Andrej, Jessica, Kaiya, Tobi, Eli and Jakob

I really want to blog more often. I had even set a little goal for myself to at least post something once a week so I don’t get so far behind. As I write this post I actually have three other posts waiting to be finished and published, but I keep getting interrupted and can’t seem to find a good chunk of time to unload all of my thoughts. When Kaiya finally falls asleep, Tobi wakes up and needs to be fed or vice-versa. I guess these interruptions will be the norm for a while, maybe even for the next 18 years. However, I do have a little time now and before finishing up the other posts I want to quickly document the highlights from the last few weeks.

Marina arrived safe and sound on July 15, with only a few minor blips along the way. She almost missed her plane in Vienna, but with the help of an airport security guard she was rushed to the gate. She barely made it on the plane in time to fly to Warsaw and then spent five long hours on a lay-over there. Andrej drove to Chicago that evening to pick her up thinking it would only take him about three hours to get to the airport. He hit terrible traffic, on a Sunday night no less, and his three hour journey turned into a five hour one. After collecting one tired Marina, they began the drive home around 11:30 pm. They once again hit more traffic, and finally arrived home around 4:00 am. Thankfully, Kaiya and Tobi let Marina sleep in that morning, but poor Andrej had to get up and head into work.

We have really been enjoying having Marina around. Kaiya LOVES having so much attention and someone that gladly takes her outside to play. Marina has also taught Kaiya some Slovak and it’s fun to hear her now refer to a frog as zaba and her belly button as her “pupak” (pupok). I’m loving the extra hands and someone other than a two-year-old to converse with throughout the day. Andrej loves having his sister around and speaking in Slovak for a change.

The day after Marina arrived, the Desnoyers family rolled through town on the last leg of their trip around America before they headed south to their new home. It was so good, and I mean in a good for your heart good, to spend quality time reconnecting with this incredible family. To just sit and talk with a couple that we can relate to in so many areas is beyond refreshing.

Thankfully, Andrej was able to get the day off to join us. We had no agenda for the day and since the weather wasn’t the greatest we just hung out here talking and letting the kiddos play. Between our four kids there was always at least one or more of them sleeping somewhere in the house throughout the day. We did make one outing to Millennium Park after Jackson and Kaiya woke up to let the kids run off some energy before returning here for dinner and good-byes. When we told Kaiya to tell Jackson bye and give him a hug they both looked at each other and exchanged a smile. Then when Kaiya went in for the hug Jackson took off running. Kaiya chased him around the house squealing until we finally broke up the fun and let Jackson off the hook. My only regret is that we don’t live closer to them.

We finally made the decision not to go down to SC for Kaiya’s birthday and instead my parents came here. We will possibly make the trip over labor day as it has become quite a tradition, but that too is still not set in stone. We had a blast celebrating Kaiya’s second birthday, but that is a separate post coming soon complete with tons of pictures.

As Kaiya turned two years, our Tobi turned two months. Unfortunately for him that meant a well baby check-up complete with three shots and an oral vaccine. He did fine, but it turns out our little guy isn’t so little as his measurements are topping the charts just like his sister. I also have a post coming soon with more details about our precious two month old.

I also had my “six-week” postpartum checkup at nine weeks, but who’s counting. My doctor allowed me to wait and just come in the same day as Tobi to save a trip. In both of my pregnancies, this final check-up was bittersweet. It ends the chapter of that pregnancy. After seeing my doctor monthly and then weekly for 9 months, it’s hard to wrap my mind around the fact that it’s over. However, the good news is that I have healed nicely and it seems I’ll be ready to start all over again soon :-) Just kidding! It will take quite a while, if ever, to talk Andrej into allowing another newborn into our house.

We have also been enjoying trips to local parks, the nature center, play dates, the splash pad and lake at Millennium Park and dinner and lunches with friends. We still have to introduce Marina to Lake Michigan and a few other of our favorite spots before her time here comes to an end.

In addition to our outings, I was also able to take Marina along with me to my dear friend Liesel’s baby shower. Marina had never experienced a baby shower before and this one was true to form with silly games, yummy food and time spent with good friends. I especially enjoyed the evening without the kids, where I could laugh and just be myself without having to be mom.

One other tidbit from our family happenings is that we (which is actually just me) are trying to name our blog. If you are a regular reader you know how difficult it was for us to name our children and naming this here site is proving no different. I keep coming up with suggestions that Andrej keeps rejecting. If you have any ideas, please leave a comment or send us an email. We would also like to update the site a bit with a new header and videos soon. Well, soon is quite relative these days, but keep checking in.