Home Sweet Home

Well, it's been well over a week and we are all pretty much settled in. Sophie is doing amazingly well adjusting to her brothers, us and the time change. She really hasn't thrown us any curve balls...yet!

Let's start with the plane ride home. I've had many of you ask how that went. Well, let's see, the first flight from Krasnoyarsk to Moscow was at 10 p.m. and you can imagine what a 1 year old does at 10 pm if they aren't asleep. Yep, scream! It was horrible. Scott had to bounce her in the back of the plane for most of our flight. We had rude stares and snarls from the passengers, especially when we tried to lie her down on the floor to sleep. Luckily, we knew it was only a 5 1/2 hour flight and then we were in Moscow. Once we arrived in Moscow, it was really 2 am (her time) but actually it was about 9:30 pm. The drive to our hotel knocked her out! She was out cold through check in, undressing her in her pj's and lying her down to sleep. She slept all night and woke up once. Thankfully, this was going to be a preview of what was to come. Yes, she is a great sleeper. At first she woke up once at night because she looses her pacifier, but now, she soothes herself back to sleep.

That next morning (at 7:15!!!) the doctor came in a checked her out for her Embassy appointment the following day. In the 10 minutes he was there he said how he knew she was a favorite in the orphanage and she knew how to get people's attention. He also said she needs to move to Hollywood! She is a bit of a drama queen...kind of like her mama:)

We hung out in the hotel that day and just let her roam the halls. We stayed in a very nice Marriot Hotel-Tverskaya! Highly recommend for other families!

The Embassy appointment the following day was a bit of a struggle. It was cold and rainy that day too so we weren't allowed to do any sightseeing (Huge bummer!) We were told Embassy would take about 15-20 minutes total, but there were about 8 or 9 families there which made it last an hour and a half! It was painful! All Sophie wanted to do was fly down some stairs and when she doesn't get her way, you better hold your ears and push the record button on the camera! It does make me laugh a little to see someone so tiny be SO dramatic!

Our flight back to the US left the next day around noon. We were pleased to find 2 other adoptive families on our flight. One who sat right in front of us (yeah!) and another from Arlington who we go to know pretty well and are so thankful we are experiencing this together! Sophie actually did really well on the flight other than she only slept about 1 1/2 hours out of 11! It made for a LONG day. There was a sweet Russian grandmother who sat next to us. She grabbed Sophie from us and rocked her to sleep and continued to hold her for the next hour. SWEET! At first I was a little concerned about the whole thing, but by the end of the flight, that sweet woman put the other 2 babies to sleep as well. She was like the baby whisperer! Oh, we also had a drunk Russian man grab our baby and take her to the back of the plane to visit his buddies. Yes, you heard me right. It was awkward but I guess that's just their culture. They have NO boundaries! Scott's responses was, "where's he going to take her?" OK, I'll trust!

So all in all, she did great with the traveling. The flight from D.C. was a little rough but the entry into the Austin airport made it so worth it! The second my foot hit the escalator I burst into tears seeing our boys, family and friends who have all had a huge part in our journey. I tried as hard as I could to hold back the tears, but it just wasn't workin'! I let it flow!

The boys have taken an immediate liking to Sophie, especially Jake. She really is drawn to Jake and he was the first one she let hug and kiss on her. Tyler's been the sweet sensitive one and alerts us if he thinks Sophie needs our attention and Brady has been such an awesome big brother. A bit of a shock for us, but he has matured SO much. Almost to the point of making me a little sad that he has grown up so quick!

We are having a few power struggles with her, like not allowing her to go in certain rooms, play with knives, you know, the "safety" things, which throw her into a fit, but she bounces back quick! Just distract he with another toy (hello ADD) and she forgets what's she's upset about. We had a little bit of trouble with her falling asleep but know have learned to stay in the room until she falls asleep so she knows we aren't going anywhere!

I sometimes look at her and think does her biological mom have any idea how precious she is! I find myself thanking her a lot throughout the day and also realize I will probably never get to thank her. But this little bundle of giggles and dimples has changed me and my family forever!

So, these first few weeks we were supposed to "nest" with her and allow only Scott and I to feed her put her to sleep, pick her up, etc....however, I was in the ER all day Saturday with a slipped disk in my upper back/neck area! Yes, of all times for this to happen. I can hardly pick my baby up so we are know counting on grandparents and great grandma to help us through this time. I went to the doctor today and am going to get the steroid injections and get in touch with a neuro surgeon to see where to go from here (no surgery...if possible). So if you could keep my in your prayers I'd appreciate it. I'm having a hard time knowing that this special time we should be having bonding with one another is being tainted. Well, tainted isn't the correct word, but you get the idea. I need to let go and let God take control over this situation, because, Lord knows, I have tried! I can't do it alone! Literally!