Home and Doing Well

While I wasn't planning to do another post, I have had a few requests to provide an update since we returned home with Taya. If you happen to be reading this blog for the first time, might I suggest that you start from the first post back in May as it will make a lot more sense if you read the posts chronologically.

Let me preface this post by acknowledging that the amount of love and support from family and friends seemingly very invested in our experience has been incredible. We really are blessed with wonderful family and friends. You have made an incredible experience even more rewarding. Thanks to all of you for your kind words and thoughtful actions.

Our flight home was anything but fun. We took a train to Hong Kong on Tuesday night and then boarded a 747 Wednesday morning for the twelve hour flight from Hong Kong to San Francisco. We knew the flight would be difficult, but it was made more challenging because the flight was completely full and we were sitting in the back of the plane. Taya struggled to get comfortable and so she didn't sleep for more than a few minutes at a time. Brooke was again a trooper as Taya still wouldn't let me hold her without screaming (which would not have gone over well with the other passengers). So I was on the support crew (making bottles, arranging pillows, picking up toys, etc.) We then had a four hour layover in San Francisco before finally arriving in Salt Lake. All in all, it was a very long day that we were happy to get behind us.

As you might expect, there was a great deal of excitement in re-uniting our family and having our other children meet Taya for the first time. We were a little concerned about how Taya might respond to more new faces, but when she saw our kids for the first time a huge, convincing smile came over her face. Tanner, Tatum, Parker and Reagan were also very excited and have fully embraced Taya as a new member of our family (sometimes to the extent that we have to remind them to give her some space). So, it seems the kids have all taken this right in stride. The only exception to this is an occasional "attention-grabbing" episode by our little Reagan who is no doubt struggling just a bit with the fact that she is no longer the center of all attention in our home.

Brooke and I often discuss what Taya must be going through as she continues to adjust to her new surroundings. It is difficult to comprehend the dramatic and complete change she has experienced (culture, food, faces, language, weather, time zones, etc.) She has done quite well during the days and seems to revel in the relatively wide open spaces (compared to what she likely had in China) that our home and yard provide. But the past few nights have been difficult. Beyond the fact that she is now expected to sleep during what used to be her daytime; each time she wakes up, it appears as if she has forgotten what she has experienced and has to take some time to re-acclimate. We are also wondering if she has been having some bad dreams associated with this adjustment. Whatever it is, the result has been several consecutive sleepless nights. Last night proved to be the best since we have been home though (she only woke up crying twice) and that is a good sign.

It is fun to witness more and more of Taya's personality traits as time progresses. She has a great smile that we are seeing more frequently everyday now. She is extremely active and loves to explore. It is causing us to revert back to "baby-proofing" our house. She loves to jump on the trampoline and has a large bump on her head from a fall onto the springs a couple days back. She also loves to take walks.

Brooke remains Taya's favorite, as expected and desired. She also loves Tanner, Tatum, Parker and Reagan. Luckily, she has even warmed up to me the past few days and allows me to hold her (for short periods of time) and take her for walks in the stroller. We are also happy that she has been pretty comfortable with some of the family members and friends that have visited the past few days. Just a quick hint...if you want her to really like you, bring some chocolate with you (right Brittany?).

Well, that's it for now. I'll likely let Brooke get back to blogging for the occasional updates in the coming months. In the meantime, here are a couple pictures we took just before returning and a few we took soon after we arrived home.