Life at Home

Caitlin, Zane and I left Africa the day Zane turned 4 months old and I can hardly believe today he turned 5 months old.  It’s been one month since we’ve been home and it’s been fast, but wonderful!  The transition from Africa to America has gone really smooth and has far exceeded my expectations. 

Zane was a complete angel on both the flights home.  He didn’t have one melt down or even one true fuss the entire trip.  Other than the airline staff in the Entebbe airport making up rules about the luggage requirements, we didn’t have any hiccups with our travel.  And even with that luggage hiccup God intervened and we somehow got down to 3 checked backs and 3 carry-ons.  (Reminds me of the parable of the loaves and fishes- no idea how God did it but he did.) 

We had a layover in London and our friends, the Conklins, graciously let us spend the night at their house.   The stay was absolutely perfect- great fellowship, food, and the most incredible rest I had in months.  Their guest suite was seriously over-the-top marvelous.  They had the most comfortable bed and the softest bedding I’ve ever slept in.  (Even if I hadn’t slept on a molded, broken-down mattress on concrete blocks for several months I’d still say the same thing.)  Give me air conditioning and water that you can brush your teeth with and I would have been thrilled, but our stay there was so far beyond just that.   

As you can see from the prior post, we had lots of friends and family who greeted us at the airport when we landed in DFW on a Saturday afternoon.  The airport welcoming was so incredibly special! 

Our drive from the airport to home was memorable.  I was so happy to be in Texas… in my air conditioned car… on smooth roads… with my family (minus my parents who were still in Thailand)… with Zane in his car seat for the first time ever.  (His first car seat experience was actually in London.  On the way to the Conklin’s house Caitlin and I spent the entire drive trying to figure out how to install it properly.  We never did figure it out and we both got really car sick (and frustrated).  So really it was only on the way to the airport that he actually road in a car seat for the first time because I got help with the installation before we left.)

It was so crazy walking into my house for the first time.  It just felt a little strange.  I had so much going on in the days leading up to being home that I hadn't even thought for a second past what was in front of me- I was just taking it one moment at a time.  So, I remember thinking as I walked in the door, "Oh my gosh, I'm home.  How did it that happen?  How am I supposed to feel?  Remind me, what are my responsibilities here?"  It was strange, but wonderful.  Isaac had the house immaculate (actually, Lupi is to thank for that) with a gorgeous orchid and a stocked fridge.  It was crazy seeing Riese, our dog, again.  I thought she might have forgotten me, but she just picked right back up with where we left off- mostly begging me for goodies and humping my leg.  As I walked in my closet and saw only my winter clothes, I was reminded of how long it had been since I had been home.  When I left for Uganda we were still burning fires in the fireplace.  Now, our yard was green, our air conditioning was on, and I needed to rotate to my Summer clothes.  

To top off the whole “being home” experience, my girlfriends had some incredible surprises waiting for me in the nursery.  Missy had drawn “I am loved” above the crib on the chalkboard wall.  It was exactly what I had envisioned (just like the red round pin)!  Isaac had the art we bought in Uganda stretched and framed and in place over the dresser.  Again, exactly how I had it envisioned!  The dresser was full of gifts people had been sending to our house since I had been gone.  My girlfriends had gotten together and surprised me with an amazing stroller with a big silver bow on it.  They also got together and divided up all the fun baby gadgets that I could borrow such as an ExerSaucer, play mat, Bumbo, and jump-a-roo.  I mean… what. a. blessing.  Seriously.  I’m so crazy spoiled.

The Timmermans and Williams joined us at our house for a casual pizza dinner that evening when we got home from the airport.  I was trying to soak in every minute (and that’s really what I’ve been trying to do the last few weeks).  I dreamed of moments like that when I was in Uganda.  There I was with some of my greatest friends …and “our” kids (I love now being included in that)… eating pizza… at my house.  Wow.  It was all so nice.   

It was weird putting Zane to sleep in a/his crib for the first time ever.  Within a hour of being home he needed to go down to sleep.  I was a little nervous about it because there was so much “new” going on for him and I didn’t want him to be scared or overwhelmed.   But Zane, being the adaptable baby he is, made it easy for me.  The minute I put him in the crib he rolled on his side and went to sleep.  I got this feeling from him that he liked his space.  Something like: “Mom, I love sleeping with you and all, but I sleep better when I can have some space… and I LOVE the air conditioning!  Thanks!”  It was sort of like his room fit him- it was meant to be.  (His hands and feet actually were ice cold when he woke up that first morning, but he slowly acclimated to the air conditioning.)

I’m not kidding when I say Zane is adaptable.  Zane is the biggest trooper.  He went through a lot of change (including changing formula 8 times!) and he/we survived with a smile on his/our face!  He is sleeping, eating, adjusting, developing, …wonderfully!  He's obviously feeling really comfortable in the U.S.A.
  

Since I’ve been home I keep finding myself overwhelmed with LOVE.  We have the greatest friends and family ever!  Even friends of our friends have overwhelmed me with their love.   Friends have brought meals, visited us, brought gifts, passed down fun toys and adorable clothes, texted encouraging words, and written sweet notes.  We’re so blessed to have such an incredible support from so many incredible people.  

I seriously look back on our journey together and I’m so grateful for it all.  It’s sort of like when birth moms say you don’t remember the labor pains.  It’s sort of hard for me to remember a lot of the trials of my time in Uganda because we have a beautiful, healthy son who we love to the moon and back.  I don’t regret or cringe at any part of the story.  God wrote an amazing story.

Some of the highlights from the last month have been:

-Introducing Zane to our friends and family

-Attending a get-together at the Luth’s house our first full day back (May 27^th)

-Trips to Babies “R” Us and Buy Buy Baby

-Having Isaac’s parents and my family stay extended time with us

-Dinner at the Williams’ house (May 29^th)

-Bringing Zane to Isaac’s work for the first time (May 30^th)

-Getting a haircut with Zane (his first haircut) (June 2^nd)

-Attending Watermark as a family of three / Zane attending nursery for the first time (June 3^rd)

-Walking around the Arboretum after church with Isaac’s family admiring the Chihuly exhibit (June 3^rd)

-Dinner and a walk around the neighborhood with the Armstrongs (June 3^rd)

-Going to Zane’s first Cool Thursday concert (our favorite summer activity) (June 7^th)

-Attending the Sip-N-See baby shower at Missy’s house that seven of my girlfriends put together for Zane and I (It was amazing! pictures to follow…) (June 8^th)

-Attending Holland’s first birthday party at the Dallas Country Club pool (June 9^th)

-Date night with the Haases, Nicks, and McGurrens (June 9^th)

-Dinner on the patio at Fireside Pies with the Bedfords and Nobles (June 16^th)

-Celebrating Isaac’s first “Father’s Day” as a family of 3 at home together (June 17^th)

-Attending Ellery’s splash party in Fort Worth to celebrate her 2^nd birthday (June 24^th)

-Spending the weekend with the Timmermans and Hastings in Fort Worth and Dallas (June 23^rd-24^th)

- Zane slept the entire night through for the first time (9 hours straight!) (June 24^th)