Nothing like seeing my children in the car, buckled up, in my husband's car, driving to go to school, HAPPILY! Aidan used to say bye bye whenever Nadia and Daddy went in the morning, now, he is inside, ready to go... he got so excited, smiling, gleefully waving bye bye, Nadia said bye bye so excitedly and of course, the big guy, too.

I am so blessed to find this wonderful Montessori Program. The kids LOVE it! I usually don't trust anyone, even until now, to give up my kids under someone's care, but I trusted and I feel good and secure to have my kids playing and educated there at this school.

Aidan goes part time, and Nadia goes almost full time. I have special days for Nadia and Aidan to stay at home and have fun with me.

I have been feeling blue lately. Aidan's turning one on the 20th, and every time I think about it, I recollect the time when Nadia's turning one. We celebrated her birthday one month earlier because we were moving to Michigan, it was one great party. I decorated the house with balloons and we had the house full of people, because it was also a farewell party for all our friends.

Now, he is going to be one, and I so sudden miss my mother so much. She was here on Aidan's birth and I can't believe it has been one year since my mother came to visit.

We supposed to come to Jakarta this year, but I don't think we could do it, we might move again, and we might not. 

I spent some afternoon decorating the house. Of course, once Aidan woke up from nap, I couldn't do anything. I managed to clean the kitchen when the sitter came for 2 hours.

I tried to make the party as good as when Nadia turned one. It is hard because again, I have to do everything all by myself. Amora, as usual is busy, he will start his service again this Saturday, the time that we are going to have party.

I talked to my mother and sister today, and it doesn't make it better. I miss them dearly, or is it just winter blues ?

The studying doesn't make any progress lately, as I have been very distracted. 

Amora gave me a special gift on the Valentine's day didn't really make me so joyful. I love the present, he is such a wonderful dad and husband, the present is so thoughtful, that's just what I needed, and I think it is so romantic knowing him giving me something which I needed.

Happy Valentine's Day.

If someone asked me : "Do you want to move out of this state ?" I will answer : "I have no saying." The reasons are :

1. The house: I love our house, it's pretty big, huge yard for the kids to play, as big as a soccer field, so Aidan and Nadia can run around, or even drive the car in the back yard, and front yard.

It is big, huge, and sometimes it is a pain to keep it tidy and clean, you can imagine, just putting toys around back to their places, it took me more than an hour.

2. I love the kitchen. I love to cook, and I love huge kitchen.

3. Friends and neighbors. They are just like families to me. It will be so heartbroken (for me and Nadia) if we are leaving.

4. I like Ann Arbor, the heaven for kids, so much to offer for the little ones.

5. Nadia loves the school she is attending, and Aidan is starting to like it, too. I love the school because the kids love it!

6. Ammar loves where he works, he learned so much there at U of Michigan. Go Blue!

The downside :

1. Cold! Cold! Cold! It is too cold here, as much as Nadia loves snow to make snowman, and how beautiful the snow is.. Almost every winter, I am in the bad mood!! At night now, the temperature goes down to 1 degree Fahrenheit (not Celcius!!!!), and during the day, it is around 14-15. I used to like winter and snow when I just started living here in the States because I come from Tropical Country, but after living here for 10 years, I have enough cold!

Now, everytime Fall comes, I started to get depressed! I know the cold will come soon.

Even Ammar who loves his toy (tractor with the snow pusher) started to get annoyed to do the snow plowing every time.

Dilemma!

I wonder, and I believe, that we have to be careful with all our sayings and our acts in our life. I am a believer that we should put ourselves in others' shoes in any act or quotes. 

I also a believer that if you are not sure of saying anything, it's better to keep silence. Silence is Gold.

People might have other plans, we can't just crossed over and jump into a conclusion before you asked permission or just plain ask before we have to say anything.

This is just a quote of the day. I have been a believer of this quote, but I have seen the surroundings are still doing it... 

Anyway.... I have a great day today. I spent all day with my little girl, cuddling, drawing, study while she is playing, went to lunch, watched her skating lessons, went shopping, and picked up Aidan ... came back home... played with 2 kids, put Aidan to bed, played with Nadia again, and finally I have my own time to just venting about that thing above. Ammar is playing tennis so he will be home late, but since he left from Hollywood, I didn't realize how much I need him and how much I miss him, and I have to admit... I can't live without him.

