Difficult Week

I've been jotting down things I wanted to blog about during the past week...otherwise I am sure I wouldn't remember much of the past week.

It has been a very difficult week and I'm not sure I can even articulate why. I guess there are probably several reasons - the biggest one being lack of sleep. I started feeling better over last weekend and then Karla got a bad cold. We had to cancel all of our plans this week until today. Daddy had commitments Tues-Thurs night so we didn't get to see much of him. Since Karla was not feeling her best she was not as pleasant as usual and she woke up many more times per night. Her night sweats are back too...so they've been going on for about 4 weeks now. I think I expend a lot of energy just being concerned over her health. During most days she seems fine except for earlier this week when she was coughing, sneezing and had a very runny nose. Then at night...things are awful. I kind of feel like I am in a fog. I had some pretty weak moments where I was really upset and frustrated (usually wee morning hours). Then I feel guilty feeling that way because I know Karla can't help it if she doesn't feel good - the cycle continues. Last night Jason told me to call the doctor today. I have almost called her everyday this week but again, Karla seems pretty good during the day. I called, explained the situation, reminded them that we were there 2 weeks ago for some of the same problems and that things weren't improving but getting worse. I asked if they would speak to the doctor and see if she thought i should bring Karla in. The doctor called me back this afternoon and talked with me for almost 10 minutes. I feel like the doctor is taking me seriously because Karla is adopted but I don't know that for a fact. It bothers me but is good in this situation at the same time. She had obviously reviewed all of Karla's medical information from her hospital stay when she first got home until 2 weeks ago. So, she said it sounds like Karla has a sinus infection and wanted me to start her on an antibiotic today. So I did. I am to call the doctor back Monday or Tuesday and if there isn't any improvement she is going to order a chest x-ray and another TB test -the TB test is the part that upsets me! That is because of the adoption. Karla is supposed to have one in June as a standard follow-up so the dr said we'd just do it early if we need to. The doctor also asked me to go in to Karla's room at various time intervals to see if I can determine when the night sweating starts. I will do it but I am not happy with having to do it because I don't want to wake her up! She wakes up enough as it is! Hopefully I won't disturb her.

Karla and I have not been out of the house much at all in over a week and I think that is stressful for me...maybe her too, I don't know. I was thankful for my in-laws help this week, especially in the evenings when Jason wasn't home. Grammy is going to start coming over every other Tuesday (opposite our playgroup) so that I can go to the Y. I went for the first time since before Guatemala this past Tuesday. It was great to go back! I only did a "light" workout and I am still sore...it is going to take a while to get back in shape. Plus, I need to figure out how to get to the Y more than 2 times a month! Maybe it'll work out on the weekends...

Wednesday Karla fell while running through the hallway and fell right on her face. I heard it and knew it wasn't good. She immediately started screaming and when I bent to pick her up I saw blood coming from her mouth! I was concerned about her teeth - since one is already chipped. I grabbed her and the roll of paper towels and discovered she had bit her lip really good. It bled for what seemed to me like forever. It is the first time Karla had a bloody boo-boo so I was quite stressed out by the situation. I tried not to let her know it though. I thought she'd have a fat lip for sure but it is just really red. I had to call MY mommy when the whole incident was over.

Tuesday I had to go to the doctor for myself. I have been having wrist/hand/thumb pain for a while but it has progressively gotten worse. At first I thought it was from lifting something but after the long, late nights I've had I'm pretty sure it is from the way I hold Karla. Anyway, now I'm taking an anti-inflammatory for a few days and wearing a splint at night.

This week I felt like I was physically and mentally falling apart. A new week will be starting though. It has to be better than the last one!


On to more interesting things...
*At 3:45 pm on Sunday, I suddenly realized I was supposed to teach a kids Sunday School class as a substitute....and we didn't go to church! Karla and I were still recuperating. I totally forgot about teaching! I had even looked at the material earlier last week. I gotta start thinking clearly again - if possible!!!

*Monday we missed our last day of swimming lessons (because Karla was sick). We have registered for a gym class that starts on March 9 and runs for 6 weeks. I'm looking forward to something different (other than swimming). Karla made progress though in her swimming classes. By the end of lessons she was kicking and scooping more in the water than she was initially. I think she had a lot of fun!

