[gnattylove]

Hello all. I am so glad to finally be home with baby Maggie. Boy, did we have a trip. To start off, Maggie hated me. She would scream every time I tried to touch her or hold her. She was miserable. She
would let Joe hold her but she was still not very happy. The first 36 hours we had her, she only drank 5 ounces of formula. She just refused to eat. You could tell that she was mad and scared and
wanting her foster mom. It was so sad. I felt so bad for her but it also hurt my feelings. I really tried to understand but I just cried and cried because she wanted nothing to do with me. It took her 4
days before she would let me hold her and then she still preferred Joe. She has started to come around a little and is letting me hold her more and she is eating so much better. She is also having some poppy issues. I think she might have a parasite or something. She has been having diarrea and it is very grainy. Sometimes it is green, sometimes it is yellowish green, and sometimes it is gray. Very weird. We are going to the Dr. in the morning. As if our trip wasn't bad enoughalreadt, when we got to the airport at 6:30am on Thursday for our 8:30am flight they told us our flight was delayed until 10am. Then at 9:30am they started loading the plan
and then they unloaded the plane and said that we were going to be delayed for a while longer because of machanical problems. Then about 30 minutes later they said our flight had been canceled. We
stood in line at the American Airlines counter for 4 HOURS trying to rebook our flight. The place where we had to stand in line had no bathrooms and no food or water. It was a nightmare. They rebooked
our whole flight for the next morning at 7:45am and put us up at the Marriott and paid for our meals. We finally got back to the hotel at 3:00pm after leaving there that morning at 6:15am. We got to the airport on Friday at 4:30am and waited in line for 30 minutes then they told us our flight had been canceled again. UGH!!! They ended up booking us on a flight to El Salvador on Taca airlines. Then we spent 6 hours in the San Salvador airport waiting to catch a flight on American to Miami. Then we spent 4 hours in the Miami airport waiting on a flight to Nashville. We FINALLY got home early Saturday morning. It was a
total nightmare. And to make matters even more worse, Macon was very mad at me when we got home. He wanted nothing to do with me all day
Saturday. He is starting to come around today. I feel so bad about leaving him and I will NEVER do it again. Right now Macon and Maggie are both asleep. Thank you, Lord. Joe had to go back to work today
so I am by myself. The next few weeks are going to be very challenging as we settle into a routine. I covet your prayers. I will post pics when I have time to find my zip drive. We still have not fully unpacked our suitcases. I wonder why?

God Bless,
Natalie

[CEB]

Well , that sounds like not the ideal airport experience at a stressful time to begin with. Sorry you had to experience that. My prayers and best wishes are with you, DH, sweet Maggie and big brother Macon that the rest of the adjustment to a complete family is not as bad as you fear. Keep on loving them and holding them - and please let us know how things are going.

[vh9076]

Natalie,
What a trip. You will laugh about the crazineness of it all someday.

I happy you are home with your little girl and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. I hope today is the start of much happier memories!

Vicki

[auntiepippi]

Natalie,

I was so sorry to read you had such a hard time with traveling, grieving... I pray it gets better for you and Maggie -- and the entire family -- really soon!

[mi_amiga]

Oh wow, I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that! And hang in there with the attachment....that's got to be tough. Our agency gave us a big list of things we could do to encourage attachment. Do you have that? I'm sure it's all just a matter of time. I'm glad you guys made it home safe.

-Jaimee

[jeck]

Oh Natalie! I am so sorry that you had a horrible time getting home... that did not help matters at all! I will keep you in my prayers for not only for everyone to get attached and settled in but for new found energy for you!!

Thinking of you! Take care! If you need anything let me know!

[wildboyz2]

Sorry you had to go through that but welcome home!!!

[Tamiswaiting]

Oh, gosh, Natalie...I'm so sorry for the terrible stress you've been through. I sure hope things smooth out for you soon .

[mksilvermoon]

oh Natalie

what a marathon! i hope things start to ease now that you are home - and i second the suggestion around bonding activities - but most of all, congratulate yourself on getting home!

MK

[dovelu]

Wow! It sounds like you had a really rough time of things; my heart goes out to you.

I visited my almost 8 mo. old baby this past week for the first time. She too was a little sick- congested, fever, poop problems (very loose). I held her, in a front-carrier, constantly, while she cried on & off. She missed her f.m. and didn't feel well. I loved my visit, but it was a little sad that my daughter didn't like me more (of course I understand why, but it was still a little sad).

I guess I am trying to say that I feel your pain; hang in there: the good stuff is coming!

Peace,
Amy

ps: Welcome home!

[jandc]

Welcome home. Things will get better! What a story! That will be a fun one to look back on......later! Anyway, glad you are back and can't wait to see some photos. Hope your dd's gi issues get resolved quickly.

[purplecat]

Welcome Home! I hope that things will calm down for you now that you are home. Prayers & Hugs.

Cathy

[WVUMom418]

Oh my gosh, that sounds like a horrid experience with your flights. I'm so sorry that the transition has been difficult I hope that you get some relief very soon.

[JosieWales]

Oh, Natalie..what a nightmarish trip! I hope things settle in very, very soon for you. So glad you are finally home! You're in my prayers!

[guatparents2be]

oh natalie i am sooooo sorry.
it can only get better from here (knocking on wood...)
my best wishes that you settle in smoothly