Exhaustion!
Let's see. It is now Wednesday afternoon here as I write. That means we have had Taylor for almost 48 hours now. By my calculations, she has been happy for about 3 hours of that time. To say we are both a little tired would be a major understatement. The new environment outside of the baby house has got our little Taylor turned all upside down, and she is not shy about letting us know that she is a little upset about it. And naps... forget it! She does not want to sleep at all. Its been quite a struggle to get her to lay down and finally doze off, which only lasts for about thirty minutes. Throughout the night, about every half hour, she starts screaming again as though she just woke up and realized once again that she is in a strange new place. To the grandparents, all Maegan and I can say is sorry if we ever put you through the same thing. I know you have been waiting to hear that, so enjoy it. The shoe is finally on the other foot.
Our little handful is actually sleeping right now, so I have the chance to post this update. Not sure how many posts will come after this, but we'll let you know what's going on whenever Taylor decides to give us a break.
We are really looking forward to getting home with her so she can begin to adapt to her new environment. The flight, time change, and new house are certain to cause her more tension.
So here is the update on coming home. We finished applying for her Passport today. We will fly her to Almaty, Kazakhstan on the 21st to get her Visa, and we will be there for a few days. Our trip home is booked for the 25th of August. We will be flying from Almaty to Istanbul Turkey (5 hour flight). We will then have what looks like a 5 hour layover. We then fly from Turkey into Chicago, which will be about 11 hours in the air in total. Another 4-5 hour layover, and then we will be home. Our travel agent will be sending us the itinerary later today so that we have the exact times. Grandma Sue (aka babouska) will pick us up at the Detroit airport after our nice long journey home.
And as I type this, I hear Taylor crying again (its only been fifteen minutes since we put her down). Mom to the rescue.
Taylor just turned nine months old yesterday. We think she must be cranky about getting old (haha!). All in all we are very happy and excited of course to have our little girl! She is such a wonderful gift from God.
Sorry for the lack of pictures. We have been a little busy to say the least and have not really taken the opportunity to capture her various tantrums on film. Ah parenthood... Its a beautiful thing!
18 comments:
She will settle down. Sleep when she sleeps and you will all adjust together. This blog has been fantastic from beginning to date.
You should actually find a publisher to make a book so you can
assist those future adopting parents. My anticipation for meeting my new grand daughter is
overwelming, however we to will have to adjust to each other also because she will probably cry as soon as she see's me.
I miss and love you guys .
gggggggggoooooooooooo
Dad
Hang in there!!! I can't even imagine what it's like to be Taylor right now. These awesome people have come in and loved her and played with her, which she finds most cool, but all of a sudden EVERYTHING she knows is GONE! Just think had you NOT had the bonding with her, and just took her. She knows you and she loves you. I have friends with biological babies who cry nonstop with reflux and colic, and don't understand why they have friends who babies don't cry and how you can even go do errands without a child screaming.
Your blog is wonderful. You guys are wonderful-and it's been so awesome to read your journey as we prepare for ours. You can see how excited you are and how much you love your daugher, and she loves you.
I'll be saying extra prayers for you guys.
Parenthood is NEVER easy-ESPECIALLY that way we've all chosen to build our families.
but, hey, if it was easy, EVERYONE would do it, and there woudn't be any sweet Kaz babies left. :)
HANG IN THERE.
Hang in there guys. She will come around. Spencer also was out of his normal happy self for awhile. Walks outside helped. We switched each night who got to sleep so at least one of us was rested. Then during the day the other snuck in a nap. Once adjusted to us he started teething, and of course we did not realize all of the signs until after the fact. A little tylonal helped.
Good Luck, we will say a pray for you.
Michelle in GR
We can say surely say we have been there done that. Berik gave us quite a run for our money when we got him back to our apt. Just keep trying and yes sleeping while she is down is good. and yes the time change and flight will likely mess her up again as it did B but at least once you are at home someone else can keep an eye on her as you get some much needed sleep. They say not to let others feed or put the baby to bed for a while and we tried that but finally gave in and let family watch him because we were exhausted! B now sleeps regurlary and naps no less than 2 hrs a day. I DO NOT KNOW OF ONE FAMILY THAT HASN'T EXPERIENCED THIS SO DON'T FEEL ALONE. Your blog has been fun to read and I hope you'll have time to continue but understand if you don't. Thanks again for taking our pics of B to Gulsana and Baheet. Sincerely, Gena
we had the same problem when we brought Sophie home. We would walk her in th stroller until she fell asleep and then carry th stroller into our apartment ever so carefully, she took alomost all of her naps in her stroller and slept at night with us.
Maegan and Tony, Hang in there. Grant was the exact same way with sleeping issues when we brought him home from the baby home.....terrible!!! I really doubt if he slept longer than an hour at a time for the first week. He would do better if he was laying on top of me while I was sitting in a chair. It did get better but not until we were at home and jet lag got to him. I know in Astana, they gave Grant "something" to help him sleep. I think he may have been a little too used to it. He still isnt the best sleeper....very restless and it has been three years. But not anything like my first week with him. I remember thinking, "this poor kid hates me and cant sleep. Im going to have to take him back to the home so he can sleep!". No worries, the first week is definately the toughest! You guys are doing great.
