Monroe Sherwood News: Excuse me, has hell officially frozen over?

Lots going on this past week, and we are definitely ready for the weekend. After last weekend's antics of blood, stitches, hospital ERs, and the anticipation of starting new jobs, new school, and new friends, we were pleasantly surprised to have made it through the first week relatively unscathed. Jay limped his way around and was extra tough through the pain of his poor toe. Adam was extra supportive and independent in a lot of ways, making it easier on the rest of us who needed it :) It was so nice to actually be working in their school and running over to peek through the window or check in with a classroom staff to see how everything was going with my guys :) What a relief it has been to be right on campus with them. Jon is right up the walking path at the senior school about 5 min. walk, so we're quite the family pod before and after school.

The mornings come awfully early around here, 5:00am and on the bus to school by 6:15. Phew. The boys are making friends, melting hearts, and finding their way which is all we can ask for. Adam starts swimming class next week in the school Olympic sized swimming pool after school and Jay may take on something else as those darn stitches are cramping his style in the pool. Adam had a rough spot on day three as I received a call from the school nurse...he had puked in the cafeteria, or ran to the bathroom puking, or was also still puking in the nurse's office. I only knew that puke was involved and I was not looking forward to my poor guy's condition. But like everything that has come our kids' way so far, he was a champ and overcame it like it was it small potatoes. Of course ibuprofen, hugs, snuggles, and lots of Mom sympathy helped too ;-)

We realized half way through the day yesterday that it was September 11th. WOW! All the emotions and memories of where we were and what we heard and how we felt all those years ago. Who would have ever thought at that time that 12 years later we would be living in the Middle East. Not us, that's for sure.

We went downtown Doha to check out the City Center mall and some of the downtown. It was a nice trip and we found a nice restaurant to enjoy. I did make a major boo boo on this trip, however. It is very much frowned upon to show public displays of affection, even with your spouse, and I totally forgot and gave my man a big hug and smooch at the ice cream counter. HOLY CRAP!!! I remembered at the last minute and so did Jon and we quickly separated and walked apart for a bit, feeling extremely self-conscious. Whoops!!!

There were a few rough nighttime tuck ins and talk of a pet came up numerous times. PET??? NO WAY!!!! I mean, we've had a gecko lizard, two hermit crabs, fish, beetles, frogs, and dead mosquitos over the years, and most recently, a cockroach that went right back outside. Jon inherited a couple of turtles in his classroom that the boys named Toff and Airo (The Last Airbender Cartoon) and I was hoping that was going to do the trick, but this Mom is soft and desperate. But I do not do animals, people. I can barely take care of myself and my family, let alone a hungry, hairy beast of sorts that doesn't use the toilet, wear a diaper, eat it's own waste. BUT...a woman I work with (self proclaimed "cat lady") rescued a cat from school grounds, took it to the vet for all the bells and whistles, and asked if we would be interested in taking it in. ME??? Cat??? Animal of any kind??? Thinking of my kiddos desperate to love and adore a furry friend, I caved and said, "sure". I mean come on, did the Vikings win the Super Bowl or something? That is the only way to explain this phenomenon. Hell has to have frozen over. We will see though, it's mostly a trial basis to see how everyone reacts allergy wise and how the cat responds to kids. Will keep you posted.