origami frogs and balloons

We went upstairs to the book den today and found a book with 365 crafts and art projects in it. Thumbing through the pages, we saw these leaping frogs, and Josh showed us how to make paper balloons when we mastered the frogs.

One of Lilly's teachers back home collects frogs, but we didn't have time to mail her frog before school lets out for the summer. So, here are all the children and their creations.

We must be kite people

It's been awhile since I last posted.
A few days before we got to go visit home, I went to get my blood pressure checked. It's always run borderline high, but with exercise it's stayed on the good side of the border. Knowing I'd need to have a physical for the adoption process, I had a nurse check it. WAY too high. So, I now have a doctor in Seattle, and while it was a long inward battle for me to actually take the first BP pill, my blood pressure is going down, slowly, but it is going down.

So, to go with that lovely week, when we arrived at the house, I read all the mail from that week. There was a letter from the IRS, saying that we didn't report something right and that if we couldn't support what we put, then we owe $863. I am not a dishonest person, and would never try something like that. During the 4 days home, I cleaned again. This time, it wasn't for "fun," rather to find the 2008 tax paperwork that wasn't in the accordion file (which had every other year in it but that one). Finally, the night before we came back to Seattle, I found it in an obscure folder that was in our homeowner's binder. Our house is now clean.

I had the children walk or ride with me to the local school at home. Here's Daniel.

Maggie and her kite

Lilly and her kite

Josh and his pterodactyl kite

The girls were playing vampire mommies. Daniel and the girls switched rooms and while cleaning, he gave them the vampire cape.

After we got back to Seattle, the children got to do a soccer clinic with James Riley, of the Seattle Sounders FC (I hope I typed that right). The Seattle soccer team. James is awesome, and he has volunteered at the House a couple times. Great guy. Always has cool shoes too. :)

Yesterday, it was finally sunny for a day. We went to Mathews Beach and flew kites again.

Depending on the blood counts, we should be able to visit home again, later this week and next week. But, we might not go over until the weekend so that we can have Maggie's birthday party here (Seattle) before we go. Her 9th birthday is tomorrow, but I didn't have time to plan a party before then, so we're thinking Friday or Saturday. It all depends on House schedules.

Faster connection means more pictures

Last week was kind of busy. At the House in Seattle, it seems like we're all busy all day, but at the end of the day, it's hard to figure out what was accomplished. It's a good day if routine and structure were maintained for the family. It's a good day if we all ate healthy, and were well-rested. It's a good day if we got to exercise.
Parents just worry a lot, making it hard to concentrate on other things. Someone thought that everyone where we're staying in Seattle can just relax and read all the time. I have read a LOT, but haven't retained much and I definitely have not been able to relax when I worry all the time about everything. Health, family being separated, etc.

Andy, Daniel, and Kelly visited last weekend. It was rainy so we didn't go out much. Daniel built a marble tower while waiting for me to get ready. We finally got to go to the Northgate Mall. I think Kelly liked it, but not too sure about Daniel. But, I tend to just look at girly things and the boys tend to be forgotten at the store. I have to force myself to try to be fair when buying things for the children.
After the mall, Maggie really wanted her hair curled with my new hot rollers. She was devouring the Sbarro pizza while waiting for the rollers to cool.

Here she is with her curly hair. She looks just like Holly, our neighbor in Seattle.

Holly was at our room and we were all watching a movie. Maggie was standing in front of where Andy and I were sitting. Andy kept saying, "Holly, down in front." But, it was Maggie, and it took him a while to figure it out. Holly's hair is curly with the humidity in Seattle. :)

Kelly got new sunglasses.

The children wanted to make elephant's toothpaste later in the week, so we did. The other kids at the house wanted to watch, and they thought it was fun too.

Maggie now has a pretty rock collection of polished rocks. Her teacher, Eileen, gave her some and helped her organize this homemade box for them.

Andy came later in the week, again. We went to the Seattle Public Library. As I put on a postcard to my local librarian, it was a jaw-dropping experience, but nothing compares to our local library!