Flu Shot.

All of us got flu shots, except Amora. He works at the hospital and he should have had flu shot but he refused. I am not a fan of flu shot. I am just not a believer of flu shot, once I got flu shot, I got sick right away, that was when I was living in Manhattan, NYC, I was sick like a puppy for the whole week, body ache, runny nose, coughing, headache, muscle ache, the whole nine yard, which are signs of flu.

Because I have asthma, so I had to have flu shot, so I did.

Aidan got bad cold and cough right after his flu shot when we had vacation in Arizona, Nadia was fine. I was fine.

Last night, I got chills, my husband had to hug me in bed until my chills were gone. I got terrible cough. Everyone, except my husband got sick. Aidan got it so bad that he had his 2nd ear infection.

I got chills again today, I cranked up the heating until 80 Fahrenheit and I still shivered. I put on hot water in the tub, and still shivered. Finally I called my doctor.

He called me back personally and asked me to come at anytime. He knows my husband and he contacts him sometimes for referrals. 

It was snow storm, the road was terrible, we all drove 30-35 MPH in the highway! So many accidents.. so slippery. It took me 50 minutes to get to my doctor.

He told me, I didn't need antibiotic, because I GOT FLU!!!!!!

Now tell me... why I got flu shot in the first place if I ended up getting flu ?

I still have my body ache, my muscles are hurting, my tummy hurts, nasty cough... ugh!!!

Aidan is over his sickness, Nadia is still having stomach ache and cough, but she doesn't have fever, I have to admit that Nadia is very strong. She still never got any antibiotic until now, and she is almost 4.

My cousin in UK posted the youtube video about obama, YES, WE CAN. It was pretty good. I have been leaning towards voting for him for the change in American point of view. He is young, and he is down to earth, and I like his policy.

I have a wonderful life, not perfect but it is perfect for me. I have not many friends as usual, but my friends usually last a life time, where ever I live, I make really nice friends. Not only nice, but really wonderful, amazing friends, I really can call them as my own family.

We have been living here in Michigan for almost 3 years, I made really nice friends and those people are so blessed. I just spent an amazing time with my friend, Sue and her son Brandon. Nadia and Brandon really play well together. I enjoyed my time chatting with Sue. Oh how much I love this woman. I feel so relax and comfortable talking about anything with her.

Yesterday, I also got a phone call from Melissa... Milla's mom, friend of Nadia. She is sending 2 tickets for Doodlebops show... We are so grateful.

Yes, those people, Maria, Melissa, Sue, Misty and Rodney, & Mehar are the most I really enjoyed their company and I call them family. Of course, I have some other Indonesian friends which we gather together in regular basis, and I love them all.

I am picky in making friends, but my friendships lasted. I am so glad with my life at this very moment, I hope it lasted until the day I die.

Maria... she is the nicest friend I have ever met in my life. Again, we met at Gymboree more than 2 years ago, ever since, we become friends, through our kids. Her husband happens to work at the same building as my husband. He is a dermatologist at the cancer center.. they are supernice and beautiful family. About less than a month ago, they moved to the bigger house.. I am saying, much bigger house... and sold their house overnight. Ammar and I talked about it and agree that they deserve everything, the house is their destiny, and we are so happy for them. 

Today, we were invited to their house for brunch, and it was so nice to see the whole family again. We have been so busy and with my studying, I hardly go out of the house with the kids, especially Ana, babysitting the kids while I am studying at home.

The house is stunning, huge house, like 1.5 times bigger than our house, but not only that, they got a very good deal on this house. I love everything in their house, the previous owner seems to know what they want in a house. Huge windows in every aspect of the house, overlook the little pond and outside views, including neighbors. I cannot say enough nice things about their house.. it's a meticulously done!!! Bravo, Maria and Chris. We are so happy for them. 

I am entertained to see their panic room, and the wine cellar room. It's unbelievable. Panic room, it reminds me of the movie by Jodie Foster.

