Changing diapers with twins is tricky. You don’t want to sit in nasty stuff, but you don’t want to change them prematurely while an act of nature is on going. I call it Diaper Lotto, and at this point it is safe to say that I have not won any great prizes, but I have seen more works in progress in two weeks than I saw with all previous three children combined.

This has been a week to realize that the children growing up at this school have led different lives than I have:

• One kid’s parents are stationed in Yemen, and he tells me that he met John Walker (the American suspected of working with the Taliban) when he was in Yemen studying multi-culturilism. John Walker tried to convert him.
• One of the girls in my English class informed me that her father had been offered 40 camels for her hand in marriage. (The father turned down the offer, feeling as if it was his daughter’s decision to make, and eighth grade was a bit too young to get married).
• I asked a group of students how many of them had been evacuated because of war, and over half had. I asked how many had seen someone starving to death, and virtually every child raised their hand.

The twins had their first doctor appointment this week. We don’t dress them identically, but for those fans of identical stuff, let me throw a bone to you:

They BOTH have ear infections in the SAME ear.

It is fun to see them changing. Ben got a haircut, and no longer looks like a detective from some seventies TV show. With his infection getting better, we are starting to see more of his personality. He likes to dismantle toys. Katie, except when she is put into the horror of bed, is happy and curious. She loves to go for walks and to look all around.

I should mention how much we appreciated all the cards we received; it was a real thrill for us. Thank you so much. We mentioned that Matthew broke his electric ball the second day he got it, and a friend sent another one. I really wish you could have seen his face; it was the best gift I received this holiday.

Your pal

Steve Peifer