The picture below has some children's books to the right, and the storytime room to the left, behind the funky wall.

Ok, in our medium-size city (or in any other cities I've lived in), I've never seen more than 20 kids at a story time, maybe 40 if it was a summer program for older kids too. Check out the maximum occupancy for the SPL's storytime room!

The picture below is JUST some of the children's section.

The blue bull, but I forgot its name.

Below this next picture is the awesome conveyor belt that takes items left in the book return box outside to where they are processed. You can watch the books you're returning. Or, if you're returning them inside, the books go in the central conveyor entry in this picture.

The book return that is inside.

We went to the SPL to see Josh read a poem that he wrote. Andy and the girls got to watch. As soon as the program started, the baby started fussing (chemo earlier in the day). Josh did a great job, according to Andy! I asked Josh if he felt famous, and he said when everyone was clapping for him, yes. He said he felt even more famous when he and the girls performed at Seattle Center the first weekend in May.

My children are getting such a neat experience in Seattle! We are meeting neat people, learning to have more compassion for those who are struggling to survive even more than we are, and just taking the opportunity to find some good in the leukemia battle.

HOME!!!!!

We arrived at our glorious home this afternoon!! We get to stay here until Wednesday...then, to soften the blow of having to go back, we're going to do putt-putt golf in Leavenworth and then go to Nana's for a short visit.

I love my home, my wood table, my matching dishes and real silverware, my husband, children, and the garden. And, my roses are blooming!!

And, some friends worked on our garden area ALL morning, so it is beautiful! Thank you!

They're ok

Andy, Daniel, and Kelly came to visit yesterday. On their way home, they saw 8 deer, including the one they hit. It died, but they are ok. This is a miracle since they were in our tiny car. I'm looking for a little bigger car now, so I have more peace of mind.

What can I do?

People often say, "Let me know if there's anything I can do for you or your family."

My friend and I were discussing what we've learned by being in this situation (away from home, surrounded by people yet feeling so isolated, extreme worry). We were talking about what we plan to do when we finally get out of here!

One thing is serving others where there is a pure need. Another is being a true friend.

We talked about isolation and how it has affected us AND OUR CHILDREN. Our children who aren't patients are isolated, even with the school here. When we return home next year, it'll likely be a difficult transition to see their old friends and the different dynamics of relationships.

One way to help ease this would be a recording from class (church or school) so they can see their friends (without worry of germs for now), and understand that they are still learning similar things at church and school. Even just a half hour of recording would be played over and over, I can assure you.

From our experience, we understand that any adult who is homebound would appreciate an update of events (who came, what it was for, who has which new callings, etc.) or the same type of recording from church.

Mail is awesome to receive. I was spoiled on my birthday. It was so nice to open the mailbox and have something there. The children jump up and down when they get mail.

Another friend here at the House receives a drawing EVERY DAY from someone in their community...actually, it's her son who receives it. He loves to get the mail each day.

If you have other ideas, please share. We are surrounded by people who serve selflessly every day.

p.s. baby's doing well, eating great, and gaining weight!

Just a few hours together

Andy, Daniel, and Kelly came to visit for a few hours today.

After church, we went to Magnuson Beach

(It's really too tight of a fit to have everyone in our room).

Maggie and Lilly are the only ones who will usually look when I want a picture.

The children thought a police boat was cool, and when it caused big waves on shore, Maggie and Lilly thought it was fun to stand in the cold water.

Andy and Maggie

We saw these baby goslings.

Lilly and Maggie posing on our rainy, small hike.

Don't know why Lilly was pouting...

split second after this, a huge, ugly black and white bumble bee stung Maggie on her chest and on her back after it went in her shirt.

We loved seeing the rest of our family, even if everyone was tired.

Can't wait for next time.

Oh, and at church, I saw a friend from high school days!

It was so embarrassing when my skirt slid all the way to the floor while we were talking!

Everything I do is so graceful, not!