Mind Madness!

Where's lunch mom?

My memory is so much better than it was a few months ago.  It actually feels normal.  When I was in the hospital Adam would tell me things in the morning, and in the afternoon, it was all new when he told me again.  Thankfully it never bothered me, but it may have annoyed the heck out of him!!  I just used the giant worm shaped scar on my head as an excuse and went with it.  I remember my time in Buenos Aires, but there many details that never imprinted, and my recollection of people and conversations are vague.

Playing in the sand dunes near the wreck.

Things  improved rapidly, but there were still some funny incidents, like the time in January when we planned a picnic lunch at a local beach to explore a visible shipwreck.  We snatched Adam from work, drove to the sunken boat, explored the beach, got hungry, and then realized that I left the entire lunch neatly packed up in a bag on the kitchen counter!  We cracked up, drove home and picnicked in the garden.  No pasa nada!

Or the most recent event when I bought candles for Adam's birthday cake and hid them - really well.  When it was time to decorate the cake, I could not find the candles.  I was just about to give up, when I discover their excellent hiding place, tucked away in the cupboard out of sight from all.  Truth be told, that is something I might have done in a new house, in a new place, prior to brain surgery!

Fortunately I have not forgotten to pick the kids up from school.  That is a relief, especially since we are in a carpool, and I would hate to get fired by the other families!!

Birthdays and Reconciliation!

A few happy memories from the last month!

Adam's 44th birthday!!!  Whoot!  He wanted a family party with Mexican food!!  Delicious!!

Caleb and the amazing
Padre Andre

Caleb's First Reconciliation with Padre Andre.  

Padre Andre was amazing and made all of us feel comfortable.  He is originally from Brazil, lived in Italy for 20 years, worked as a priest on a cruise ship with Italians and Chinese, and now lives in Patagonia.  With all of that he speaks, Portuguese, Italian, English, Spanish and Chinese.  Seriously.  Gaua! Wow!

Celebrating with ice cream! 

SoJo's Double Digit Birthday!!  Yeah!!!  Happy 10th Birthday!

Pancakes for breakfast!  Yummy!!

SoJo picked out her own cake from the bakery.  This was a huge treat for her, and she took a lot of time deciding on the perfect one.  She eventually choose a strawberry jello cake.

When we got home, she wanted to try a bit, so she nibbled and nibbled and before we knew it, there was a large hole in the side.  SoJo decided to FIX the hole and redecorate the cake.  She stuffed a large marshmallow in the gap, put colorful marshmallows around the outside, drizzled it all with chocolate sauce and called it good. Delicious!

The Reconstructed Cake!

Ducking Under

The Sentinel

After meningitis and pussing lesions on my head, shoulder, hip, back, knees, and ankles, the neurosurgeons in California and Buenos Aires were adamant that I not submerge my scars in water.  They were all concerned that the wounds might not be totally healed and a little microbe could find its way into my brain or limbs and give me another round of who knows what infection.  Oceans, pools, baths, and hot tubs were all off limits.  I was only allowed to shower - gently and quickly.

As one who loves to swim, it wasn't my favorite order, but I was happy that I was at least allowed to shower.  Cold sponge baths by strangers in the middle of the night were not high on my list of fun hospital adventures.

Hundreds of penguins - protected on the
Punta Tombo preserve.

I kept out of the water as long as possible and as long as seemed necessary.  I watched my kids dive and swim and enjoy the ocean nearly every day while I wadded in the water up to my ankles.  I even avoided pools. Finally, I gave in after more than three month.  On a hot, lovely day, with waves and penguins swimming next to the shore calling my name, I could no longer resit.  My first dunk under the water was liberating, chic and a little taste of heaven.

Penguins on the boardwalk.

The water in Puerto Madryn is cold.  So cold that for the last few weeks small groups of penguins have been swimming near the shore, and every so often, we get to swim with them.  And yes, I am the girl that got hypothermia swimming across Lake Sammamish in Seattle a few years ago, and now I am swimming with penguins, albeit for a very short time - within fifteen minutes I retreat to the hot sand to warm up.

Punta Tombo - penguin paradise!

