Eden Lily & Elly Lyn

This is Wacky

Since I have been on a web forum for Ethiopian adoption, I have met some really awesome ladies who are just as psychotically doing paperwork as we are in the hopes of bringing their sweet baby or babies home as soon as possible. I have really enjoyed this community a lot.

Today I found out that I have a long lost sister in Michigan...my blogger pal, Holly, and I found out that we have all of the following things in common:

1. Artists
2. Cert. K-12 Art
3. Would like to teach HS art if we go back to teaching
4. Stay at home moms
5. Both have daughters name Elly/Ellie
6. Have the same girl's name picked out for the next one
7. Have the same boy's name picked out for the next one
8. Both adopting from Ethiopia currently

I was totally floored at all the similarities. Crazy world!

Edenisms, Part 15

Out of nowhere in the van, Eden yells out, "That kid's got class!" We laughed, and Dan said, "Eden, you have class!" And she said, "Yeah I know. Preschool."

One More Time!

We went ONE MONTH without an illness! Woo-hoo! Our streak was almost broken last week with a minor poison ivy scare (who gets poison ivy in -2 degree wheather? Eden...but we got it with Cortaid) but it was officially broken this afternoon with Elly's third-in-three months diagnosis of an ear infection. Luckily we are getting better at recognizing this, and we got her in on a Saturday after having a rough Friday/Friday night.

Elly's sick symptoms are so different from Eden's -- Eden would get tired and want to lay around or be really irritable. Elly, on the other hand, gets WILD. Seriously wild...she will run around knocking things down and hitting and kicking things, but not with a bad attitude, almost like she is so giddy she can't help herself. And this is her without medication! The doc today said, "You have a live wire here!" We went to the ICFP clinic because ours is closed on Saturdays, and the doctor we saw was great. She talked to Elly like we weren't in the room. She told her all about what she was doing (and not in a sing-song voice, just like she would you or me) and then she sat down and said, "Well, Elly, you have an ear infection." Elly said, "Kay." Doctor said, "So now I have to talk to your parents about what we're going to prescribe you for it." Elly said, "Kay." It was precious.

Vocabuelly

Here are some of Elly's cute new phrases and words:

futon/fruton = crouton, or an actual futon

mosh pillows = marshmallows

check-ups = chex mix

take a big beth = take a big breath (when she's playing doctor)

I have a list of things I am working on called "30 Before 30" -- 30 things I am trying to do before I turn 30. I have accomplished a few, such as beginning this adoption process (yay). Another one is to start making more art, to finish some of my paintings and drawings and maybe even sell a few to fund the adoption. I also have a half a dozen photos that I would like to print and frame. The above abstract photo is one I took recently.

Apparently this blog is morphing into a catch-all of kids' stuff, my stuff, kids' art, my art, funny stories, and adoption updates...

Wodr in the bazmint

I don't know if I blogged about our water in the basement problem...anywho...we did have some last weekend because our sump pump broke (Dan fixed it) and Dan tore up the carpet before I could stop him, unleashing a nasty standing-water smell that permeated the house just hours before his 30th b'day surprise party!! Of course I couldn't tell him WHY I didn't want him to pull up the carpet!

During this stressful event, Eden was drawing. She came to me and said, "Mom, here's a picture of Daddy and the water in the basement!"

When I turned it over, I saw the most precious words, "WoDR" and "Eden 5."


Here is one of Dan as he was trying to extract the carpet:

I guess he thinks pretending to dive into the water makes a really grouchy wife feel better about the water that threatened to ruin their newly remodeled basement!! (it did)

Signs of the Times

Dan told me today that instead of calling our babysitter, Lucy, and waiting a few days before she calls back, he got the idea to text her. He said, "I texted her if she'd be available to babysit Tuesday, and seriously, within seconds, she replied! We went on to have a long (and maybe expensive) text conversation, and she's watching the kids this Tuesday!" (We don't have a texting plan, we are old.)

No Layoff Here

To any of you who worried about us when you heard of North Liberty's plastic plant closing, worry no more...it was the other plastics plant! Dan's job is fine.

Thanks to everyone who asked!

Her Prayer. Our Prayer

Today before lunch, Eden listened to Dan pray for the meal, then she said, "I want to pray too." We reattached at the hands, and she began, "Thanks God for our lovely family..." then she became more poetic and Biblical than a five year old can understand. She said, "God, it is very good that You are here with us, but if we could see you closer that would make us much more happier."

Rocko Bama

Eden is quite a politico these days, and has been since the beginning. I remember when she was about 18 months old or so, she would ask me, "Momma, what John Kewwy say?" Now she calls one candidate "Rocko" as in "Rocko Bama."
Along those lines, Eden has sparked another post on her art teacher's blog.

Ah, Ome Honership

The woes of homeownership are upon us again. It's not that bad...just water in the basement...again! That's right, twice in a year (the year we finished the basement no less). This time it was a crack in the sump pump line. Not like a flood or anything, but you'd be amazed the amount of water that can get into your carpet when a pinhole leak sprays for days without anyone knowing it!! Lesson learned: inspect area around sump pump regularly!!

Eden's MuteMath Dance Moves

Here is a video from about a year ago (?) of Eden's super impressive modern dance moves...

Another Nia Moment

Click here to read Nia's cute quip.

Ear Tubes No More!

Eden has her year-after-surgery check up today for her tubes and we found them both disconnected from the ear drum. Dr. Viner ever so gently removed the blue plastic thingamabobs with the precision of a surgeon of course, using these long tweezer things with scissor-like handles. If you know how I like Dr. Viner, you know I loved it.

Eden did great, though one bothered her, I think because it was still a little stuck to the drum, but it didn't take much to get it out. The rest of the visit was spent with Eden telling Dr. Fritzy all about her dad and how he hurt his back, and how she got new Barbie boots for Christmas (which was followed/interrupted by Elly telling him how she got some new "piddy shoes" too).

I have to say, as we drove away this morning, I was secretly hoping that Elly would need tubes or some sort of ENT visits before Dr. Viner decides to retire! I do so love my Fritz!