Have I made a post yet that doesn't
include me talking about somebody being sick? Well, then why stop
now? My allergies and sinuses were acting up again but I managed to
avoid a 6th sinus infection, for now. Plus I can no
longer get my antihistamine nose spray here so I have to try
something else. Jackson got sick the end of January with a low fever
for several days that ended up being a left-over ear infection and
bronchitis. He took his breathing treatments very well. Three weeks
later he got a low fever again but it didn't turn into anything,
although he has new bumps and blisters on parts of his body. Two
days later Miranda got a high fever and then a sore throat with a
splotchy red rash all over – Scarlet Fever. She missed 3 days of
school but was able to go back today.
We had workers all over adding another
layer of thatch to our house for 3 weeks and 2 days. They should
have been done a lot sooner, but when you don't show up until 10am,
then immediately lay down in the garden and take a tea break, it
takes much longer. It was such a horrible mess and seriously
aggravated my sinuses with all that junk falling from the ceiling all
day. They pretty much just take bundles of grass and shove it into
the old stuff. I was taking pictures and stopped to talk to one of
the workers, trying to explain to him how it's impossible to have a
roof like this where I'm from. He seemed to think otherwise, we just
needed a thicker layer and stronger wooden supports. Apparently he
has not seen 'The Wizard of Oz'. Then he proceeds to tell me that
Americans are 'ignorant' because we all think that the people in
South Africa live in tiny huts. What? I was not in the mood to
argue with someone who clearly is unfamiliar with mass media.
Miranda is back in swimming lessons and
progressing nicely. After 7 months of lessons last year and taking a
break during winter, she 'forgot' how to swim. Luckily a friend of
mine started teaching here in the estate and has a lot more patience
for her than I do. She is growing like a weed, and since we'll have
summer again when we move home, hopefully all her clothes will still
fit. Poor thing had an evil classmate tell her that 'Santa doesn't
exist because he got really old and died.' What kind of parent tells
their 5-year-old this and then says it's ok to go to school and tell
all her friends? I can accept that not everyone does 'Santa' at
their house, but this is going a bit too far in my opinion.
Jackson loves school and is really
bored on the days he is home with me. But he LOVES to ride his
balance bike and play in his jumping castle. Trains and cars are
still his toys of choice, and anything that Miranda is playing with.
We converted his crib to a toddler bed and pushed the open side up to
the queen-sized bed in the room since it is still pretty high off the
ground. He would have been fine without it converted, he has never
tried to climb out, but we thought we'd give it a shot and see what
happens. Every night has been very successful, and he stays in bed
until we get him up in the morning. The potty-training is going ok,
he's starting to figure it out, but I'm not going to push it until
after we get home. Who wants a newly-potty-trained toddler on a
16-hour flight or in line at customs?
Rusty & Jozi both had their
birthdays and now we're trying to figure out travel arrangements to
fly her home. Unfortunately the airline-approved kennel we purchased
here is too small for the height requirements, so we are having the
transport service make her one. She is still a puppy and likes to
chew up the kids toys to get attention. She's a good walking
companion but is still needing more training.
100 more days and we will be home!
I'll actually be able to go to one grocery store to get everything I
need and they will have kleenex every time. When it rains, the
traffic lights won't just stop working for several days. I can go
for a walk at dusk and not fear bats attacking me. But I won't be
able to stock up on $3 bottles of wine or live within walking
distance from all my friends. If anyone still wants to come visit,
I'd love to take you on a safari!
