The art of carrying

As crazy as it looks, Scooter does not ever scratch Alia....maybe it's because she can't breathe

Alia loves her little sister and loves helping any way she can

As you can see from these two pictures, Alia is still learning how to gently hold or carry a delicate living thing. She grabs a little tightly, however her heart is so pure and gentle. She is learning; and little by little she is getting better.

The Roof

Our new flat is located on the last floor of the building. Which means the roof is part of our flat, since essentially it is our flat that we are walking on top of. Anyway, the roof is mostly cleared except for three or four satellite dishes in the corner. It just needs to be cleaned up a bit. Yesterday, we spent some time cleaning it and the girls rode their bikes around a bit. I also set up a swing set but didn't get any pictures of that.

The Birth Certificate

Yesterday I started my quest in obtaining a U.S. birth certificate and passport for Kinzy. It can be quite an ordeal and only those with a good sense of humor should attempt this quest. The procedure is as follows:

1)Obtain an Egyptian birth certificate.
2)Fill out a U.S. form to notify the U.S. government that we have given birth.
3)Mail the form, pictures of baby, and Egyptian birth certificate...(this is actually quite a job because mailing things in our country can be an adventure in and of itself)
4)Wait for a phone call from the embassy to set up an appointment
5)Mother, Father, and newborn baby go to the embassy on appointment date for an interview with an embassy worker. This is to prove that you actually had this baby. This trip is quite an adventure as well since the embassy is in Downtown Cairo.
6)Wait
7)If the interview went good and the pictures you sent are ok you should receive passport and birth abroad certificate in the mail. (cross fingers)
8)Celebrate

Thankfully, I have a little experience in this area because Alia was also born outside of the U.S. I completed step number 1 yesterday. So, I have begun the process and I expect to be finished in maybe a month and half to two months.

My three girls

My Egyptian friends have now nicknamed me "Abou Banet", which means Father of the girls. I feel very blessed to have such beautiful girls. Jill did mention however, that in about 12 years from now I will know the meaning of girl's hormones. I'll cross that bridge when I get there. :) By the way, it looks like most people who participated in the poll, lost. 72% of the people who voted thought we were having a boy. Except one strange fool who thought we were having a pony.....hmmm maybe next time.

Welcome Home, Kinzy

Lydia, Alia, and I went to the hospital this morning and picked up Jill and Kinzy. Kinzy is doing very good! She is nursing well and is very responsive. She is still spitting up mucus every once in a while but the doctor said this should pass after about three days. Jill is feeling and doing excellent as well! We think she looks like Lydia but we'll let you tell us what you think. :) Here's some pictures of today!

Lydia and Alia meet their new baby sister. Alia's attitude since that moment has been "let me see!"

Lydia is such a big help! She is so gentle!

Alia wants to be gentle but just doesn't know how yet! :)

Kinzy is so tiny. My hand fits her whole chest!

What did you just do to me?? Where am I and who are these new people??

IT'S A GIRL!!!!

Welcome to the Inman family, Kinzy Faith!!!

Kinzy Faith Inman was born at 3:45 am Cairo time on 21 March 2007. She weighed 3.1 kilos which is about 6.8 pounds and was 50 cm long. She was born very healthy but got some fluid on her lungs during delivery. The Doctor had her on oxygen most of the day, today. He also took an X-Ray of her lungs and everything looks great. Kinzy is off the oxygen right now and is with Jill at the hospital. The Doctor wanted to watch her overnight as a precautionary measure. Lydia, Alia, and I are staying at the house tonight and plan to get Jill and Kinzy tomorrow morning at the hospital.




Mom, after 5 hours of hard labor and newborn Kinzy Faith


Mom, Dad and newborn Kinzy Faith

It's time!!

Just got back from the Doctor and she said that Jill is dilated to a 4! The past couple of nights, Jill has felt contractions but they didn't last. The Doctor is concerned because we live about an hour and a half from the hospital and that's when there isn't any traffic. Also, Jill's labor with Lydia and Alia only lasted for about an hour or so. SO, our Doctor wants us to be induced to get things going. Right now, Jill is feeling fine but is just a little sore. All that to say we are headed out the door in about a half an hour to welcome a new life into the world! If you haven't voted yet, now would be the time to do it. ha ha! Thanks for all your thoughts!

Day at the park

Yesterday, I took the girls to a park close to us. They both had lots of fun in the green grass and the trees. We spread out a blanket and ate popcorn and chips. The weather was gorgeous. This time of the year is probably the best weather in Cairo.

It won't be long now...

Went to the Doctor just a few days ago and Mama and baby are doing just fine. Jill is due in less than three weeks but is praying to be a little early. :) We are so excited to welcome a new one into our home. We still don't know if it's a boy or girl yet and there is still time for you to vote. We have names picked out but we aren't telling anybody what they are......so you'll just have to wait. Unfortunately, this is the time of the pregnancy when it's hard to sleep because of back pain and frequent trips to the bathroom....it's rough but I think I'm gonna make it. I think Jill's having back pain too. The funny thing about this one is that she has always carried it low and she hasn't had any cravings. Maybe that means it's a boy.

Calvin

More Birthday Celebrations

Our good friends' daughter had her first birthday last weekend. There was lots of pizza and lots of cake for everybody. I thought this picture was funny of Alia wishing and hoping for a bite of already chewed gooey cake.

Birthday Party

making a cake for Daddy....Don't I have some cute girls???

Four friends, four birthdays, and two kids that wanted to be in the picture.

It seems the older you get, birthdays just come and go. Years just kinda blend with each other and the only way you know how old you are is that you know what year you were born. Good grief, I'm only 33....that's not old right?? Of course I am only 7 years away from 40 and that does sound old. I know it's not old but it sounds old. Anyway, I had a great birthday this year. My three girls made a great cake and we had a party at our house with 3 other friends who had birthdays within a few days of mine. I even saw Rocky Balboa. Funny to think that I'm only two years older than the Rocky series and they're still making money off it.

Break with friends

Two weeks ago we went to Alexandria for the weekend with some friends. It was nice to get away for a couple of days on the Mediterranean sea. As we live in an overly crowded city it becomes a necessity to leave the honking horns every couple of months or so, even if it is only for the weekend. It was also nice to catch up with friends we hadn't seen in a while. Even though the weather was a little chilly, Lydia still got in the water.....what kid can resist it?? :)