this is why I could never live in the other Manhattan

Just a few miles behind our house is a large area of prairie that is a sort of nature preserve/ecology research tract. All the new KSU faculty and their families were invited on a special tour of the Konza Prairie to see it and especially the herds of bison that live there.

You think Kansas and you think flat- but not the part where we live, in the Flint Hills.

It's incredibly lovely. I'm tempted to go on and on about it but I don't want the whole world wanting to move over here. So you are welcome to your big cities and fabulous snooty restaurants and cultural events which I go to bed too early to attend anyway. I'm thrilled to live up on a hill in a neighborhood with trees everywhere and a jaw dropping view for miles and miles over the city and even beyond it.

where to begin, where to begin

I don't think I'll even attempt a full update. summary of the last two and a half months as follows:

packpackpackpackitypack.

eek, scary mortgage crisis, we might be homeless when we move!

no- it's fine.

no it's not fine! no house for us!!

ok, well, actually it's probably fine.

packpackpack.

successfully rent out unsellable house in Michigan! hooray!

sad farewells. load up truck (FINALLY the packing is DONE!). drive away for a month with family in wisconsin.

early on in the 'relaxing' month of 'vacation' I learn that one of the psychologists at my future practice was asked to resign, and so instead of starting my job in Nov-Dec I need to start something like the day after we arrive in Kansas. commence enormous effort getting necessary paperwork faxed in twelve different directions. climax of my epic, ultimately five month struggle with the licensing board to get my license approved.

Thomas goes on strike from sleeping somewhere in here. for weeks he alternates nights of waking hourly with nights of sleeping til 1 am, then staying awake until 4, going down for a refreshing nap and up for the day at 5:30-6. if it weren't for grandma I would not have come out of this with sanity (marginally) intact.

5 days of driving

4 hours of sleep nightly

3 overtired children

2 tummy bugs

and a partridge in a pear tree.

we moved in on sep 26, and are ever so gradually starting to make this place home. tim and I have started work, the boxes are nearly all unpacked, we're checking out churches and grocery stores. we still live this kind of floating existence where I never know what day it is, or the best way to clean my kitchen, or what aisle has the chicken stock... but I think we'll get there.

what a difference a year makes

Thomas, 8/2/10, Sparrow hospital NICU:

Thomas, 8/2/11, Sparrow hospital NICU:

Thomas and I had a birthday date. We headed over to the NICU for the first time since he was discharged at 18 days old. I brought some bagels for the nurses... it felt kind of cheesy, "thanks for saving my baby's life, here, have a bagel!" But I just had to bring something and didn't have the funds for a solid bar of gold all around which would have been more apropos. An extra blessing was that one of our most favorite nurses happened to be there... one who really stepped up to advocate for us especially regarding nursing. When she came out and saw me there with Thomas- she immediately started crying, then I started crying, then Thomas started giggling which totally saved us both.

I can hardly believe that one year later, after coming thisclose to losing him, my little man is now doing so beautifully. Thomas says mama and dada, and in the last two days has added cheese ('tchsss') and, adorably, he also says 'George.' He's going to be walking any day now. He's about to get kicked out of the 0-3 program because he just doesn't have any delays and has more or less caught up to his chronological age. I sort of feel like I don't need any birthday or Christmas or any other kind of presents for the rest of my life given the blessing of Thomas doing so well right now.

the little apple

There is going to be very little posting this summer, sorry! Packing and moving with little kids is a 100 hour a week operation.

but a quick update... our trip to Kansas last week was quite successful. We're very excited about our new house:

It's still under construction and we had the fun of picking out some of the finishing details like carpets and such.

Deck and backyard:

Kitchen... you might not believe this, but there is this amazing thing they are going to install in the empty space below the cabinet there. It's a sort of box with a big door on it, and racks inside. You actually put your dirty dishes inside it, close it up and push some buttons, and it CLEANS your DISHES! Black magic, I tell you!

There is a lot I could say about this house, and much we are excited about. I'll just also highlight the fact that it has 3 bathrooms putting us at a 1:1 ratio of toilets to potty-trained family members, which is pretty thrilling.

In other good news- I got a job! Here's my new place of business:

I'm going to do part-time work including a combination of therapy and psychological and neuropsychological testing. Really looking forward to getting started there, I'm going to be working with some great folks.

George on moving houses...

"Some people will buy our house, and we are getting a new house in Kansas. And the people that live in that house will have to go to another house. And the people that live in that house will also have to go to another house. So is *everybody* moving?"

I'm cracking up at his vision of a global shuffle...

another year at mackinaw

This was our 4th year staying at a cabin in Mackinaw City over Memorial Day weekend. This is a very special spot to us and it was hard to leave it this time, not knowing if or when we'll be back! It does get more fun to camp every year as the kids get older and more into it. George's all time favorites were flying his new kite and eating pudgie pies. Helen just loves being anywhere with lots of people who will read her library books to her. Particularly her beloved MM (Aunt Melissa).

a riddle for you...

Can you tell which child made which painting?? Hmmmm?

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