Our flight from Florida to L.A. was only delayed an hour (nothing after my Frankfurt experience), and using all my miles for a first class ticket for our final leg was a great decision. As it was December 20 and the beginning of the Christmas rush, the plane was packed, but luckily there were two empty seats in first class. The flight attendants moved one person so that Alison could have her own seat. She slept for most of the flight and I was able to enjoy a decent meal (and a hot fudge sundae) without having to share it with her!

My friend Dan, who had been using my car while I was gone, picked us up at the airport. I left the car seat at my house, and told him to install it before coming to get us. When we got to the car, I saw the seat installed rear-facing, sitting straight up. Needless to say, it was wrong. So, the two of us sat in the parking lot with the manual for the seat trying to figure out how to put it in while Alison sat patiently in her stroller waiting to go home.

We pulled up in front of the house and the first order of business was to go next door and get Sandy. She had been staying there for the past couple of days after spending most of the time I was gone at home with her friend Drake (a border collie) and our friend Melissa.

Dan held Alison while Sandy and I said hello. I'd never left her for more than a week... let alone a month. I really missed her, and it finally sunk in that I was finally home! After lots of hugs and kisses (yes, I am talking about a dog here), I introduced Sandy and Alison. Alison giggled at this big furry teddy bear. Sandy just wanted to lick her, but Alison didn't seem to like that. (We're still working on that one.) I wished I had my camera handy about an hour ago when we were all on the big sofa in the living room, Sandy asleep at the one end with Alison asleep right behind her.

We all came in the house together, and my neighbors helped Dan bring in the two giant stuffed duffel bags (now stuffed even more with a lot of clothes for Alison, courtesy of her cousin Lindsey).

Alison's sleep schedule is still a bit screwy. Just as she was adjusting to east coast time, I brought her to the west coast! She woke yesterday at 5:00 AM, and today at almost 5:30 AM. I tried to get her to go down for a late nap this afternoon, but she fought me on it (she's a tough little girl). She finally fell asleep at about 6:00 PM, and it's now 9:40 PM. I hope she wakes up soon so I can give her dinner and a bath, but I have a feeling she might sleep for awhile and I'll really be in trouble!

We went to the grocery store today and she was great for the first five minutes or so, then started fussing, fidgeting, crying, and screaming. She wanted me to hold her, which I wound up doing, while pushing the cart and loading it up (and unloading it at the check out). When we got home, I noticed that she had another one of those annoying poopy diapers, so I'm hoping that was the cause of her outburst (though she doesn't like to be restrained, and would rather have mommy hold her than have to sit in anything).

The nanny starts on Tuesday, and I'll go into work for about an hour. I guess it's time for the next part of our life to begin.....

12-3-05

And here we are, five years later. I still haven’t found the man of my dreams, but Alison and I have a wonderful life together. I can’t imagine these past 5 years without her. She’s a beautiful, smart, healthy, funny 6.5 year old…going on 30. She’s the light of my life. I’m the luckiest mom in the world!

Alison's Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 1
Alison's Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 2
Alison's Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 3
Alison's Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 4
Alison's Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 5
Alison's Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 6
Alison's Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 7
Alison's Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 8
Alison's Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 9
Alison's Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 10
Alison's Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 11
Alison's Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 12

About The Author
Nicole Sandler is the owner/producer of Legacy Video Productions, specializing in producing adoption stories. You can see Alison's Journey Home, the video at www.legacyvideoproductions.com.