Random Thoughts

Things are stable but insane. Aside from some runny noses, the kids are all healthy. Steph has the invincible cold that won't let go, but otherwise the germs are temporarily at bay.

Haven't said much about the video...after we premiered it, I had to step away for a while, but I'm able to watch parts of it again, and enjoy it. Fact is, it was just so big I had to get away for a while.

I continue to look for other methods to share the videos without being hosed off of YouTube...hopefully more on that soon. Look. I certainly don't expect anyone who wasn't there to sit through the whole 5 hours, but I AM proud of the whole body of work and eager to share whatever reasonable amounts are possible. Maybe I can fly under the radar somehow.

Steph is liking the new job, but there are a lot of sacrifices we're making. We're about to cut off our satellite tv service to save cash...which means no more DVR which means all the shows that the girls are used to having onhand go bye-bye. An ugly transition is coming.

Anyway, as we continue to try to raise 4 kids on a teacher and a quarter's salary while paying off years of foolish debt mistakes...keep us in your prayers.

God bless,
Matt

Where to start...

First off, sorry for the long time between posts. Combination of the usual business, some additional tiredness, and the fact that I can't log in from work any more.

Spent the weekend in Columbus for our new traditional early-October end-of-camping-season stay at the Cross Creek Camping Resort. Nice place although it's moving down the list...another story.

Anyway...spent the weekend there, but spent most of Sunday at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus.

Let's see. Going back to last week. First Mari had crazy bad fever, enough to make us think "OH1N1O" if you know what I mean. But, turns out it was just a major case of Croup. So, Robby started having Croup cough before we left, and we got the appropriate meds for it on our way out of town. But Robby just kept getting worse and worse until at about 1:30 Sunday morning we just plunked him in the car and drove to the hospital. Seriously, he was 'retracting' as my mother the nurse pointed out - his chest was caving in with every breath. They took one listen to him there and got us right back into a room and he was admitted a couple hours later. Some more steroids and a couple of breathing treatments later and he was stable...but what a weekend. Meanwhile I came down with laryngitis (sp?) which is just Croup for grown-ups.

I hate Croup. That's what I get for naming my Rock Band 2 band "Croup".

Anyway, we are still recovering - and I didn't even give you the whole story.

Hopefully things will settle down a bit now.

Gotta go - hopefully not so long this time.

Matt

Two Years in the Making

Steph here.

About 2 yrs and 1 month ago, we put our condo on the real estate market. This was RIGHT when we found out we were pregnant in Sept. of 2007. We knew my great-aunt was probably never going to be able to come back to her home and that my family would be happy to sell her home to us.

A month later, we found out that we were indeed going to be having twins. We immediately lowered the asking price of the condo by several thousand dollars, feeling more pressure to get in to the new house before the twins came. Especially seeing how most twin pregnancies do not go full term.

By late March of 2008, we had still not sold the condo but decided to move in to the new house. I was 32 weeks pregnant with the twins.

20 months after putting the condo up on the market, we finally closed on the sale of it. We did lose some money on it but at least walked away with a check in our name (as opposed to stories we've heard from our realtor of people OWING up to $30,000 at the SALE of their homes! Can you imagine? SO sad...). We applied for our loan very soon after that.

Well, almost 4 months after that we have finally closed on our home tonight! We are so very excited to finally be homeowners again and so happy that my family (my maternal side of the family - my great-aunt passed away the summer of 2008 so the house was in my uncle's name) will finally be able to move on with the closure process of Bobbie's death.

We went through a lot to get here and it was pretty painful at times. But seriously? We own a GREAT home that is PERFECT for our family. Most importantly, and really the basis of the reason for us wanting to buy the house, we are in a GREAT GREAT school district. We feel SO lucky and blessed.

Meanwhile, I also start in to my new teaching position next week. I am working for a very small company that contracts out to various preschools (mostly Montessori) in the Greater Cincinnati area to teach Spanish. I will teach at 6 or 7 different schools. I don't have to create any lessons, grade any papers, deal with many or any parents! Phew. At this point in the life of my family, this is all wonderful. It's a HUGE paycut and we are trying to adjust to that, but the new schedule is improved over the new one.

I don't know if I will want to teach preschool for the rest of my career, although who knows? I could change my mind on that! But again, feel SO lucky to have come upon this job. The owner of the company is GREAT as a boss and really, really knows her stuff in terms of teaching Spanish to young, young children!

I guess that's it for now. Matt is really in to watching Ken Burns' wonderful National Parks documentary this week (see the widget above) which began Sun. night and runs through Fri. night. I am tagging clothing for the Twins' Club semi-annual sale which takes place this Sat. I'm praying for a good turnout and a good amount of income for me and for the club!

Ok, I'll sign off for real now! Steph

PS -- We did the premiere of the "big trip movie" for Matt's parents this past weekend and we think it went really, really well! Matt is truly a genious at making these movies!

More of the same

Yup, things keep churning on. A few pieces of news, and expect some pics soon as well...

