top ten things in America

We have been back in our China home for almost a week.  We are SO SO SO very glad to be back in our own home.  It was great to be with family and friends, but the lack of stability in our life and living out of suitcases while waiting for then trying to adjust to a second child was a challenge.  However, America was GREAT.  Here is my top ten list of things I enjoyed in America (in no specific order):

1. grandparents.  We wouldn't have survived this trip with out them.  Catherine stayed with both sets of grandparents at different times during our two months home and LOVED it.  We also loved it and probably wouldn't have survived the first week of Ann's life without them.  It's funny how in roughly 30 years time certain people (grandparents) can reduce the number of times they use the  word "no.".  :)
2. health care in English.  Even in the midst of labor I had the thought, "why did I think I could do this in another language???"  We are so thankful to the midwives
and doula, Elena Barton, who took such good care of us. We were so pleased that the same midwife who assisted with Catherine's birth, Yvonne,  was on call again when it was time for Ann to be born.  We had such good support during labor.  They are knowledgeable and professional and made me feel comfortable laboring however I needed to without feeling a bit self-conscious.  (sidenote:  For both of my birth experiences my coping mechanism has been to scream.   Or maybe it's more of a moan.  My friend and doula for Catherine's birth,Crystal, calls it "vocalization."  Anyway, it's LOUD.  It's not what I thought I would do, but it's worked for me so far.  two natural, un-medicated deliveries down, the yelling just works for me).  They  went above and beyond in helping us with all our breastfeeding issues right up until sending we were boarding the plane.  Seriously.  Yvonne called us the night before we left just to check in one last time and to say good-bye.  We were also able to see a speech language pathologist and get guidance in helping Catherine develop her words.  And we did it all in our first language!  so nice. A wonderful lady we connected with through NWBC is a lactation consultant and made home visits to help us and gave me phone consultations numerous times.  We took Catherine for a check up and immunizations to a nurse practitioner from James' home church.  We took Ann for a check up at a doctor we met in Dalhart, TX through one of the churches we are connected with. We really are so very thankful for all the help we had in keeping all of us healthy and well.  
3. Duck Dynasty.  I had seen some facebook posts about this show but had never seen it.  The first episode I saw I wasn't convinced that it was worth my time, but the more we watched the more hooked I got.  James and I DVRed and watched every episode we could.  Belly-laughing at/with those guys was the perfect ending to a day.  But, something tells me that series will not be one that makes it to the local DVD store. 
4. freshly ground nut butters.  American grocery stores were wonderful.  Having a car to transport the things I bought at the grocery store was wonderful.  The freshly ground nut butters were spectacular.  Dark chocolate peanut butter, almond butter, and cashew butter freshly ground into a size of my choosing for a very reasonable price was just what this 9 month pregnant lady needed.  (yes, I said needed)
5. car seats.  Although sometimes a hassle to move them from one car to another, it was really nice to have Catherine strapped in and contained in the car and not have to hold her squirmy little body every time we wanted to go somewhere.  (Please don't judge, car seats just aren't used here) 
6. chai tea. While we stayed with James' parents I found this in the fridge.  Maybe it existed in Oklahoma grocery stores when I lived there previously, but I had never seen or noticed it before.  The concentrate means this lazy mom doesn't even have to wait for tea to steep and the caffeine free version is great since I try to avoid it while nursing.  
7. my husband.  I'm so very thankful that this item on my list is with me in China too.  But seriously, James is great.  He was patient and kind when I was pregnant and cranky.  He held our wiggly daughter for the bulk of the flight from China to the US so I could be more comfortable.  Catherine peed on him 3 times.  It was so fun to hang out with "nothing" to do while we waited fr the baby.  He was a great support during labor.  He has continued to be patient and kind throughout sleepless nights, breastfeeding problems, and all the transition to a family of four.  I cried 9 out f 10 of Ann's first days.  There were many days early on where he was the only one in our family who hadn't cried.  I am so thankful for his steadiness and commitment to me and our family. 
8. cool greens I actually only got to eat there twice, but I could have been happy to eat most of my meals there.   It was delicious, healthy, and reasonably priced.  Their kids meal offered things with actual nutrition and not just deep fried fats and starches served with a toy or coloring book.  Sadly, I don't see this chain opening up in our city any time soon. 
9. Cows.  James and I are now in the cattle business.   This is our cow and she's expecting some time soon.  She was our Christmas gift from James' parents and when she gives birth, we get to decide whether to increase our "herd" or sell mom or baby or both.  Truly a gift that keeps on giving :)                                                       
10. living with the Stewards.  It is not often in life that as married lady with kids that you get to live with your best friend when she is also a married lady with kids.  The Stewards were so so so wonderful to us to let us move in with a toddler and later, also an infant.  It was so fun to watch our girls (attempt to) play together, to watch her oldest son be so kind to Catherine, and just to get to see up close how another family operates.  It was great to "compare notes" and to learn from someone I already respected so much.  I was most challenged by the time Dara spends in the Word despite having 3 kids under 5, volunteering at her son's school, being involved in the women's ministry at her church, and many other obligations.  I make excuses for not spending the kind of time in Bible study that I'd like to, but seeing someone just make it priority and organize life around that priority was encouraging and challenging.  It was also nice to enjoy meals together and laugh together and catch up for a bit.  and hard to day good-bye when the time came. 

I could make a longer list of all the other things we enjoyed, but it's taken me weeks to get this posted so this abbreviated list will have to do for now.  And for all the folks we connected with that I didn't personally mention...thank you for taking time to meet with us, have us in your home, and/or take us to dinner.  We'll return the favor when you visit us on this side :)