The next step

I attended the pre-K meeting for parents today - my husband was leading it.  So bizarre.  I made everyone laugh when it was my turn to introduce myself and my explanation for being here was "I'm married to Steve".  There were lots of parents and there will be 23 children doing the next 4 Wednesdays.  Some will not be here next year and others will arrive and join the class in August.
We often talk about life being in seasons and it does feel like this is a change - not spectacular, but a gradual shift to something different; a bit like the way it feels when you sense the weather getting warmer or the leaves start changing colour.  It will be different with just Naomi at home - for her and me!  But I think it's important that I don't rush ahead of myself and that I allow Naomi to have quality time from me, rather than thinking about how I can pick up more that really is about greater recognition that greater fulfilment.  I will be doing something very different next year and that excites me but my first priority is always my family.

End of this Chapter

I went to the hospital today to visit the boy - Kevin.  He was sat up, interacting with his mother and sibling and I could see no marks on him.  I had the opportunity to apologise which I needed to do.  It made me feel a lot better to see Kevin looking well - especially as the image I had in my head was of him lying perfectly still and unconscious.  The mother was very gracious and ready to leave the hospital.  We didn't think the hospital would release Kevin until Tuesday but we had a call in the afternoon to say they were going to discharge him today.  Steve went and paid all the bills so he could leave and it's done.  Other than collecting my licence which could be a whole experience in itself!

Today may have been in contention for the worst birthday ever!  It started OK.  I had a lie-in as my friend's daughter was not feeling well so she didn't need me to babysit anymore.  Steve got up with Rose - who I could hear talking his ear off!  He made breakfast.  I went out to celebrate a friend's birthday-cum-despedida.  I got home, piddled around, got me and the kids ready to go swimming and that's when it all went horribly wrong.
Steve ran up to school and we were meeting him at the pool.  As I pulled across the junction at Valley Golf I hit a small boy running across the road to the corner shop. I believe it was my fault.  He collapsed in front of the car, his father picked him up and put him on the bonnet and he promptly slid off and hit the other side of his head on the road.  They put him in the car, fetched his mother and I drove up to school to get Steve as I knew I needed him to be there when we got to the hospital.  Our kids were frightened by the mother's wailing.  When we got to the hospital, Steve put on a clean T-shirt and went inside to deal with bills etc. I took the kids to my friend's house and got dressed (I was in my swimming stuff) and collected money and phones and headed back to the hospital.  Steve wouldn't let me in the hospital in case the family got funny and dealt with all that side.  I dealt with the police who confiscated my licence (until the boy was released from hospital) and were attempting to impound the car.  The father signed a release form so the car was not impounded.  The boy's external check was OK - except for bad concussion - and his CAT scan was clear.  I am very grateful.  God was gracious to the boy and myself.
It did lead to an interesting conversation on the way home with the kids.  We prayed for the boy and Rose said, "Don't tell Melissa what happened." We then had a discussion on how it is wrong to hide mistakes, failures and sins. Which is really the reason I decided to blog about this accident even though I would have probably preferred not to.  The consequences of my actions today were serious and this may be one birthday I do feel older and hopefully, a little wiser too.

Made it!

My friends have been such a great support to me this week with all they have done with me and the kids and for me and the kids.  I also appreciate everyone who has been praying for us.  I cannot claim to have been the greatest mum this week - but, then, I'd be surprised if anyone ever made that claim; and if they did, they're lying!!  But we got through in one piece.
Steve arrived home at 8:30.  Josh did not want to go to bed until he had seen daddy.  He has been getting more clingy as the week has gone on and I indulged him.  He went to bed as good as gold afterwards - although, really, he should as he was exhausted!

Bob and Larry....and Larry

Josh and Rose had this whole Bob and Larry (Veggietales) routine off pat today which made me laugh.  Josh: "Hi, I'm Bob the tomato" (yes, with the a sound!)
Rose; "And I'm Larry the cucumber"
Naomi: "And I'm Larry the cucumber"!!

