Osprey Banding

Three weeks ago, we went Osprey banding (young still on the nest) with friends R, W, R & Z. The photos are courtesy of W. Tuks had a fantastic time, and we were able to canoe out to the nest with another parent of a 3 year old.


heading out to the nest


adult bird


her boating gear


touching a young bird


touching a young bird, take two...one time she was nipped by the youngster, but she handled it just fine



hanging out on top of the canoes with Z, after we arrived back to the dike. you can see the bird rookery behind them


checking out a toad

Summer Fun

Tuks has been praying to Jesus with me every night. We hold hands, and then I pray. Lately, Tuks takes my hands again and says she wants to pray to Jesus. She prays holding my hands and Bear bear's hands, and I hear her say Jesus, Einie, Bear bear, Mama etc., and then finally, Amen. It is so cute, and I am not sure of all she is saying, but I know the Lord does and he loves the heart of an innocent and trusting child.

Her behavior is so much improved, I think we have turned a corner. If she starts acting up, I can now reason with her and relay possible consequences, and it stops her in her tracks. My baby is growing up!!

I have also been making fresh salads from our garden about every other day and she insists on helping me wash it off. She even knows the difference between the good lettuce and various other vegetation mixed in. She will hold the "other" stuff up and ask "Mama, does this go in the garbage" And you know, she is right every time. She also loves to eat the lettuce as she is cleaning it. The weather has been so wet,
and cool this summer, that my broccoli, beans, tomatoes, and onions may be a huge flop. I am just starting to get some cucumbers, carrots are coming, squash is growing and the tomatoes are just flowering.....


What is the saying "the best laid plans........"

Swimming

My friend T came to town so we: T , Tuks, me and another friend M went to a nearby lake and took Tuks swimming. The photos are courtesy of my friend M. It was a little cool outside because we went late in the afternoon due to the fact Tuks wouldn't take her nap. She had a great time, but it was obvious that she needs her sisters home so that she has playmates for swimming, and playing in the sand. She is such a people person!!

More on reading

Tonight Tuks and I were sitting on her bed reading books together..such as in, I was reading the words, and she was reading her own words to go along with the pages. Then once she finished reading the page, she would count the characters on each page and eventually turn it once we were both finished...I loved it. These are the mommy moments that can not be replicated in any other way!!

WOW

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them" -Mother Theresa.

I am brave

Tuks has been a real sweet heart the last few days, maybe my consistent discipline is catching on..YEAH!!! Anyway to share some of her Tuki cuteness, she was diapering Bear bear all day and then taking it off, putting him on the potty to go pee pee and poopy (sorry for the language, but it is what it is) We would then have happy dances for Bear bear when he made it into the potty.

Also we have had thunderstorms nearly everyday for the last 3 days. Tuks has been acquiring strange fears, which I guess is normal at this age and thunderstorms seem to be a fear. I have been reading a book about a dog called "I am brave" and how the dog overcomes his fear of storms. So every time a storm comes our way I remind Tuks that she is brave. So tonight while I was getting supper ready in the kitchen and a thunderstorm started rolling in, I hear Tuks in the living room say to herself many times. "I am brave", and then of course I would say, "yes, you are brave Tuks"...very cute!!

She has also learned (self-taught) how to do a headstand on the couch today....

New look as of 1 month ago

BTW my header was designed by me...I know the pixs are a little rough around the edges, but it is becoming more likable to me as time goes on. I just layered cropped photos in Photoshop, and then flattened them into one picture. I know I could do it better if I tried again, but right now just not interested in creating another one. Lastly I sized it the best I could to fit the blog. Waahhlaaa..my header..just in case you were wondering..LOL

Summer is moving forward

Well the answer is in. I will not be coaching cross country running this fall, I will miss it, yet I know it is the correct decision with Tuks getting older and having more interests herself. She really enjoyed her gymnastics class and looks forward to more. I was a little nervous because I convinced the teacher to allow Tuks to participate. She is only 32 months old and the class is for 3-4 years olds, but I felt Tuki was ready for it and she was. The teacher said she did great and there are only two other girls, one 3 1/2 and the other 4. Tuks stands inches taller than both of them...a reminder as to how tall she really is. She listened well, stood in line and took turns.

