Trip to Google

I recently enjoyed a trip to the Google campus in Mountain View as part of the much maligned Google Interview process, though unfortunately things didn't work out as I had hoped the would. Taxing questions aside, I did get to sample some that food that Googlers enjoy gratis each day. This served as a great opportunity to see a little San Francisco too, a city that's been on my todo list for quite some. Grateful to be able to hook up with William Mee who's calling it home over the summer while interning for the very company that turned me away. The link takes you to some pictures of the trip down there.

Exciting Times

Some good news to report from our end. First and foremost, another niece has been added to the family. Kelly Burford arrived yesterday to Tania and Steve and is our first French born in the clan (that we know of).

Additionally, we closed on our home yesterday bringing a close the ordeal of finding a new place to live. I believe our realtor's are happy too; we tortured them in our quest looking at over 80 homes. Of course, now we begin the task of selling our current residence hoping to get rid of it before the season comes to an end.

Daycare's response

I didn't realize we had sufficient readership for news to get back to the daycare about our post on Danny's expulsion but somehow it did and we're grateful that the owner is now aware of how upset we are. Of course it shows too that there are always three sides to a story. Read their response and make up your own minds.

Four years and counting

Inna and I celebrated our forth wedding anniversary yesterday. Thanks to the help of our fine brother-in-law who stepped in to watch Danny, we enjoyed a quiet evening at a nearby French restaurant. The food, while delicious, was heavy. We both endured a restless night; not for the reason we had hoped, but because we were always tossing and turning trying to get comfortable with the load in our tummies. Still, a very enjoyable evening and a first of hopefully many visits back to this restaurant.

Expelled at 2 years old!

Danny started at a new daycare this week. One that was far more convenient for us, being only five minutes away instead of thirty-five. So when picking up Daniel on Monday evening, the teacher informs us of the following:

• Danny is far, far, far behind in his development. She puts this two-year old at the level of a one-year old.


• Danny does not understand language as he fails to follow her instructions.


• Danny is very disruptive in that he demands all her attention and she is unable to focus on the educational needs of the other children.


• Danny's schedule caused him to wake up in advance of the other children and his subsequent singing caused the other children to wake up.


• She doesn't think this is going to work out but is willing to give us a month. If things don't improve, we'll need to take Danny out of her daycare.

Oh well. Not particularly great news, but we have some time and hopefully things will work out.

The next day comes and at eleven o'clock in the morning we get a call; she's had it with Danny and we need to pick him up immediately.

WHAT???? CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS????

I'm glad that neither Inna or I were in a position to pick him up until 5pm at least (and in fact that I was blissfully unaware of any of this until I got home), but to say we are angry is quite an understatement. Sad at her impression of our child's behavior and development but angry at her for not giving him a little more time. And the fact that there has not been so much as a murmur about any problems with Danny from the other daycares makes us wonder about the validity of her concerns. Except for the fact that we know Danny is a little "slow!".

"Expelled at two!" my sister pointed out. We enjoyed a good laugh over that!

Not that any of you want to send your kids to a daycare in Buffalo Grove, but if you do, stay away from Alena's Home School!

Some Photos from England

Photos from my trip to England to celebrate the union of my mom and her boyfriend. I know, no pictures of the wedding and too few of the rest of the week. Don't worry, Inna more than made up with that with loads of pics from Mexico City which we'll stick up soon.

One Big Happy Family

I'm glad to report that we are finally one big happy family again. Inna returned from her stint in Mexico City over the weekend. It turns out to have been a very good experience for her even with all the shortcomings and problems associated with being a tourist in a place like Mexico City. Interestingly, she was the only one in her group not to succumb to Montezuma's Revenge and ironically, she found the smoggy air of the capital a breath of fresh air compared to the allergy-inducing stuff she's forced to breathe in Chicago every day.

As for Danny. The lad has recovered from what turned out to simply be a virus of some sort. Still, after having to take him back to the doctor last Tuesday where I was forced to hold him down while they drew more blood and catheterized him ... twice, I felt like a terrible father. I was in pain, never mind what he must have gone through. All the tests came back completely normal; a huge relief for us all.

And finally; I sincerely hope I'm not talking about this too soon, but things are moving ahead with the new home. We finally found a place that transitioned beyond the inspection and appears to be moving full steam ahead towards the closing which should take place on July 25th. Definitely a step up from where we are now and we're looking forward to hosting all of you at some point when you decide to visit us in Chicago ;-)

An English Wedding

Just got back from the an incredible week of flying solo (sans wife and kid) to England for a family reunion around my mom's wedding. Talk about hectic. Each day was busy with some event or other and most of these were just braai's or dinners or lunches at various spots around the West Midlands. This ensured the blood alcohol level was kept topped up. The wedding itself was a hit and a country club that was set on a beautiful lake. The weather, as you can imagine, was just terrible with rain each and every single day. With all the partying and drinking, I feel like I've returned home to check myself into rehab.

Returning home from all of this I am shocked to find that Daniel has been admitted into hospital. I went straight from the airport there to find our little guy lying quite helpless and feverish. He appears to have contracted some sort of virus as all the tests didn't turn up anything untoward. Seems to be doing a little better today. It's apparent he likes some good old TLC so hopefully by the end of the week he'll be fighting fit.