First Four Days HOME - Lazy Days, Holiday Fun

Well, as you can see in the photos below, Thea is a happy, happy girl.

Our first 4 days home have been a whirlwind. Mark has had an awful time with jetlag. I mean aweful - feeling sick constantly, not able to stay awake during the day and getting up in middle of the night. For three days in a row, he slept 6-8 hours during the middle of the afternoon and then woke up in middle of the night at 3 or 4am.

As for me and the kids, we're adjusting well. I've been getting up much earlier than normal, but that will change soon enough. Kam and Thea have been waking up anywhere from 5a-8a. If Thea wakes up before anyone, she reads or plays in her room. She hasn't tried to wake me up yet. I always wake up because I hear her in the bathroom brushing her teeth and washing her face (something she does immediately after waking up every single morning).

The kids are just enamored with Thea. They try to do everything possible to please her. They share their food, bring her new dolls or toys constantly and just love on her. She has been very open to their affection and seems to reciprocate most of the time. Janie loves to crawl in the chair with Thea each morning and then play Barbies. Aunt Em and Aunt Kathy each bought Thea a new Barbie. It is not something my girls have played with before, but seem to have fun with now that Thea has an interest.

The 4th of July holiday was nice for all of us, except Kam. He spent the afternon playing with our neighbors, then came home with a stomach ache. He ended up in his room for the entire evening, getting sick several times. My nieces, Julia, Elli & Helana visited. After having fun in the backyard, we all walked down the street to see our city fireworks. Thea loved everything about the evening. When she was tired, she showed us that she wanted to go to bed.

Mark was completely paranoid about Kam getting sick. He actually googled "vomiting". I sat along side of him, not quite sure what would make us feel better or confident that he didn't catch anything in China or on the plane. Good news is that Kam was only sick for about 8 hours. After a good night's rest, he was back to being an active 8 year old.

We spent the holiday weekend swimming at Grandma Linda's pool. Our weather here was perfectly clear skies and gorgeous for two days in a row. Thea LOVES, loves, loves the water. She has us in complete and total awe of her willingness to try new things.

No issues YET. I know they are coming, but for now things are great :) Another update soon.

Fourth of July evening, having fun with glow necklaces (notice Mark's beautiful glow earrings!)

The clan, having fun coloring each morning.

Morning routine. Thea and Janie enjoying fruit and a little TV before the running around begins!