If you or your child has ever suffered from eczema or another skin disease that is chronic, you'll understand the definition of torture and you'll understand the tears of joy I experienced today as I moisturized my child's perfect skin...for the first time in almost 4 years.

I am hoping that eczema is gone for good...that we aren't just into some cycle and that there will be another flare-up down the road. As we wait for allergy test results, I am continuing with the reduction of gluten, the elimination of dairy and soya and finally, bananas, and seeing incredible results so far. I will continue to pray and hope for the very best. Seeing Frunty's skin so beautiful is the biggest gift I could receive and I am so grateful that I have the strength and brain power to NEVER GIVE UP. I have been criticized for being like a dog with a bone in the past. But guess what, I don't give up until I have a solution. So call me a dog anytime you want! I am proud of it.

We are enjoying some sunnier weather now although the rain never bothered me. I love rain. Maybe I am the only one in Belgium! This weekend we'll celebrate, rain or shine, Thanksgiving with our Canadian friends! Gotta look for a turkey!

It has been raining here a lot lately, sometimes day and night. I don't mind because we are cozy inside with candles, in our jammies and me with my new, pink laptop from the States that Daddy just brought home to me! We spent much of today, a lazy Sunday, researching our next trip to Scotland and fleshing out a road trip plan. We are looking forward to it and the scenery looks incredible.

Since I last wrote, K had her baby in Twickenham, a boy named Freddy. We are thrilled for them all and looking forward to meeting this new bundle of joy at the end of October on our way to Scotland. Today we visited our new Canadian friend, who was at Waterloo the same time as Daddy, and she'll have her baby girl, due on October 19th. It's funny because I now feel like an old married woman with big kids! I can't believe I am finished with the tiny baby stage. What a delightful journey! Pit still feels like a baby in many ways but Frunty is such a big boy now, one might call him a little man.

As I write this blog entry, Frunty is doing some homework with Daddy and I hear them talking in Italian a bit. We need to get down to Italy soon for some more practise. It is just so hard going to Torino now since the death of our beloved cousin, A. But anyway, not to end on a melancholy note. All is well here...despite the rain.

So great to have Daddy home from the States. I think the kids and I did very well while he was away but boy oh boy, am I happy he is home and you should have seen the kids snuggle with him every chance they got!

October has begun and so have the almost non-stop rains which I don't mind at all. With candles on, even in the morning when friend(s) come for tea, it is cozy. We are looking very much forward to spending Halloween in Scotland and seeing baby Freddy in London on our way up north. Congratulations to our dear friends for his recent birth!

Then we'll have a rest before heading even farther north to the Arctic circle to visit Santa's hometown, Rovaniemi, and his village. Elves, reindeer, husky rides, you name it. We'll be tobogganing with glee at Christmastime this year and I am so grateful we can finally go. I got this idea when we were living in Amsterdam. Now, almost 10 years later, we are realizing this dream and I am so excited.

I hope this email finds all of you very well indeed and enjoying the early fall days wherever you are.