Now, for after the class, Tuks had a major meltdown in Kmart...I mean major, and then after her nap she had another at the Post office. I know partly due to her staying up so late this whole week with my brother and his family in town. She finally had a melt down in front of them on the last day they were here, and my SIL told me that her behavior is normal and her daughter (my niece) did the same thing at that age. My niece is now 13 and a well behaved young lady, so it gave me hope. Plus, they said I handled the tantrum well, and I shouldn't beat myself up on how I handle it later. So that helped me feel like I am doing a good job. I really question it sometimes, and I am sure it is partly due to the fact that I don't have another adult tell me that I am doing well. I guess that is one downer about single parenting, no one to bounce ideas or thoughts off of. The last two days she has been listening and behaving well...did we turn a corner, or is it a few days of easy street. I guess time will tell.

Last week, we (the entire family) went to the movie WALL E and Tuks and I had to leave about 30 minutes into it because Tuks was scared (I guess a poor decision on my part). I lost $14.00, and I wish I would have thought to ask for a refund, but it was on a gift card and never really cost me anyway. I guess I will wait another year or two before we try a night time movie again.

My garage is now cleaned, just need to finish picking up the swept dirt, and then I am on to various other spots in the house to sort through for the rummage sale.

The kitties, Hubble and Beatrice are both doing GREAT. Hubble is a different kitten. The minute I walk into their room, he starts his purr motor just a roaring. He is so little that he can fit into the palm of my hand. I think he may be several weeks younger than Beatrice. Wish I could show pictures, but still haven't looked into fixing or replacing my camera.

My Eastern Phoebe's second clutch of 4 fledglings left the nest today. They were so tightly packed in there I am surprised they stayed in the nest as long as they did. So that means 6 new Phoebes this summer...

Lastly, we have been eating lettuce from our garden for the last two weeks and boy it is GGGGGGGGREEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!

Vacation from the vacation??

This week is again busy because my brother, SIL and niece are visiting from Louisiana for the whole week. We are getting together at some one's house each and every day. Tuks bedtime is WAY off, but she seems to be surviving. She actually slept until 11:00am this morning, whereas her usual daytime wake is 6:30 - 7:00 am. Tomorrow marks the beginning class of her official gymnastics class without me in attendance. I can't wait to see how she does. I will be watching through a glass window.

My basement is all clean and now I am on to my garage. I think with all this cleaning I will be having a garage sale in late summer...That is if I am not coaching cross country running. I am seriously contemplating giving it up this year, and am waiting word from another possible assistant if she wants to step in and do it this year.

I also have good news on the adoption front, I received word that Marie will allow me to leave Ve in Haiti until Mim's process is completed. She was actually real glad that I was thinking of the girls well-being in asking this of her. I am so relieved in knowing Mim and Ve will come home together. Naturally it will be a little tougher on me in the transition, but I think easier on them. Tuks will struggle no matter what in sharing me, but I really know she loves playing with other kids so much that in a short time she will realize that sisters are great playmates.

Lastly, I acquired, or I should say sMurph acquired two new cat buddies. They came from my sister's farm just like sMurph. I would guess they are about 6 - 7 weeks old, and one (black & white female) is doing great, the other (gray & white male) could go either way for survival. He is tiny!! I think, but not completely sure yet, that I will name the female Beatrice and the male Hubble.

Anyway, besides still fighting city hall, making calls to many meeting members, attending meetings etc., it seems my summer is slipping away quickly, and yet not so relaxing either. My sleeping is in the toilet...as the saying goes. I can be dead tired, but still not able to fall asleep. I am not sure what is up with that, but I will admit I am getting frustrated with the insomnia.

I need another vacation from the summer vacation....Yah, I know I'm just too funny!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hugs and kisses

Tuks is in a real hugger and kissy phase. She hugs and kisses everyone and everything. It is too cute. When asked what her name is she says "Tuki"...which is her real nickname. She told me that she likes Tuki better than her legal name..Too funny. I also asked her the other night if she wants me to talk with others about her being born in Guatemala. It is coming up more often in public simply because I am talking more about the girls in Haiti .She said "Yes", and I know she understood what I was asking because she is real quick and good at saying no....

She can also point out Guatemala, Haiti and our home state on the globe...She is getting to be such a big girl some days, while others she regresses into a sobbing, tantrum ball of humanity...I never know who I will wake with the next day...LOL keeps me on my toes anyway. I have also decided that we may stay closer to home this summer than last since she can be so unpredictable in public. I am seeing small improvements everyday, but they are small so home bound we will be for the most part...give or take a few excursions here or there....

Busy

sorry for being a bad blogger....I am really busy with cleaning my basement and garage, and various other nooks and crannies. My camera died, sometime after Haiti. I think it was all the water the girls splashed on it. I am not sure as to when I will get around to wanting to spend several hundred more for a new one. This camera was only 2 1/2 years old...is that a normal life span for digital cameras??

