I hear voices in the other room: a grandmother talking to her beloved granddaughter; the politesse of a potential son-in-law. I am grateful for the love that will wave goodbye to us at the airport this afternoon -- and the love that will wave hello at another airport tomorrow.

I just made plans with Fi to meet her and Ismene in the park on Friday. It's not just a dream anymore!
I am so excited to go HOME!!!

OUR VISAS HAVE JUST BEEN PUT IN OUR PASSPORTS. WE CAN GO HOME NEXT WEEK!!!!! JOY OF JOYS!!!!!!!

My dad just referred to Makka Pakka as Tumbly-balls. LOL!!!

Not only did I night-wean Rio last night (I can't believe I forgot to shout this miracle from the rooftops), but I had the (brilliant, if I do say so myself) idea of asking (my excessively drooly) Rio to suck up her saliva - and she did! And continues to do it every time I ask her to! Why didn't I think of this sooner????

Thank you, The Count of Monte Cristo, for being long to download; for you have led me, in my waiting, to Brenda Ueland and some beautiful revelations and inspiration.

To date, Rio always calls eyebrows "rainbows" before quickly correcting herself. I catch it every time and cherish the moment for it may never happen again.

Everything's really coming up roses. Rio and I officially have our NIEs and I found out that I'll be allowed to work in Spain, should the opportunity arise!
Gracias.

This is an incredible day. Our visas were approved and I am feeling ALIVE as my grey skies turn blue...

High school girls come out of their classrooms to help me catch Rio (charging down the hall, grinning and squealing, not watching where she's running) and tell me how much she looks like the little girl from Monsters, Inc. This is especially wondrous as she has recently begun telling me there are monsters in the kitchen.

Today I turned off the tv when normally I would have left it on.