Jesse's Pics

Jesse-Class of 2008

Reading, Reading, Reading

I started The Color of Water by James McBride last week. I love this book! Jesse gave it to Sarah to read and I stole it from her. :-) I mentioned I was reading it to Adah's physical therapy teacher and she asked if I had read The Freedom Writer's Diary. No, I had never heard of it. So yesterday when Steve and I went to an early dinner like we usually do on Friday afternoon we went to Barnes & Nobles afterwards. I asked the guy where the "Interracial" department was. He gave me a blank stare. Okay, I tried again....where is the "Transracial" department? Another blank stare. Now I'm thinking I've grown a third head by the look he was giving me. He mutters that he'll help me in a minute, and it just so happens he was helping my daughter-in-law who I ran into in there. I meander around trying to find what I'm looking for, but no luck, so I head back to the info. booth. A lady is now behind the counter and I ask her if they have the book, "Black crib, White Hands," she looks it up and that isn't the title, but they do have Black Baby, White Hands: A View From the Crib." She tells me they don't have it, but can order it so I had her order it. I then ask her if you had it where would I find it. She politely explained that it would be in the African-American department. Aaahhh!!!.................I explain to her that I've just adopted two black babies from Ethiopia and I'm still learning about all of this. I make her laugh which I tend to do with people and she walks me over and shows me where it is. It was right next to the Cultural Studies and I found the original book I went in for: The Freedom Writers Diary by The Freedom Writers with Erin Gruwell. I also found Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs and Don't Make A Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings by Tyler Perry. (The book by Tyler Perry has offensive language so be warned!)

It's always good to widen our horizons by reading a good book. Now I just need to find the time to curl up with my new quilt and a hot cup of tea to do so!

Jesse's Senior Pics

Jesse had his senior pictures done. He took his Bible and his soccer ball. His graduation announcement will be with him on his knees reading his Bible. Too cute. He takes great pictures and I can't wait to get them.

If you want to see them let me know. I can't give my email addy on line due to my last name being in it and my son being a law enforcement officer does not want our last name known to those who don't know us "in real life."

Pictures

Yesterday we went to Penney's to take pictures of the girls. They, of course, looked absolutely adorable. In the first photos I had their Ethiopian dresses on. I thought we would have a problem with Adah, but it was Anna. She would NOT stay still to save her life. She was so overstimulated she was literally bouncing around the backdrop and falling on the floor. Adah did wonderfully and posed like a little beauty queen. I wasn't able to get any good pics of them together so after changing into their beautiful red and red/black Christmas dresses (I'm dressing them like girlie girls as much as I can, it's taken sixteen years and four boys to have more girls!) I climbed in with them so Anna would stay in one spot. I ended up kissing each of them in their individual pictures and they couldn't be more precious. I have one of all three of us, I'm kissing Anna and Adah is doing what she should be, looking at the camera. That Anna. Sometimes she's so naughty. Wait! That's most of the time!!!! (As a side note, when I went to the pharmacy an older lady waiting in line looked at Anna and said, "She's got mischief in her eyes or is she tired?" I answered her, "Oh, that's mischief all right!" That lady got the biggest laugh from watching her and all she was doing was sitting in her stroller. Just think if she had been loose! She's a character.)

Giardia

I have it. I've had intestinal problems the last month. I've lost ten pounds. Hey, I've been able to eat whatever I want and still lose weight. I somehow got it from my travels to Ethiopia. It could have been the time I forgot and accidentally rinsed my toothbrush in the tap water, it could have been the ice I had in my drink on the way home, it could be from changing my daughter's diaper in less than ideal circumstances while traveling and not being able to wash my hands quick enough. However I got it I guess doesn't matter. I need to get rid of it! The dr. prescribed me an antibiotic and my tummy has already settled down. I was constantly hungry even though I had just eaten. My stomach was bloated and for those of you who know me in real life know that my stomach is the biggest part of me. (besides my thick head-quiet, Steve)

Now I'm on the road to recovery and will miss my "skinny" feeling. I've already made pumpkin spice muffins and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies just to even things up. I'm thinking of having the girls retested to see if they have it. Anna had it originally, but Adah did not. I wouldn't be surprised if Adah has it. I really don't want to know because knowing would involve giving her nasty tasting meds for ten days. But hey, that's what moms are for.