Finding Our New Normal

It's hard to believe that we've been home for 5 days already! We've had some ups and downs since we have been home. Maddie has had some difficulty getting her days and nights turned rightside up. Consequently, Doug and I are exhausted as well. However, things are getting better every day.

Saturday night, shortly after going to sleep, I was so exhausted that I rolled over and fell out of bed! I now have war wounds that match Grandma Joanna's!! If it wasn't for the bruises, I wouldn't even remember it happening... I was in such a fog.

We learned very quickly - within the first few days of being home - that we have to limit our activities for a little while. We overdid it just a tad the first few days home and by Sunday morning it became obvious that we needed a little more down time during our adjustment period. Friday night and Saturday night, we were up with Maddie most of the night. She would sleep until midnight or so, then would be up for an hour or 2 at a time. Then, she would sleep for 45-60 minutes before being up for another hour or 2.

Even when she is not feeling the best, Maddie is such a social butterfly so it is difficult to recognize when she has reached her limits... until it is too late. She is such a curious little bird that she doesn't want to miss any of the action. However, after the action dies down, that's when the meltdowns happen. (Hmmm... sounds vaguely familiar... she takes after her mother!)

We missed church on Sunday, and it ended up being the best decision as that down time gave Maddie a bit of a chance to acclimate to her new surroundings. Dave, Shari, and the kids, along with Grandma and Grandpa Graber were here for lunch on Sunday. It was difficult to do, but we just let Maddie choose when and by whom wanted to be held and if she needed down time, and they were all very respectful of that. I promise, it will get better and hopefully by the next time we get together, everyone will get their share of holding and playing with her.

Sunday night was the first night that she actually slept a little better - she was up only once during the night and went right back to sleep after her bottle. Last night (Monday night), she was up from 2 AM to 4 AM, but then slept until 9:30 this morning.

Grandma Karen and Grandpa Tim came up from Terre Haute to meet Maddie. They went to the Troyer Family Breakfast at the Essenhaus with us on Saturday. Maddie loves her grandmas!

Also at the Troyer Breakfast, Maddie got to meet Cousin Mimi and all the other little tykes. She LOVES kids of all ages.

Grandpa Tim assembled Maddie's new bookshelf while they were here. Thanks Teri for this awesome gift!!

Our friends Rhea and Bailey stopped in to meet Maddie. Maddie got the biggest kick out of Bailey. I wish I could just keep him here to entertain her all the time!

Last night our neighbors, John, Sheila, and Mandy came down to see Maddie. Mandy is looking forward to being a big sister later this summer to a sibling from China. After they left, Maddie was all keyed up... her old happy self. The jumpy little wiggle worm in the video below is very typical Maddie when she is in a great mood.

Maddie is absolutely a part of our family - the missing link. Before meeting Maddie, when people would ask why we chose China for our adoption, we would tell them of the various anecdotes that led us to China. However, we now know that the reason we adopted from China is because that is where our daughter was, and God was putting these little signs in our lives so that we would find her. She was born halfway around the world. But we were destined to be together - to be family. Our hands and hearts are full and we thank God for this gift he has given us.