Now, here are some pics!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Breakthrough!
Today has been a good day. I hope it's not a fluke! Abram has been letting Aaron hold him as we run our errands today. I' ve been getting Grayson out of the car and carrying him in so my arms are full. Aaron gets Abram. As recent as last night, this would cause Abram to throw a full-fledged tantrum. He even cries if Aaron is pushing the cart he's sitting in! Today, Aaron pushed the boys around all morning with no protesting from Abram! AND, I just went to lay Abram down for his nap and he let me walk out of the room with NO crying! Now, he may still be awake, but he's not throwing a fit! Woohoo! Praise God! Please continue to pray for our transition...that Abram would continue to feel safer and more secure in our home each and every day and that he would begin to bond with Aaron.
Now, here are some pics!
Now, here are some pics!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Still not too much to say...
Every time I try to post about our trip, it just doesn't come out the way I want it. It's impossible to put into words the range of emotions we experienced, so I'm going to quit trying and just continue to process.
But, what I can put into words is how we're doing. Each day is getting better and better. Abram is really starting to feel more comfortable here at home. And, he does really well getting out of the house and going to the store, out to eat, or to play at a park. He just doesn't let me get very far. He still sobs every time I walk out of the room (unless I can sneak out really quick while he's busy playing). So, I've learned to do A LOT with 23 extra lbs. on my left hip (it certainly provides incentive to never gain 23 lbs.). Our lifesaver around here has been going outside to play. There are some days we are outside playing by 8 a.m. (3 weeks ago, this is what time Grayson woke up). The kids love being outside swinging, riding bikes, pushing bubble mowers, playing in the pool, you name it. Grayson seems to be a little better about not taking things away from Abram when we're outside or at a park where nothing is "his." Grayson is doing really well considering how tough it must be to see me constantly tending to every one of Abram's needs. We're doing our best to do special little things for Grayson, but what he wants most is our attention and that can sometimes be really hard since they don't play too well together, yet (Abram is a little sensitive about Grayson getting too close or too touchy...it's hard to predict what he likes/dislikes).
Nap time and bed time are getting much better. Grayson is such a trooper and has totally been a lifesaver. I have to sit with Abram at both nap time and bed time until he falls asleep. Thankfully, Grayson will wait downstairs and watch a show while I lay Abram down for a nap. Grayson will then go upstairs and lay in bed with a book until he falls asleep (we used to read books, rock, it was a 20 min. ordeal). Abram is also doing better through the night. Most nights he will sleep through the night or wake up once. He is quickly comforted and goes right back to sleep. A good night's sleep makes all the difference in the world with these two, energetic toddlers!
Now, what you really want...pictures:)
But, what I can put into words is how we're doing. Each day is getting better and better. Abram is really starting to feel more comfortable here at home. And, he does really well getting out of the house and going to the store, out to eat, or to play at a park. He just doesn't let me get very far. He still sobs every time I walk out of the room (unless I can sneak out really quick while he's busy playing). So, I've learned to do A LOT with 23 extra lbs. on my left hip (it certainly provides incentive to never gain 23 lbs.). Our lifesaver around here has been going outside to play. There are some days we are outside playing by 8 a.m. (3 weeks ago, this is what time Grayson woke up). The kids love being outside swinging, riding bikes, pushing bubble mowers, playing in the pool, you name it. Grayson seems to be a little better about not taking things away from Abram when we're outside or at a park where nothing is "his." Grayson is doing really well considering how tough it must be to see me constantly tending to every one of Abram's needs. We're doing our best to do special little things for Grayson, but what he wants most is our attention and that can sometimes be really hard since they don't play too well together, yet (Abram is a little sensitive about Grayson getting too close or too touchy...it's hard to predict what he likes/dislikes).
Nap time and bed time are getting much better. Grayson is such a trooper and has totally been a lifesaver. I have to sit with Abram at both nap time and bed time until he falls asleep. Thankfully, Grayson will wait downstairs and watch a show while I lay Abram down for a nap. Grayson will then go upstairs and lay in bed with a book until he falls asleep (we used to read books, rock, it was a 20 min. ordeal). Abram is also doing better through the night. Most nights he will sleep through the night or wake up once. He is quickly comforted and goes right back to sleep. A good night's sleep makes all the difference in the world with these two, energetic toddlers!
Now, what you really want...pictures:)
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Quick update!
I wanted to check in briefly to let everyone know that we are still alive! Aaron and I are both healthy and with the help of antibiotics, Abram seems to be kicking a "touch" of pneumonia.
Adjustment-wise, we seem to be making a little progress each day. The last couple of days, Abram has been pretty good about letting me put him down. He's beginning to venture out on his own a little more, exploring the house and toys. All things considered, Grayson has done remarkably well. He, of course, just happens to want to play with everything Abram does at the exact moment Abram does but, that's to be expected. When he's not wanting to be held, Abram is an extremely happy, playful little guy! He has the brightest smile and a beautiful laugh.
Now, we just have to get bedtime figured out. We were a bit spoiled in Ethiopia. Abram would fall right off to sleep on our bed and we would move him to the crib where he would sleep most of the night. If he did wake up, I got him out and he would fall right back to sleep. For the first couple of nights at home, this same tactic worked. I knew it wouldn't be permanent, but it let us get some sleep right after getting home. Well, within a couple of nights, Abram became very sensitive to us laying him in the crib and would wake up screaming as I laid him down. So, we decided it was time to go straight to the crib. We've been doing pretty well laying him in the crib and then sitting on the floor right by the crib holding his hand, etc. Each day is getting a little better, but tonight it took over an hour for him to go to sleep. He also tends to wake up 3 times a night. I'm exhausted. I don't think it helps that he appears to have about 4 teeth coming in. This type of thing is so hard because there is no letting him "cry it out." I can't even imagine letting this little child think that we've walked off and forgotten about him. As hard as it is, we have to build trust. He has to feel safe in his crib and I don't think he does just yet. But, as with everything else, we'll get there.
Here are a few pictures from our time at home!
Adjustment-wise, we seem to be making a little progress each day. The last couple of days, Abram has been pretty good about letting me put him down. He's beginning to venture out on his own a little more, exploring the house and toys. All things considered, Grayson has done remarkably well. He, of course, just happens to want to play with everything Abram does at the exact moment Abram does but, that's to be expected. When he's not wanting to be held, Abram is an extremely happy, playful little guy! He has the brightest smile and a beautiful laugh.
Now, we just have to get bedtime figured out. We were a bit spoiled in Ethiopia. Abram would fall right off to sleep on our bed and we would move him to the crib where he would sleep most of the night. If he did wake up, I got him out and he would fall right back to sleep. For the first couple of nights at home, this same tactic worked. I knew it wouldn't be permanent, but it let us get some sleep right after getting home. Well, within a couple of nights, Abram became very sensitive to us laying him in the crib and would wake up screaming as I laid him down. So, we decided it was time to go straight to the crib. We've been doing pretty well laying him in the crib and then sitting on the floor right by the crib holding his hand, etc. Each day is getting a little better, but tonight it took over an hour for him to go to sleep. He also tends to wake up 3 times a night. I'm exhausted. I don't think it helps that he appears to have about 4 teeth coming in. This type of thing is so hard because there is no letting him "cry it out." I can't even imagine letting this little child think that we've walked off and forgotten about him. As hard as it is, we have to build trust. He has to feel safe in his crib and I don't think he does just yet. But, as with everything else, we'll get there.
Here are a few pictures from our time at home!
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