Sugar and Tai love their Grandma.  This pic says it all.  

Sugar is mooching a good neck rub, while Tai listens carefully to every single word my Mom says.  He's secretly hoping for words, like "ball" or "outside" or "walk." 

Harborview

Felt like I was going to die this morning.  Time to go to the E.R.

I'm so thankful for my cheering section.

IV meds

Still feeling horrible.  Dr. ordered an IV medication.

tai therapy

I spent nearly the entire day today at various doctor's offices.  Every time I swallow, it feels like I'm swallowing crushed glass.  My entire body hurts, like I've been run over by a truck.  And I have a migraine that won't quit.  The walk in clinic doctor discovered Strep, but then referred me to the Infectious Disease Clinic.  Yikes.  They are wondering if I picked up some strange disease in Rwanda.  Dr. T said the only reason she would agree not to admit me in the hospital was if I didn't go home alone.  So, I headed to parents house in Tacoma until I start feeling better, dogs in tow. 

Both Sugar and Tai seem curious why I'm here.  And more importantly, why I'm not moving.  Usually, my parents take care of Sugar when I'm out of town (and occasionally Tai), but we have never been there at the same time.  They both seem very concerned.  I love how Sugar won't leave my bedside.  And how Tai pops up next to me every now and then for a good snuggle.

   

Sugar's pretty new collar.

R.I.P.

Rest in peace, my friend, Michael. 

You will be deeply missed.

baby aussies

I met two awesome Aussie puppies at Marymoor today!

Surf

Melinda and Surf

Dibs

30,000 feet

Sundown at 30,000 feet

Sundown at the Millenium hotel

Reggae Wednesday

at Fountain Square, Cincinnati

r

gypsy feet

burst

Saw an amazing cloud tonight.  The sun begging to push through.

just want to go home

heading home after a long, tiring weekend.

Today was a long, extremely hot and exhausting day of dog agility in Ridgefield.  Tai DQ'd in almost every run.  I felt so defeated.  But then I thought about a quote I once heard, by Wilma Rudolph.  "Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose..."  I'm certainly not a very good loser.  Maybe something I should work on.

Meanwhile, a nice evening with friends, a pack of dogs, and a couple Mikes isn't a bad remedy.    

hair

I can't believe I just posted that picture.

lazy

There's lots of lazy going on in this household.

home

It's so nice to be home.  Most of my day consisted of laying on the couch watching back episodes of Breaking Bad.  The dogs were a little bored, but kept checking in to make sure I was alive.

Good morning, Amsterdam!

1st class

Bumped up to 1st class on the way home.  A really nice surprise.

Rwanda Day Five

Best friends.

Left to right...
Sibomana wants to be a lawyer when he grows up.
Ndayisenga wants to be a teacher
Kidamage, a policeman
Nsengiyunva wants to be a doctor.

I believe that anything is possible.

Rwanda Day Four

Kigeme Refugee Camp

 

Our audience while doing an interview inside a tent.

 This is Solange's  daughter, Rehema. (story & pics from yesterday)

Solange told us, “Rehema comes to me and says, "I’m hungry. I want food..Why don't you take us back home?" 

Solange's son, Mahoro

He lights up when you make him laugh.

Solange's daughter, Esther, in the hospital.

The Kigeme Refugee Camp, on the hill.

Rwanda Day Three

Kigeme Hopsital

With the increasing number of Congolese refugees in the area, Kigeme hospital is caring for many more children and families.  Most of the children have pneumonia. Many are malnourished.

Umutesi Nosanti, 5 years old

Solange Uwase, caring for her 6 month old daughter, Esther.

Solange and her family fled Congo, and live in the nearby refugee camp.  She lost her other baby to a similar disease.

“I pray for peace in Congo and for the conflict to case so that we can go back home. I pray that Esther will recover from sickness. I pray that God will give us life so that when we go back, we will still be alive.”

Rwanda Day Two

Dinatira - Pure joy from the inside out

We shot the opening of a Vocational Training Center.  I was nearly "speared" more than once during the filming of this dance.  Luckily, I have quick reaction time.