[guatgal]

We finished our final homestudy tonight for adopting a little girl. Speaking with our SW about how "big" our boys (virtual twins........7 weeks apart in age) have become, has got me thinking about when they first came home. I'm going to share my story and would love to hear from others!!! As first time parents we did not know the difference between having one child verses two. In hindsight it probably was a bit overwhelming, but as I said we did NOT know the difference so it seemed pretty easy. Our oldest, Ian, was carried in a sling and although he is quite flexible by nature, had no muscle strength in his legs. (Which he developed literally in a couple of weeks after being home.) I remember even calling the agency while in Guatemala because we were so concerned. Our youngest, Brennan, had a tough time adjusting to the changes. The first few days he was with us he was totally constipated, which TRUST me, we now KNOW is sooooo unlike him!! But our second day home he was so outta sorts, all I could do was to rock him while sitting in my bed and talk to him in Spanish. LOL.......my version of Spanish was (ok....it still is) Hola........Hola........Hola!!! Granted I don't give myself enough credit.........I know at LEAST five more words in Spanish!! But that is still so incredible to me.......that is probably how we bonded. I think our beginning bonding with Ian developing him physically, and moving his legs (trust me..........they still haven't stopped......yet now they are much faster than mommy and daddy's).......and Brennan's has always been more emotional!!

Please share "come home" stories with us! I know we all have something that is different and unique..........or even just something touching!!! It's fun to remember isn't it!!!!

Thanks for letting me share!!!!

[A_ROSE024]

Great story, I can't wait to post some of my own. Thanks for sharing.

[guatgal]

Angela, I can't wait to hear your story!!! I'm sure it will be soon!!!

[ManyTimesBlessed]

C'mon guys! We need more stories. I love hearing about what it's like when you finally have your baby home. It seems to help a little with the wait.

[Mary Mulcahy]

I remember waking up on Christmas Day, 2002 and
THERE WAS A BABY IN MY HOUSE! I was really a mom and it scared the crap out of me. Two days later, Danny had very runny poo poos and I slept with my clothes on in case we had to go to the emergency room!
One time I used lavender bath gel as lotion and he woke up screaming bloody murder. I was in a fog for the first 6 weeks. When you are finally home and the little one is crying and won't stop it gets a little wierd, but soon you get your systems and heck everyone adjust.

Ricco had the stomach flu 1 week after being home and Danny a severe ear infection so for adoption #2 I spent about 1 afternoon a week at the doctor's office for either kid.

THis year we have only been there twice
Mary, mom to Danny and Ricco

[mattecook]

I had it fairly easy it seems with Emma. However, getting use to the different colors and smells of the stuff coming out of her backside was an adventure. I probably called the doctor everyday panicked because it was changing colors. Oh and noone told me that some of the children from Guatemala have dry skin or eczema. I tried every lotion and oil known to man to get her to stop looking as if she was shedding a layer of skin and losing her scalp. But you know something even though as first time parents we may be inexpereinced or unprepared for some of the well mroe interesting parts of being a mommy or daddy it is soo much fun. Today I was holding and feeding a little baby who is a little more than a month old and I couldn't believe how MUCH I missed feeding Emma with a bottle. Honestly at 2 if she would cuddle up to me and sit still I would give her a bottle everyday (ssshhhh don't tell my ped) but there is nothing better than that closeness that you feel when they are all snuggled up to you.

Great thread I am sure there are more people out there

Ami

[Shoshana]

I never expected Xiomara's adoption to be completed so quickly. My pre-planned sight-seeing & visit trip turned into the pick up trip. I flew to Florida, met my parents & sister at Miami airport, and went on to Guat with my sister. She drank coffee from morning to night with no concerns about sickness. My sister is an experienced mom and a social butterfly so she did most of the baby care & socializing while I handled paperwork and business stuff. I was so nervous I could hardly eat and was careful about what I did eat.

My mom made sure I packed one of those nose squeegee things and sure enough, Xiomara had a cold. My sister was down stairs at the Marriott drinking yet another coffee and I was (gasp) alone with my little one. I thought I'd take the plunge and squeegee her nose. I laid her on the bed and kneeled down next to it. Well, the darn thing didn't work. I tried and tried, all the while cussing our ability to send people to space while being unable to invent a proper tool to clean a baby's stuffy nose. I even looked at the back of the package for directions -- none, so it went into the trash. When my sister returned, she was not impressed with my rant and promptly removed the squeegee from the trash. I hadn't removed the plastic cap.

We spent an extra day in Guate so we could visit Angtigua. No tour, just walking around. I was such a push over. The kids were following me around town because I couldn't say no. At one point, a sibling group of four, the oldest was probably ten, gave me a lesson in properly bundling my daughter.

We flew back to Florida and Xiomara and I were staying for a few days to give my parents a chance to meet their new granddaughter. I still wasn't very hungry and the morning after we arrived, I became very ill. That night, my mom took Xiomara to a baby shower, and my dad stayed home with me. I remember him bringing me ice chips which just fell out of my mouth onto the floor. After the shower my mom had the wisdom to stop at a pharmacy and ask if she should give me any particular medicine. Upon hearing the symptoms, the pharmacist said to take me to the hospital. I was admitted for 24 hours and not allowed to care for Xiomara for 4 days. I was SO sick. The whole while, tho', I kept a good frame of mind -- I kept thinking, "if this is the worst that happens, I'm lucky!"

Today, my daughter is 2 and a half. She weighs 30 pounds! and she got her first pair of glasses! She seems to be adjusting well, she didn't try to take them off more than once or twice. I think she realizes how much better she can see. She's the love of my life!

[drjeanne]

I love this thread! Thanks for starting it!

Do we all really know how lucky we are?

Take care,
J