So much has happened in the last year. Max is thriving as a three- year old, growing like a weed, asking "why" 250 times a day, and exploring his, ahem, independent side. The major news is that we have moved ... To Panama.
As some of you might remember, my best friend, Carolyn and her family live in Panama. A great opportunity to work at a school in Panama came up, and I was ready for a new adventure both professionally and personally. So, I rented my house, sold my car, and bought two one-way tickets to Panama City.
I'll be working as a "Directora" at Colegio Brader, preschool through 12 th grade, about 1200 students. I've been hired to be the Director of Strategic Planning, and will work with the school to help them chart out their next few years while also helping them cement their systems and procedures. It will be very exciting for sure.
Max and I have a big 3- bedroom apartment in an area of Panama City called San Francisco, right on th end of Calle 50 and will hopefully move in August 1. In the meantime, we are staying at Carolyn's place where Max is enjoying being the youngest sibling!!
He will go to a small preschool,starting August 1. The school is mostly in Spanish but there are some English speaking teachers there as well who will hopefully ease his transition. In march 2012, once he's 4, Max will be at Colegio Brader with me,which will be great.
I am trying get us all set up here for the next few days, and of ocurse, would be at a complete loss if it werent for my friend Carolyn. She has been amazing in supporting us every step of the way, and trying to figure out all th details of starting up in a new and foreign city. But I can already imagine that it won't be foreign for long.
I am trying to learn Spanish which is very challenging at this moment. I had 6 years in school and some of it is comng back. Hopefully it will kick in soon!!!
I'll try to post more soon. Stay tuned!!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Thursday, August 26, 2010
The Summer of Camping Adventures
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Max goes hiking!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Max's Surgery #3!
At the end of June, Max had his third surgery. This was to fix the fistula in his soft palate, and was a second attempt to the failed surgery of last April. Max walked into the hospital like a champ. He was on the cell phone and was dragging his slepp over suitcase like a little business man. He walked into the surgery unit, and cuddled up to the nurses right away, as if he's known them all his life. Someone asked if he knew them all. No, he didn't!

I ended up getting to be with him for the anesthesiology part in the surgery room, which was so great, because I could then picture exactly where he was, and could help him go to sleep, which he did peacefully in my arms. Max had an amazing recovery - he was eating ice cream three hours after the surgery. We got to go home the next day (after a sleepless night). He did everything he was supposed to, so no need to hang out there anymore. My mom was able to come for the week after the surgery, ready to help with anything that we needed. Since Max was doing so well, it ended up being a lovely stay-cation for us, and we were able to enjoy the week together.

So much has happened!
It's been fun and busy. Max continues to love the outdoors. He has developed a love of carousels, has deepend his fixation with trains, has gone camping and has hiked! But best of all was his surgery in the last week of June, which, we all believe, has fixed his soft palate. He recovered beautifully this time, and all is still sealed up up there. He has even learned how to suck on a straw, something he couldn't do before. In addition, he receives speech therapy once a week and loves his speech therapist, Kalli! In fact, it's been really fun to observe how he's made connections with so many people. He loves to talk about his Tante Heidi and Griffin, Jemae, Rayy and Mason, his Uncle Hans, Grossmama and Grosspapa, Aunt Anne, Lala, and so many other people. Not a day goes by when he doesn't mention them at least once. He is surrounded by nothing but LOOOOOVVE! Enjoy the pics!




Friday, March 26, 2010



So much has happened. Little Maxito has definitely entered "toddler-dom" - he has (ahem) opinions, and isn't afraid to voice them... loudly... :) He has a sense of humor - -running away from Momma is his favorite activity. If he could, spend ALL of his time outside, walking, playing, chasing the cat, playing with his trucks, he would!!
Since the second surgery in October didn't work (ugh!!) we're back for another surgery at the end of June. Max is also getting speech therapy once a week. The therapist comes to his daycare. He certainly understands everything, but is not talking yet. Hopefully soon!
Below are some pictures. :)
Saturday, January 2, 2010
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