Operation GetOuttaDodge

Just a little bit o happy

Operation: Successful

We stayed in Deerfield Beach, Florida for (thanks to the great ice storm of 2011) 9 glorious days. I say glorious because frankly, they were the best 9 days we have had as a family in (quite possibly) ever.

Donovan and I were fully prepared for Noemi to feel anxious by the change of routine, but she proved us wrong. I'm not sure what made the difference for Noemi. That little comfort switch in her head flipped within a few days of us going and has been on since. We've had wonderful periods before, but each time they feel more complete and our overall hope increases. And the sunshine didn't hurt any of us, either.

Our 4 suitcases were chuck full of half of the crap in our house. Included were her favorite toys, books...you name it...as well as all of her bedding in an effort to recreate Noemi's smells-like-home sleep space. Schlepping the obnoxiousness of all that loot through the airport was a bit embarrassing (we only took 3 suitcases to Ethiopia), but worth it. After the first few nights she slept well and even came into bed with us to sleep and snuggle. Snuggle? Whhhhat? And in the morning I would wake up to a little nose in my face happily saying, "Morning, Mommy! Howbout beach?"

Another happy choice? The small apartment we rented half of a block from the beach. We went to the grocery store so that we could eat in, keeping routines with familiar foods. With being so close to the beach we walked back and forth for naps, making the little space our constant touch-down pad. Noemi obviously felt very at home there, but aptly understood it was temporary. Any time I referred to it as home she promptly corrected me, "No Mommy, not home. Hotel."
More than anything else, I wonder if the low stimulation, uninterrupted Mommy and Daddy time was just what Noemi needed. No phone calls, no errands, no visits from family and friends, no leaving the house for work...just play, play, play with us. She had both of us all to herself. She didn't know anyone else around, so she trusted us as hers. There were few triggers of panic--and each time she recovered before it switched into epic, no-return mode. She allowed us to consistently be her parents without fearing and challenging it. I didn't need to say things like, "It's OK for Mommy to hug you-- that's what Mommies do with their little girls" the way we have been doing for months. We could feel that she was trusting us at a deeper level. It's like she has a new understanding of membership in our lives. No lines blurred--we are family--she is ours and we are hers.

"Look, Daddy, Look!" She begged us to watch her dance. And hop down the steps. And jump in the water. And swim. And throw her body into sand castles. And spin. And fly like a birdie. And, and, and...just as long as we didn't stop watching her. And we were happy to do so.The constant water time sure was therapeutic. Between the ocean and the pool at the "hotel," Noemi was wet for a solid 50% of our trip--that's her kinda vacation. Our little fish has been asking to go to the beach since arriving home. Sorry, baby, It'll be a few more months until the Jersey shore warms up enough to show it our bathing suits.

sporting her "hip hops"

Noemi was only sometimes bossy with her new beach friend, Anna.

Digging "pools" in the sand--and "decorating" with shells--a girl of detail.

Noemi loved that blow-up boat. Possibly the best $6 we ever spent.

I kept our calendar empty for the days after homecoming...buffer days. Necessary? Nope. The coming-down crash never came. Instead she settled right into our routines at home all while maintaining her playful and affectionate mood. It's been days...and we're still holding strong.

Here is where I let out my deep, satisfied, happy sigh and thank the good Lord for the many blessings of this trip--mainly, allowing my bones to warm up--and the many blessings of my husband and daughter. Do I hear an Amen?

beach stance, yo