I savor every moment, even though I can only swim with one arm - I rock the side stroke, but that is it.  Everything else is a one-armed mess.  The kids joke that I can only swim in circles, like I am a row boat with one paddle.  Whatever!!  I feel like all is right with the world.  My scars are sore and itchy, oh so itchy, but they haven't leaked a drop in months.  Quite frankly, they better be healed, because I do not want to test the hospital skills in Puerto Madryn!

The weather is quickly changing to fall and the beaches are emptying.  I will get in as many swims as I can, and then I will look forward to summer in Seattle where I can enjoy more brain surgery, scars and orders to avoid the water all over again.  Ha!  Oh yeah!  Life is good!

Summer's Over and Back to School

Summer time beaches and crowds.

The weather doesn't feel like summer is over, but the empty beaches and school uniforms tell a different story.  On Monday the kids went back to La Escuela de la Costa.  Sofia has been a nervous mess all week.  Her stomach hurts; she is restless and up early, but she has already explored the school cafeteria and analyzed all the new offerings.  She is preparing to spend 15 of her hard earned allowance pesos on a tub of jello.  She is just wondering if she should bring a spoon to eat it.

Caleb Antonio is having a blast.  He is so happy to be back in cahoots with his buddies.  I have absolutely no idea how he is doing with his schoolwork, but I know he is running, playing tag, and swinging on the monkey bars with his friends at recess.  Hopefully he is learning something in the classroom too.  When I asked him if he understands his teachers, he replied, "Only when we are doing something fun."  Um-hum.  Sounds like a case of 7 year-old selective hearing to me.  

Back to school beaches.

Carmela is enjoying her new schedule.  She stays at school until 2 PM, and then comes home for the rest of the day, while Caleb and Sofia come home for lunch and sometimes a swim at the beach from 12-2, and then go back until 5.  It is a dream come true for Carmela to have a quiet house in the afternoon.  Her greatest struggle is not having a cell phone.  According to her, and I believe her, every other child in the secondary school has a cell phone except for one boy.  When it is break time, out come the phones and the kids aren't as interested in personal socialization.

It is so hot. I don't know how they are wearing jackets!!

Today the school counselor called her into the to talk, and Carmela explained all of this to her.  Now the counselor wants to have a conference with ME to explain to ME about the popularity and necessity of cell phones at school.  That is going to be hilarious.  "No, sorry Ms. Counselor, my daughter will not be having a cell phone at school.  We can barely contain her antics on a supervised Kindle at home!"

And... What is the school going to say when they realize that I am not buying my kids the English books for the year?!  I hope they don't  freak out on this gringo mama, but we are only going to be here three more months, and my cheap-ass is not going spend $75 to buy some baby-easy English books for my kids that Caleb could read last year.   I spend enough money just buying paper.  300 sheets of paper for $18 - and that is 18 dollars, not pesos - and that is AT THE BACK TO SCHOOL SALE!!  What in the world?  Why is paper so expensive?!  I bought the pack of 48 sheets of paper for $2.50.  One piece a day kids, and write on both sides, and write really really small, and you might as well write in the margins too!

First day of school photos at La Escuela de la Costa
Carmela - 7th grade
SoJo - 5th grade
Caleb Antonio - 3rd grade

Things I Miss in Seattle and Will Miss in Argentina By Carmela

Hi everyone! This is Carmela! I know it's been a while since I have written, but you all probably know what’s up with our life ‘cause Mom likes to write blog posts about everything! Like EVERY THING!!

Carmela - Party Girl!

Our blog conversation was sort of like this…

Carmela: Mom I don’t really want to do the homework assignment you gave me. Could you give me a different one?

Mom: I don’t know. What do you want to write about?

Carmela: Maybe a blog post…

Mom: Ok! You can write one on Totos!

Carmela: Mom!! I don’t want to write an entire blog post on butts!

Mom: But I already have the pictures!

SoJo: You took pictures of people’s butts!?

Carmela: You can do that blog post.

So here I am writing a blog post NOT about BUTTS.

            Some things that I miss from Seattle are my friends. They are always there for me, and they can mess around and be CRAZY!!  I also miss being able to walk across the street without Mom yelling, “Watch out! The cars are trying to kill you!”  That might just be PTSD, but it is kind of funny.  Another thing that I miss is Vanilla, my stuffed bear that is as big as me.  For some reason, I couldn’t squash him into my suitcase. 