They started with a question from a letter - although I never heard what the question was!  They even had a verse from Cody (the computer) at the end.  It was very entertaining.

Small Things

I haven't been able to drop off to sleep the last two nights.  I'm missing my husband but I did end up with 2 bedfellows last night - Josh and Rose!!  I ended up minus quilt, minus fan, on the edge of the bed.  And, one thing I really miss about my husband is that he is the one who gets up in the mornings with the kids so it was Muggins here who had to haul herself out of bed at 5:30 this morning.  My darling husband is also the one who normally prepares Rose's lunch and makes sure she is generally ready for school. I really appreciate him for doing this.
This afternoon I was doing some sewing in the study and my darling son sneakily latched the door on the outside which I didn't realise until I tried to leave the room!  I had to shout for Rose to let me out which she duly did.  There was still a chair by the door where he had reached up to latch it.

Average Sunday!

I knew that there was going to be a run and that roads were blocked off round Church so I had planned my route. However, I still managed to miss the right turn and get myself confused.  Right at that moment, my kids decided to start World War 3 in the back of the car.  I ended up shouting at them, getting in a tizzy about the route, stuck in the one way system.  But hey, we got there eventually!
After lunch, I wouldn't let Josh have an ice-cream and the whole of the mall knew it because he walked round with me crying and saying, "I want my ice-cream" for about half an hour until we were ready to leave!

False Start

This morning Steve left for Bangkok.  He is part of an inspection team for a school there.  We have been watching the news and he has been monitoring his emails from the team leader to see if the trip would be cancelled or not.  It wasn't.
This morning Steve was waiting for the driver he had arranged to take him to the airport.  He was meant to be picked up at 7:15 but 7:30, still no sign.  Steve rang the driver while I took a shower in case we needed to take him to the airport.  The driver had "forgotten".  So in 2 minutes we were all in the car, including colouring books, iPod, phone and snacks and drinks.  You never know how long the trip will take!  There was lots of huffing and puffing as we started as the traffic was in its typical state of congestion but he calmed down as the roads opened up more. The kids were great - we were in the car for 2 hours.
Sitting at junction on the way home, waiting for the lights to change, I noticed our km dial was sat at 666.  I hope that's not significant for this week!!

Our Day Out

I think Steve thought I deserved a day out as I will have the whole week without the benefit of his company or support.

Wendy and I went and had chai tea (we defected from Starbucks to Coffee Bean), had our nails done (when I say nails, I mean an hour and a half worth of pampering!), went back for coffee and lunch and then visited another friend - Sandra.  A great day out.

I was putting Naomi to bed and we were almost done reading her choice of book when she said, "This is not my bedtime book.  I can choose another one."  We had a bit of back and forth dialogue that involved me replying, "No.  This is your bedtime book."  So I said, "OK, you can just stop and go to bed now."  She decided we could finish it and she would accept it was her bedtime book!

I Don't Want To

Naomi is very much in this stage.  "I don't want to" is frequently heard from her mouth, along with that brilliant pout of hers.  She asked if she could have a sleepover!!  When I said "Naomi, you're 3.  I don't think you need a sleepover yet".  She did that slumped shoulder thing and stropped off.  Anyway, my friend had a great idea - she was there when it happened - and suggested we all go for dinner at their house, the kids could sleep over and we would play Settler.  Josh kept wavering back and forth about whether he wanted to sleep there or not but we were so late finishing our game that he was well asleep by then so we left him.  (They live around the corner from us) Naomi was gung-ho about staying and Rose managed to earn the sanction of not staying about 5 minutes before we left our house!  When I asked Rose to put her pyjamas on she said, "Why?  I can't stay.  It's my punishment." (A very logical thinker, my daughter). I said, "you can still get changed and sleep for a bit before we are ready to leave." So when we left we woke her and took her home with us.

