The Way Things Are...

So, besides those pleasant afternoons enjoying family time in the sunshine touring beautiful sights in Europe, there are those many more days of reality in between. Yesterday was one of those days. This is long, but you might appreciate it - in some sick way!
Let me set the stage:
- The kids have been sick with bad colds all weekend - coughs and high fevers.
- Keegan has picked up the bad habit with this cold of being over-sensitive and coughing hard enough to make himself vomit.
- We have met the doctor we've chosen here once, very nice, British (Speaks English).
- The doctor's office is located not far from here in a nice little town called, La Hulpe, which is a French commune.
- I speak exactly three words of French - Bon jour, Merci, and Wie.
- The town has narrow winding streets with cars parallel-parked on both sides.
- The main road is quite busy and also where the doctor's office is located.
Now, that's a lot of detail, but it will make sense as the story unfolds.
Yesterday morning I called the doctor to inform her that the kids are very ill and I'd like her to see them. We make arrangements for an appointment that afternoon. I get all three kids down for a nap before going, but Keegan doesn't fall asleep right away. So, I have to wake him up after a short-hour nap to take him to the doctor. We make it there fine and the Lord blessed us with a parking place somewhat near the office that I can just drive into rather than parallel-park. I have concerns it's in a school pick-up zone, but risk it. Now, Belgians are only in a hurry when they're behind the wheel of a car. So you can imagine I was making friends unloading three kids from carseats on the busy, narrow road! We made it to the office where Mikayla made herself at home touching and playing with everything possible. Keegan whined the whole time - again, short nap, not feeling well. Cayden did ok because I was holding him. Thought it was going to be a quick trip, so I carried him instead of taking a stroller. So, after determining they have sinus and ear infections, the doctor writes out thorough simple directions for me to give them the medicine she's prescribing. Then, informs me that you can just walk down the street to the pharmacy, hand them the prescription forms, pay, and be done. So, as I'm gathering up the kids, including Keegan who's let himself out the office door, I decide to chance the French-speaking pharmacy up the road since we're all out of the car already. How bad can it be? (FAMOUS LAST WORDS!)
Begin the trek to the pharmacy. Must cross the busy road - find a cross-walk. Wait for a car to actually stop for us amongst the traffic rolling by. Blocking our path on the sidewalk is a group of people talking with about six little dogs. You all know my kids are dog-lovers.... managed to get them through the crowd and down the sidewalk without touching or asking to touch any animals. (I'm still carrying Cayden.)
Enter pharmacy. There are four pharmasists and probably four other patrons in the tiny little store all speaking French. I have try to have the kids sit in a chair and that lasts all of 29 seconds. So I have them sit by my feet while I try to get the meds. (Remember, they're not feeling well, haven't been exerting themselves all weekend, and now are tired out from a walk besides.) So, I have a lady filling the prescription - slowly. People come and go from the store. One coming with a poodle, yes, in the store. Of course, Mikayla wants to see it. Get her back over by me, she sits, and Keegan stands up hitting his head on the corner of a little shelf they've built for people to set their purses, but happens to be at toddler head height. So, while holding Cayden, I'm trying to console him. He wants to be held... then he starts crying harder... and then throws up! So, I'm trying to help him, hold Cayden, and ask the lady for a cup or bucket or something because my son's puking on their floor! Remember the amount of French I speak, that's about how much all the others spoke of English. I was "acting out" vomiting to try and get the ladies behind the counter to help! Keegan vomits again! Finally they gave me some tissues... thanks... then a more helpful one gave me a trash can and some paper towels. She actually came and held Cayden for me so I could help Keegan. I kept saying "merci", "MERCI"! We managed to calm the situation down a bit before leaving... when Mikayla noticed a kids table with books that they could have been looking at the entire time! So, they sat there content while I paid, with Cayden back on my hip, and gathered things to try and get out the door. At least everyone there was smiling once things settled down... not sure if that was polite or happy to see us go?
Thankfully, traffic thinned a bit and we could get to the car ok. Packed the kids in only holding up about six cars. Got out of the parking spot ok and still made it home before the afterwork traffic!
Unfortunately, I have to go back to the pharmacy to pick up the rest of the medicine because they were short a couple bottles! Not sure if they'll let me in!!!
Now, I'm not looking for sympathy by any means... just sharing some of the "real fun" we're having here sometimes too!