*Karla has started saying her name. It sounded like Ka-ka at first but now it is more like Ka-ga. We have worked with her a lot on this because I know she can say "L"s - she can say Lola, lion, etc. with no problem...but there is no changing Ka-ga. One day I told her her last name and wanted to see what she would say. Well, she's been saying Ka-ga No-nik ever since! It is hilarious! When I told her her last name I also told her Mommy ___ and Daddy ___. She looked at both of us, said Ka-ga No-nik and then looked at Oso and said "Oso No-nik?" - and of course I had to say yes. Jason and I started cracking up. He really is one of the family.

*Wednesday morning I had to get up and do some stretching because I was sore from my work-out the previous day. I had Karla sit on the floor with me to stretch too. She was doing the stretches with ease and looking at me like I was crazy for having trouble and making strange noises while doing them.

*We (of course) are pretty much convinced Karla is a genius. :) She is talking so much - seems like she took off with her language again this week. She's putting 2-4 words together in sentences. She uses the word "empty" appropriately, she uses the words "on, off, in, out, up, down, open, close" and is loving using her name. She labels everything lately (Mommy's chair/spoon/hair, Daddy's chair, Karla's chair). We also had worked on sharing and I would always say "Mommy's turn" or "Karla's turn" so she is over-using "Karla's turn" now - like when she really wants something, it is all of a sudden "Kaga's turn". It is funny though.

*Karla is also telling little stories. Earlier this week her Daddy had given her a bath. Later that night, when I was changing her diaper, she was telling me about the bath using words and gestures. I knew exactly what she was telling me about too. Speaking of which, she just ran in here and told me Daddy gave her a high-5.

*Karla lets me snuggle, hug and kiss her so much. In Guatemala I wanted to hug and kiss her all the time but I started by kissing her hand or her face when she let me because that seemed about what she could handle then. Now she lets me hold her hand and hug and kiss her pretty much whenever I want. Sometimes she'll come up to me and just spontaneously give me a hug and kiss. I love when that happens!

*I've been trying to write this all night, while playing, eating, reading, running, catching a little girl and cleaning up 4 spills (3 were milk and 1 was the carpet cleaner bottle)! I don't know if we'll have open cup drinking again in the family room for a while. I was feeling adventurous since it is Friday night.

Here are pictures from tonight. All 3 of us were home and got to play! Karla looks (and was) so pleasant...but you should hear her now while her Daddy is trying to put her to sleep. Oh my...... It is incredibly frustrating for us both. Now she will only let me put her to bed and comfort her during the night. I am frustrated because I have to do it all the time and Jason is frustrated because he wants to help and when he does she screams and cries the whole entire time. Hoping for better nights SOON...

Sick

I was sick for the first time since Karla has been home. A bad cold hit me Wednesday night. I had to call in reinforcements on Thursday for a few hours (thanks, Grammy!) because I was just so tired. Karla seemed to sense that I wasn't feeling well (or it could have been that I wasn't moving from the couch) because she played on her own more than usual and would look at me and just smile or touch my knee and then go back to playing. It was pretty cute.

None of us got much sleep last night because a certain 2-year-old kept waking up. Today Karla seems to be getting my cold so I am guessing that is why she was up so much last night. I thought she was the one that gave me the cold...but it seems like she is on round two here...ugh.

Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Brenda and Uncle Russ came over to visit today! I am really hoping we didn't share any germs with them. Karla had fun showing everyone her "big" bed and pretending to sleep. She loves to play "sleep" but at night it is a different story! I didn't do a good job of taking pictures today. I hope Grandma got some good ones. Karla liked having lots of attention today and showing off all of her "tricks" and words.

We're really hoping for a night of sleep...and that Daddy won't get this cold too!

Looking Good

Wow, I'm kind of cute...

I'll even smile for the camera...

Don't forget to take a picture of my shoes!!! (Mommy is kicking herself for not hiding them...they make everything more difficult because they must be on at all times!)

Girly Girl

Karla seems to be back to her normal self. Not having anymore strange symptoms. Yeah!

She slept well the first 2 nights in her big bed. Then we had two terrible nights of waking up many, many times AND not wanting to go to bed (which hasn't happened in a long time). Then last night she only woke up once. Who knows if we'll ever get a pattern.

I found Dora sheets at Target! We haven't put them on the bed yet though. I feel like I am saving them for a special occasion...like if she ever sleeps through the night.

We hosted playgroup at our house this morning. We both had fun. This afternoon Karla has been a bundle of energy!!! I don't know where she gets it. Luckily she is not requiring me to chase or entertain her. She is having a lot of fun hiding under cushions, yelling at Oso, and wearing a pair of my high heel shoes she found this morning in my closet. I haven't worn them in years...didn't even know I still had them. They have provided hours (probably) of fun today.