Breakfast with Wendy

Wendy arrived back on Monday while we were at Calapan so we made a date to catch up as soon as possible.  Still very much in jetlag, Wendy came over to share one of Steve's pancake breakfasts with us.  It was sooooo good to see her.  We had a lot of fun catching up and sharing news in between my out of sorts children antagonising each other, crying, shouting and being sent upstairs to their rooms at frequent intervals.  Oh, I do love the after-effects of travel, tiredness and out of routine.  We have a whole day together tomorrow.

Jigsaw measles

Naomi and I were supposedly putting a jigsaw together this morning.  I say supposedly because Naomi was having more fun piling up the bits that went together and then she started putting pieces of puzzle all up her arm and on her head and said, "I'm sick.  I've got spots."  It was very funny.  Then Rose joined us and in her super efficient way got the whole thing almost finished before Naomi decided she wanted to put any of it together!

Driving Back

We have started coming back in the afternoon so that we stop for dinner (only McD) on the way home, the kids put their pyjamas on and hopefully go to sleep by the time we get home.
Steve told the children they could have extra stickers for every ten minutes they were quiet once it got dark.  The one with the most problem being quiet was Naomi.  At one point I was giving her instructions and she said, "Yes, sir. Yes, sir."  Steve turned and glared at her (we were stopped in traffic at the time!) So she says, (I think a combination of older children and TV watching) "What?  You think I'm a bunkbed?!"  Steve was not impressed by the attitude but I was silently shaking with laughter at her choice of vocabulary.  Steve tried not to catch my eye.

River Trip

A new experience today.  We drove off into "the jungle" - as Steve described it.  Which sums up how stressful it was for him!  We didn't realise the kind of track we would be travelling on - or that we would be fording a river in the process!  And the managers of the guesthouse - guiding us in their pick-up - thought we had 4 wheel drive. Little bit of mis-communication!  Once we got there, it was amazing.  The river was beautifully clear - though a tad cold on first plunge!

We made a fire and put some foil-wrapped potatoes in it.  The Filipino family with us put their rice pot on to cook and did pork and fish barbecue. (The fish was amazing.  So moist and delicious). Then we had roasted marshmallows.  So fun.  We finished with buko straight from the tree.

There are Mangyan villages up in the hills there and a group of Mangyan kids and young people were swimming and playing a bit further down.  A couple of Mangyan guys were floating their stuff down the river on a log raft and they left it near us so Rose and one of the older girls had great fun playing with it most of the afternoon.                                            

Coming back wasn't so bad as we knew what to expect and Steve made us all get in the pick-up till he had crossed the river.  However, the Filipina guiding us back - because, naturally, none of the roads were signposted and it was the back of beyond - was sleepy and got us lost!  But some helpful guys at the side of the road who watched us go past them one way and then back the other pointed out the correct way.

click here for more photos

Holiday

We made a new record this morning - on the road by 4:55 a.m.!  I always ask myself if it is worth it but, of course, it is.  The traffic is easier and we get almost a whole day extra at Calapan.  However, the traffic was the worst we have ever experienced this time.  There was a lot of glass on the road at one point so I'm not sure if there had been an accident but it was a slow start, which meant a longer time in the car, which meant   fussy children!  We took the slow ferry - sometimes we see dolphins by the side, but not this time - so we could have our car with us.  It gives us more opportunity to go different places and we don't have to worry about what we are taking with us!
There are two other families staying. Our field director's family and a family involved in Bible translation here on that business for 4 weeks.

PTC

This morning we had our parent teacher conferences.  In Elementary, teachers get two non-teaching days to host them.  Flash back to those long parents' evenings after a full day of teaching! We had ours at 7:30 a.m.!  It was cool to see Rose through a teacher's eyes and recognise some of the ways she has matured that I hadn't really noticed.  It was good to be reminded of her strengths. She has made great progress this year in her reading and maths.  Bonnie also commented on her organisation and helpful nature.  It made me think how I can nurture those strengths and recognise them at home.

