Turbie-Twist

Well, we are getting into this break, cleaning rooms, washing sheets, laundry and shoveling...snow and closets. One of the great gifts that the girls received for Christmas was the "turbie-twist!" With 5 of us girls in the house, we really go through the towels, one for the hair and one for the body! Well, my mom saw the "turbie-twist" on home shopping (I love to shop thanks to my mom!!) Anyways, she gave us all a turbie-twist. They are awesome and eliminate the need for 2 towels, which = less laundry!

Today was a crazy day...Araya and I awoke to the alarm at 6:00 a.m., and we were out the door by 6:30 a.m. for the U of M. We stopped and picked up my dad in Isanti, he came along for the ride...just kidding he came along to help me out at the dentist. The roads were terrible, we arrived at 8:26 for an 8:30 appointment. We talked to the dentist and sedation (oral drugs) were given to him by mouth at 10:00....long wait! At 10:30 they took him back and he was out by 11:30! He did great, they were able to fill all 3 fillings! We now have eased him into the root canal, if there is such a thing as easing into a root canal... We will do that next.

While in the Lobby I met a neat Ethiopian women, she has two girls and has lived in the U.S. since 1999 with her husband. She actually lives in Blaine. I talked to her about wanting to keep Araya's Amharic (language) up so that he doesn't forget. She said she would love to come to Cambridge and meet periodically...She was really a nice lady. One thing that struck me was how amazed and surprised she was that we have adopted from Ethiopia. Actually the word that she used was "Thankful." She thanked me repeatedly for adopting from her home, Ethiopia. I said, "We have been blessed by them."

I can't help but be excited for Christmas, the excitement in Araya's face as he asks questions...The other day he said after his party at school and gift exchange, "do we go home now and open gifts?" "No" I said, I started to explain to him that it was not Christmas yet...I then started to take the opportunity to talk about Jesus...before I could finish he said, "mom, I know about Jesus, he was born on Christmas." I said, "yes, and there is so much more to learn about Jesus!" "yep" he said and he ran out of the room.

Araya is cracking us all up with his vocabulary...his top 4 are:
"You've got to be kidding me!"
"Are you serious?"
"What the heck!"
"What are you talking about?"- this one I think has something to do with the fact that he is hearing better...or he is just getting a little nosey on us :)
Oh Yes...My great friend Sarah also reminded me of one she hears regularly at school.
"Calm down!" It Doesn't take long to get "Americanized."

I am really excited for 2 weeks off of school, I planned all our appointments for the first two days of break..today U of M. Tomorrow, other 5 kids at dentist starting at 9:00. Araya ear dr. at 1:00...then we are free to do what we want ....Yeah!!

Animal-less

Is Animal-less a word? Well, it happened last week. I can finally talk about it this week!

We have had 3 house dogs at one time, last year Shelby's Dachshund's back went out, we even went so far as to have our local Chiropractor try to help out. It just wasn't meant to be and we ended up having to put him to sleep. Tatoo was only 5 years old.

Last week, I had about had enough! Gus, who is a Pekingese and is two years old, is certainly not the brightest bulb of the bunch, but he sure is cute. Seriously, last year he lifted his leg on our artificial tree in the living room. I saw it with my own eyes......Well, getting back to my story, he has been pulling little stunts like this.

Tinkerbell is Morgan's dog. Tinkerbell is a dachshund, and has been a great pet. Morgan picked her out when she was 4. She however, started to have little accidents...little turned into BIG...just pee, but I had been freaking out.

I was tired of feeling like I was the only person that took care of these animals..it became a cycle...Tinkerbell pee'd and Gus marked where she pee'd. Last Wednesday was the day! I called Troy at work and told the kids that the dogs were going....Where? I was not sure.

Troy came home from work...I said bring them to the Vet! I think I was a little surprised at my follow through on this...as were the others in the family! Troy brought them in and said, what can we do? "They are peeing and my wife is having a breakdown." He paid a fee... a hefty one I might add- for them to do medicals on them and bring them to the Humane Society. Meanwhile the kids and I were having our sad moment at home....this persisted for the next few days...I checked the Humane Society website...2 days later still no dogs listed, not mine anyways. I knew we (I) did the right thing...I just felt really bad. My sanity is worth something though and I knew I could not handle it..Anyways, my parents who were pretty sad for the dogs and the kids....etc...couldn't take it and they called the vet..My Dad did actually. My dad found out that Gus had found a wonderful home, with one of the employees..I thing it was the vet herself...yeah! Tinkerbell however, was still at the vet. The vet said, she is very lonesome and was very sick, with of all things...bladder and kidney infection, that explained a few things.... She was still at the vet on Friday. My dad drove in and took her home..to her new home ..."their home!" We found out last Friday, that Tinkerbell will spend the rest of her days with her brother "Harley" whom they bought when we bought Tinkerbell...I was so relieved to know that wild, dumb and crazy Gus has a new home that he will love and have great care! I am also so thankful and relieved that Tinkerbell has a new home where we can visit her anytime...Thanks Dad and Mom for relieving your daughter of some major stress and sadness.

Please don't write me and tell me that you can't believe I got rid of my dogs....I loved my dogs, but I love my husband and kids more. They like me more too, now that I am not hollaring about the dogs!

Go Gophers!!

Goldy surprised me and jumped in my arms!

Last night Troy and I and a few others that work at CCS, were able to go to a Gophers game! It was a fun night, considering the last night that Troy and I had date night we went to Cub!! Hey, you learn a lot about someone when you get groceries!

Anyways, it was a great time of fun with friends and good food, and the Golden Gophers Won!!

Today, Mr. Bonkoski, asked me if I was having a good day. "hmmmmm, I hesitated." "Yeah." Are you sure? he said....we chatted a little bit...we talked about it...... " Yeah, I was having a good day! I work with great people who have become great friends! Troy and I had just been talking about this as it is tough to work with people when you are the "minority" in so many ways...music, faith, family values! I have taken it for granted, and I am blessed to work with people who Love the Lord!!

Where is my ear?

As many of you know, Araya received his hearing aid last Tuesday. He has done reasonably well with it. We have only lost one battery, he also keeps thinking that his ear is wet (it's sweating) so he removes it regularly to wipe it off. Yesterday, we had had a little bit of a hectic morning, he didn't think he needed his coat, his sweatshirt would be fine, nor did he needed a hat or mittens, (he wasn't the only one.) So after several children running back in to get items that they "forgot or misplaced" we were on our way to school. We arrived in the parking lot and we were all belting out the tunes on the radio. Araya hollers, "mom," "mom," I shut off the car. I said "what, are you o.k.? " "No!" he said, "I FORGOT MY EAR!" I said "what?" he repeated himself, I said "where is it?" he said, "on the t.v." We had a great laugh...all of us including him...I said, "it's not an ear." he said, "O.K. tomorrow I will remember my ear." I sat thinking to myself, "that went in one ear and out the other"...oh well!