Mermaids and Misery

So, a lot has happened since the summer...my last post. Time flies even when you're not having fun. This blog is testimony. These last few months have been riddled with illness. Christian got hit with the stomach flu just in time to miss trick-or-treating (and his first time with us on Halloween for years, and probably his last chance to go - he's 15). He stayed home and passed out candy for us while we took Maddy around the block. He was passed the point of contagion, so don't worry neighbors.

Shortly after this, he started having stomach pains and was taken in by his father to have them discover that his appendix was sputtering to a halt. They performed the procedure via laparoscope and we thought, done and done...but then his intestines weren't moving the way they need to before discharge. So we waited...or I mean, he waited in the hospital for five days waiting for them to figure out how to get them back in action. Finally a new doctor came on (who was an old doctor) and he prescribed something that he knew would work. He was finally keeping down solids and his bowels had sounds of gas, so the doctor discharged him.

Through all this, Christian lost 12 lbs and on an already gaunt teen, it looked bad. He looked sick, sick. We took the opportunity during Thanksgiving to fatten him up. It definitely doesn't work overnight, especially when the loss was so great. But I think he gave it his all and ate a little bit of everything he saw.

Shortly after Thanksgiving Maddy got sick, then I got sick and then Maddy got sick AGAIN. This time, ear infection and pink eye. I'm crossing my fingers that Richie doesn't get taken down like the rest of us. He's been the nursemaid through all of this. OR as Maddy would say, he's the doctor because he's a boy. I didn't teach her that stuff, I swear.

Amidst the tumult of malaise and malady, I've noticed a theme in our daughter's obsessions. Right now...and for the past few months, everythings coming up mermaid. Ariel, to be more precise. Here's a fun little mermaid montage to offset the dreariness of the first part of this blog:






Here's to a splashing New Year full of immunity!

My love to all but most to you!

A Taste of Summer

Because summer is almost officially over, I thought I'd show you what you missed (and what I miss). It goes by fast, but seemed seriously truncated this year. Here's a portrayal of how the summer looked in my head...a series of snapshots:













God, I'm blessed.

I love you all! SMUCH, Richie.

Night and Day

Every night before my daughter goes to bed, we play in her room for a while, read her a story, brush her teeth, and then I cuddle with her before she goes into her own bed. Every night she puts her hand between the slats of her toddler bed and I kiss it. She then pulls her hand back and kisses her own hand. How sweet! I never want to forget this (and a million other things).

My son's routine isn't as sweet or endearing. It's not just because of his age, but his condition. He has to take an injection of long-lasting insulin, test his blood sugar, which consists of a finger prick to get the blood on the test strip. If he's within range, then he can brush, floss and rinse. If he's below, then he has to take fast acting glucose tablets/soda. If he's high, well, that's another injection of a different insulin. I wish he could have a night time ritual more like his little sister's. Maybe not quite as child-like, but certainly as painless.

Being that I can't undo what nature has insisted upon and I can't turn back the hands on the clock, I'm trying to help raise funds to cure type 1 diabetes. Please help me, if you happen to be reading this. Please make a donation, no matter how big to jdrf.org or joslin.org. If you like to shop, you can visit sugarcubesociety.etsy.com where crafters from all over the country have contributed their goods for the greater good. Thank you SO much!

My love to you all, but especially you!

They Grow Up So Fast...

It seems like just yesterday (or at least, two months ago) she was our little princess.



She was running around with her little friends, playing dress up at the Extreme Princess Playdate thrown by the Party Wizard.



But look at her now:



She has so many big life decisions to make since she had her first (out of two) preschool graduation. Like, which cookies she wants to have for snack. Or what she should wear for her playdate with her best friend, Catie.

All we can do as parents is be there for her and support whatever choices she makes. Better not clear out her room just yet even though my thighs and buttocks are screaming for a home gym.

I love you and you and you, but mostly you.

Two Years Greater

The best present I ever got my husband for his birthday was our daughter. She was born the day after his birthday and will always be his slightly belated gift from the heavens. Sometimes, regardless of my rants, she actually is a little angel. She can be so tender and warm. I have to admit that right now, she doesn't exactly behave like an angel at the frequency I'd like her to, but seeing the indicators makes me have hope for the future ;)

We had a fairly low-key birthday weekend, which included a small family party at my sister's, a viewing of the Bee Movie (her first movie on the big screen) at the cheapo theatre and a trip to Fairytale Town (her first visit). All of which were well received by the daughter, with a slight exception. Anytime we tried to photograph or video our her she would scrunch up her face and tell us to go away. Oh, well. Once my husband and I let go of our expectations of having any memorabilia of the day, we seemed to enjoy ourselves even more. However, I came to the conclusion that our daughter would have loved it more so if she were there with another kid, even her big brother to drag behind her.

For my husband, the kids and I got him two skateboard t-shirts and Barack Obama's latest book. I don't normally buy him presents for his birthday. I usually just make him his favorite dinner and dessert. But I'm glad we did get him presents. He looks sexy in his shirts, but not as sexy as he looks when he gets all geeked about how Barack is taking more states (and delegates) than Hillary in the primaries! Friggin' poli-nerd. I love him. He's the best present I've ever got.

Regardless of my daughter's camera-resistant expressions, I managed to capture this snapshot of our day at Fairytale Town.




I love you beyond words.

Touch and Go

Things have been rough the past few months. Shortly after Christmas, Richie's mom passed away in the night. A peaceful, sudden death, just like she wanted. She was too spunky to fade out with a long, terminal illness and she certainly didn't like feeling like a burden on anyone. She was a single mother of three for a good deal of her life, working two jobs to keep them fed and clothed. She never really knew what it was like to be taken care of. I told her if she ever got to that place that her children owed her at least 18 years...the years she gave them. She always laughed at that. She knew they would help her, but she didn't want them to.

We're trying to fill the absence her death has left in our lives. Sunday mornings are still the hardest. That is, until Christmas comes around again. It was her favorite holiday. Her face would light up when she saw her red and white tree decorated by her kids. She loved baking and Christmas carols. Marshmallow World, by Brenda Lee is one of my favorite Christmas tunes because of her. I have some wonderful memories of her singing it by herself in the kitchen, dancing while cooking and then later, singing it to our baby girl. Maddy knows some of the words and sings a long what she knows.

We will have to start new Christmas traditions of our own, for our own little family, but I have a feeling that it will mirror the one that we cherished with her.

The life cycle came around full circle when, on January 25th, we welcomed our new niece, Helena Leeann into the world. She had a rough entry into our atmosphere, but her lungs are now fully acclimated. Now that she's healthy, we can all take a deep breath and exhale!





Our family really needed baby Helena. She's a reminder of what's most important in life. Life!

My love to you all,
but especially YOU!