Sophie and Spain Updates

I am losing track of all Sophie's vet visits.  We've been back at least twice since the last post.  They removed the drains last week but her stitches still hadn't healed.  So the vet asked us to leave her in the kennel for another week with her cone on.  I have bruises up and down my legs from her banging into me with that dumb cone.  It frightens Mario and the kids when they see all my bruises.  I am not sure why I'm the only one with bruises.  Hmmm.....must be because I am the one that takes care of her the majority of time.  Mario helps some and he doesn't bruise, so lucky him.  She goes back to the vet on Saturday to see if he can remove the stitches.  I was so upset last week at her appointment and how she wasn't healing.  I got a little emotional, (I know, not me, I am never emotional) and the vet must have noticed and didn't even charge me for the vet visit.  Today's visit was only $19.00.  I am sure glad to find this vet.  He's awesome!

After talking to the guy he's replacing in Spain, Mario decided that it was necessary (or at least a good idea) for me to fly out to Spain this month also for a week.  He had been granted a two week language immersion program there, so all I have to pay for is my flight over and my mom's flight to watch the kids.  I feel bad because she is missing my dad's birthday and also a RS activity that she was responsible for all the food.  She is very kind to help us out.  At first I wasn't really seeing the necessity of me going.  But then we started looking into different private schools (all at the US government's expense-thank you to all the tax payers out there who are funding $75,000 a year for my three kids' education)  and the different areas to live.  With a nice size housing allowance as well (again thanks to all the taxpayers) we have a lot to choose from.  Do we live in a 3,000 square foot apartment downtown with no pool but easy commute to Mario's work?  Or do we live in the suburbs and have a big house with our own pool and possible tennis and basketball courts?  Or do we live in the wealthy neighborhood in a smaller apartment but in an area that a lot of children that my kids go to school with live?  Erin doesn't like the idea of living in a wealthy community since we don't buy her expensive clothes. Unfortunately she'll be with all those kids in school anyway.  I've been corresponding with an English speaking Bishop's wife over there and she has been very helpful. If we live in the wealthy area, she will be in our ward.  That's temping since I know there will be at least a couple people I can speak to in English.  The Bishop teaches seminary in English to his own children before school and they said Erin could join in.  The rest of the kids apparently do it in Spanish during the week and on Saturdays.  The Bishop's family is German, but they speak Spanish, and Japanese as well as English.  I can't even imagine.  I'm struggling with the idea that I'm going to be able to learn Spanish while I am there. It seems so unimaginable.  I think Heavenly Father is prepping me for Spanish speaking missions with Mario.

I'm super excited about going to Spain in a couple weeks.  I have already made appointments to talk to the admissions people at two of the schools we are considering.  The first appointment is only 3 hours after I arrive.  Mario thinks that will be a mistake because I will be so exhausted from the plane trip.  But I feel we need to narrow down the school choice as quickly as possible so maybe that will help narrow down the house choice too.

The kids are all doing well in school.  Everyone seems to be content with their teachers.  Eric is extremely busy with volunteering at the hospital, shadowing the Bishop at his dental clinic, and working.  Erin joined cross country which made Mario and I very happy.  She loves it even when she has to run 3 miles in the mud.  We are happy for her.  Zach is still super excited about Spain and would like to attend a local Spanish school but Nate says no way.  He seems to be getting over the initial shock that we are moving overseas.  He gets excited to look at houses online.