Monday, July 30, 2012

Monday's aren't what they used to be...

So it's 8:44 on a Monday morning and I'm sitting here with my coffee in a quiet house.  My kids are still in bed, which is not so much a stretch for the tween, but for my go-go-go boy, it sure is.  He may be up there playing his DS right now for all I know, but he's still in bed.  Which is weird.

Today is an errand day.  I need to get some groceries, badly.  We went through a lot of stock that I had before we moved, so we wouldn't have to move it all, and now I'm a bit low on some staple items.

Tomorrow we are going to have our very first official visitors!!  My best friend Joni and her two girls are coming up from Phoenix for the day.  She works for an airline as well, so it's easy for them to jump on a plane and come up.  Her oldest and my Jordan hit it off immediately when they first met, which made our hearts SO happy.  And we've decided on an arranged marriage between her youngest and Wyatt.  They've already been informed that they are only allowed to marry each other.  Check THAT off my list!

Wednesday I have to register the kids for school, and then that evening, they are leaving to go to Phoenix for two weeks!  Memaw and Papaw are taking them and they plan on having a blast!  It will be a nice time for all of them to spend together.  They're very excited about it.  As for Chris and I, who knows what we'll do.  I'm thinking I'll be rearranging closets and shelves, putting finishing touches on this house.

And speaking of the house, I cannot tell you how happy I am to be in a large living space again.  A 1,200 square foot townhouse just does not do it for our family. Maybe I was spoiled at the start with our first house in Phoenix, but having all of this room to spread out is much easier on the nerves in our family.  I see families that live in 500 square feet and I just don't know how they do it.  God bless them, that's for sure!  The pool is an added bonus as well.  I don't think the kids have skipped a day of swimming since we moved in!

And finally, I am furiously looking for a job, as I've decided to head back to work.  It was nice having time off with the kiddos last year, being able to shuttle them here, there and everywhere.  And not having a bus system for the school kind of demanded it.  Now that we're back in a metropolis, they will have a bus, and the schedule for their schools will allow me to work and not have to worry too much about getting them places.  Ideally I'd like to have the rest of the summer off, but if something comes along that is too good to pass up, well, you know how that rolls.

And that's all she wrote for now!  Enjoy your week!

Friday, July 27, 2012

No time, no time.

We're moved in! We're (97%) unpacked. I'm waiting for the cable guy as I type this. Somewhere between 8-12 he'll be here.

Jordan is still sleeping and Wyatt is building a fort with moving boxes, which he has been at for three days.

Mama's drinking coffee and looking at the little things that still need to be done. Daddy is at work.

Happy Friday!

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Sometimes, it's awkward.

I took the kids to the dentist today, to get a checkup so that it's something I won't have to worry about for a while after we move.  This is only their second time at this dentist, and only their third appointment since they came home.  Their medical records before this are a bit spotty (e.g. there is no record of their last dental appointment before we brought them home), and so I really don't have anything historical.

Their hygienist came out and asked me when Jordan's last panoramic x-rays were.  I told her I wasn't sure. She looked at me a bit puzzled and, as if trying to nudge my memory, said 'they usually take them at around age 8.'  Here's where it gets a bit awkward.

She was two months shy of 10 when she came home.  Also, I don't just offer up that they are adopted to everyone I meet.  It's their story, and I usually let them lead the way on whether or not they are ok with me sharing, especially if they are standing right there.

This time, however, I had to let the hygienist know that she was adopted, and she didn't come home until she was 9, and her previous dental visits were not consistent.  She was very understanding, at least her face didn't reveal any sort of surprise or shock, which I was extremely grateful for.

I sat back after she left and thought to myself, a little bitterly I will admit, that it must be nice for other parents not to have to explain that.  Not to have to explain that I'm not a bad parent who doesn't know what her medical history is, it's just that I don't have it.

I ran into this recently with Jordan and her softball team.  A lot of the parents were shocked that this was her first year playing.  Many times I was asked 'how come she didn't play before this?'  Thankfully, Jordan was ok with me explaining that they were adopted.  Once that explanation was made, it was no big deal.

It makes me wonder, though - how many times have I overheard a conversation and silently judged a parent for not knowing their child's medical history? Or judged because they may sidestep a question about that child's past?  How many times have I assumed bad parenting, and in all reality, it may have been a situation such as ours? How many times have you?

Everyday I learn something.  Everyday I am shown mercy and grace.  I try very hard to show that mercy and grace back.  And days like today make me realize I still have some growing to do.