Saturday and the Living is Easy (in a tiring way)

Saturday started at the crack of dawn. Morgan came to spend part of the day with us while his family prepared for the afternoon wedding of Morgan's aunt Julie. I took the kids to an art festival which much to Lucy's joy had a petting zoo, a pony ride and mini-doughnuts (and it was right by Isaac, Nathan and Jacob's house). We then dropped Morgan off in the country (his granparent's house) and headed home. Lucy has been dreaming about setting up our little pool since about February and today her dream came true. The pool was still a little cold for full immersion but she had fun splashing around. We had a good day! Enjoy Saturday's montage.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Pity Party

Finally Friday. As frustrating as rasing Lucy can be at times, I am still still meant to be a stay-at-home mom. I hear all the arguments that staying home can be as hard or harder then working while raising children. From this side of the fence it's still hard to fully believe. Maybe it's a single mom thing but after spending the evening chasing Lucy, getting her fed, taking care of her needs, getting too little sleep ... getting up at 5:30 (yes she did), feeding her, doing her hair, getting her dressed, getting my self dressed (oop forgot my hair) dropping her off at daycare, running home to switch laundry and do 10 minute "quickie clean", off to work ... come home repeat. When I pick her up from daycare, she is ready for mom time. It's time to bounce balls, snuggle, chase, go to a park, cook dinner, clean up, chase, play, bed.

Saturdays and Sundays are a welcome relief from all of this. Mostly we can go at a different pace, sure we're still up early (too early) but no need to get two cranky pants (Lucy and momma) all dressed and out the door by a certain time, no need to rush from one place to another (most weekend) and just more casual time together.

Places like the zoo close too early weekdays so we're left with weekends which are insanely busy (not to mention having only 2 days to hope for good weather). Then there are play places that have open play during weekdays but are closed evenings and weekends for birthday parties ... the list goes on and on and on.

OH and did I mention that our cranky/tired levels significantly rise after 6pm when we get a chance to do these things?

OK ... now that was a little trip down whiner lane. It's Friday and I am betting that I'll have a happier post on Saturday. Thanks for bearing with this "grass is greener" post.

Have a great Friday everyone!

I broke down ...

After months of warning Lucy that earrings hurt, and her still asking for them ... even saying "I like pokes, yes ma'am" I broke down. I even had her watch her aunt Jen get earrings, complete with the dreaded gloves (Lucy has had lots of blood draws, she knows what the gloves mean), and pokey earrings, still she said "yes momma I want earrings". She definitely did NOT want the 2ND ear pierced, but we were "in it to win it" at that point and I held my baby down (I feel a little guilty). She was over the hurt very quickly and moved on to tell everyone at the MOA about her earrings.

Lucy before the piercing making her final decision of "yes" to earrings

Before the piercing, all excited ...

Not so excited now

"and the painted ponies go up and down ... " my baby is growing up!

Dear Lucy,

Do you see this man? You already know who he is, you've known since you were 2 years old. He is the democratic nominee for PRESIDENT of the United States of America. Aside from all of the great things he stands for (change) and the excitement of the possibilities for our country because of his leadership, strength and skills (which is why your momma loves him), I want you to look at him and see all he stands for for you my daughter.

I don't think that having a black man for president will change everything about racism in this country and the way racists twist words, studies and the way people are portrayed in the media (all over the world) but I have hope Lucy ... I hope that it changes some people. I hope that he is elected and in the 4 or 8 years following his election our country makes great strides in offering hope, change and peace. Maybe I am saying it wrong, but I hope in the next 4 or 8 years people see him as a great man who did great things for our country and I hope they see the color of his skin.

These are at once, scary and exciting times. I hope that the next time an election comes around, we're not discussing wars, recessions and oil. I hope we're taking the next step to better.

Love (and excitement),

Mommy

The boys ...

With three boys plus Lucy to watch I just don't think I'll be getting as many photos. Isaac likes to fake a sad face when seeing the camera, Nathan is too zippy to capture, Lucy hide and Jacob lunges for the camera so together we definately haven't reached photopia. OH well. We had the boys over to our house last night. Lucy was on her own turf which zips things up a little bit. We have traditions here that vary from the traditions at his house and they work well. Lucy LOVES baby Jacob.

