down for the count...er, the moment

So, the kids are down for nap. I am catching my breath. B. is on his way Warsaw to run the marathon. I seriously hate to miss it, but I feel like we've all run some other kind of marathon since we've been here, so when he suggested the kids & I return "home" & try to get some form of "normal" going on, I voted YES!
So...here we are. So many stories that I don't know where to begin, but I will say that we got our two big boxes of stuff that we mailed before we left, so we have clothes & a few books. If anyone out there was in the business of mailing a package to us, here is an attempt at our new address...
W. Slaska 11
25-369 Kielce
Poland
(There you go, mom & dad!)
I think that movies or books in English would be on our list right now. We are doing okay on all else. Diapers really aren't any more expensive than home. Food is a tiny bit cheaper (like the U.S. in say...2007ish). And we are getting used to the different items on the menu. The kids are doing better already in this department, too. L. is taking "no thank you" bites more often (our standard teaspoon of whatever looks "gwoss" to him). They are both pooping regularly (which was a concern of mine...I packed acidoph. & miralax just in case).
I found vinegar (ocet in polish) & packed my all-purpose essential oils, so the "dorm" has been cleaned MY way. :) (It smelled like a lavendar peppermint stick for a while...)
I'll post pix SOON. I miss you all, my loved ones! I'm ready for my hubby to get back & us to settle in here. I feel like the adventure is beginning...
for more on our adventures, click on "my honey" in my blog roll & read b's take on it all. He's been more diligent about recording each detail. I want to forget some.:)

Mary Poppins yells at her children sometimes

Mel's comment cracked me up. Girl, I hope my kids don't remember me loosing my mind over the past two weeks & only remember the "Mary Poppins" in me! Things have gotten MUCH, MUCH better since we moved to a hotel (I am thanking God for hotel Lech daily!). It's clean, only a 5 min walk to meals & has two twin beds & a fold out sofa in one room, which means we can all be together at night (althogh the sofa isn't too comfy, so we end up with a "boys" twin bed & a "girls" twin bed, but hey, it's a real bed! Also, there is a tub! This was a welcomed surprise bc they mostly have tiny showers with a hand held sprayer, which is okay for grown-ups, but a little cold for kiddos. And this leads me to...I know why NOT to drink the H2O here. Y'all have to see the color of this stuff. It varies from brown to green. Reminds me of good ol' Macomb & our boil orders when the pipes were being replaced! (See the old post "Our own 3rd world country").
Thanks for all the kind & supportive words & prayers. It really means a lot. I got all teary just reading all your comments. I really didn't know if we'd have access to the web here so I left my camera stuff at our dorm in Kielce, but as soon as we return (weekend), I'll post some pix. So much to tell about! B. is running the Warsaw marathon & the kids & I are going to stay "home" & try to get more familiar with our city. We have an awesome "shepherd' from the university who will help us as we need, I'm sure, so I'm excited to get back & get settled.
Thanks again for all your well wishes. We are keeping our heads above water now, so to speak, & trying to take it all in....

my little polish sausage

So, last nite, as I was nursing Z down, I noticed that she smelled funny...like sausage. [insert polish joke here] Well, so far, so frustrating. I think if this trip doesn't cause us to break up, it will certainly pull us closer together. B & I have had a time so far...kids, dorms, attempting to find a pedestrian crossing near our dorm so that we can walk the many blocks to the dining area where all the meals are served (just for this week or two). This orientation thing is NOT for families, despite what they tried to act like.
I have really enjoyed meeting the other Fulbrighters. Most all of them are interesting folk. But our struggle to do simple things like board the elevator (gaps that little fingers could get caught in/very small space with extra door which is tough to hold door + push stroller...), wash laundry (in basement, "dryer" which doesn't dry, must get coins one at a time from lobby, key to wash room...), eat a meal that is pre-paid (see above about crosswalks), sleep with a kid nearby (dorm = tiny "cot" thing that barely fits one & is UNcomfy & metal, so we haven't moved one into the other room thru the bath to create a big "cot"...which would be an answer to them not rolling off, but still UNcomfy). And more. Ah, more. B. is frustrated with me for being so frustrated, but I feel like I"m stuck here in this crazy situation with very little to easily do (yes, I could walk far distances & find random things to do with both kids, but it's tough & I really don't feel ready to do big things by myself yet. (Although I did buy each of us cheap cells with "orange" cards so that we may stay in touch with each other here in Poland--sorry parents, I don't know when we'll get to talk to you...probably about another week or so.)
So, I'm having a tough time trying to be a happy camper about everything. I really want to scream & cry. (& leave...good grief, what would I give to be back home or in AL?!)
I know that it'll get better (like as soon as we find a freakin' hotel here or head out). But I also think that our lack of sleep & struggle to grab a familiar bite to eat (one that the kids will eat, too) has made a huge difference in our not getting along & being so upset. I am ready to get where we will be for the next 5 months & get settled & adjusted & familiar with the city (it has a mall! yea! great for free kid entertainment during the cold months).
So, all you followers out there in blogland...say a little prayer for my fam & me. We need lots of love & a nice place to lay our heads.

here we are!

I just wanted to post for fam & friends...we are here...in our dorm. LOTS of stories so far, but that'll have to wait at least a few days. We just got an okay internet hook-up today, but will be traveling again tomorrow for orientation. So far, in general, all is well. Folks seem nice & welcoming. No one in our fam is sickly. Just keep us in mind...that all continues to go well (we get the boxes we mailed, make our trains on time, find suitable strollers, ...yada, yada.)
Love you, family! Thank you, Macomb hommies, for all you are doing...have already done!

Decaf = mama brain & playing with the Ballards

We have already had a "full" day & my kids are just down for nap...with in-laws pulling into the drive as I type this. :) I just wanted to say that when my honey makes decaf these days & doesn't tell me...I discover it approx. one hour into our playdate with the Ballards...when my head begins to pound. Today, when this happened, it was also a few minutes before our final (and the winner is...) renter showed up to "interview." I liked her. I think she liked me. We exchanged info. She knows how to mow a lawn & empty my dehumidifier. Ding, ding, ding! She gets to live here 'til Feb-ish. :)
More on all that later. But, coffee, a major clean-up, & my mom-in-law await.

Below is a video of Olivia, Benjamin, L & Z this summer. We love to play with the Ballards!

You don't have to be Texas to be a tornado...

Yes, all her own stunts.



Slide & playground fun.

L-town & his "tats"...the boy digs a tatoo...and fake facial hair.

This would be the third time I mopped that area that morning...as in b4 noon.


Z stored all our shoes in the mini-fridge on our way home from AL
Zora + Eggs = Mess.
Caught! After she decorated herself & her p.j.s Zora was reading by herself!
Our usual bedtime routine.

These are various scenes of my kids and/their madness. :) I love 'em...even when they make me cry from exhaustion & cleaning...again and again...and yes, again.