Heather
wwoodse@comcast.net
I'm sorry to hear that Taylor is having a hard time but it is normal for what has happened. It will settle down but she will keep you busy. Imagine doing this alone? Good idea it's the two of you there. Someone can have a small break here and there. I hope things smooth out for you soon.
Hi Guys,
All I can say is basically what everyone else has been telling you.
It WILL get better. Right now, you can't see that light at the end of the tunnel, but believe me it is there. Maybe a little noise by her bed, like a radio might help. She probably was used to more noise in the baby house than you have in the appartment.
Hang in there, get lots of naps whenever you can & when you get home, you'll have LOTS of help.
Love, Mom
Just to echo the other comments. It DOES get better. Kiana didn't wake up as much but, still, she couldn't get back to sleep and couldn't let me help her (by carrying, rocking, etc.) Now if she wakes up in the middle of the night she can usually fall right back asleep. As others have said, you find little tricks that work (stroller, a certain position, etc.) and you cling to them until you find the next trick. Eating is also still a challenge for us (she screams in the middle of a meal for reasons I still don't quite understand) but it gets better and better. It's a good thing you still have time in Kaz before the long trip. I found it easier to go through some of the adjustment there so that she was more used to me by the time we boarded planes...
You're going to survive and it sounds like you have a great support network.
JG
Welcome to the world of parentgood. Let Mae know to take some migrane medicine when she starts to settle down, she will need it as Taylor starts to spaz out, as you say.Just give her time, she will start to settle down sooner or later. But I am glad that you cguys should be coming home in a little over a week. Too bad Aubrie wont be here to see you when you get home. But she will be happy to see you at the party. I am glad you guys are adjusting to having a baby now. It takes alot. Love ya guys
But she's SO CUTE! Don't forget that! Even naughty babies are cute. I remember being amazed with some of our children how they could be so bad all night, but sweet little darlings in the morning. As everyone else said, it's got to get better from here on.
Keith and Erin
A step by step guide to overseas adotion by Antonio Vinsenta
Like I said before she has a set schedule before and now theres freedom. It might scare her a little. Use music to settle her down. And yes country works, but try classical. Its soothing for the soul. She was used to a way of living and now she has change. Its good for her to adjust. Give her time and now she will start to soothe things over with the sleeping things. See you soon
Hey Guys: Sounds like right now you are having a rather hard time adjusting. It's normal and given the situation Taylor has been in - expected. I am sure she was probably in a room with other babies and being alone comes with seperation anexity. Try leaving a radio on in her room. I know that when Heather was born and even Aubrie, their always was a radio playing in the nursery. It seemed to have a calming effect and when I brought Heather home I made sure that I put a radio in her room. She was a non-sleeper as well, 10-30 minute cat naps all through the day and didn't sleep through the night until she was about 6 months old. I learned a fast lesson. When she fell asleep I dropped everything and did the same. I wondered if I would ever regain my sanity as I am sure you are feeling the same but it gets better. As your dad said Tony you all will adjust...just hang in there.
Once you get home and she adjusts to a "normal routine" things will get easier. Meg you bought Aubrie that wonderful fish night light- play aquarium and that worked wonders.We still have it in its box with the instructions so if you need it just let us know.
Mark and I wish you nothing but the best on this the final leg of your journey home. If you need anything please don't hesitate to call we have 2 vans and will help in any way we can.
Love and miss you guys
Debbie & Mark
Hang in there - it does get better! Our son was the same age as Taylor when we took him out of the baby house in Astana. The whole week we were in Almaty he refused to sleep in the crib, unless we put him to sleep with us first, and then he woke up on about the same schedule as Taylor. There was lots of crying too. The first 4 days home he barely slept at all - try a swing if she won't sleep at home. I put him in the swing and slept on the sofa. At least we each got a couple of continuous hours of sleep.
To give you some hope, after we the first 4 days home, he slept through the night and took 2 2-3 hour naps a day and he's been a great sleeper ever since. So, there is hope. I think the kids are just really overstimulated and out of their routine at the beginning, not to mention turning their days and nights upside down when you get home.
Best of luck,
Debbie
Hey all, I would ask how you are doing but from the looks of the picture of Taylor and her Daddy you all are in need of some good sleep! as everyone has told you try to sleep when you can, but that is easier said then done most of the time! we are looking foward to seeing you soon! Good luck Gods speed God Bless Love and Miss you all
Love ya all
HUGS!
Mark
Hang in there! That sweet baby will adjust and be her normal self soon!
In the meantime, we will say lots of prayers for you!
Sonya
You guys are doing great, and in the end it, it is all worth it.. I love reading your stories of your new life with Taylor-- even if they are starting to get me a little nervous :)! But, forewarned is forarmed, and that is why it is great that you share your expereinces with other parents waiting to travel, like myself.. So thank you, and continued good wishes for your new family..
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