Totally Tubular Tuesday

We had another chill morning (thanks to Mel for providing child-care on her vacation) so Lucy put on a little concert.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Another Margaritaville Monday Morning

Seems as if we have a Monday morning tradition happening at our house. Not as sweet as chocolate chip pancakes but a lot more fun! We seem to have more time to hang out on Mondays since I wait for the babysitter (read: Mel) to show up, we don't have to rush out the door for daycare. Perfect opportunity for singing and dancing, and getting dizzy.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

10 Things I appreciate, celebrate, love about being a mom ...

1. I have a kid to take to birthday parties
2. Making memories
3. Folding little clothes (I still love this)
4. Laughing a lot more then ever before
5. Morning snuggles
6. Teaching teaching teaching
7. feeling purposeful
8. talking about pediatricians, daycare, potty training, sleeplessness, frustrations, joys regarding my own child!!!
9. finally knowing that I don't know what the hell I am doing in regards to raising a kid!!!!
10. Intense, joyful, painful, overwhelming LOVE

I am so very blessed to have a daughter to raise.

weekend winding down

Sunday, dress up for swimming, totally fun swim class ...

The weekend continues ...

Saturday started bright and early (5:30, the hair do threats have ceased to work, as I no longer have energy or will to do hair, she totally broke me). Thankfully Lucy was mellow and sweet. We went to Bennett's big 3.0 bash, super fun with lots of Ethio-adopt mommas papas and kids. I was the SUPER-STAR who got to show off a certain photo of a certain 5 week old girl who is the daughter of a certain someone who lives west of here. Yup I've gots me connections. After the party we had time for a quick mother-daughter nap and we were off to babysit the three boys.

There has GOT to be some sort of special place in heaven for a lady who got up at 5:30 in the morning, spent the day with her 3 yr old and then went to watch a 5 yr old, 3yr old (my own 3 yr old) and a 10 month old and ended up carting all 4 kids down two levels to the basement (just after we trecked up there to start p.j.s) for a tornado warning siren wailing. I mean, that was some sort of super-heroeic thing I think ... I totally can't believe people do this every day and every night with even more then 4 kids. But seriously people ... that was some serious transitioning for 4 young kids and one old tired mom and we did it with no tears AND being very compassionate and sensitive to the need for order and routine, I gave up all my hopes and dreams of an 8pm bedtime so we could do our normal bedtime routine. We didn't even head up stairs until 8:45. It was actually my first bedtime since baby Jacob came home and it was a rockin' bedtime. Seriously, it was fairly flawless.

That's it ... I am off to spend a few precious hours in bed before Sunday hits.

No photos from babysitting but I do have a couple from the party.

The weekend begins ...

It started with some basketball, tried on a hand-me-down outfit direct from Norway (the gingerbread get-up), ended with a movie/beer (for mom) night with the boy's parents and now we are home, Lucy is all tucked in and I am about to go to sleep too!

Our family ...

Our family, especially my cousin, is grieving the loss of her precious baby girl who was stillborn earlier this week. There is nothing like the feeling of not being able to fix something I so desperately want to fix. Her daughter was wanted and nurtured and her impending arrival was celebrated. As my cousin heads home with her arms empty and her heart hurting I ask you to please hold her and all those mothers with empty arms in your hearts, thoughts and prayers. It's going to be a long journey.

Parenting advice

The suggestion/threat

Momma: "Lucy if you wake up before 6:30, I will have lots of time to re-do your hair in the morning."

Lucy: "No do hair"

Momma: "No wake up before 6:30"

Lucy: "OK momma"

(she woke up at 7:00 this morning and yeah her hair is looking rough but the girl slept)

Back to work ...

Today wasn't so bad (going back to work). Lucy woke up bright and freakn' early so that I didn't have to miss out on too much time with her, thanks baby! I took a break from work to take her back to the doctor. Thankfully the blood count that was way way out of whack on Friday was closer to being in whack today ... After work we played outside and tested out the new tent we got for Christmas. I had to be sure it was big enough to contain 4 kids and 2 adults as the mommas and the kids (Lucy, Isaac, Nathan and Jacob) are fun (dumb) enough to continue the annual camping tradition even though we are out numbered 2 to 1 this year. As of tonight I have two camping trips confirmed and a possible stint at the boy's cabin. Hopefully by the end of the week I'll have reserved one more camping weekend. I am pretty psyched about camping with Lucy this year. I think it will be a dang good time as she's old enough to withstand a night or two of bad sleep without completely falling apart, plus I feel like I can mosquito spray her without totally whacking out her nervous system OH and she eats more then spagetti this year.
So excitement abounds.


