ShoSho would be staying with us for about two months to help with Conner. It was a blessing that she would have such a flexible schedule and that Mark would part with her for so long. When Anne and I first started talking about a baby, Lois had one request, "Don't have a baby in the Spring of 09. " and surprise March 18,2009 !
In the Spring, WOW Safaris (Lois's company) was completely booked with tours and service projects and Mark (Babu) had just started his 5 year appointment as the Dean of Doctoral Studies at NEGST (http://www.jpafrica.com/negst/) in Kenya. If you are not familiar with Lois's organization, you'll want to check out her website: http://www.wowsafaris.org/. They are doing some amazing things.
Mark will have to wait until Nov of 2009 to see Conner in person and Lois wouldn't be able to depart until April. Although I know that was heart wrenching for ShoSho, it all worked out in the end. We really needed the help as long as we could get it. It also so happened that her visit just overlapped when Conner could start daycare and Anne could start back to work.
Of course when Lois arrived at our tiny little airport, she was without luggage. At one point we were told it had been directed to Albany, NY instead of Albany, GA. The next day Jonathan called from Newport News, VA to say he had received a call that the bags were in Richmond VA for pick-up? Apparently Lois's permanent tags have the NN, VA address and number...it was quite a nightmare. It took days to sort out.
That night, despite her 1000 hrs of travel, we took ShoSho to the most cultured dinning experience Albany, GA has to offer...
...the International House of Pancakes. And so began her indentured servitude in the Mzungu Cottage. She would spend the next two months working as a nurse maid and house keeper, for which we will be forever grateful.
Congrats you guys!! So glad ShoSho could visit. Would love to meet the little man one day---- your friend, Erica Ashby
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