Home sweet home

We have been home 5 1/2 days.  I am sorry I haven't written sooner, but it has been quite the whirlwind!   We arrived in DC after a 17 hour flight at around 8am Tuesday morning.  I was thrilled that we would be reuniting with Finn in just a couple hours and seeing family and friends who would welcome Eli.  The 17 hour flight was not kind to me.  I was so worried about Eii, and he did wonderful.   I had trouble.  I had some 'bathroom issues"....even though we had a very normal "american" italian dinner the night before we left.  My stomach was in knots the entire plane flight. I thought I was going to throw up and I had a horrible migraine.  On top of that, I was pumping in the airplane bathroom every 2 hours to keep my milk supply up.  Very glamorous.  :)  I usually do very well on long flights, so this was kind of a bummer.  But it still went okay.
The good news is our sweet boy had an easy flight.  We kept him eating snacks and bottles the whole flight and might have slipped him a little benadryl.  I used to think this was cruel and unusual.  I now think it is kind and sweet.  I wish someone would have given me some benadryl.  It didn't knock him out at all, but it did encourage him to sleep.  
Anyway, we got back to a beautiful reunion.  Once again, I worried about Eli and his adjustment to the crazy airport.  He loved it.  He was so happy to play with the other kids and smiled the ENTIRE TIME!! IT was crazy.  Guess what the problem was? My sweet, awesome little Finn.  He was ticked, it was apparent from the moment I saw him.  He did not dive into my arms. He did not hug me and try to nurse my arm as I expected.  No.  He acted VERY standoffish.  He was mad.  Eight months old....and smart as can be :)
Thus began our first every nursing strike.  After pumping on the 12 hour plane ride there, in airport bathrooms, in cars in Ethiopia going through the dusty traffic, while covering with a nursing cover....dumping all of that precious "gold" out... (the orphanage wasn't interested in it because it was such a short duration, and it will change the ph balance of their stomachs...)  The whole time, I thought how much it was worth it, because I just love nursing.  It is good time together, it is easy, it is FREE, it is special...I planned to go at least one year...  and then...he would not come back.  I tried five times the day I got back and he wanted nothing to do with me.  I have tried at least that many times each day since, without forcing.  I am not giving him milk in a bottle, only in a cup.  So far, no luck.  He is showing a little more interest, so I am going to keep trying.  But it is sad.
This has been the surprise with the whole journey.  I prepared myself for overwhelemd Eli.  I prepared myself for his clingy, crying fits.  I prepared myself to be patient with him.  But surprisingly, Finn is having a harder time in many ways than Eli.  Because he is so little, I wasn't expecting this.  If he was 2 years old, I get it...but he is generally very adaptable.  He stayed with someone who loved him (my mother in law)...
But he has had SO MANY CHANGES lately.Brandon left. Several days later, I left.He had bottles (the most consecutive bottles he had ever had was 2)He traveled to Kentucky.He went to a wedding.He hung out with his cousin (another baby)He saw lots of family and friends.He traveled to a hotel.Traveled to the airport, where we arrived with a new child.
When I put myself in his shoes, I would probably be on a nursing strike too!That is overwhelming.  And I am 28. :)  So, I'm giving him time and hoping he'll come back, because it was special. And I hate pumping.  But either way, we will persevere through it.  But it was an unexpected challenge of the whole thing!  If you have ever dealt with a nursing strike, please, share your wisdom.  
After being standoffish for a few days, now I can't leave his sight. So my once chilled out baby who soothed himself to sleep and played independently now clings to my ankles and needs to be rocked to sleep.  Don't get me wrong,  I sure don't mind a bit (these moments won't last..so I want to cherish them.) but....it just provides a little stress because I only have two arms...and now two needy babies. :)  PLEASE don't feel sorry for us, I'm just sharing where we are. Not asking for pity.  It is hard hearing your normally chilled out baby crying all the time.

We are doing lots of screaming around here, all of us. :)  But I continue to remember that this is a season.  And the sweet smiles are worth it.  The adorable grins.  THe big hugs and kisses.  All of those moments make the junky times worth it.
Adoption causes some tough situations.  It was, in fact, born out of sin.  (Adoption would not exist if sin was not present in this world).  We are rejoicing that God called us to adopt. Rejoicing that this sweet boy is in our family.  Praying that hte adjustments would come.
And, because you give great advice, What do I feed this child? He throws EVERYTHING on the floor... :)  So far, the only things that have remained successful are oatmeal and bread/milk.   Everything else is touch and go :)  I'll take your tips!