Is once a week enough?

I wish I could rattle off a list of things I've been doing over the past week as an excuse for not blogging. I can't! In my on and off blogging I've probably reduced readers down to my sister and my addicted friend in Mobile (you know who you are). I do appreciate you two!

We are maintaining a level of sanity, cleanliness (unless you count yesterday), and happiness that I wasn't expecting before we came home. By the end of the day all of the maintainance on my part has me totally worn out. Then, evening comes and I get to wake up twice to keep the chunky monkey...well...chunky. Occasionally, one of the older four children will do the muscial bed routine with Seth and me. It's pleasant--three bodies crammed into the double bed. Real cozy. Josiah wants to sleep with us, and usually he gets his wish at about 3 am. My mommy mind is so groggy that I...just...want...sleep. He sleeps with his legs and arms spread eagle, by the way. I kick the older child out of bed to make room for the baby. Does it sound like it's nuts? If you saw me you would probably say I look tired. I am tired.

I'm also happy. All of the kiddos are doing well. Today, Salomae and Eli had a true brother-sister moment. They fought. It was so sweet. They are becoming best buddies (though a lot of what I say is sarcastic, this really isn't, Eli is the favored sibling). Which is completely unexpected. That said, this afternoon, we put up bunkbeds in the girls' bedroom and that become serious bonding time. Ella and Salomae were dancing around the room singing, "We got bunkbeds!" Oh, happy day! They have been in bed for 2 hours and they are probably still awake with giddiness.

On the medical front: we will see a specialist tomorrow for Salomae. I'm planning on posting afterward to give everyone the full scoop on what we are dealing with. I haven't wanted to go into detail and have to recant what I said. So I've waited. Sorry, I think most of you have wondered and worried since the situation seems to be shrouded in mystery. It's not exciting. It's not communicable. Hopefully, prayerfully, it's not as bad as we are expecting.

I think, honestly, I've been lax in posting because I still can't get my mind around everything we saw in Ethiopia. I'm busy, but three weeks later, I still find my mind reeling from our experience there. I keep looking at our kids with disbelief. I don't remember having these moments with the older three kids. Poor Josiah, I can hardly keep myself from covering him in kisses everytime I hold him. He laughs and laughs.

Salomae probably thinks I'm weird. She starts jabbering all the English she knows at me, "Daddy, ciao, work? Fettie, banana? Juice? Mommy? Shoes? Jacket? Bye, bye, church?" It lasts a while, because she returns to the beginning of the routine and just starts over.

I just stare at her as she talks. I'm astounded at her ability to overcome all she's been through. Occasionally, I find myself with my hands on her cheeks. Just because she's here.