It is true. We are leaving for Ecuador on Sunday and will not be back in the country for two weeks. I highly doubt I will have any access to the Internet or any time for that matter to write and post anything, I am sorry to say.

But if I can, I will.

Please think good thoughts about us and wish us a safe trip there and back. See you in a couple of weeks.

During lunch with two of my friends yesterday, I mentioned that we are leaving for Ecuador in a few days and one of my friends had just one word of advice, “Benadryl.

“Give them Benadryl. Just be sure the flight is not delayed. Maybe as they are boarding first class or something. It will make such a huge difference.”

I am very anxious about our trip to Ecuador. Maybe because I remember how rough the last one was and especially how it affected their sleep and how we spent a couple of months helping them recover from that. I am anxious because they are still not fully settled in our new home and this upheaval is already scaring them, my little sensitive Okapis. I am anxious about traveling down there because Jordyn seems incapable of behaving well for more than an hour or so at a time. That means approximately 10-11 full blown hissy fits or temper tantrums during our flight down to Ecuador. That is flat-out terrifying. And the only reason I am even considering giving them Benadryl. (more…)

While Gem was out shopping for some groceries because we hadn’t had a chance to pick up food along the way to the camp site, I took my little Okapis for a walk, a little hike in the woods and we came face-to-face with a deer. It was standing along the side of the path and we almost missed it. When I saw it, I told my Okapis to stop. We all froze and I pointed to where it was standing there, watching us, wondering why we were traipsing through its home. Both my Okapis started to move towards our deer, but I stopped them once again.

“Just watch, guys. Don’t move or we’ll scare him away.”

And we watched. Then it turned slightly, flipping its tail.

“Do you see his white tail? See how he flips it?”

“Yeah” they said bursting with excitement. This wasn’t the zoo. This was real and we were very close, maybe five feet away. (more…)

We talked about going camping last year, but it never happened. I am terrible at stuff like this, doing something we’ve never done before – especially if it means making phone calls to make reservations or something. I get very anxious about trying new things and it frustrates me greatly. We rarely did new stuff when I was a kid and that certainly plays a role. I don’t want it to be like that for my Okapis. I want them to feel free to try new things, to experience life in all its many forms.

Of course, for them to feel that way I need to step outside myself. (more…)

It’s a moment most of us never think about, I think. A moment that was so wonderful, so glorious, so…dare I say, perfect. Yes, it was a perfect moment and epitomized the entire weekend.

We were sitting at the picnic table, just the four of us, eating grilled hot dogs with honey BBQ potato chips (which tasted extraordinary), drinking from either juice boxes or cool looking bottles of root beer. Yeah, we were living the good life and it was awesome.

It was the ending of one of those days I always dreamed of having with my family, but wasn’t ever really sure I could make it happen. In this case, I didn’t make it happen – we made it happen, Gem and I, drawing on our strengths, working together to create a beautiful day for our Okapis and ourselves. (more…)

When I got out of the shower this morning, I heard the little voices of my Okapis playing. It was too early for them to be awake, but they like to wake up whenever they want. I would never set my watch by their sleeping schedule, that’s for sure. I got dressed and Gem and I had a great talk about how to deal with my job situation. Then I decided to drop in on my little ones to say “good morning.” I didn’t want to interrupt their playing, but I did want to give them a hug and kiss. I so rarely see them in the morning – especially after a really good weekend like we just had and I wanted to see them.

I walked in and they were playing on Jordyn’s bed. They both looked up when the door opened and they looked so adorable sitting there, two of the closest friends, closest brother and sister, without any awareness of how special their relationship is or even how important it is to both Gem and I. Despite the arguing and bickering lately, they are amazingly close, are best friends.

“I didn’t want to interrupt your playing,” I said, knowing how much they enjoy this time together without us parents to interfere. “I just wanted to give you a hug and kiss good morning.” (more…)