Although we are done with the big house, we can pick up most of the attributes in their house to be built in a very miniature size of our future house if we ever moved again. Ammar and I decided that we don't want big house, small house, 3 bedroom house is just enough for us.

Again, I am so grateful to have them as our family friend (I consider Maria is a special sister for me here in Ann Arbor) and I love her family dearly. Her family is expanding, and everything good comes to their life, they deserve it big time.

Nadia had a wonderful time playing with her buddy, Luca.. She always says to me that if she grows up, she is going to get married with Luca. I don't mind.

Ana, the babysitter. The kids LOVE her.

For the last week I just crave for anything spicy. It brought to our attention that maybe I am pregnant again. We are so content with what we have, our life, our family, when we got Aidan, we are fulfilled, no more kids for us. 2 kids for our 4 hands. Each of us taking care 1 child at a time, everyone is happy, everyone is pleased.

Until now, the period never comes, that is worrisome. 

Finally I asked Ammar to buy me a test... Thank you God... We are not pregnant.!!

We are so relief and we are happy.

We are back home safe and sound, just in time to enjoy the christmas holiday.. well... we don't celebrate it, but the holiday seasons are so beautiful here, snow on the ground, decorations in town, lots of greeting cards, lots of phone calls from friends and neighbors, and of course, we can have our own time, getting slowed down on the holiday season until new year, usually everything is slowing down, except the stores, of course. 

It has been a long time we didn't cuddle all together, lying down on the carpet, jumping on each other bodies, including Aidan. He loves the new game and having Ammar so relax lately, we just love the vacation, just our family, no work involved and no hospital services. 

One thing comes in my mind.. I think I miss having a small house. It's not that I don't appreciate our big house, but having a small house is so much easier to manage and tidy up. Organizing is a breeze. I miss my small house in Massachusetts, and I miss my friends there, too. I miss my mom and my siblings. 

I love my house now, but it takes more of our spare time to maintain it, while in a small house, you spend more time cuddling with children and family.

We talked about this, I think if we ever move again, I would love just to have a 3 bedroom townhouse in a gated community with all the luxury we can have just paying the monthly fees.

No more huge house, no more huge and hard to maintain 1.5 acres of yard, no more spending hours and weekends on house! 

I also miss our housecleaner in Massachusetts. Still couldn't find the exact person who does the great job of my high demanding meticulously cleaning ... I love my house to be clean and spotless, with our house cleaner now.. she still not doing it... we are now debating between keeping our housecleaner team from the Company or keeping the newer girl we just hired. She is very thorough, but very very slow!

Can't complain enough, we now have a lovely baby sitter from Brazil, Ana. Nadia and Aidan adore her so much!

Happy Holidays, Happy Ied, Happy New Year 2008.

Arizona : Red Rock and Verde Canyon

We left to Sedona, Arizona for our yearly USA vacation. Just right in time of getting away from the snow storm which hit northeast when we left. Aren't we lucky ? Nadia's school had to close on Monday and at the same time we just enjoy very mild winter in Arizona.

It's our second time visiting Sedona, it's one of our favorite place to visit, we love the view and we love the weather. Red Rock is fantastic, Sari even think that it is even more breathtaking than the Grand Canyon. We decided to skip Grand Canyon this time, and enjoyed the scenery, had a laid back life, try to catch up the family time all together. Aidan is sick the whole vacation from flu vaccine he got the day before we left, made him so difficult to sleep, but he still a happy baby, smiling all the time. He likes to cruise everywhere, too.

These are what you call, Awesome singing. I just got the link from my friend, and it has completely disturbed my studying. Thanks, Nori (hehe) I ended up looking for more youtube videos about this awesome cappella group. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKx_BTj_-IE&feature=related

(I bet you your whole muscle in your body can't help not to dance along with them)

Enjoy and happy holidays everyone.

Finally, I have the nanny for Aidan and Nadia. Her name is Anna and she is a very nice girl. I have time to study now, at least 4 hours a day and I know they are in good hands.

Nadia is always excitedly happy when I told her it's Anna's day today. She loves playing with Anna and she learns some Portuguese words from Anna. Anna is from Brazil, she lives around and she has a clothing store and she alternate taking care of the store with her twin sister who happens to be Luca and Chiara's nanny (Luca is Nadia's best friend). So she only could come on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays every week. On Mondays and Wednesdays, Nadia stay home, not going to school, so she loves it when Anna comes. On Friday, I picked Nadia up earlier so she can play after school with Anna.

