Yes Ma'am to Oui Madame: Complaints and Blessings

We have been back in Paris for almost 2 weeks. I would say that we finally are back into a routine, well for us. I may need to warn you that this post will probably have a little more whining than I usually put on here, hang in there you'll see why.

First, jet lag stinks!!! I mean STINKS. We went through an entire week with the kids up, eating meals at 3am. They would go to bed when we asked and it was "bed time" and lay and cry because they couldn't go to sleep. Then they wanted to sleep until 12pm and we were trying to get them up because that is how you get them to sleep at night. Let me just emphasize it was NOT FUN. We seemed to all sleep through the night last Saturday night and since then we are doing much better.

Second, due to the aforementioned sleep craziness getting us back into any kind of a "school" pattern was next to impossible last week. I thought I was OK, just going with it. I have since discovered this week...I am not. I am feeling all kinds of panicked over missing several days of work. My O.C.D. is in over drive and now I am seeing poor Emma being in kindergarten forever because her mother and father moved her to Paris and couldn't get their sleep schedules worked out and she will never learn to read and therefore never become successful and self sufficient.Whew!! Y'all see how my brain works. It ain't pretty.

Third, this city is GREY. It is one thing to be cold and rainy, but grey for about a week and a half. I CANT TAKE IT MUCH LONGER. Well, I don't have to. The sun finally came out earlier this week and I wore sunglasses. (It wasn't that bright, but somehow it helped my psyche!) I actually saw on some website I was browsing that there is a color of paint called "Paris Grey". I am back and forth on if that will ever be used in my home. I'll get back to you.

OK, OK, OK, I will stop complaining and start counting my many blessings. (count them one-by-one) You know you were thinking the same thing!

1.We found the American food store!! It is called The Real McCoy and makes my heart happy. Well, finding pop-tarts for the kids and baking supplies to make cornbread and having labels I can read....that makes me happy. Having to pay 9.50 euros for a (yes, that is singular) package of Oreos for Jarred.....does NOT make me happy. But, a little comfort food helps the soul, right?

2.We have also been so blessed to find a babysitter to help us out during our French lessons that is so sweet. She really seems to enjoy our children and it is so nice to have another American that we interact with weekly!!

3.We also found a doctor that speaks great English and has the quirkiest and funniest sense of humor. I have never giggled and laughed so hard while someone was examining my kids. They thought he was totally weird. Who isn't?

4.The most exciting thing that has happened since we have been home is.....we made some new friends. It was a match made in christian, speech therapy, homeschooling, Paris HEAVEN!! Yes, we have all those things in common with another American family living right here in Paris. We met through a friend of mine that I go to church with (Jennie) and this girl (Stephanie) went to college together. So, when Jennie saw on facebook that we were both posting things about living in Paris she played match maker and set us up. I owe her one, BIG!! I don't think my entire family has ever hit it off so quick than with this family. They are precious!! They have a daughter (who is just a little older than Em) that has become fast friends with Emma and Scout. She is a very sweet and funny little girl, I really enjoy her company. Stephanie and I have a lot in common and it has just been super easy to hang with her. I am so thankful.