Many parents papers are all of a sudden moving in Haiti. It makes me excited, anxious,and nervous all at once...will we be hearing news sooner or later. The visas to the US are still being mucked with so that is the long wait for the time being.

I am also busy fighting a development proposed to occur on the other side of my woodlot. I managed to reduce some of the development by bringing attention to the Army Corp of Engineers that a portion was wet, therefore could not be built on. I was successful in that endeavor, but we still have much city hall fighting to do. I hate politics, but sometimes you need to get involved...ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KIDS are going home

Two sisters (the two that I had noticed and brought my attention to this creche in Haiti) and a son are going home to their forever families!!!!!!!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Character of a Champion

MT on left, C in the middle, and their coach on the right.

By now you have probably surmised my nephew didn't qualify for this year's summer Olympics. I have had a hard time wanting to post this, but since I brought it up initially, I decided I better put an end to it as well.

From the world's perspective, according to what was televised. C took the lead at the 1000m out mark, He kept it until the last 100m, and that is where four runners blew by him while basically he tied up...He missed first place by 5 seconds and 3rd (the last qualifying spot) by 3 seconds. It may have appeared that he was a young inexperienced runner that didn't strategize well.

Now for the real story that will never be spoken of except for within our family and maybe a few obscure interviews.

The number 2 qualifier, MT (also a teammate of C's), and C decided that before the race that C would take the lead at the 1000m mark and then the next lap MT would relieve C, and finally on the last lap each man for himself. Well, it didn't quite work that way. MT never relieved C. He just hung back and let C do all the work, which naturally wore him out. MT says he was sore, tight and had a side ache and just couldn't move up, yet if you watch the race you can easily see that MT had it all together to qualify for the 2nd spot.

One of C's interview statements
“If the start was moderate, the plan was I would take it with three laps to go, then MT two to go, then every man for himself. I just had nothing left with 100 to go. I hammered as hard as I could, I just had nothing left. It was a terrible race. I was on the outside of lane 1, inside of lane 2 the whole race. I couldn’t get on the rail until I took the lead.”


C is doing fine, well better than the rest of the family, we are just "pissed", hurt for C and really don't trust MT anymore. He had done this to C one time in college too. I imagine with MT being C's friend, C has a tough time wrapping his mind around the whole thing.

Even though C didn't qualify, we are proud of him because he ran his heart out, did what he said he would do ( a character trait MT obviously doesn't have), and came up still looking like a champion. He is a man of character, and we couldn't be more proud!! He will spend the summer in Europe racing.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

USA!!!

SHE'S OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MIM IS OUT OF IBESR












after 4 months and 1 week!!!!!!!
After our visit, I so needed to hear this news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Omega - the end

This is a hard post, and I'm not sure I will do justice to what I, Ve and Mim were feeling on the last day of my visit. As soon as Mim found out I was leaving she started distancing and becoming busy. She was frantically taking apart and putting together puzzles and wouldn't look at me. I could tell Ve knew something was up, but wasn't quite sure as to handle it. I eventually sat down, Ve came and sat on my lap, and finally Mim came over and sat on the arm of the chair.


Ve, not sure as to what is going on


Mim, distancing herself by keeping busy with the puzzles.

Once we were at Marie's saying our Good-byes, the kids started to cry, and Ve clung to my hand. I asked Marie to explain to her that I was leaving and once Marie did, Ve just dropped my hand, and her whole body slumped. Mim was crying and looking away from me. I gave both my girls hugs and kisses, and then turned and left. The kids followed us out, and I started to hear wailing, I turned and looked and it was Mim, on her knees with her arms and head resting on the door making this wailing sound coming from deep within her soul. I have never seen anything like it or felt my heart tear so deeply. She was on the edge emotionally and the only choice I had available to me was to walk away... walk away when what I wanted to do was go back, pull her from the edge of her emotions, take her in my arms and take her home and say I won't leave you ever....but I did leave her and the image of her on the floor against the door has been haunting me ever since. I have sobbed over it many times within the last week.

At this point, Ve is further in the process than Mim...so that means I will more than likely pick Ve up, and yet again leave Mim behind for another 4 - 6 months. Quite honestly, I am not sure I can do that again. I will have to talk with Marie about some other possibilities because right now I am at a loss as to my next move with the girls. I can't leave Mim again, that is all I really know for sure.