Mouse again

As I came down the stairs this morning I spotted our mouse jumping into the sink in the laundry area.  No mean feat but I knew it could jump pretty well as Wendy and I watched it jump up the (open) stairs one at a time on her last day before Christmas.  We were so stunned we didn't do anything!  This time, I grabbed the broom with a wild idea (I had just got up!) that I was going to lamp it as it jumped out of the sink.  BUt it was way too fast, saw me coming and scarpered.  Josh was egging me on and was most disappointed I didn't chase it, but it had disappeared.

It was Literacy Day for Elementary so we got organised really fast to go up and look at the costumes.  I had thought I would have to persuade Josh but he was up for the idea as soon as I suggested it.  Steve was dressed as the BFG and Rose as Queen Susan.  Unfortunately my camera, which has been threatening to give up the ghost for a while, has really and truly died.  At least, the battery.  It is very frustrating with the last quarter of school coming up and no hope of a new battery until just before the end of the school year.  No-one sells the lithium ones here.

This afternoon Joshua was making "traps" to catch the mouse with old ice cream cartons and Naomi got caught up in the idea. I'm not sure any would work but I applaud the creativity : )

Scorpion

This morning when I got up - and it took me quite a while to drag myself out of bed this morning - I was greeted by excited children downstairs.  Josh was convinced he had spotted a scorpion under the stairs!!  I told him they didn't live in the Philippines but he described what he had seen, right down to the tail.  I have no idea where he has seen a picture of a scorpion recently!
We are all obsessed with our mouse too.  It had more babies, which we found in the kitchen.  My helper wouldn't move them so I threw them away, on the empty lot opposite and then she told me, "The rat (it is really only a mouse) might want revenge, now".  If I wasn't so ticked with the whole business I probably would have laughed, so probably just as well I was feeling annoyed!  It is a clever mouse and had covered the sticky paper we were using to try and trap it with plastic bag.  But it is eating everything it comes into contact with - tablecloths, clothes, plastic containers, the juice packs in the larder. Josh wanted to make a net to catch it.  I wish!

Party Time

I had a great time shopping this morning.  I got to indulge in shopping for me, which I hardly ever do except in dire necessity!
Rose was invited to the birthday party of one of her friends from Church.  In the car she told me, "I'm so excited about meeting M's other friends." She is such an extrovert!  Traffic was amazingly good and we arrived 15 minutes early.  The boy said, "Oh, you're a bit early." Then ran upstairs.  His mum was most impressed that he had gone to change his t-shirt because Rose was here.  Apparently, he has a bit of a crush on her!  Even at 4 when the party was meant to start we were the only ones there.  I left at 4:10 because Rose didn't want me to stay and they were busy making alien masks.  I think she was the only other non-Filipino there - hence no-one else being there yet!  Rose had a bit of a falling out with her friend's older brother and was ready to leave when I arrived, but she was tired when I went to get her.  It was her normal bed-time!

Josh was shouting for me today "Where are you?"
"I'm in my room."
As he walks through the door he says "It's not your room, it's daddy's room!  Your clothes just hang there!"

A friend and I went to the mall today.  It took us over one hour (it felt much longer thanks to my darling children!) to get to Sta Lucia because there was an accident on Sumulong Highway.  It must have been pretty bad as I have never seen so many emergency vehicles (there were at least 2!) and they were re-directing traffic - both of which rarely happen in this country when there has been an accident. Part of the problem is that if you have an accident you are meant to wait with everything exactly as it happened until the police arrive and can prorportion blame for the insurance claim.  You cannot move the cars off the road until they give the OK.
Car started playing up today again as I was dropping my friend off.  Not good as we are planning to go to Calapan next week for our break - long drive - and we wanted to take the car over too.