Here is a picture of Karla purposely not letting me get a picture of her with all her hair clips and high heels. It was the best shot I got.


Okay, I'm being beckoned to play with Karla and Oso. I am actually Oso half of the day usually. I don't even use a special voice. I just have to hold him and talk for him.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day from Chik Fil A...


...and from the bathtub...


Saturday we went to Chik Fil A for lunch. There were lots of kids there and Karla played in the play place for a little while.

Jason and I went on our first date since sometime in Sept or early October. We went to our favorite local restaurant and then went shopping for a new cell phone and a refrigerator...very romantic. :) I got a new cell phone and we picked out a fridge...not sure if we are going to get a new one yet or not.

We missed Karla but she had tons of fun with Grammy, Pap-Pap, and Uncle Ryan. They are the ones that covered her in bubbles in the tub. :)

BIG day

*We got a letter from our attorney. Our adoption hearing is March 12 at the courthouse! After that Karla's name will officially be spelled with a K, her middle name will officially be changed, she'll have a PA birth certificate, AND everything with her adoption will be COMPLETELY done!! So, anyone interested in coming to the courthouse is welcome. Seriously. We're allowed to invite family and friends and bring cameras! Just let me know...

*The other BIG news is that we took down Karla's crib tonight. She has a twin bed mattress on the floor in her room now. We were kind of desperate for a sleep solution. She seemed interested so we decided to make the change. We'll have to shop for a new bed and rail this weekend (the twin mattress is from a daybed in the guest room). A few weeks ago when Jason brought this up I wasn't ready. That crib sat up there for so long I wanted to get more than 3 months of use out of it - and I didn't want to think I didn't have a little baby - but that has been clear in many ways. :) I was pretty much okay with it today. If it will help us all sleep it'll be good. I was sad taking the crib apart. We were going to leave it together and put it in the guest room (for my sake) but it wouldn't fit through the doorways. I think I "acted" happy and excited for Karla though. I will be completely happy if it helps her sleep better!

*Yesterday Karla went to the doctor. She has been having some strange, vague symptoms - nothing serious but enough for me to know something is going on inside her little body. We went to our new pediatrician and had a great experience. When the doctor wanted to look in Karla's ears, she turned an ear to the doctor. She was such a BIG girl and I was so proud! Maybe the play medical kit has helped. Karla didn't cry at all, not even when she had a strep throat test. The test was negative and the doctor said that she didn't know what was going on but admitted something wasn't quite right. I am to call her tomorrow to tell her how the past two nights have been. The most concerning thing is night sweats and waking up very upset many more times than usual and saying "ouch" at times and not being able to tell us where the "ouch" is. It may very well just be a virus. I was so glad I wasn't brushed off as being an over-worried first time mom (even if I am at times). :) Please pray that whatever is "wrong" goes away soon and that we can all start getting more sleep.

Anybody seen Dora the Explorer bed/sheet sets anywhere??? After Karla did a good job at the doctor the two of us went to JoAnn Fabrics and I bought some Dora fabric to make a pillowcase. I was going to make it for her first night in the "big" bed...but that didn't happen. I plan on doing it but wondered if anyone has seen sheets anywhere in a store. I did see some online.

Good-bye crib!!

Hello "big" bed!!


Don't be fooled - Karla is not this happy in her bed when it is actually time to sleep! Don't let the cute smile fool you!!

Valentines, Singing, and Krazy Glue

Today we worked on some Valentine's cards. We added stickers. Somehow all 3 of us - me, Oso, and Karla - were covered in stickers by the end of our time at the table. Karla even wanted to take the stickers off of the Valentine's so we could put more on us - but I drew the line. :)


Karla was doing so well sitting at the table I decided to take the opportunity to peel some potatoes for dinner. We were listening to music and at times I used the potato peeler as a microphone. Then Karla needed a microphone...then Oso... We all had a fun time singing. Somehow the potatoes got peeled too!


This morning I left for a few hours and Grammy babysat. Neither Karla nor I shed any tears! I think both Karla and Grammy had a great time having the house to themselves!

Our only challenge (and it is a big one) is bedtime and sleeping for more than 3-4 hours at a time!

Oh, and just so you know, Instant Krazy Glue does bond instantly to the skin. I was just trying to fix something with it and held it a little too tight for a little too long. I had to spend a good 10 minutes soaking my finger in warm soapy water and trying to detach the object from my finger. It hurts to type this - it isn't stopping me though as you can see. I couldn't decide if I would rather have something stuck to my skin or be upstairs putting Karla to bed like Jason was. It is a tough call.

