when her sissy holds her hands and she can walk around. Oh my goodness, she is doing so much more than we thought she was. Right when we got home..up went the gates on the stairs and we lowered her crib since she is so active. Her nights for the first 5 nights were completly on Korea time. Terry and I were up all night which is when she was ready to play. Yes play! So we did :-)
Monday was her first outing, and Im thinking just seeing too many people at once was maybe too much. She seemed great at the time, but Monday night she was grieving again for her foster family. She would cry out Uhma (mother in Korea). That was a sad and hard night for her. To see her cry in this way was heart breaking to see. We were aware that this is part of the process for her and is very healthy for her to go through it. We just held her tight. And again she preferred me over daddy during that time and found comfort with me. I held her all night long until she finally fell asleep on my chest.
Tuesday we saw the light and she napped during the day and did great! She slept for the first time through the night, and again on Wednesday night. We feel she is getting into a great routine with naps and nightime routines now. We try to keep things consistant and the same in the evenings..like bath time etc... She naps in her crib in her room during the day, and sleeps with us at night. She loves to be rocked to sleep in her room. It is quiet and comforting to snuggle.
She is such a happy happy baby and doing great. It is amazing to us how many changes she has been through, but is really bonding to all of us. Daddy can now rock her to sleep for naps, but night time for sure is Momma. :-) . If a stranger talks with her she holds mama tighter. We all love her so much. I look at her all the time and think..."wow she is finally ours and finally home at last".
Gracie had her first trip to our dance studio. She loved seeing all the kids dancing. You cant see them in this photo, but this class is practicing their dance for recital that is coming up this coming weekend. So many many things to get checked off our list, Im not sure how terry and I do this year after year. This is our 9th year. But like every year it will come together! It is always an exhausting week for my entire family. I don't think many people really realize all the hard work. To top it off, I had to take my two girls into the doctor today. Amanda has a really bad sinus infection, and Grace had her first WBC, turned out they did blood work and a urine sample with using a cathider. UGH!!! Im not sure why the need to run tests. I thought I was just in for a simple weight and height kind of thing. But our pediatrician said they run these tests with all adopted children. Well I have never been worried about anything....but did what she wanted. I had to leave the room...only to break my heart. I felt like she would think I was leaving her. AFter only one week of being home, that is the last thing I ever want her to worry about. I could hear her cry and it about tore my insides out to hear it. After they were done I went in and "rescued" her from the mean old nurses :-). My poor little baby. They called later this afternoon, and tests all came back great. Duh!! I could have told them that. We went from the dr office to the Theater for my student practices, and I carried her in the little carrier around the front of me , she slept for 2.5 hours like that. She was just happy to be in mommies arms!! Last night she slept the entire night through from 10pm-4am. We acually slept. She has a horrible cold now, and the dr. put her on meds, so hopefully very soon my two little girls will feel much better!! This weekend we will have lots of family out that come and see the shows. Pray for our family during this busy time and that we are all healthy and have a fun weekend. I will miss the kids from the studio this summer as we take a summer break, but Im really looking forward to playing with my kids all summer long! 