Abbey of Villers-la-Ville

These pictures were taken last Saturday. The Abbey was recommended as a "local" sight to see in my "Hints for Living in Belgium" class. So, we took a short drive through Waterloo and found the Abbey down a winding backroad. It's easy to see why it was recommended and that people have pictures for weddings and family photos taken there! The weather was wonderful (warmer than the kids attire makes it appear) and the ruins were absolutely beautiful. I'm anxious to go back when the trees have filled in and the grounds have more color! Apparently it's amazing in Autumn too when the ivy and leaves all change color. Guess we'll be making multiple trips back! Keegan enjoyed exploring the "rooms". Unfortunately Mikayla wasn't feeling well and didn't really appreciate all the walking. We were able to manuever the stroller through most of it, so Cayden could check out most of it too. Here's a link for more information and pictures of the Abbey - http://www.eupedia.com/belgium/villers-la-ville.shtml.

We're waiting for what?

Hello All. Well, we enjoyed a day at the Antwerp Zoo on Saturday and I was hoping to share some of that experience, but I guess that will have to wait. This morning I was reminded what a blessing it is to have Chris bring Mikayla to school. He had an early meeting this morning so the rest of us were headed to ISB.
Ok, so after waking up early with Cayden and having him snuggle back in bed with me, we actually got out of bed late. Good start. Mikayla woke up on her own, so I got her dressed before getting myself ready. At least she looked cute, the rest of us were presentable "enough" to get out the door before 8 and hope to get her to school on time (8:40 - no traffic, 10 minute drive). So we got out and into traffic going and stopping along the way. We made it to the "rocking shape" as the kids call it - a piece of art in the middle of a roundabout in a straight street (poorly pictured above). From there, Keegan knows it's only "two lights and then we're at Mikayla's school". Check the clock, 8:30, still doing ok. Wait through the lights and merging traffic from what I thought was a bicycle only lane and finally turn in to the entrance... what is the back-up about? Finally get up to the parking lot and am directed to the exit lane, even though I still have Mikayla in the car. Directed then to do a U-turn. Nice. Finally in the parking lot... no spots, drive around 10 minutes and then park.. only blocking in a few people - we'll be quick! Drop Mikayla off and find out the parking lot for the high school students is closed, causing the back-up and especially bad parking situation this morning. Nice. Ok, say good-bye to Mikayla, head back to the car. Heading home, back-up at the "rocking shape" turnabout... what now? We're all waiting for a lady to cross with her herd of Shetland ponies! Seriously!?!?! She had four fuzzy ponies on leashes like dogs and was pulling them across the two lanes of traffic fighting the "pony pace" she was obviously dealing with. HA! Now we're back home and I have my second cup of coffee sitting here with me at the computer. The boys are actually occupying themselves quietly at the moment (in the same room)... I think we'll turn on a movie so I can take a shower and try to start my day again : ). I have about an hour before leaving to get her again and hopefully stop for a picture of the "rocking shape" along the way. So what if I hold up a little traffic doing it! Hope you all have a GREAT day!

Out!