We are finally going to close on the house this Wednesday. For those who've been aware of the insanity, you know what a big deal this is. For those who don't - I aint posting about it, so just be glad you weren't involved.

Bud got his haircut for the first time - pics soon - he looks stinkin' cute with his new short hair.

Hannah went to the eye doctor because we thought she was crossing her eyes - turns out she has pseudostrabismus - false eye cross. In essence, the bridge of her nose is so unusually wide that it covers up some of the whites of one of her eyes and makes it appear that it's crossing. Apparently it's a common enough thing that they had a pamphlet for it.

Mari has started preschool again - finally. She seems to be taking well to it. Her teacher has already said she's a "hoot". Yeah. She'll be the class clown. Which is fine, she just needs to learn how to be a teacher-friendly clown. Which is possible.

We're in the trailer now - in Florence, IN - a weekend trip to keep our chops up and to spend time with our non-RV family. So my mom and dad aren't with us - but Ma and Pa D will be joining us this afternoon and spending the night. So we're going solo. I had to back the trailer into a space for the first time. And I have to say, I feel pretty proud of myself - got in pretty darn straight on the first try. I really do seem to know what I'm doing with this thing. (Tempting fate)

Pics later.

Busy, busy, busy

No, I'm not converting to Bokononism yet...

Things are going well. You can see that I added a National Parks gadget thingy there - we're all stoked in the Specter house about the upcoming Ken Burns documentary on the National Parks. Saw PBS' little preview and it looks just wonderful. I think that with better equipment, an unlimited budget and a modicum of restraint and good taste, my trip videos could be on par with Ken Burns. Unfortunately, none of that is going to happen.

Work on the videos progresses. I had a really productive weekend in that area. I am now done with Days 1-15 and Days 24-31. You do the math. All I have left is 3 driving days, Glacier, Yellowstone, and Craters of the Moon. I am definitely starting to run the music well dry, though. It's getting harder and harder to find stuff that fits. It will be well and good that we aren't planning another monster journey for a few years. I need the time to restock my library.

Rant: Why can't Michael Gettel and Wayne Gratz rock out just a little bit? And why can't Explosions in the Sky and This Will Destroy You do a few songs without an obnoxious burst of static, feedback and noise? Music can be serene and peaceful without being limpid...and it can be dramatic and inspiring without being loud. Middle ground, people...middle ground. I need some music that is extreme in its moderation. Saunders - get on it.

All the other usual things are going on. Faith's Kindergarten transition has been smooth - although she's an exhausted wreck by the end of the week. Mari's ready to start preschool next week. Twins are tearing the place up. Hannah continues to just be kinda weird. But cute.

Gotta run - just wanted to check in. See y'all.

Matt

General updates

Work: Going well. I've seen everyone. There's no one I won't be able to handle.

Kids: Faith's second day of Kindergarten was great again - she's eating it up - better than we could have hoped for.

Trip Movie: Am slightly past halfway now. Have finished first 9 days and last 7 days. Starting to think about premier logistics.

Life: Can't complain.

Pics from Faith's First Day at Kindergarten (III - make sure you scroll down for the rest)

We went right over to G and Z's to eat lunch (G. D. joined us too!)

Celebration cupcakes!

Pics from Faith's First Day at Kindergarten (II)

Faith at top of steps on bus.

Faith on bus (front window - you only see back of her head).

Bus coming back in afternoon!

Faith coming down the bus steps!

Faith's brother and sisters missed her a lot while she was gone!

Pics from Faith's First Day at Kindergarten! (part I)

Faith on front porch.

Faith and Mari on front porch.

All 4 kids on front porch. (Obviously I should've given them sunglasses!)

Sisterly love (ha, ha) at the bus stop!

Faith climbing up the bus stairs!

More to say

Okay, lunch at work, and I can say a few things here. Another pretty good day of work so far today. If I still feel this good next week at this time, I'll be ready to relax.

Faith's first day of Kindergarten is tomorrow. Kudos to FHSD for thinking to have a bus there at new family night to let the kids get on and learn about the rules. I think she's going to do just fine. On the other hand, if she melts down she'll get over it pretty quickly once she gets there.

Mixed emotions? Well, sort of. I have always said that I am looking forward to finding out what kind of a person she's going to become. I don't want her to stay little forever. So I don't have any kind of pure, unadulterated "My baby is going away!" wailing to do. My own misgivings are just that this is the start of us not being the biggest influence on her life. It's the beginning of having to be the kind of nosy parent, bugging her about what all she's doing, looking for new behaviors that she picks up at school and making sure that she's getting a counter-message from home to combat the bad ones. I am afraid of her falling into bad influences, but am eager for her to have the opportunity to stand up for the values we are trying to teach her. I know that if she does, I'll be more proud of her than I can imagine.

I think she's going to do well.

Well, that's all for now. As school starts, prayers and blessings to anyone involved. Start the clock. Let's do this.

Matt