One Week Later

Although we are so happy to be home, it has been a tough week.  Jet lag hit us all hard.  I experienced dizziness and we all had issues sleeping at night.  Although AK was good about not getting up to play, she had to have one of us holding her most of the night to stay asleep.  Unfortunately, we cannot sleep with her own us.  For the first four nights, we got about two hours sleep at night and two hours during nap time.  We were not a happy family.  I felt I was being a horrible wife and mother, but I could not handle my emotions and had no patience.  We have made much progress later in the week. 

AK is such a smart little girl.  She has really bonded with Kevin and I.  She recognizes what we are saying.  When I ask for hug or kiss, she will hold out her arms for a hug or bend her head for a kiss.  She has learned the signs I have taught her so quickly.  She had learned milk/drink while we were in China.  Since being home, she now can sign eat, more, thank you, all done, and diaper change.  She easily transitioned to drinking milk, but likes it warm.  I have even gotten her to now take milk or water from a sippy cup, so no more bottles.  Hooray!  We have also made improvements in the sleep department.  We have found that she will sleep best on the couch.  She will actually put herself to sleep laying on the couch around 8:30 pm.  Two nights while on the couch, she woke up once.  Friday night was our best night.  I gave her a kiss and said night-night and I left her on the couch.  She slept all night till 8 am.  Praise! Prayer works!  We have also gotten out three times to run errands and she has done great in the car seat with cheerios in hand.  We have also braved going out to eat (fast food) and she has done better than Bennett.  Girl loves to eat.  We went to Wendy's and she ate four chicken nuggets, a few bites of burger, a lots of fries, and that was after a bowl of cheerios.  Our other success story is AK is taking a bath without me now.  She loves bath time.  I end up soaked with all the splashing that I probably should just get in. 

AK and Bennett are doing better.  They are tolerating each other and are less possessive of us.  We actually had a moment where they played together.  We took lots of pictures while it lasted.  Bennett really does love his "sissy".  In the morning when he gets up, his first words are where is sissy.  Both have gotten better at sharing at moments.  We are still having to work on AK's aggressiveness.  She tends to hit or bite when she wants something.  Bennett has picked up some of her bad habits to see if he can get away with it.  He does not. 

I hope the trend continues.  Kevin goes back to work Monday, so AK and I are on our own.  She is not talking, so I hope to work with her in the language area.  We also have her doctor appointment with the IAC ped Wednesday.  Thanks again for all the prayers!  We really have needed them to get through the past week.  I really was worried that we may never get to this point.