Three Kids, One Room = Little Privacy

I miss is having my own room.  I enjoy a little bit of privacy and doing my own thing without having everyone watching everything that I am doing.  It’s also nice to be able to get in and out of bed without having to climb up and down if I need something.  I miss all of my stuffies and shutting myself in my room and reading through all of my books.

When we leave Argentina and go back to Seattle, I will miss the beaches. The sand is so nice and warm, and you don’t get hypothermia if you go in the water!  It’s like a miracle or something!  I will also miss is being able to correct Mommy.  That’s only if I am helping her with her Spanish.  She has gotten so much better!

Another thing that I will miss is the fresh bread from the bakery.  It is warm when you buy it.  The outside is hot and crispy, and the inside is warm and all fluffy and blown up!  It’s like eating desert for a snack.

I will miss playing music in one room of the house and listening to it on the other side.  Our Seattle house is so big that I have to be within a 2 room radius to hear my songs.  I am also limited to the music that I have on CDs or on my Kindle in Seattle.  Here I can find the music I want on the internet and play it – with my parents’ permission.

The slumber party girls!

Mostly what I will miss from Argentina is all my friends.  Even though my friends in Seattle are a bit more mature and not scared of everything, my friends here are awesome too.  We have big slumber parties together.  We stay up until four in the morning.  Well I stay up until four… They go to bed at seven - AM!  Then I wake up at ten, and they have already gotten up - at eight. Seriously! But then I guess that the traditions here are very different.  They eat dinner at ten at night!  Going to bed at midnight is normal!  Lately I haven’t been falling asleep until 12.  Maybe I am becoming Argentinean! WOO WOO!!

TOTOS!

Toto Time!!!  When we arrived in Argentina, I knew my bikini bottoms were WAY TO BIG.  Most of the women between the ages of 15 and 65 sport thongs or G-strings and share their Totos with the world.  It doesn’t matter how big or small the Toto, it is on display for the beach to enjoy.  I am not going to lie; it is fascinating!  

My extra large BATHING SUIT!
Que extraño?! How strange!

The best part is sitting on the beach and seeing an enormous Toto.  It is not unkind or rude to comment on an extra large Toto.  “Mira Mira – un Toto grande!”  In the vein of honesty, friends comment on all sizes and styles of Toto.  If there is a special Toto, it is noted as a matter of fact.

Flying Solo

Adam feeling the freedom with his mule Snickers!

February 18th, Sunday, was 3 months since I was hit by Jesus.  Exactly.  At 7:30 AM, possibly the exact moment of impact, Adam left on a lizard hunt to northern Argentina for 10 days.  He was headed to 15,000 feet of elevation, long distances, mules, and new species!  What a bittersweet moment for our family.  We miss him, but it is also a testament to recovery and a return to normalicy.

Some things have changed.  I am more relaxed.  I stress less, and enjoy life more.  I appreciate Adam more, and his incredible response to my injury, gave me more confidence and appreciation for our relationship.  He did it all and loved me when I was at my ugliest: swollen, bruised, and unreliable.  The beauty in that brought us closer together.

Makeup and Hair FUN!

His travels are a healing message.  I can take care of myself and our children alone.  Wow.  Three months, and I can do this.  It isn't even a question.  We will have popcorn and broccoli, beet sandwiches, and rice cakes and tuna for dinner a few nights, but the kids love that, and so do I.  That is all good!!

As he left and we hugged goodbye, he told me that a month ago he didn't think this would be possible.  A month ago I didn't think I would be able to shave my own armpits, and BLAM!  We are nailing it!  OK - there was a bloody razor incident, but it is all good!  We got this!  I can't wait to see next month's milestones.

SoJo - the negotiator.  That girl loves to work
it and get her deal.

And... well, the kids and I had to celebrate.  When Los Autenticos Decadentes came to town, we did our party hair and make-up with friends, went to the outdoor concert, sprayed ourselves with foam, danced until someone (Caleb) begged to go to bed well past midnight, drank a little beer in the streets, and walked home without feeling the chill.  Another testament to stressing less and enjoying life more.  Bring it on!

Getting crazy with foam.  Give Mom a little beer and empty
her pockets!  Awesome!

A little of the pre-party awesomeness!  Thanks Ale!