Going west!

We’re heading to sunny California! It’s marathon time. Send those happy vibes to San Diego starting Sunday, 6:30 am CA time. See you at the finish line.

Just feeling thankful today

I’m so thankful that my baby is here:

and not here:

She is more than I ever dreamed of.  Thinking of all of you who are waiting to bring your sweeties home.

Checking those little waxy ears

We have spent quite a bit of time here lately, which is maybe why I am SICK again.  Sick, yep, sick. 

OK, not deathly sick, just with a cold bad enough so that I can’t breath.  Air does not pass through my nasal passages.  That should make the marathon SUCH fun.  Can you feel my stress?  I am stressed.  Yep, stessed.  Stress stress stress.  It is radiating out of me.  I am pretty sure my repeated colds and flu and whatnot this season have had a psychosomatic component.  On the one hand, I’m fighting it off with the vitamins and zinc and reiki; on the other, I continue to fail to organize my life in a way that reduces stress.  And knowing that I’m at least partly responsible for making myself sick makes me more stressed out, and therefore, sick again.  If I had the capacity to scream I’d do it, but I’m not really a screamer.  Maybe someone reading this can scream for me.  There.  Thank you.  I feel better now.  A little.

OK, on a much happier note, the kids love the time we have spent at the children’s hospital.  Zufan didn’t pay too much attention to the sounds in the sound room at her hearing screening, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t hear them, more likely she was just so focused on the nice lady distracting her with the toys so that she would sit “still” that she didn’t care about the beeping and fuzzing noises that kept randomly appearing in the backround.  So, we will go back in a couple of weeks and try again, which makes all three of them extremely happy.  That clinic is a kid paradise.  Here are a couple of photos from inside:

The photos don’t even include the little climbing wall and aquariums and other toys. “OK there then,” as they say in these parts, Happy Wednesday, and feel free to send any extra virtual white blood cells you may have floating around my way.  Maybe a virtual box of Puffs would come in handy, as well.

Say “queso”

Some things just don’t translate.  “Queso” (cheese) doesn’t make the teeth show, but they say it anyway, and then smile as if it did.  Silly things bilingual kids do.  We had such a great weekend!  It seems like posting was pretty light all around my blogroll, not too much to read, so probably the rest of you had a busy weekend, too.  I’m planning on getting a few pictures up later today but… we know how that goes.  In any case, this weekend the 8 year old went kayaking for the first time, we went to the fair (by accident – the fair was next to the kayaking), to the bratfest, to a horseshow, to the zoo, and to a friend’s house.  Whew!  The weather was the best we have had yet this season, and honestly, I’m not missing the garden at all, just relieved that we don’t have to weed and haul mulch right now.  More later!  Really.  Now I need to get some coffee before the gang gets up. :)

 

In the 10 day forecast!

I’m excited to go to San Diego and run that marathon; at the same time, I’m really, really nervous.  Scared.  What have I gotten myself into?  I ran 20 miles last Saturday without too much misery, but it must have worn me out because this week I’ve been worthless.  I ran a little yesterday, but only about 4 miles, 10 minutes a miles, and took 3 breaks including a 5 minute bathroom break.  At that rate I’ll finish the marathon at, oh, maybe sundown or so.

Whatever happens, the good thing is, the 4 year old and I are going to travel together!  Yay!  I’m so excited to take him along.  It was a hard decision to leave Zufan.  The original plan was to use my mileage on United to get there and take Zufan as a lap baby, but she is SO loud and squirmy and JOYFUL that, well, I found that I was dreading the plane ride.  Our flights to and from Arizona that I took with her were hugely challenging.  I was also worried about my brother and his significant other having to take care of her for many hours while I ran, and worried about all of us not getting much sleep both before and after the marathon.  So… we made the hard decision that I would leave her behind. 

Then, I didn’t want to leave the esposo with all the kids — although he is perfectly capable and was willing to do it — so taking the middle child just seemed like the best thing to do.  He really needs a little mommy-time to help him control his behavior.  When we are one-on-one, he is an angel.  Just look at that little angelface giving me a Mother’s Day gift.

 Everyone is happy about the arrangement because while we are in San Diego, the esposo and the girls are going to drive to an indoor waterpark for the day.  Pretty nice.  Zufan really, really loves mommy, but she also does well with the esposo, and it is only for two days.  I’m a little worried about leaving her, but am pretty confident that there won’t be any long-term (or even short-term) damage to her attachment.  So anyway, the race-day forecast is looking like… Mostly sunny and 63 degrees with a 20 percent chance of total failure.  I’ll let you all know how it goes, and don’t worry, I’ll remind you before then to send me good thoughts on June 1st, starting at 6:30 pacific time.  I’m afraid I’m going to need all the help I can get. :)

And now for some good news!

I’m a little slow on getting the happy post up, but here it is, finally. 

Congratulations to Katy, who got the surprise of her life with a referral for twin six week old girls!  Talk about a big party coming!!  And to Anna, whose new seven month old little boy was born in Chuko, like Zufan.  Finally, a gigantic congratulations to Anne of Babysinnia, who has waited so long for her referral that she has now become a GRANDMA!!  Hop on over and wish them well, if you haven’t already!

In Ethiopia, it isn’t raining.

 Did you know that?  Probably, but most likely your neighbor doesn’t.  However, I bet they know that someone named David won American Idol.  Pretty sad state of affairs, isn’t it?  Start here for the article that goes with the picture.  Then see more info and a great map that includes Aleta Wondo (next to Chuko, Zufan’s birth town), here.  Another group working in Ethiopia has info here.

*** I just found this site, and it looks great.  If nothing else, the videos are worth the few minutes it takes to watch them.

Another day gets away

but here is a picture, at least.  Tomorrow is the big hearing check, and hopefully I’ll be able to find a few minutes to do a real post pretty soon!

Pictures from the pool

The day has just about gotten away from me, but here are a few pictures of the kids enjoying the pool in Chicago.  My friend and I went out and did our own thing while the esposo and kids swam, for hours.  It was great!  The perfect arrangement for all involved!

Zufan is getting to be quite a chub, isn’t she?  More on that hairdo soon!

Does she look 40?

  I didn’t think so!

My most adored IRL friend turned 40 this week, so we took a trip to Chicago to celebrate.  Doesn’t she look about 25?  It was such a great trip, ALL of us had a great time.  I’m so, so tired though, so more posting and kid pictures from the trip in the morning.  Also, I AM DONE GRADING PAPERS!  It is all turned in.  Everything.  Now, tonight, I’m getting some sleep.