Adjusting to Home Life

Enjoying the swing with Jei Jei

Party Girls

Grandma with almost all her Grandchildren

Elainea fixing Aunt Nanny's hair

Jei Jei left holding the bag

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to the stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear on cheerfully, do all bravely, awaiting occasions, worry never; in a word to, like the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common.

William Ellery Channing

It is hard to believe that we have been home for almost a month now. Our days are hardly typical yet, but we are communicating quite effectively with each other. Elainea's still likes to eat in large quantities, but she will refuse food that she does not like. She seems to prefer meat, fruit and crackers. Occasionally she will throw in a token lima bean or green bean, but otherwise veggies are met with a sour face and get spit out immediately.Elainea is fearful of animals and bugs. She likes to hide in the pantry and say "Bye-Bye" as she shuts the door. Today she went in and started screaming because she saw a spider. The poor thing will not go in there anymore. She whimpers around her Grandma's cat and does like stuffed animals.We were given the opportunity to speak at a parent's meeting for WIAA. It was difficult to talk about our experience again and it brought back many emotions. I still do not think any of us have finished processing what has happened in the last two months. We are way too busy to sit to think, analyze or reflect on what has happened. However, I would not have my life any other way. Elainea is the most precious gift we could have ever received. I am so proud of her and would not change a thing about my life now. Adoption is truly a miracle and is not to be considered as the last resort to complete a family. It was predestined for us to adopt and to have Elainea in our family. To all the families that are still waiting for their children, we can not offer any advice for the long wait, it is difficult and nothing makes it any easier. The best thing you can do is just find a coping mechanism and hang in there. Once you are on the other side you will think it is worth it!We are trying to plan for Elainea's baptism. We have scheduled it for April 15th. We bought a beautiful white dress and when we tried it on Elainea beamed from ear to ear. She ran around and twirled in the dress and did not want to take it off. We look forward to the day that she will join her Catholic family.We celebrated Pam's mother's birthday this weekend. It was wonderful. "Having Elainea come home was the best gift I could have asked for", she told us. That speaks volumes of her. Elainea is very lucky to have her as her Nei Nei. She watches Elainea on Thursdays when MaMa is at work. When Pam leaves she cries for a half hour. We are so proud! She is bonding with our family. She is also getting closer to her Aunt LeAnn (Nanny) and KayDawn (KK). They were so happy to spend some time with her during the birthday party and Elainea was just loving every minute of it. Aunt Nanny surprised us with a beautiful scrapbook derived from our blog entries. It is so well put together and Elainea loves to look at the pictures in it. How wonderful it is to have such family support. Both sides of our family have welcomed her with open arms and hearts. Our family would not be complete without her. All of our family members on both sides are truly grateful for God's grace and blessing of our newest family member.