Some camping photos from years past:

Mille Lacs Kathio State Park swimming pond 2006

Mille Lacs Kathio State Park 2006

Mille Lacs Kathio State park - 2006, cute lil girl
In an eagle's nest at the intrepretative center
Group shot ... we survived our first moms and kids camping trip
Camping with Sara, William and Lucy 2007
2007
2007 with Isaac and Nathan
Ice Cream pit stop 2007

Monday

It's Monday but it's like Sunday. Lucy spent the night at her grandparents last night so I got a good night's sleep and this morning is super-chill. The three-day weekend seemed longer (in a good way) because we've done so much and had so much fun. We celebrated Morgan's family day, had N and M over for two nights, went to the falls, played in the yard and just had fun together.

Memorial Day weekend

N and M came on Friday night!

M helped Lucy get ready for Morgan's party

Lucy went down the huge slide about a million times

The kids "sharing"

Long Week-end

Trying to keep the blog on the positive but oh how many posts I started about the famine, 5 yr-old Maria, the disappointing call from post-adoption services etc etc. The world does not seem to be a positive place right now.

Re-grouping here ... I see the positive in up-coming three day weekend. I am starting a wee bit early as instead of going to the office I am going to my home visits directly from home. My clients live closer to my home then my office anyway.

Nancy and Makena are coming for a visit. On Saturday we will join Mel and Morgan at a great park to celebrate his family day. Lucy clarified this morning: "Nancy and Makena come but Tes-five stay in the car." I assured her that Tesfaye will not be living in the car on our street but rather staying in Chicago and she seemed happier about that arrangement.

Park Nights

We've gone to the park two nights in a row. The weather has been perfect and the sun is shining until past bedtime. Gotta love it! Tuesday night I took Morgan and Lucy to a family night (through my agency). I've taken Lucy to a few work events and always find it interesting to parent my child in front of people I "social work". Lucy was great though, a real charmer and stayed easily within the limits I set (she put on her "social worker's daughter" hat for a while I guess ... thanks Lucy)! Tonight we went to dinner with aunt Jen. Jen and Lucy were traumitized by a finger smashing incident (Lucy's finger, Jen was in charge at the time) so the two of them needed some swinging and sliding to put the trauma behind them and move ahead with life. Once we got to the park Lucy regained the ability to use her right hand and Jen became visibly more relaxed. Bedtime was a breeze!

Imagine the reality

It it still so hard to believe ... imagine dying from hunger, starving to death. Sometimes it brings me to my knees, like I am hearing it for the first time every time.

From CNN:

Ethiopian children dying daily from starvationCNNEGU VILLAGE, Ethiopia (CNN) -- A year of drought and soaring food prices has threatened the lives of tens of thousands of Ethiopian children.
"We have nothing to feed our children," said Egu's village elder. "We are losing our children day by day."
Ethiopia's Health Ministry, along with UNICEF, monitors the health of thousands of children here, but the number of areas they have been able to regularly visit has been cut in half this year.
The small rains that normally allow Ethiopian farmers to plant a second crop each year did not come this year, adding to an already critical food shortage.
"It's an open crisis and there are more people than we expected, than the government expected, who need additional food," said Bjorn Ljungqvist, head of UNICEF Ethiopia.
There is a critical shortfall in the supply of therapeutic foods used to treat children with severe acute malnutrition, the UNICEF official said.
The UN's children's agency is appealing for $10 million to pay for emergency needs of more than seven million children under five as well as pregnant and lactating mothers in 325 drought-affected districts.
The World Food Programme (WFP) supplies the emergency food for UNICEF, but rising food prices mean it could not guarantee aid for all the areas in need.
"Unless you get immediate assistance the risk is, you fall into severe malnutrition and eventually death, so unless our supporters come in immediately for this we fear that is what is going to happen in the country," said Jakob Mikkelse, the WFP's nutrition and education chief.
Egu is a village UNICEF is no longer able to visit on a regular basis.
"If we were not here, those children who we had found now, with severe acute malnutrition would have died at home," UNICEF Emergency Nutrition Project Officer Samson Dessie.
UNICEF estimates six million Ethiopian children under the age of five are at risk and more than 120,000 have only about a month to live.
As the relief workers depart Egu, they leave behind a few emergency food packs and a promise to return.
The Ethiopian government has worked with UNICEF since 2004 on the Enhanced Outreach Strategy (EOS) to provide food for child survival. The effort distributes child survival packages that include vitamin A supplementation, de-worming, measles catch-up, nutritional screening and referral to supplementary or therapeutic feeding programs.
"EOS is really very important from many perspectives with regard to child survival," Dessie said. "The first is it brings high-impact, low-cost child survival packages like vitamin A, which can reduce child mortality by up to 35 per cent."