You Asked For It......Sulta-li-a-no!

I haven't a clue why I bestowed him an "Italian-themed-nickname," it simply flew from my mouth as freely as the word shit crap does.

I will never forget the night Sultan arrived.  His flight was late therefore the Mr picked him up alone.  I remember the Mr calling and saying "we've got our self a big one," like he was out fishing for another son or such.  Men. 

If I may speak type openly and honestly, as a mother, I certainly had my reservations about a young boy moving into a home with two young children----I believe any mother would.  As with most decisions, I went with my gut (and the mr's) and our guts didn't lie. 

That amazing, miraculous, wondrous night, was the beginning of a family taking a new shape--a rounder shape--a completed circle. 

What he has taught our children, heck! what he has taught us about teenagers, is priceless. 

But I bet what you really want to know is HOW he came to be OURS.  His father is a friend of our adoption agencies liaison whom accompanied us to Kyrgyzstan for our first visit.  One night, he took us out to dinner and dancing (and I had to eat horse).  We immediately clicked, despite the fact that we spoke no Russian and he spoke no English.  One would say something then wait for the translator and the table would erupt in chuckles.  We exchanged e-mails and kept in touch. 

Sultan is a US citizen but lived in Kyrgyzstan with his family until his sophomore year of high school in which he was sent to live with extended family in Colorado.  Unfortunately for his senior year, the extended family underwent a financial crisis and could no longer look after Sultan.  His dad called us in a panic one evening and we agreed, just like that. 

Jalyn and Leila refer to Sultan as "brother" as well as Leila.  We are privileged to call him a son and will forever look after his needs, guide him through life and laugh at all the silly, and sometimes inappropriate jokes we share together.

Life is certainly a little more sweet these days.

Now----were off to Michigan!  Can't wait to catch up with old friends, family and feel the arms of Michigan firmly wrapped around my soul. 

XOXO
Rie

Random Ramblings

So you found me eh??? Being back here feels a bit like coming home.....I feel comfortable here.

I don't have much to say, really. I feel like poop most days as my joints ache, burn, swell and become stiff. Putting two feet on the ground in the morning simply takes too much effort and energy at times.

Docs think it's RA (rheumatoid arthritis) and now their out to prove it. I just want medicine to make it better already. Feeling crummy can be down right depressing---especially when the children's laughter echos down the hall and into my bedroom and I am reminded of what my body is keeping me from enjoying.

I am counting the days until I can see my mama and daddy, feel their warm hugs and enjoy that beautiful Michigan breeze. We are ALL going........my hubby and Sultan this time! The kiddo's are beyond thrilled and I'm counting the days til I can wrap my arms around this turkey:

Just look at those baby blues---and to think I haven't held her since she was newly born (insert sad face here). I miss out on so much being here in Arizona, away from my Michiganders. My mom, dad, sis, bro, aunts and friends all do their best to call me often, fill me with updates, throw Peyton on the phone so that I may sing with her---all in an effort to help me feel closer to home. I crave the support of having my mother live close to me, especially these days. I need her more than ever. Countless days I would have called and asked her to come sit with me, talk to me, love on my babies. I would have begged her to get me out of the house and have lunch together, something, just to help me feel human again. Then again, I know I wouldn't have to beg as she is always one step ahead knowing just what I need.

It gets so lonely here in AZ while fighting an illness when all you want is your mom, who just happens to be over 2000 miles away. Melissa, Rebecca.......you two rock! Your support is unyielding and your friendship only grew stronger during difficult times and will never be forgotten.

I don't always have pleasant thoughts to write about, therefore I haven't written. But with the support of my friends and particularly my Aunt Daleann, I will write----even when I feel I have nothing to say that anyone would want to read.

XOXO

Rie

I am no longer blogging here.......You can find me at: www.riesdialogues.com

See you there!

The Day Has Come

As the sunset's on one chapter of my life, a new chapter awaits.

I have been blogging now for over two years, never really knowing where it would take me. I have learned something new about myself throughout this journey with every type of a single letter, as I ponder my life as it stands within the moment.



Typing my life has allowed me to live moments twice, once in person and again in writing. I have learned along the way that life is not about finding ourselves, it's about creating ourselves. In the depths of our souls we carry with us our future achievement's that will one day blossom, giving us the power to release our dreams turning them into reality.




