At Least We Can Bond

A few days ago, with the encouragement of Amanda and a few good friends, I joined the Anytime Fitness that is just a rocks throw from our house. There is no question that I need to loose some weight and Amanda...well the girl doesn't have an ounce of fat on her...just wanted to keep in shape for two a day volleyball that will be starting mid-summer.


I have to admit that so far is has been very refreshing and I certainly feel better about doing it. I have even managed to get my ass out of bed at 5am and drive down there. Maybe this will be the summer for me to look decent in a swim suit. If all else fails...at least it will be a bonding experience for us.


A few days ago, Amanda experienced the loss of a dear friend. Hyatt, a 16 yr old sophomore at a neighboring high school, died in a car accident Friday night. We have had several talks about Hyatt and his death. I just don't know how to help ease her sadness. She keeps saying she doesn't know how to get past it, especially without crying. I have tried to explain that death is all a part of life. While it hurts our hearts and we miss them, our life has to go on...and I am sure that is what Hyatt would want. I told her to remember him, talk about him to insure that he isn't forgotten.

And to make matters worse, the "boy" never got the chance to take the grocery store test....he said he just wanted to be "friends." Another broken heart for me to mend.


On another subject...I am so relieved and happy to have Joshua home. It's been 10 days and I feel like this was a trial run for college. I am sure I will survive, but I really missed him and I am so happy to have all my kids home under the same roof.


Samuel starts school tomorrow and I hope for all our sakes,I can hold myself together. I am just keeping my fingers crossed that he has a fun first day.


Carter's appointment with the Russian translator was what we had expected. He was not able to understand or communicate with her at all. After hearing what we describe as jibber jabber, she confirmed that small children in orphanages develop their own type of language that only other orphans can understand. Lack of stimulation forces them to find their own way of speaking. So...with no Russian, and a small amount of English under his belt, he definitely needs speech therapy. The therapist says that he is basically learning the foundation of language skills at the age of 4 1/2 vs. birth. Unfortunately, the law is very funny about this...so she is trying to find a way to bend and twist the rules so that Carter can qualify for speech services without being labeled as "special ed".


And these are the days of our lives.......