The Dog Days Are Over...

Well not really, because it is hotter than the blazes of HELL here this week, but School has started! Today was day one of first grade for our oldest boy, Jake. Wow how time flies. It was like we never stopped....the routine was the same...the chaos for me was the same...the fact that I waited til the last minute for all of his clothes, supplies and even his meal ticket...you guessed it..the same..WOW am I the epitomy of the unorganized mom. But as with so many things...we got there, we bought it (all $100 of it by the way!) and day one was a success, at least according to him. And it was equally successful for Sy who now has Grammie ALL TO HIMSELF!!! It doesn't get any better. So here is what Day 1 looks like at the Schlattmann house! And it wouldn't be the same if Gus (aka Rat Dog) wasn't in the picture. I would like to report that every day is a great day for our family, but reality is that some days are better than others. Somedays Jake and Sy and great friends, some days more like great enemies. Somedays Jake is excited to see Sy, today..not so much. Somedays we roll through the day thinking..wow all is well with our transition to two kiddos and somedays...well somedays... Sy has learned so much English though... he is amazing. To think that we have been home with him for only 4 months and that he has a near normal vocabulary, has good gross and fine motor skills and has mastered the art of whining...who would have THUNK it! (I think THUNK should be a word).

Growing and Changing

Today, after being gone for three days, I was welcomed home with some great news....mama, I pooped in the potty....mama, I ride bike....mama, I miss you, and the best greeting of all was simply running into my arms and holding me tight with his head on my shoulder. And in line with much of his new vocabulary was this bossy statement, "mama, you stay dere (there), you eat, I be back". ..............Jake was quite the repeater of words but Sy, he takes it to a whole new level. I am so fearful of what I say, knowing that it will be held against me...from the mouth of Sy! And it isn't just what he says, be he actually knows how to say it and when to say it! Yikes.....And when he says it, Jake turns with open mouth towards me to see my reaction, which of course is pale faced and silent............ Grammie (Cindy) is the #1 request from the boys. Everytime we get in the car Sy says..."let's go grammies". We are so lucky to have her and grandad around! There is a certain comfort in knowing that even though you have to have someone watch your children while you work, that the someone is Grammie.

Milestones - 8.9.10

Normally my posts are all about my kiddos, and our journey to bring Sy home. As I sit here tonight I reflect on the fact that it has been nearly a year since my mother passed away and I wallow in my sorrow knowing that she has missed out on so many wonderful things this past year. My oldest son Jake only mentions her here and there but his memories of her are good ones. My fear is that they will fade and he will have little recollection of her at all. That makes me so incredibly sad. And the fact that she never was able to meet Sy is the saddest thing of all. I still remember the day we picked him up from the orphanage and the impulse I had to pick up the phone and call my mom. Such happiness and such sadness all in one moment! The other day we found her cell phone that had been misplaced since her untimely death. On it was text messages between her and myself just days before her unexpected death. I smile knowing that I had told her that I loved her but her unresponsiveness troubles my heart. I took so many things for granted and my mother was by far my biggest fan and friend and the one that I was the hardest on. Unconditional love is how you would have to describe what she felt for me because I was not a wonderful daughter. I suppose you only notice these things once those whom you love have passed, but there are times when I still think she is just up the road or a phone call away and nearly have to stop myself from picking up the phone to call her. Sometimes I do pick up the phone and call her cell phone just to hear her beautiful voice. I tend to learn things by experience and the death of my mother is not how I wanted to learn that I would have a terrible void in my heart once she was gone. I am thankful that through this all I have had the best family and my two best friends, my brother Duane and sister Katy are still nearby to share these moments with them. I am most thankful for my father, whom I know each day is a struggle. He has been my mentor and owe much of my success to his support over the years. I fear the loss of any one close to me but know that these moments are out of my hands.