Glass of water

Tap water at work comes out luke warm and with a horrible taste. It's barely drinkable. A good solution is to just drink tea instead of water, but with the warmer weather this week, tea is the last thing that sounds good to drink. So this morning I came up with a new system. A system to have a cold, yummy glass of water.

1. Boil water in the water boiler (used normally to heat water for tea).

2. Let the water cool as much as possible.

3. Pour it in a glass, and place in the fridge

4. Wait a few hours and drink.

This works the best if at least 2 cups are in play. While I drink one, the other cools. Sure, not as easy as filtered water from an American fridge, but you do what you can.

Totally unrelated, and a little whiny; the children's vaccination/baby consult company is in the same building as me. All day I show people where to take their precious little babies for their shots. It's hard to watch all these people with their perfect babies, while yearning for my own.

Magpies

This morning as I was changing the trash bag liner, I glanced out the window and saw a Magpie by another little animal on the ground. Another magpie was watching from the top of the fence. At first I thought it must be her baby that fell out of the nest, but did a double take when I realized she wasn't trying to help the animal, but pecking at it. It was still struggling, and alive, so I opened the window, yelled at the bird, and ran downstairs. What I found.... a tiny little duckling, laying on its back. I believe that if I hadn't looked out the window at that exact moment, it would have been the end of it's short lived life on earth.

In Texas we raised 3 ducklings from early on, which convinced me we could also raise this one. We couldn't just put it back outside! So now we have her own little area set up in our bedroom, with a heat lamp, water bowl, and soon a food bowl.

Now I just hope she wasn't injured/traumatized to the point of no-return, and will be able to live a long happy duck life.

Wildwaterbaan

With Joe's school is slowing down a bit, I thought it would be fun to have a day out with the family, and really do something the kids would enjoy. After weighing a lot of option, which included climbing woods, festivals, playgrounds, and long train rides, I settled for swimming. The kids have always loved to swim, especially since having our own pool the past few years. There are several waterparks in Holland, and luckily most of them are indoors. I really wanted to go to one that has a wildwaterbaan. This is built similar to a river with rapids. There are bumps and quick descents.

We settled for a Centerparcs pool at the Eemhof. They have several regular slides, and also one of the wildwaterbanen. And what came as a somewhat of a surprise, was that it was outside! And although it rained on and off all day, the water was still warm enough to be comfortable.

An interesting difference between American waterparks and Dutch waterparks, is that the rules are followed very loosely here. At the top of the wildwaterbaan slide there's a sign that says that this slide is only for experienced swimmers. It is dangerous for small children. There's no height limit. Or guards at the top, middle, and bottom bothering you. And if I want to take my 5 year old, who is wearing a life jacket down, go for it!

I lost count after about the 10th time going down. It was a blast, and the kids also seemed to really enjoy themselves. They loved being the decision makers all day. Which slide to do next? Get lunch when they wanted, and finally after a long day of swimming saying it was time to go home. A successful day!

And what was Coco doing all day?

Well, apparently this only lasted about 2 seconds, and she spent the rest of the day entertaining Shamantha's kids and terrorizing the cats. Still, the socializing is good for her!

Don't forget!

When I don't blog, I forget stuff. Fun stuff (or really almost everything) As I was loading the past month's pictures onto my computer, I came across a few fun things we've done, and that are worth remembering.

Sterling has surprised me this week. The biggest Dutch grocery chain (Albert Heijn) constantly has some type of collecction action going. Every time you spend XX dollars, you get some small item. It can include little figurines, or keychains. Mostly it's worthless crap, but their latest action actually has some educational value. For every €10 spent, you get a packet of 4 animal cards. Each animal is part of a category such as "the biggest eater" or "can stay under water the longest". The first few times I got these cards, I would just hand them to Sterling without thinking much of it. I don't shop at this store enough, to really collect them. One day Sterling found out there was a collector's book, and used his allowance to purchase the book. It was sadly empty and pathetic looking. The very next day, I just happened to go to the store with the kids, and remembered that often kids will stand in the store and ask customers if they collect the cards. Sterling immediately got excited and stood at the check out line while I shopped. He was like a hawk. He asked each and every person, and didn't care if they said no. After just 30 minutes he managed to collect 15 packs of cards. This stack helped him fill up his book a bit more. But now he was hooked. Instead of asking to play at a friend's house after school, he asked to go to the grocery store to haggle the customers. He was very successful again, and now has his book filled about halfway, and a large stack of doubles as well. Having doubles isn't necessarily a problem, since just about every kid in his school collects the same thing. The trading happens at school.

