How are we doing?

Well...

Let's see.

The kids are doing great.

They are adjusting well...

all 7 of them.

The "first 4" are a little shocked by the noise level and the sheer volume of crying in a day...

but overall they are doing well.

The new 3 are keeping me on my toes.

I had NO idea how un-baby-proof my house was until last Tuesday night.

Honestly, I am a little over the whole 

"Mommy's full service potty tour" 

that happens a billion times a day.

I am growing to HATE the term "ca-ca".

Baby boy is in diapers full time and I swear that is easier right now.

We have a few English words under our belts...

Doggie (who they still LOATHE with passion)

Banana (also known as bananamuz - a combo with Amharic)

Up - as in pick me up

Mommy, Daddy and all the other family names

Hi, Bye-Bye

And I think that's it.

Singing

The girls sing ALL the TIME.

Slight exaggeration... its actually maybe 6 hours a day.

Crazy lots of singing.

In Wolaytinga.

And Amharic.

And Kembatta.

Yeah... Lilly knows songs in 4 languages.

Talking amongst themselves

I hear a LOT of "backa backa backa America!"

and "blahdeeblah blah Mommy!"

Then they sing together!

Overall

We are doing fine.

I am tired, I will admit that.

I miss the old days of waking up to relative quiet or sleeping through the night without wondering who fell out of the bed this time (around the gauntlet of bed rails), who is going to wake whom up with said crying, or if they will go back to sleep or be up for the day at 5am.

I miss the days of running to the store and leaving the kids home since they are old enough to do that.

But...

Then I get those moments of joy:

Seeing a funny face made when they are happy and having fun,

Hearing a new song I didn't know they knew,

Seeing them dance to music on tv or on a commercial,

Hugs and kisses goodnight,

Sloppy wet kisses from a 2 year old baby boy,

knowing they are forever OURS.