We started our summer off with a trip to D.C. We loaded up the van, handed the kids bags filled with activities/snacks, left in the evening and drove straight through until we made it early the next day. Thankfully, the kids managed to sleep most of the night and were great travelers. We were lucky enough to have a family that we met in China offer to host us the first night, and we enjoyed a great evening catching up and watching our kids become fast friends. It was as though they had known each other since birth. The girls decided that they were BFF's and have already sent letters and small gifts back and forth in the mail. I love it.
We spent the next week in a nice apartment in Colombia Heights, right off the metro. We packed in lots of great stuff, visiting the memorials, the zoo, a few Smithsonian museums, congress, the spy museum, a visit with China friends in Chinatown, and lots more sightseeing. The kids did really well, there was a ton of walking! The highlight of the trip for me was meeting up with the families we traveled across the world with. Seeing the changes in our children: smiles lighting up their faces, running and chasing each other with abandon, giving and receiving love. Its hard to believe that one year ago these children were sullen, withdrawn, afraid, & shut down. It's truly a testament to the power of a loving family. I don't want to brag, but the kids adopted on our trip got some amazing families! :)
The one and only downside to our trip to D.C. was an unexplained seizure Chloe experienced early the third day. We have followed up with doctors and an EEG but there are still no answers. Next up will be an MRI to see if that will shed some light. It had been over a year since Chloe's last seizure, and we had hoped that we would never see one again. Prayers are always appreciated!
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| Visiting the National Zoo - Chloe was very excited to meet the original Bao Bao |
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| They love each other in a way only siblings can ;) |
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| Chocolate Bacon donut - Ben was in heaven |
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| Outside the White House |
When we got home, I decided that it was time to try a new approach to sleeping for Chloe. One night I put Chloe down, read her a story, cuddled, and told her that I would check back in on her in five minutes. I left the room expecting to hear tears, but heard nothing. I stood outside her room waiting for the sobs to start, and still nothing. After five minutes, I poked my head in, kissed her forehead, told her I loved her and said goodnight. Left the room to wait another five minutes to check in on her, and she was out! I couldn't believe it, was it really that easy?! That started our new bedtime routine and it has continued to be just as easy each night. I am shaking my head wondering why I didn't try this earlier. However, I think that the foundation that was laid in the last year of long sleepless nights, prepared her for this new routine. She no longer wonders if I will still be there when I'm not in the room. She understands that if she cries out for me, I will come running. There are still bumps in the road, but she is overall doing so so much better.