I honestly wasn't expecting him to get SOO excited about collecting animal cards. And when I initially saw the book, I thought it would be too difficult to appreciate all the tidbits of info, since it's all in Dutch. How wrong was I !! And I'm so glad it's keeping him away from the video games.

I recently bought the kids a soccer ball, and Joe likes to take them to play across the street. There's a little field there, which is kind of far, yet super close because I can easily see it from my living room window. As the family was playing soccer, another little chihuahua came out. Body is about the same age as Coco. They ran around, playing, biting, and pouncing. It was fun to see Coco take the role of pack leader. Normally she shrinks away from dogs (which might have a lot to do with the size difference).

What's normal?

According to the doctor, 2 miscarriages is normal. And so, no testing. It's not until after 3 emotional wrecks that the doctors start taking a woman seriously. Easy for them to say that 2 is normal. I wonder if whoever made that rule ever experienced "just" 1, let alone 2. The doctor was as nice as possible in telling me, and almost made me feel better by telling me those types of tests usually don't give any results anyways, but it still makes me wonder. Would it be different if I had a US doctor? Maybe I AM normal, and this time around I will have no problems. I sure hope so.

A system

I need a system for cleaning. And other household duties. By the time I come home from work and get the kids from school, I feel exhausted. Sure, I don't do much at work, but it's still tiring. The tiredness is the excuse/reason. The state of filthiness in my house is also caused by my high tolerance/ignorance of the true state. For days and weeks I can simply ignore the dirt and dust. And pretend not to see the heaps of unfolded laundry in my living room.

But then there comes a point when a switch is turned. All of a sudden I can see all the dirt and dust. I can't even stand to be in the same room with the heaps of clothes. The kitchen cabinets seem grimy. So I start cleaning, and turn into a military sergeant putting my little annoyed soldiers to work. But the problem is, that the state of filth is so high, that it can't simply be cleaned in an hour. It's so bad, that you can spend 2 hours on the house, and a person walking in, would still think it's a mess. That's because it's the small invisible things that take the most time. Cleaning the inside of the microwave or fridge. Getting dust bunnies from under the furniture. Folding heaps of laundry that have been well hidden. Then there comes a point when I just give up. It's too much. It can't be done. (at least the house is a LITTLE bit cleaner by that point)

I've had good systems in the past. One where I would clean in 15 minute increments. 15 minutes of cleaning, 15 minutes of whatever else. Or the chore system, where kids get daily chores. And they actually do them willingly. But after they have been glued to TV and video games for weeks, the amount of wailing and gnashing of teeth is unbelievable. You would think I'm making them clean all day, when all I'm asking for is 30 minutes. All of a sudden they have forgotten where the rags are, and how to fold laundry. And it's ALMOST better to let them get back to their games and do the cleaning myself... ALMOST.

I feel....

Not sure how to feel.

Excited but scared too.

And skeptical.

Could it really be?

Or will it bring more heartbreak?

There are 2 lines

My heart beats faster

But my mind keeps me in check.

I have to keep my distance.

Don't get attached.

Just pretend I didn't see it.

But I did.

And now I can't think of anything else.

I plan to surprise Joe.

the secret lasts 5 minutes.

I have to share.

But not with the whole world.

it was too painful last time.

and the time before.

But the doctor

She should know.

Because I have questions

Many questions.

Will tests give me answers?

Or just more uncertainty?

I have to try.

it will give me peace.

Maybe.

It's good to write them down.

My feelings that is.

Maybe now they won't occupy my mind.

As much.

If it's still not clear.

I'm "pregnant"

or so the stick says.

I don't think of it that way

Just "late".

That's easier to recover from.

So no reading about the tadpole.

Or it's developments.

I'm not sure I even want to have an ultrasound

And see that heartbeat again.

Just to be crushed later.

But I will call the doctor.

And ask those questions.

And have tests taken.

That's where I stand for now.