A family weekend....

Well we managed to keep Juliana pretty much in only our company for the first 10 days of her being home. We finally allowed visiters over the weekend as my family was starting to get really impatient and wanting to meet their new granddaughter, neice and cousin!

Saturday around 3:00 my Mom, her boyfriend John, and my two Grandmothers came up for a visit. Carmela and Joey loves having time with them all, and really was excited to introduce their baby sister to them. Juliana, I must say, was very stand-offish at first. She definitely was trying to soak it all in. There were times that she seemed overwhelmed, and just wanted me near her. But then there were times when I was taking care of the other children or doing something else for a moment, that she seemed ok sitting next to another family member. At one point, though, my Grandmother picked her up, and Juliana was fine, then she realized she was not on my lap, and she freaked out. It was definitely apparent that she likes people from afar right now. She was very clingy to me. Within a few hours though, she did sit with my mom for a few minutes. It was brief, but Juliana seemed ok for those few minutes. I keep telling myself baby steps. I, of course, stood near her when she was in other's arms, and was quick to take her back when she fussed. This is what our social workers had told us to do. To allow her the opportunity to go to others, but also to take her back when she was ready. And that is what we did. It is becoming obvious to me and others, that Juliana definitely knows I am her Mom, as soon as she fussed, it was me she reached out for, and that is a great sign that she is on her way to bonding with us.

The next day, today, my sister, her husband and their three kids came over. I was a bit worried about how Juliana would do two days in a row, but again Carmela and Joey really missed their cousins. They came over around 12:30 and Juliana was really good at first playing near her Daddy. All the kids ate lunch and Juliana watched everyone intently. She then went down for her nap around 1:30 and slept until 4:00 pm. At that time, my sister and I went for a walk to get her little one to sleep, and then we came home and took the kids outside to play. Juliana woke up, ate dinner, and then sat on the floor with the cousins. Again, there were brief periods that she was loving on Gianna, then moments where she would cry out for me. I tried to stay by her, and if I was busy with the other kids, then Chris would try to jump in. My sister was able to get some smiles from her, and reached her hands out to see if Juliana wanted to go to her, but Juliana didn't reach back so Lauren didn't press the issue. I was thankful for that. Gianna was able to hold her for a moment or two, but then Juliana would fuss, and Gianna would just sit near her and talk to her. Gianna definitely got the most smiles out of her today.

Just a note about my neice Gianna. Gianna has had a severe headache since last Sunday. On Friday, my sister finally took Gianna to the doctor's and Gianna underwent a MRI that same day. We don't have the results yet. We think it is "only" a migraine, but worried nonetheless. Hopefully we get the results yesterday. The doctor finally prescribed her tylenol with codeine for the pain, and that is the only thing helping with the pain. Please say a prayer for my sweet Gianna!