Long time no see

I'm not certain when I wrote last, and I'm not the least interested in looking back. So much has happened that what happened a few days ago could have happened years ago.

I will not go into Haiti, because I refuse to watch the news. I refuse because it hurts too much, and I need to conserve the little bit of mental health I have left for those around me. I can't afford to cry and cry and cry when I can do nothing to help. This tragedy did negatively affect my desire to have more babies, but rekindled my desire to adopt. My poor husband! ;)

Rosa had her first birthday, and a wonderful chocolate vegan cake. I especially loved the icing, made uniquely with cocoa powder, margarine and maple syrup. Maybe some vanilla too. Yummy!

Then we went to see the doctor, was told Amelia is fat (as always), but we had bad news about Rosa. She hasn't grown at all since the last appointment. For her, refusing solids was not good at all. I made sure she gets multivitamins, but vitamins is not the only nourishment the body needs (that's the main problem with large scale farming, but that's a different matter), and her growth has stopped. She is still a decent size, not too skinny, and she is a very bright and alert little girl, so there is little to worry about... and she seems to listen and understand when we speak, and since the doctor told her she needed to eat, she eats a little at every meal. Not much, but she tries. I love her!

Amelia's drawings are becoming really interesting, way better than her brother's when he was older than she is now. She is still interested in learning about words, so I have spent an incredible amount of time researching the ideas of various educational methods, and came to the conclusion that there is a lot that would work for Amelia with a Charlotte Mason approach, so whatever can work for her will be added to our days. I am not certain exactly what and how we will do it, but we have plenty of time to figure it out.

My dear Luca is now very interested in Latin and Greek, so we will do some to satisfy him. Just learning the Greek alphabet should be challenging enough. I did an other reading test, and he tested at RL3.5, and now my husband is so proud it's really annoying! I mean, he actually brags to people about what Luca knows, how well he is doing, how happy he is that he is not in school... Talk about embarassing! Many of our friends have kids about the same age as ours, in public school, and it does make me feel bad for them that he brags. I mean, he doesn'T put the other kids down, but it's almost as bad... that's why I do most of my bragging here and with my dad, so it doesn't annoy too many people...

As for myself, I am trying to get in better shape. I have crossed the 130lbs line and feel great about it. I intend to run 5k by summer, and 10k next year. I could probably do 10k this year, but I refuse to push it. I am also registered at the university now, going back to school after 10 years away... well, they are going to be distance courses, obviously, but I really want to do my best. I owe it to myself and my kids. I want them to see me struggle and work hard to learn something new.