How we're adjusting

Well, it's always hard to lose 6 hours. God has been good, though, and we got a lot of rest we didn't count on. Saturday, we got that long nap and then both kids went down at 8 and 8:30pm- they both awoke around 10:30pm, but quickly went right back to bed until we woke them at 10am!!!! That was glorious! So, Luke took naps every few hours and we skipped R's. I put them both in bed at 8 again last night- sadly, it felt like their naps apparently- they were up from 10pm-12am as we talked them into sleeping again. Actually we bribed Rebekah and until she fell asleep after midnight, we heard "I want a red popsicle, mommy- red, red, red!!!" After that, tho, they slept until I got them up at 9am. We are trying to win back some time each day- I shouldn't have put them in bed so early last night. Anyway, the hardest part is that I have to work when they're sleeping, so I need them down at reasonable times. I ended up taking them both to creche this am and got some work done. Josh went in to his office and is studying for his 2 finals. the bright side is that he is off next week- the negative side of me wishes they could have had their finals pre-Xmas and we could have stayed 2 weeks longer in TX...

The kids are doing okay- Luke was a terror yesterday, but is much better today. Rebekah has been doing great most of the time- a few meltdowns, but overall much more herself than even in TX sometimes. She was sooooo excited to get Mickie back and to reclaim all her belongings- I am amazed at how much she remembered she had! It has been fun watching her play with the things she got for Christmas. She has asked for TX and grandparents, but has mostly handled it well that we're not there.

In terms of daily life, it has been a much easier adjustment this time around. Having a car, knowing where things are and how they work, etc. has been great. However, it is sad thinking about how long we'll be here without seeing many special people we love. I keep looking around and seeing things I did in preparation for leaving or going somewhere and reliving how excited I was to go home. Granted I am tired and a bit stressed, but I am still feeling homesick. My mom is coming in April for Luke's 1st birthday and Josh's parents are coming in July for Rebekah's 3rd birthday. With this in mind, tho, I am striving to really make a life for us here and not simply exist between visits to or from family. This will be challenging, but I am so blesses to already have some really sweet friends here who were even nice enough to email us while we were away- that made me feel really special and glad to know them, of course.

p.s. R is in room time while Luke naps right now- we're way off schedule-wise. :) You know me, tho, super-flexible, rolls with the punches...ha! Anyway, I digress...for several minutes now, R has preciously called out "I LIIIIIKE these fruit snacks, Mommy! (what Mamama sent with us- so good, job, Mamama) I love you, Mommy! I love you, too, Mommy!" Oh my gosh- highlight of my day. Thank you, Lord. (Similarly, Luke has been giving me the goofiest, sweetest, I-love-you-so-much-Mommy grins from his high chair, it has been killing me!)