Hi!

Yes, I know, long time no write. Forgive me, please. Kia had a very bad bout with her sciatic nerve on top of all of her other (not inconsiderable) back problems, and it sidelined her for a good three weeks. Then summer kicked in, and temps have been high and it's humid. Not really sitting at the computer kind of conditions.

(For those of you who are under the impression that Finland is cold all year round, let me just say that in the 5 years I have lived here the temperatures have ranged from -40 F/-40 C to 98 F/37 C. So, you see, it can and does get quite warm here.)

The kids have been spending a lot of time in a plastic tub that we bought for them in the bathroom. Hours and hours playing in the water together. I wish I had a tub!! Alas, no bath for me. However, we have gone to the local beach and I've been able to swim in the lake, which has been grand. Although interesting to do with my glasses on - I don't dare take them off because I need to keep a beady eye on the kids, so my swimming requires my head above the water. Lots of breast stroke!

Let's see, what else...the kids will be 3 on the 26th, and I just don't even know what to think about it. I know it is the biggest cliché out there, but time does just fly by. They are so funny, and loving and curious and really stretching their little wings. Oh yes, and I did update the pictures, so please head on over to take a look.

The kids will start daycare on August 1st. It's a few blocks away, and very small - only 16 students, including our two. There are 3 accredited teachers (daycare teachers require a university degree here) plus there are always a few students who are working on their degrees helping out. Each child is assigned a teacher, and that teacher is the main contact person for the parents. Our teacher is a man, and Kia and I were quite pleased with that, as well as being pleased with the small number of students. The daycare does work with the hospital so Rasmus's speech work will happen with their cooperation, which is tremendously helpful. I think the kids will enjoy getting to meet new friends, and I was VERY glad to know they would not separate them. The administrator for the neighborhood centers (there are several of them, remember, daycare in Finland is government sponsored and regulated, and free of charge) told Kia that they never separate twins. It is hard to give them up to strangers, though.

Rasmus's official evaluation process will start in mid-August. He'll see a Speech Therapist first and then go on to neurologists or whatever else they find he needs. I admit that I am scared of what they might find (and autism scares me, it does) but he's still my baby boy, and he's still Rasmus. And this way we can help him. I hate to see him so frustrated all of the time, it's not right for any of us.

Although I should note that he is speaking a bit. And he's reading. Yes, I know, he can't talk but he can read? Yes. And not books that he's memorized, he's reading new things he's never seen before. You see? We aren't sure at all what goes on in that deep little mind of his. But he loves his trains, he loves to lay on his bed and listen to his music and sing, and read books. He's gotten very particular about needing alone time - he shoos everyone out of the bedroom and turns on his boombox and dances along to his Annie cd in peace and quiet. Well, in that way he is exactly like his mother, so you know I am inclined to let him have his alone time. Lord knows I need it too. Lots of time to process what is in our heads, lots of time to quietly recharge our batteries. Introverts, for sure.

Ilmi is doing well! She's speaking in both Finnish and English, she sings, she dances, she leaps on playground equipment with no sign of fear or any worries about what might or might not be age appropriate. Everywhere she goes she makes friends - little boys especially seem to adore her and vie for her attention. (Methinks it skipped a generation because I can assure you, little boys never tried to get MY attention. But her Nana, on the other hand? Well...) She's so energetic and so vividly present. She loves to run and can already throw a ball with considerable accuracy. She draws and paints, she likes to help out with the cooking and baking. And she does all of this and still insists on wearing dresses! I can't tell you how much I admire her openness and her easy and affectionate way with people.

Kia is hanging in there. We still don't have a surgery date - but we didn't expect to hear from the hospital until September at the earliest anyhow. She is going to take Omppu to a dog show next week - he's done very well for himself in the past two he's gone to. She can't really go anywhere - sitting is very hard for her, so no car trips or movies or anything like that. She's spending a lot of time getting caught up on reading. I know, it sounds really awful, and it is. There's really no way for me to sugar coat it, so I won't try.

Me? Well, I will be officially unemployed and finished with my maternity leave at the end of this month. I have been to the unemployment office already and am on the list for Finnish language classes. The class itself won't be starting until after the new year, so this Fall I won't have much to do. Except take care of Kia and the family post surgery, which I think will be a pretty big job, myself. The class will take approximately 9 months! and at the end of it I will be able to read, write, and speak Finnish on an intermediate level. This will make a tremendous difference to me - Finnish isn't really a language you can just pick up by living here.

I had considered just keeping the kids at home with me until my classes started, but since Kia will be doing most of her convalescing at home we decided to get them into daycare. Kia's recovery period will be about 4 months long - and she will need to rest a lot. Not surprisingly, it is difficult to rest in a tiny two bedroom apartment with 3 year old twins. Ahem. But I will confess to feeling pretty tender about sending my babies away!!!

Oh - and on the bad news front, our wonderful babysitter is transferring to another University and is leaving town! I am really sorry about that one, believe me.

What else, what else...well, not much else for a quick and dirty update. But yes, we are still here, and we are hanging in there.

I'll try to be better about updating in the future - I know everyone wants to hear what is going on with the kids and all.

Much love,

Sabrina