we're here

I've been waiting to close out the Exploring Sacramento blog with some poignant, grand finale message. But the ending speaks for itself I guess, and it still hurts a bit too much to revisit.
So here we are. In Mandeville, Louisiana. With a stomachache because I don't think Kai's teacher understands him, hoping Nina will wake up soon so I can hear her beckon me: "I want mama...to come pick-me-up...betuz...betuz...betuz I love you!"
Changes are hard. This one's been a brute. Even though Sara, Matt and little angel Tibo are here, just a causeway away, we're missing the goodness we found in Sacramento and even in Dexter. I find myself really missing our old house in Dexter, as much as I miss the good friends and neighbors we met in Oak Park, Sac. We've had a lot of problems with the house...school has been rocky for Kai (although he loves it....I guess that says a lot)...we're the only car on the northshore with Obama stickers (I guess we were told there's another downtown Covington shopowner who has one on her mercedes bumper).
But what's good. Tonight Kai and I had to tell Nate about a mishap at school. (Kai spit on another kid at lunch. Kai then had to sit next to teacher. Kai then refused to finish his lunch.) Kai didn't want to and was afraid Daddy would "yell at him." I explained that maybe Daddy could help him figure out why he wasn't following the rules. Kai told me, after bath, before getting dressed, that we should tell Daddy. He listened to Daddy with open eyes and open mind, and after a loooooong talk (Nate shined on this one, I love this man) he wanted Daddy, not Mommy, to read to him and tuck him in. Then, our new thing, Kai - not mommy or daddy - sang Nina to sleep for the second night in a row.
So here we are. Summer turning to fall and we see the light. We've found some parks, a sprinkling of potential friends. Kai starts piano lessons and swim lessons next week. Nina had a playdate this morning. We have a new king bed that fits us all, drapes, finally framed Nina's newborn pictures, and spare cash to spend on some new placemats and glasses for Fud's old-fashioneds.
Stay tuned.
Lovin' y'all...