Starting school and staying home.

We have been busy getting set up in our new life in Missouri We had to buy all new furniture, poor me having to pick out new things. It was more stressful than I thought it would be. I had a small window to get all of the things we needed before school started for Richard and Levi. As soon as things start to come together a little more I will post pictures. Richard had his white coat ceremony on August 5th. I elected to leave the kids with a baby sitter so I could fully enjoy this special day, but I came to learn that even though my kids are wild, special events like this are more special when they are with us. The ceremony was held in a beautiful old church. I was able to sit there alone and reflect on the road Richy and I have taken to get him to this day. Before medical school he had spent many years doing great in jobs he was not passionate about. He has always been science minded. 4 years ago Richy and I had a crazy idea to move to Austin TX. We had saved some money and headed down there without a job or a place to live. Looking back I am not sure how I let this happen, it just felt right. Our time in TX was not the best. I could not figure out why we had felt so good about going there. It was only upon going home to the comfort of Oregon that I came to understand why we needed the TX time. It was there Richy started to come alive. He started to believe in himself. It was while we were in TX that Levi had some bone issues, this led way for Richy to spend more time with doctors and do his own science research. Long story short we returned to Oregon State University where he began several science classes at once, which his adviser said no other student had been successful taking on the task Richard was embarking on in the time framed he set. Well he did it! He earned an A in every class he took. I worked during this time at a job I loved, but nothing was as rewarding as seeing Richard so happy and fulfilled at the end of the day. After taking all of the necessary classes, Richy was able to stay home with Naomi after she was born. It was interesting to have our roles reversed. Both of us came to a better understanding as to what the other had been doing. I am so thankful for the hard times and the new things we have taken on together. For all of these reasons and many more it was special to be there at his white coat ceremony. I am so proud of how hard he has worked to get to this point and I am excited to have a husband who loves what he does.

I knew I would miss Richy when he started school, but this was nothing compared to my fear of Levi starting school. It is so scary to leave my little boy with strangers and have to trust they will teach him what he knows. I worry about how other kids will treat him, I worry about everything. Levi on the other hand was full of excitement for school. He is very ready for more than preschool could offer him.

Levi is not a nap taker, but school has been making him tired!

Naomi is adjusting to Levi being away all day. She walks around at home calling out "Lee-I". It is kind of sad, but also very sweet to see her run up to him with a huge hug that could only be annoying to a hot shot 5 year old brother.

overall I am loving our new life in Missouri. I am having the best time with my kids. We go swimming after school, and I read to them everyday. Being a mom is a lot of work, but I can honestly say it is the most rewarding work. I struggle with feeling people around me do not value what I do. This last week someone close to me said "Guys do not want smart girls, they want girls like you who will stay home and have their babies". Coming from the person this came from I know it was not intended to be hurtful, however it was telling as to how people view what moms do. Guys do want smart girls and I think I am smart in knowing what works for our family. Being able to be there for spontaneous teaching opportunities and to plan healthy vegan meals as well as what I can to ease the stress on Richard makes me feel like I am apart of something bigger. I have been able to financially support our family in the past. I love knowing I can do it again if I need to. There are aspect of working I miss, a lot! but for now I know I am where I want to be and I am loving my kids like never before. There has been several thunder storms here this summer. As soon as I see one coming on I quickly unplug our tv. I would hate to have some kind of electrical surge result in me missing Dateline or 20/20, this scenario makes me ill to my very core!!! Anyway I use this time to read books with the kids while we listen to the storm. I love being able to make these simply memories. I am thankful that I can make the choice to stay home with my kids right now in their lives. I am reminded everyday at the things that are most important to me and they are a boy named Levi who has a dream of he and his sister becoming transformer builder when they grow up. And a little girl names Naomi who is entrusted in my care, to teach her how to be a smart, kind and secure .woman/transformer builder I still maintain a passion for politics, education and a whole host of other things.I plan to return to work in the coming years. I like to think I am smart enough to know what brings ME the most happiness and for me it is these two little faces and their super hot dad. It is weird to me how defensive I get on this topic, but I have had some hurtful things said to me about my choices. My choice to become a Mother has made me happy everyday.