May I introduce to you, my new baby:
www.riesdialogues.com

Starting tomorrow, Monday, July 26th, the GRAND GIVEAWAY BEGINS!
Join me in celebration as I celebrate you in return!
See you there!

XOXO
Rie

Ya'll Come Back Now Ya Hear???

I hear the thunder of rolling waves, feel the drips of humid ocean air on my skin, and red ice cold strawberry daiquiri's are calling my name.

I am off folks, to put my bum in the sand and my worries to the wind. Watch my kiddo's place their tootsie's in the warm sand and splash in ocean water.

Taking a blogger break for the week. You bet your day-of-the-week undies (seriously, did we all have those as kids?) that I will be back!

I have been working around the clock with my web designer and participating businesses in anticipation for the launch of the new Rie's Dialogues! We have added an amazing lady to the list, check her out here: Tina Steinberg Now go and wipe that drool off your face!

Monday the 26th is the the day (tentatively speaking, you know how these things go) that we will launch my amazing new site! I'm going to even bring a little work with me to that island getaway.......but truly, I don't consider my blog work! This is my new baby and I'm ever so proud to share it with you all.

See you back soon!
XOXO
Rie

Jumping Back Into Civilization

It's harder than I imagined. I went from not even a second of free time to lots of free time, however, it's not all that free. Everything piled up while my mind focused on school and I find myself playing catch up: Planning Jalyn's birthday party, fundraising for his football team (insert here: God bless all you moms out there that do it, talk about a full-time job in itself), completing forms required for the nursing program to which I was formally accepted a few days ago (insert here: what the hell did I get myself into?), creating a new Star Wars room as a birthday gift to J (insert here: what the hell did I get myself into?), finishing the final touches to my new blog site and dealing with technical difficulties on my end (insert here: COX man coming to home tomorrow), deciding how exactly the children will be taken care of during the next year in hell or something close to it, oh, and washing, drying, and folding mountains of laundry that I swear NEVER disappears!

A few things I have found myself to be sure of.

1. I frequent a few places far too often.

Case in point- I pulled up to Walgreen's, and no more than the front of my van was visible (insert here: yes I drive a mom mobile and you drive a Lexus SUV, you suck) and the lady says through her loudspeaker "for Jalyn?"

OK so some parents in the medical field choose to let illness ride out saying things such as you don't need antibiotics for that, it won't help the illness go away any faster... blah blah blah. In my family? If there's a medication that can help ease the aches, pains, rashes, ear infections, red throats, and gosh darn stuffy noses then by gosh, I've got something for it. Seriously, why let yourself be miserable while "riding it out". Nope not me.

2. I pull up to Starbucks and simply place my order. The lady says, again over loudspeaker, "why did you switch from black to green tea?" Seriously people, the least you can do is pipe it down and say this stuff quietly and preserve an inch of what's left of my dignity.

So I've got problems? What mom trying to maintain her right mind doesn't? "Good" moms I suppose. Well I took myself off that list long ago. I am content with being me, the good, the bad, and yes the ugly--all of us moms have the "uglies" but some are chicken to own up to it. I call these times of poor discretion "bad mommy moments." I cry, feel awful, and tell myself they will never remember these "ugly" moments because I provide plenty of amazing ones too.

XOXO

Rie

8 Years

my mr and i have been married eight years now

in the past eight years we've....

-married--adopted a dog--moved--bought a home--mr had new job--adopted second dog--had ovarian cancer scare--surgery--pregnant--dog lost eye sight, $5000 to restore it--gave birth--heart failed--six months where i couldn't be mommy--hysterectomy--mr received offer to start hospitalist practice with other physicians--went without income for one year--bad timing, was in process of building new house--moved--adopted another dog--gall bladder failed, of all things--hospitalized for meningitis for two weeks--mr traded the fast life for hospice gig--began process for adoption--traveled around the world, twice--two years and a whole lot of money pass--daughter is added to our family--back goes out--spinal fusion--heart failure returned........and now were to the present.

some marriages are built with sticks upon stilts.

our marriage is built with two-ton boulders piled on top of each other with concrete heavily slathered in between.

no amount of wind will blow us down.

thank you for the beautiful weekend of rest and relaxation. but most importantly, thank you for building this home and this life with me.

here's to many more years together

xoxo

rie