Date Afternoon

I don't remember when our last date was... certainly before the start of the pandemic.  Since March 2020, both Craig and I have been with our children every single day.  We were overdue for some alone time and now that one of our regular sitters is fully vaccinated, we could make it happen.

We started our beautiful spring afternoon with a 90 minute hike at the Nature Center.  We took a trail we hadn't been on before and made it down to a lovely little river bank.

From the Nature Center, we went to Jungle Jim's to buy a few things we like at home and pick out some dinner which we ate al fresco at another park.

Salads, feta, freshly baked baguette, and dessert.

This is a cheesecake filling 
wrapped into some kind or roasted almond and honey pastry.
So good.

Finally we drove to a third park where we spent some time quietly reading at dusk before we had to go home.

Meanwhile, our children were in the capable hands of Miss Claire who said she had a great five hours with them.

IAC 511 - 518

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 511 which was held on January 21, 2021:

1) US dossier from March 2017 matched with an identified waiting child

2) Spanish dossier from April 2019 matched with an identified waiting child

3) US dossier from October 2020 matched with an identified waiting child

4) US dossier from October 2020 matched with an identified waiting child

5) US dossier from October 2020 matched with an identified waiting child

6) US dossier from November 2020 matched with an identified waiting child

7) US dossier from November 2020 matched with an identified waiting child

8) US dossier from November 2020 matched with an identified waiting child

9) US dossier from November 2020 matched with an identified waiting child

10) US dossier from December 2020 matched with an identified waiting child

11) US dossier from December 2020 matched with an identified waiting child

12) US dossier from January 2021 matched with an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 512 which was held on January 28, 2021:

1) German dossier from July 2013 referred a female child age 2 years with features in health status

2) Spanish dossier from November 2013 referred a female child aged 7 years and 5 months with features in health status

3) US dossier from January 2015 referred a female child aged 2 years and 3 months with features in health status and a family history

4) Canadian dossier from February 2019 referred a male child aged 5 years with features in health status

5) Canadian dossier from December 2020 referred a male child aged 10 years and 2 months with features in health status

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 513 which was held on February 04, 2021:

1) French dossier from October 2013 referred a female child aged 2 years and 7 months with features in health status and a family history

2) US dossier from May 2014 referred a female child aged 2 years and 5 months with a family history

3) Italian dossier from November 2016 referred sisters aged 8 years and 10 months and 6 years and 11 months

4) US dossier from December 2016 referred a female child aged 1 years and 10 months with a family history

5) Belgian dossier from December 2016 referred a female child aged 7 years and 11 months with features in health status

6) French dossier from March 2017 referred a male child aged 4 years and 5 months with features in health status

7) US dossier from June 2017 referred a female child aged 2 years and 6 months with features in health status

8) US dossier from November 2020 referred a female child aged 10 years and 2 months

9) US dossier from January 2021 matched with an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 514 which was held on February 11, 2021:

1) Spanish dossier from April 2014 referred a brother and sister aged 3 years and 8 months and 5 years an 3 months with features in health status

2) Italian dossier from January 2016 referred a male child aged 1 year and 10 months with a family history

3) French dossier from April 2017 referred a male child aged 2 years and 4 months with features in health status and a family history

4) US dossier from June 2019 referred a male child aged 11 years and 6 months

5) US dossier from July 2019 referred sisters aged 11 years and 2 months and 13 years and 1 month with features in health status

6) US dossier from February 2021 referred a male child aged 3 years and 10 months with features in health status and a family history

7) US dossier from February 2021 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 515 which was held on February 18, 2021:

1) Spanish dossier from May 2013 referred a female child aged 3 years and 1 month

2) Austrian dossier from August 2017 referred a female child aged 1 year and 7 months with features in health status

3) US dossier from March 2018 referred a female child aged 1 year and 7 months with features in health status

4) US dossier from September 2020 referred a male child aged 1 year and 10 months with features in health status and a family history

5) US dossier from December 2020 referred a male child aged 4 years and 6 months with features in health status and a family history

6) US dossier from February 2021 referred an identified waiting child

7) US dossier from February 2021 referred an identified waiting child

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 516 which was held on March 11, 2021:

1) French dossier from June 2015 referred a male child aged 9 years and 8 months with features in health status

2) US dossier from May 2018 referred a female child aged 2 years and 6 months with features in health status

3) Italian dossier from June 2019 referred a female child aged 10 years and 4 months

4) US dossier from February 2021 referred an identified waiting child

5) US dossier from March 2021 referred an identified waiting child

6) US dossier from March 2021 referred an identified waiting child

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 517 which was held on March 18, 2021:

1) Italian dossier from July 2014 referred a female child aged 7 years and 7 months with features in health status

2) French dossier from May 2018 referred a sister and brother aged 4 years and 10 months and 6 years and 6 months with features in health status

3) Italian dossier from December 2019 referred a female child aged 14 years and 1 month

4) US dossier from December 2020 referred a male child aged 3 years and 2 months with features in health status

5) US dossier from December 2020 referred a male child aged 4 years and 6 months with features in health status and a family history

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 518 which was held on March 25, 2021:

1) Italian dossier from August 2014 referred a female child aged 5 years and 8 months with features in health status