We finally made it out of town with the kids over the weekend and got some pictures of something other than the kids just being kids : ).
Saturday we decided to take a drive about an hour south, down to Dinant, Belgium. You can look up information on the town on-line, but we enjoyed a brief walk about the town. The walk was brief for a number of reasons: 3 little kids, no stroller, cold weather, naptime, no stroller, and no plan. We did manage to find a tiny little playground consisting of two slides along the river and the kids were happy with that. We didn't spend much time there either (see above), but managed to bribe them with some cookies bought at a local bakery that town's also supposed to be known for. Chris and I weren't impressed as ours were hard as rocks (likely for dipping in coffee or tea?), but thankfully the kids' was soft enough for them to enjoy. Anyway, back to the town... The town was built on both sides of a river and along cliffs on one side. We actually drove through some of the rock and the kids enjoyed that. The bridge had many large painted saxophones (like the cows or other animals you see around some cities). I learned that was because the inventor of the saxophone was from there. There also was a Citadel on the cliffs overlooking the town, and... there looked like there were some cute shops that I'd like to get back to : ).
From Dinant we drove down to Bastogne. Another very cool looking town that we passed through quickly, but would like to get back to. We drove out to the WWII Monument for the American soldiers who fought there. The monument was very large and impressive. They had a museum there too, but we didn't make it through that. Actually, Mikayla and Chris walked around the monument itself while I stayed with the sleeping boys in the car : ). I can't wait to see what the area looks like in the warmer months when the trees are full and things are a bit more colorful.
Anyways... we got "out" for a drive at least and enjoyed the drive through some towns and the countryside too.
The kids did very well with the drive, so that was encouraging. Mikayla is off school this week for Winter Break, so we're enjoying having her home again. Keegan is Mr. Accident-waiting-to-happen... seriously, if there's something to run into or fall on, he'll find it. Cayden is just exploring his surroundings more and more to find out what he can get into before I catch him. He's also eating more babyfood now and enjoying that.
Well, that's all for now! Take care!

Man on the Move

Hello there, Friends. I wanted to inform you all that our little Cayden is now officially crawling - EVERYWHERE! He's found his way under and around couches. And as much as I try to keep him on the rugs, he finds his way to the tile pretty quickly and kind of slide/crawls on that. I've attached a video to show him off - and, yes, he IS that fast. Besides Cayden being more mobile, Mikayla has now started school and loves it. We knew she would, but has gone beyond our expectations in fitting in. She's gone a few half-days, but will be attending her first full day tomorrow. She's looking forward to staying and having lunch with the rest of her class. Apparently they'll be visiting the forest nearby as an outing too, so we're sure she'll have plenty to tell us about! Best include Keegan too... guess the newest thing on him is just how curly his hair is getting. It's getting longer and curlier. Very cute, but still all "boy". Will try and get a picture, if I can catch him for one!

Best Seat in the House!

Thought I would share some photos of Dear Keegan using his "special chair" to climb on the cupboards. He knows that's where I had the Belgian waffle "cookies" are which are his new favorite treat : ). He also used the little white chair to climb up and turn the thermostat to 90 degrees in the house. He's enjoying his stepstool in the bathroom too for reaching the sinks and helping climb in the bath tub himself! I think we've turned a new corner in trouble with this one!

We have arrived!

Hello All! Well, it's been a long time since updating this blog. Most of you reading this already know that things have changed considerably in our lives since Keegan's first birthday! Birthdays have come and gone again. Holidays too. We've had some fun family vacations. Our family was blessed with the arrival of our beautiful baby boy, Cayden David, back in June. And now we're living in Belgium! Yes, that's right, we're on a temporary "expatriot" assignment for Chris's work and we're now starting an adventure of a lifetime! The kids did great on the flights over and that was a real blessing. Chris has been sick, but he's finally starting to feel better. Mikayla's starting school tomorrow at the International School of Brussels (ISB). She's thrilled to go meet new friends. Keegan's enjoying using his little chair and stepstools to get into absolutely everything around the house (cupboards, sinks, and thermostats to name a few). And Cayden's just watching everything his siblings do wishing he could scoot faster to keep up! Oh, and I'm just trying to get some sleep here - still on Michigan time!
Pictures to come soon, but the house is still pretty empty since our shipments haven't come in yet and I haven't been out shopping! And we haven't been out any where exciting yet - the grocery store really wasn't photo worthy : ).
Stay tuned!