Girls size 14 clothes or accessories

Our friends are going back to Guatemala in March to visit. They are willing to take a little bag of things down for us to Karla's foster mother and foster sister. If anyone has any decent (used) girls clothing or accessories please let me know. I know they would be greatly appreciated. I plan on sending lots of pictures to the foster mother and some handmade crafts made by Karla.

Three months at home already!

*We have been home for 3 months now!! I can't believe it. It still feels like we are adjusting a lot. I just can't believe how fast this time at home has gone!!

*Karla had her first trip to the dentist last Wednesday. She had chipped a front tooth just the week before I got to Guatemala and I was never clear on how that happened. She's never acted like it hurt her but we wanted to have it checked out. It is fine although there is no way to tell if the permanent tooth was affected...until the baby tooth falls out. The dentist visit was stressful for both Karla and I. It didn't help that we had to wait an hour before we were seen. The doctor said Karla is "late" in getting her teeth because she still has top and bottom back molars to get and her incisors (i think) are still coming in. She said this could cause her pain in the near future. I asked what it meant to have teeth come in late and the dentist said it just meant that Karla wouldn't be the first kid in kindergarten to lose a tooth. Karla is supposed to go back to have her teeth cleaned in November when she turns 3. I've told Jason he is taking her! :)

*Karla understands "timeout" now and we have to use it occasionally. It has been effective so far.

*The first few days of last week we started yet a new sleeping plan. Her sleeping with us in the wee morning hours isn't ideal. We decided that we had to let her cry. We decided we would go in every 5 minutes (that is all the time we could wait) to tell her to go to sleep and we loved her. The first night there was a total of 13 minutes crying and one wake up in the middle of the night (same approach used then). Second night there were 6 minutes of crying and one middle of the night wake up. Third night - zero minutes of crying and slept all night!! Then sickness hit...... As soon as she gets better, we're going back to this plan.

*Karla all of a sudden started labeling at least 4 shapes. She sees them everywhere - places I'd never even notice. I've noticed more things at Giant Eagle and Target than I ever have before!

*She is playing independently much more frequently now. This makes my life easier. She barely did this at all when she first got home. She always wanted me right next to her.

*She has started telling me again when she goes to the bathroom. She did that when I was in Guatemala and then stopped when we got home. It seems like she usually tells me right after she has done her business. She sits on her little potty probably at least once a day - nothing has been done there though yet and I am not actively working on it yet either. Today she told me when Oso went poo-poo and proceeded to get out a diaper, changing pad, and wipes and laid him down. Turns out he wasn't really the one that went...

*Last week Karla and Jason watched parts of the movie Madagascar in the evening. Now all she wants on TV is "move it, move it". When she says it it sounds like "moo moo". This is the first movie she has shown interest in....and sat still for more than a minute.

*I just hope we can all get some sleep and get healthy. Jason was sick at the beginning of last week and is still congested. I was sick Saturday and feel much better but am still congested. Sorry boring post, I know.

*Since Karla likes, I mean loves, snowmen, Karla and I made a snowman cake last week. I had bought a snowman cake pan years ago and never used it. Here are some pictures:
I'm not sure if I like this on my fingers.

I'm supposed to be frosting the cake??

Don't laugh!!! I think he looks cute.

Mmmm, mmm, mmmm.

Still here

I have been struggling a bit. Karla hasn't been feeling well therefore sleep has been even worse than before - and that makes everything harder and everyone more cranky. I'm thinking about taking her to the doctor tomorrow to see if she has an ear infection. We thought she just had a cold but it is not getting better....at least not as fast as we'd like.

I uploaded some new pictures!

Karla Today

Little Cutie on a sled.


Little Cutie on the go!

ONE YEAR AGO

I met and held Karla for the very first time. She was already almost 15 months old and I had been wanting to meet and hold her for so long! We had a wonderful visit with her in Guatemala.

Karla had fun being silly with her Daddy.

We had our first family photo taken.

She was such a sweet baby girl.

Today, she still is! She is almost 27 months old and we love her more than ever. This transition home has been much harder than I ever expected but we are all working through it together!

Today Karla is giving hugs and kisses to us all the time. She is comfortable in OUR home and is enjoying her very first winter with lots of snow and her first cup of hot chocolate.



She has been welcomed by all of her family! Today I am going to be very thankful...no matter how the Steelers play. :)

We are family!!

Jason uploaded some pictures from their snow adventures today on flickr. I'm going to upload some new baptism pictures I received this week right now.