I know it is a little late in the day for this wish, but better late than never…right. I think motherhood is one of the most important tasks in the world. It is one of the jobs that you can honestly say you get to put someone’s else’s needs first before your own and truly mean it.

I recently came back from a trip in Tanzania. I got to spend time with my family and it was great. After all these years and the growing up, you would think my mother would stop  worrying about my well being, but she still had the same look she gave me when i was  13 years old and getting ready for boarding school.

That woman was always on her toes trying to make me feel comfortable. She made sure my boys and myself had breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner on the table everyday. She would wake up early in the morning and make Julian and Eli’s meals, just the way they liked them.

Who else would do that herself, even though there was a live in maid, but a mother. I love this woman with every bone in me. She could be sick, but she would still get up and take care of all of us. She still doesn’t get to take any days off, no matter how much we beg her to. So for her and all the mothers out there who put all their family needs before their own, who love all their children unconditionally, who don’t get a thank you or a break as often as they should…I salute you. I want to encourage you to keep on going strong. I loved seeing the look on my mama’s face, the worried, caring look. I am a mama myself, but it felt great being and feeling like the child once more.

Happy mother’s day mama!

Love you, always.

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So I have sooo much to share, and boy oh boy time flew by and i tell you, i did not have even time to get on the computer to blog all about it.  I have so many pics too to post, and i will this week. 

So We stayed an extra week at home due to the volcanic eruption.  My travel agent had told my husband that KLM had not cancelled their flights, but of course that wasn’t true. We drove about 3 hrs to get to the airport Sunday April 18th only to find a notice posted  at the entrance on Kilimanjaro airport that the flights were cancelled and 4 cell phone numbers were provided for contact with questions…

Well, what KLM didn’t realize that those contacts never answered their phones… maybe they were overwhelmed with the number of calls they were getting, or what not… well i sent them a very good text  message saying, they should have never posted the numbers if they didn’t plan on picking up their calls, well that got my call answered with just the obvious answer  that they didn’t know when anyone could travel.  I had to get my travel agent in USA to rebook our flights and yes we made it back last night.

So… about travelling with kids…Alone. Oh Dear. NOT EASY. Not easy for me, or my poor kids. Eli was soo tired and fussy that, i didn’t realize how tired i was myself. Our flight from Kilimanjaro  to Amsterdam was about 7 hrs 55min.. i got lucky that Julian slept throughout that flight and Eli slept most of it.

From Amsterdam to Detroit i think that was  about 8hrs this one Julian was up most of it and ensured that his brother stayed up as well. There was a male flight attendant that pissed me off on this flight. I specifically ensured that they were aware my son had a peanut allergy,  and to be cautious i called this attendant and asked him.. will you be serving peanuts on this flight and he said no.  During snack time i turned round and saw another flight attendant passing peanuts over my shoulder and i about jumped off my seat.  I immediately tapped his should and let him know my son had a peanut allergy. Julian had already started having a series of coughs, i gave him Benadryl right away and the attendant took the peanuts back.  stopped serving them and he wanted to know why i didn’t let reservations know… Which of course i had not only done this, but so did one of the attendants. He asked me which of the attendants, i pointed to him and he went to him and i think confirmed what i had told him. He never even apologized for this. But anyway all in all… They stopped serving peanuts and served pretzels instead. 

So, For those travelling with Peanut/nut allergies just be cautious, have your antihistamines on hand, and always let everyone know, it may clearly say on your reservation, peanut allergy, but some people still take it for granted. You may even let the attendants know, but some people are just careless, and so for me just lesson learned i could let more than one attendant know…next time.

So we really had fun in our trip. The children got sick, but for the most part they had great times. I will write soon and post all the cool pics

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Where should i begin….

It has been quite a trip!  It was great seeing my family. My dad, little sister and uncle picked us up from Kilimanjaro airport and we had a  2-3 hr drive to Kikelelwa where my parents live. Oh man. It was absolute beautiful, just the way i pictured it. It had just rained and the air  was extremely fresh. It could never get cleaner than that. It was green, everywhere!

The corn fields were full, my moms grass was green, the coffee beans were green, the backyard was full of avacados and mango trees fully packed of fruits. The bananas were hanging loaded with every kind of banana you can imagine. The photos that i will upload am telling cannot do this place any justice.

I am truly in love with this area, my little hometown, Kikelelwa sitting down below the slopes of mt Kilimanjaro. I call this place, my parents home. I cried with joy. My mother and my father still looked the same except just a little older. My baby sister looks very different she has grown into this beautiful, mature, and wise young woman. I love her.

