We are Home with Our Uma!

We made it home. Uma was just amazing on the flight! She actually waved good-bye with glee to everyone in sight as we stood in line to show our documents to leave India! I could not figure out how she knew that they/we were leaving. We had gone on many outings with her in my sling, and the only thing different about this was that everyone had suitcases. My husband is convinced that she knew she was leaving and was glad about it because she cried every single trip to the embassy until we got her visa and as soon as they handed it to us, she laughed with absolute joy and celebration. Adhipen and I were dumbfounded!

She also loved the take off and was very patient with me as I put the children's ear plugs in her ears. I was really worried about the air pressure and the fact that she had such a stuffed nose, but there was no problem whatsoever on any of the take offs or landings.

He diarrhea was completely under control between the medicine we gave her and our strict adherence to a diet of rice, white bread and yoghurt. I felt so bad about the lousy food, especially when she would point to what others were eating, that I could not bring myself to eat in front of her, so I ate what she ate and was none the worse for it.

Thankfully and luckily, on the flight from Delhi to Paris, we had an empty seat next to us and so she curled up and slept the entire flight. Equally as luckily, on the flight from Paris to LA, we were able to get a bassinet seat, and so she also slept (and so did I) almost the entire flight.
Other than that, Air France was absolutely terrible, and I would never travel that airline again!

My parents were at the airport to meet us, loaded with a camera and an "I Love You" ballon. My sister-in-law, Corinne, did an emergency grocery shop (thank goodness for her!) and met us at the house with Jareden and Kanan. Everyone was just smitten with her!

I was worried about the overstimulation, but when I saw how well she handled the plane and the travel, I was not as worried about it, though today we had just quiet time. I was also really surprised that she did not scream in the carseat. Though she loves car rides, she does not like to be off my lap, nor does she like to be constrained. Yet, when I put her in, she sat contentedly holding my hand, and enjoyed the car ride. Then next step will be when I have to put her in and then drive the car. Hopefully, she will surprise me on that one too...I am otherwise dreading it a bit.

Uma has handled everything very well, though she is extremely jet lagged. I am even more jet lagged and worn down, from the stress of the travel, the trip and had walking pneumonia on the trip and had to go on antibiotics. Plus, for all the joys of motherhood, I literally cannot even go to the toilet without Uma on my lap. She screams if I am not within her physical reach, and even if she can see me, she is not contented. This. plus the overwheming fatigue with the jet lag has made it almost impossible to do anythiing, including unpack. I am rushing as I type this because I know that if I do not get in bed soon, I will be the real loser because when she wakes, so do I. The days of sleeping how long I want, when I want are over!!

Before I close, I just want to say what a sensitive and loving soul Uma is. She likes to feed me the way I feed her, and I had a sore on my arm, which she looked and and said with extreme concern on her face, "ooh!" She then started stroking it and looking at me to see if I was feeling better.

Today she had the first bath in a tub that she has ever had. In India, she bathed by standing and having water poured over her head. We did this type of bath in India and yesterday, but today, I let the water in the tub fill as I poured it, and put some plastic bowls in the water. She soon discovered the fun of playing in the water with the bowls. I let it get about half full, and then she discovered that if she sat down, she could kick her legs and do all sorts of fun things. It was so much fun watching her joy in the water, I hated to take her out. I kept asking her if she wanted out, and she shook her head "no." Finally, I had to just let the water drain the tub or I never would have gotten her out - I am certain we would still be there now! Well, now that she has found this fun, she can enjoy it each night.

I don't know when I will be able to post again. It is impossible to do anything at all. I am not even able to unpack the suitcases! I have to put her in my sling when I cook, and I have not yet learned how to do the back position, which I don't even know if she will tolerate. I need to close this so I can watch the instruction video and be able to try it tomorrow. Each day is a learning experience for us both.