Sometimes I wish we live back in Indonesia where labor is so cheap, for the price we are paying the nanny now, I can hire 2 nannies who lives with you and do all the housework for you.

Life in America... it sounds easier than the real one. But, there is always a positive thing living in the States. Better health, better school, and better quality of life. I would not want to live in Jakarta, where I come from, just because I hate the traffic. I don't want to spend all my life in the traffic, hehehe.

Today, I took pictures for my neighbor. They are so sweet, I love them so much, friendly, and at same time : small world, David, works as a pharmacist at the same department where Ammar works. The wife, Katherine is an ER doctor, who left her job 2 years ago for her cute little daughter, Kyra, who is diagnosed with seizures. 

I see them through my camera, they have beautiful house (like others who live in our subdivision), beautiful daughter (I love her dearly), 2 big dogs, as I took pictures of them, I see the love, the room filled with love, love to their daughter. Her developments are delayed because of her seizures, but thanks God, instead of 6-8 seizures a month, she has not having 1 seizures for the last 6 month. God is gracious. 

I also took pictures of Kyra to celebrate her 2nd birthday in her room. Her room felt so happy! I love her room and again, I feel the love, so much love from both of her parents. 

We downloaded the photos right away on David's computer and watched the slideshow. They were so happy with my work. They offer me the money compensation, which I didn't even think a second about taking it. No way, not in million years. I do photography for fun and the best reward is for them to love my work, that's all it counts.

It's also made me think how much I am so blessed, I have 2 beautiful kids, and I hope I will never take it for granted, ever. I don't know if I will be as good as mom does Katherine does for Kyra if any of my child has that disease. I feel so strong for her. Kyra's development is about the same as Aidan now. She can sit and crawl a bit, claps her hands, smiles, and makes sounds, like mama....  I remember Aidan got seizures after his 2 months vaccine. I felt my life was taken from me. Thanks God, it never happened again. 

Sappy... I am a bit worry about Aidan, he has been having runny nose, he ran fever yesterday.. and we were so worry that he had his second otitis media (ear infection), or is it just because he is teething ? God knows. But today, I heard him grinding his teeth, and I wonder, as far as I know he never had the upper tooth yet, but then I felt it with my finger.. my boy just had his upper tooth, number 46 !!! Yeah!!!

I came home, hugging everyone, including Ammar... I am just so blessed for them. I hugged Nadia, carrying her around, played with her (I made her little house from a sheet and 2 chairs!!), and just pure hugging. 

I can't imagine my life without them. I am just so worry now that Ammar will leave for Atlanta  due to the conference for 4 nights. I will miss him so dearly, and don't even mention Nadia.

Oh well, back to study!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, everyone.

I am so thankful for my lovely and wonderful family, extended family, and friends.

I also so thankful for the generous gifts God gives me. 

I can't thank you enough. You are so gracious.

Thank you.

I am sorry for not posting for a while. Life is good, but has been very busy. I tried to study at night while the kids are sleeping, and I really feel this time, I got all the wonderful material to help me out with the study. My lovely husband, has been so supportive. We have been getting closer lately, every single one in our family, Nadia, Aidan, Ammar and I have been so close to each other, made us realize again, how lucky we are. We also thinking about getting an Au Pair to help me out with more time to study the boards.

I have been studying the live lectures I could play on my new machine. Gosh.. I love my NEW Apple Macbook!!!! Thanks so much, Amora!!!

Oh... can't help not posting how YUMMY the fruit punch Ammar made for us for the last 2 nights!!! YUM!!!!!

When you feel so overwhelmed.. that's how you feel when you see mountains of dirty laundry in the laundry room. It's so much, I feel so lazy already to finish it.

One thing makes me excited! I am buying a new Apple Laptop replacing my beloved 3 year old Powerbook!!! Yay! With the intel duo processor, I could listen and watch those NBDE lectures. It will go right in my brain. Aim high!!! I will pass this licensing exam. Pray for me. Amin.