Oh man.

So… With all that beauty. I couldn’t get to enjoy all that this first week. Eli fell sick. Eli caught Malaria, then had a reaction to some of the drugs and had a series of diarrhea, and now he has bronchilitis, and did i mention no sleep? But he is getting better now, and he is finally sleeping.

Julian.

Julian loved it in Kilimanjaro. He loved chasing my moms cats around, he loved the outdoors. He loved talking to the cows and goats, and pigs… but most of all playing and chasing the poor chickens around. By the way, his cousin taught him how to pee outdoors, so just a fair warning to his dad. Don’t be surprised if Julian just pulls his pants down on the soccer field and just water the grass.. lol. That is what he is saying, ” i have to water the grass, so it can grow or i have to feed the chickens” By the way we do have restrooms, it is just ways for him to get back in the house, if he was already playing outside.

So, Julian misses his dad so much. He cried the other day and told me he missed his dad. He won’t let me out of his site, i think he is scared i won’t come back for him. But he has been having a blast though. It has been awesome!

We are in Dar-es-Salaam this week to meet with his dad’s side of the family. I am sitting here with my sister while both boys sleep, and i am like relieved. This is the second time Eli has really slept well since we arrived. I feel bad for him, but i am glad we were able to take this trip.

I took lots of photos will upload soon.

The nyama chomas …mmmh. can’t have enough!

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So, finally i can sit down and post a real post.

If you are planning ton Travel anywhere really, go to the CDC website and find out what you need before going to that country. I did my research and found out in addition to regular immunizations,  my boys and i got the Yellow fever and Typhoid shots and as recommended we took them more than 2 weeks before our trip. This are usually given at the local health department.  Rabies was another recommended one, however this one the health department in my area did not have it, plus am not too worried as the chioldren will be playing where we can see them, and yeah hopefully no dog bites.

We are also on Anti-malarial drugs. Julian and Eli are taking the once a week 1/4 of a pill started 2 weeks prior to travel and the entire time they will be in Tanzania, then for 4 weeks when they get back to US.  The Dr prescribed doxyciline for me,  which is a form of tetracycline, this i  will need to take 2x daily beginning 2 days prior to travel.  The good thing is this helps with acne, so i may not have to worry about breaking pout for a while

I  am hoping that the children stay healthy when we are there, especially Julian and his asthma. We are keeping up his flovent, and  will definitely make sure we pack  his inhalers  for the trip.  I am still packing up and everyday, i am remembering something that we would  need, and am hoping Julian will have plenty of distraction  to keep us both sane that day.

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So i have  seen my parents and siblings for 5 years and they have never met my children,  till now, end of this month. I am so excited, also a bit tired and stressed because i am terrible at packing. I know some people would have already had  half of everything packed, but am not one of them. In fact my sister Proly and my mom always packed for me whenever i  had to travel. This is one of those days i just wish one of them was here helping me out.

I miss my mom so much!  I can’t wait till she meets Julian and Eli. Julian knows now he will be going to grandma’s house. I feel sorry for Eli. My mom is going to feed him so much, that boys is going to turn into a little muffin. Eli loves food! He will eat anything as long as he sees someone else eating it. Heck all you have to do is just put it in front of him. Julian on the other hand, you have to corner him take a way something in order for him to eat.  Hope this will change when he sees all his cousins around and eating.

I can’t wait. Home sweet. Home.

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So I have been so busy with just about everything and It does feel like ages since i last posted an entry on my blog. There is  just so much to say, i am not even sure where to begin.

I am so excited right now.. I can say for sure i will be seeing my family soon after being away for 5 years! My passport situation has been taken care of, so yeeeh home for Easter may actually be a reality and not just a wish. I know my sister will scream her head off when she reads this… lol

The boys are doing fantastic. Julian knows that he will be going to his grandmas house very soon and is excited about that. Eli has been crawling, standing, walking while holding onto just about anything and yeah doesn’t want to be held anymore. He thinks being held is just for food and sleep, and not for play.

So here are some current photos of them. I promise i will be posting more often now.

I can honestly say, boys are truly rough! Julian plays really rough now with his baby brother. I feel like the crazy mom on her toes every minute screaming no Julian, be gentle Julian, reminding him he is just a baby … and as if Eli makes it easy either…Oh No.  What can i say, fun times with the boys, for sure!

Hey, am still around just been working on my travel plans and yes, finally relieved.

Will be working on getting the children to see their Dr before travel.

Enjoy your week.

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