2) Italian dossier from December 2018 referred a male child aged 11 years and 6 months

3) Italian dossier from April 2019 referred sisters aged 10 years and 2 months and 7 years and 7 months

4) US dossier from May 2019 referred sisters aged 7 years and 5 months and 8 years and 10 months

5) German dossier from December 2019 referred a male child aged 4 years and 5 months with features in health status and a family history

6) Canadian dossier from July 2020 referred a brother and sister aged 13 years and 1 month and 10 years and 2 months

7) Canadian dossier from December 2020 referred a female child aged 2 years and 6 months with features in health status

8) Canadian dossier from February 2021 referred a male child aged 1 year and 9 months with features in health status

9) US dossier from March 2021 referred an identified waiting child

Seven Years

 It's been seven years since we met our girl in Gyumri.

Earth Day - May Day

On Earth Day, the fourth graders made wildflower seed bombs with local seeds that should do well in our area and attract native pollinators.

Step 1: Rip up scrap paper.

Step 2: Add water, soak, and blend until smooth.

Step 3: Mix in seeds and squeeze out excess liquid.

Step 4: Form into desired shapes and let dry.

Step 5: Package and give away.

On May Day, we left our seed bombs for little neighborhood friends.  Enjoy the blooms, Anya, Jessica, Marcel, Colin, Olive, Aria, and Reed.

Spring Break Trip 2021

After much discussion and indecision, we decided to take a spring break road trip.  In alignment with Ella's history curriculum we headed to Pennsylvania.

April 12, 2021

On the road.  It's an eight and a half hour-ish trip from Cincinnati to Philadelphia.  We made it in exactly ten hours with only three stops and three very patient and calm kids.  Arrived at our clean and well-equipped rental and turned in for the evening.

April 13, 2021

From the home base of our city apartment, we set off on foot.  We toured Independence Hall and got an unexpectedly massive lunch from the Famous Fourth Street Deli to eat at the apartment.  After a nap - yeah vaca - we walked to Elfreth's Alley, Christ Church, Christ Church Burial Ground, and the Betsy Ross House.

April 14, 2021

We began the day with a visit to the Liberty Bell followed by the Todd House, then an 18th century garden, Carpenter Hall and the B. Free Franklin fully operational colonial US post office which was supposed to be open, but was closed.  After a ramen noodle lunch and some down time at the apartment, we embarked on our most ambitious walk (2.5 miles) to Love Park, Philadelphia City Hall, and Reading Terminal Market.  We got dinner at the market - Middle Eastern which is inevitable if you know us and our eating habits.

April 15, 2021

On our last morning in Philadelphia, we made a quick stop at Geno's and Pat's for the meat eaters among us who couldn't leave the city without a cheese steak.  We got some of the wiggles out at a playground and then we drove into Amish country for the more laid back part of our vacation.  We had some time to burn before checking into our farm house rental, so we stopped at petting zoo/country store.

April 16, 2021

While waiting for our friends to arrive, we made a quick trip to a goat dairy to buy some cheese where I had a lovely conversation with the Amish owner.  I am always so thankful to connect with and learn from others who lives are markedly different from mine.  After hearing that the man chooses his cheeses based on his mood, Ella asked him what cheese is best when he feels very sad.  The answer just goes to show that we're more alike than different, "Any cheese works in that circumstance because it's a comfort food." We also stopped by an Amish bakery and got some sweet treats for brunch.  Our friends arrived at the farm house around lunch time and we had no plans other than to relax and spend time together.

April 17, 2021

Another lazy day on the farm, so lazy, in fact, that we had ice cream for dinner.  Movies, games, campfire, farm animals, walks, good food, along with the peaceful and lovely vistas of Lancaster County - who can ask for anything more?

April 18, 2021

Our last morning of vacation and we felt sad to be leaving and were dreading the long car ride home.  After some coffee and hearty toast, we packed up and headed west.  Thankfully, all five of us did great on the road and we arrived back home around 7:00 pm, glad that we took the leap to travel and to see friends.  As we pulled into our street, Emilia exclaimed, "It's so beautiful.  It's our Cincinnati."

*Planning the first stop of this trip mid-week and during the off season plus the Covid-related crowd restrictions really helped our family succeed with the sights in Philadelphia. We had no lines and front row access everywhere which allowed us to see a lot without a huge investment of time or stress.  This is what we call another Covid silver lining.*

It's The Little Things

When our youngest was in public school, she was usually so exhausted and stressed at the end of each day that she found it hard to eat anything at all and eating around the table with the family was completely out of the question as another overwhelming social pressure she just couldn't withstand.

Now, more and more, we find her gathering at the dinner table with us and joyfully chatting while working her way through at least part of the food on her plate.  It's these victories that make me thankful for how the last year has impacted our family.

Vaccinated

On Monday just before 3:00 pm, I received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.  I felt fine for the following six hours, then experienced four hours of being icy cold, then five hours of fever, then twelve hours of intense headache and nausea, then three hours of mild headache.  Today on Wednesday, I feel perfectly fine.

Even though I rested in bed most of yesterday, I think that overall the side effects of the vaccine were very manageable for me.  I did not have any injection site pain at all and no muscle aches or bone pains.