The First Week Home

Our strategy going in (May, June, July...) was to make sure we didn't overwhelm Seth when we first got home.  We figured he'd have enough to deal with, considering language, cuisine, time change, unfamiliar surroundings and people, and processing his loss, just to name a few.  However, in the first 9 days, we've been greeted by a large group at the airport, and been to a concert at Conner Prairie, church on Sunday both weeks, a softball game followed by a pizza party, a home-school field trip to the Children's Museum, a visit to my office, lots of playing with neighbor kids, a trip to meet K's violin teacher, 2 doctor's appointments, an ice-cream social, a visit with a senior couple in Franklin, a trip to the grocery store, a visit from our adoption social worker, and visits with friends in Anderson and Muncie.  Other than that, we've just been sitting around.

So what gives?  Are we just really poor planners?  Do we have a missing synapse that causes us to neglect all pre-considered notion?  I'd say it's more like changing a plan when that makes sense.  Seth's adaptability and good-natured response to each thing has given us permission to do another.  Additionally, the occasional slow day has actually been more challenging than the busy ones.

So we've enjoyed introducing him to different people, and he exhibits the same charm here as he did in China (albeit less verbally).  For the first week. he slept all night most nights, is eating well now, and is usually happy.  We'd love to know what he's thinking and saying, but there are small advances on that front too.  He mimics a lot of what we say, and has a few more English words in his arsenal too.

Overall he's coping very well, but mind you, he certainly has 4-year-old moments.  We definitely have "what is he going to do next moments", wondering if it will involve hitting, kicking, or yelling.   He's been up more in the night the last several nights, and hasn't been going to sleep in the evening as easily.

We're not into any routine yet - no surprise there - but it's an unsettled existence right now.  Communicating overrides everything.  The elephant in the room.

Oh, Nancy, recognize the helmet? No, book-reading hasn't become a full contact sport at our house just yet, but getting him to take the helmet off after a bike ride is. Sure kid, wear it as long as you like.