Suddenly Sick Days and an upcoming weekend of fun

On Thursday, I got a call at work from the girls' school.  Little L wasn't feeling well.  To make a long story short, that phone call launched a sickness in our household that lasted until Tuesday night.  When Little L got over being sick, she passed it on to her big sister.  Everyone was finally well enough to go back to school on Wednesday.  Since I was off with D on Monday and Tuesday, I have no concept of time at work.  Today felt like Monday and I kept thinking it was Friday.  Hopefully I will get back on schedule really soon. 

D is super excited for Halloween, even though she doesn't truly understand what we do.  She wanted to be a purple princess, because, "Purple is my favorite."  Well, at least this week it is.  Today at school, the girls had a Book Character Parade.  D said her favorite book was Cinderella so she was Cinderella for the school parade.  Little L's class did a class theme.  The teachers chose "The Napping House" as their book.  I LOVE this book!!  L was told to dress as a child so she wore PJs.  That was easy enough for this 7 month old to do. 

D asked if Grandma and PePaw could come for Halloween, so they are going trick or treating with us tomorrow night.  We went trick or treating on Main Street last year and it was amazing!!!  They block off Main Street so cars can't come down it.  All of the stores are giving out candy, there are inflatable bounce houses and slides, there are games for the little ones to play, and more.  This is all FREE!! 

We are going to a bridal shower on Saturday and then Sunday we are finally going to the pumpkin patch, if all goes well and the creek don't rise (as my Gigi would say).  We were going to go last weekend, but the sickness prevented the trip.  D is excited and calls all groups of three or more pumpkins the "Pumpkin Patch".  Ah, the joys in the little things.

The Gift of a Prayer

Today I was really affected by a blog that I read.  I haven't read it in a while and I feel sad about it.  The blog made me reflective and I want to share the story of D with all of you.  When husband and I were ready to have kids, we decided that it shouldn't be a problem.  I come from a family with three children and he comes from a family of four children.  I spoke with my OBGYN and she said, "good luck.  Hopefully, next year when I see you, you will be pregnant."  Well a year passed and I went back for my yearly check up.  She asked if we were trying to conceive and said once again, hopefully next time I see you, you will be pregnant.  After the second year of trying passed, I went to the doctor again for my yearly checkup.  She was a little surprised that I wasn't pregnant.  She had me run some tests to see what the hold up was.  I went through a ton of tests over the next few months and was finally sent to a Reproductive Endocrinologist. 

Dr. Pinto was amazing!  He finally had answers when others didn't.  I was diagnosed with PCOS (Poly cystic Ovary Syndrome).  This made it difficult to get pregnant, but not impossible.  He put me on medicine including Clomid (This was HIGHLY regulated and watched) and injections.  After seven months with this specialist, I finally got pregnant.  My friend, Rhonda, had been praying for me to become pregnant since I told her we were trying.  I know it tore her up to tell me that she was pregnant because she knew everything we were going through to have a baby.  I couldn't have been happier for Rhonda.  She is an amazing woman and an amazing mother.

Rhonda was one of the first people I told when I got pregnant.  I knew that she had been praying for me to have a baby and she was genuinely happy for our family.  Her precious little one was born six months before my D.  I visited her in the hospital when she was on hospital bed rest, I visited her when Chloe was born, she threw me a baby shower and I threw her one.  When D was born, Rhonda knitted hats for her little head.  Little L has worn some of those hats too! 

Chloe is a brave 3 year old, who will be turning 4 in December.  In her short life, she has seen more than any child should have to see.  She has been diagnosed with Leukemia.  She went into remission, but still had seizures.  Her leg has been in a cast at least two times that I know of.  Then, recently, she was diagnosed with Leukemia again.

Chloe was D's first friend.  Rhonda was the first person to visit me in the hospital when D was born.  Rhonda and my mom changed D's first diaper.  Chloe's birthday was the first birthday party D got invited too.  Chloe passed down her clothes to D.

This brave little girl is fighting for her life yet again and it is taking a strain on the family.  The medical bills are enormous, Chloe isn't sleeping well, Rhonda spends her days taking Chloe to radiation and making her a comfortable as possible. Eddie is working hard to earn a living to support his family.  Bailey is working hard in school and spending as much time with Chloe as she can.

In Judaism, it is called tzedakah.  In Christianity, it is tithing.  No matter what you call it, giving to others is the cornerstone of religion.  Rhonda has given to everyone she meets.  She has given prayers, clothes, friendship, and so much more.  She takes everything in stride and with prayer.   

Please pray for this family and this brave little girl.

First tooth, pink tutus, and a trip to the trash

I can't believe how long it has been since I have written.  I really need to try to write more often, but this week was crazy busy.  On Monday, Husband brought the girls to my school on his way to class.  I wasn't quite ready to go home, so I took the girls to the playground.  Well, D rode her bicycle to the playground and Little L went in the stroller.  D loved wearing her helmet and kept it on most of the time we were on the playground.  L had a great time in the swing.  As I pushed her back and forth, she grinned and laughed.  D would play a little and then ride her bike a little and then back to the playground.  L sat on the bouncy bridge and watched big sister D run back and forth across it.  She thought it was great fun.

Little L finally got her first tooth!!  It is on the bottom on the right side, a little off of center.  It is SHARP too!  She has been eating like a pro.  L graduated to veggies this past week.  We started with green beans and she is now eating peas too! 

D was signed up for her first dance class.  She is telling us that she wants to be a ballerina, so we signed her up for a class at the community center near our house.  She is very excited to get to buy a leotard and tights.  It doesn't start for a couple of weeks, but she is very excited.

This morning when D woke up, she told me that she was done with her plug (pacifier) and wanted to throw it in the trash.  We have had these conversations for several nights, but she hasn't taken the plunge until this morning.  She only gets it at night time now, but she is very attached.  I asked her if she is sure and told her that once it is in the trash, we don't take items out of the trash because they are dirty.  She was sure and threw it away!  Husband and I were shocked and apprehensive.  In the morning is one thing, but as she goes to bed it is another.  Well, at night night time she asked for it.  We had to have the conversation about her throwing it away.  She wasn't happy.  Hopefully, she will adjust soon.  So far she isn't happy and it might be a long night. 

Wish us luck!

Wedding Bliss?

What a weekend!!!  It all started on Friday night when we attended services for my big brother's wedding blessing.  My parents came into town to celebrate with everyone as well, which was nice.  The blessing was beautiful and the Rabbi did a great job.  His blessing was so personal and meaningful.  He was the Yenta (Jewish Matchmaker), so he feels such pride that these two are tying the knot.  After the blessing, he started on his sermon, which was based around a wedding theme as well.  It made the blessing even more special and meaningful.

After services, we went to my brother's house for dinner.  We returned on Saturday so that Grandma and PeePaw could play with the girls.  Uncle and PeePaw watched the girls while we went for a bridal dress fitting.  A looked gorgeous!!!  It reminded me a little of getting ready for my wedding (almost 10 years ago!!).  Then we hung at the house before we went to an engagement party for my brother. 

Duh babysat for my girls, which was a nice treat.  Big sister D was so excited and kept asking when she would be there.  Little L was sleeping when we left, but woke right afterwards.  Duh said the girls were easy and that she would babysit again, which is always a good sign.  Unfortunately, the girls tag teamed her and she didn't get to work on her college essays.  Sorry Duh!

Today we ate at Bayley's for breakfast.  Husband went home to work on things for his job and everyone else trekked out to Grapevine Mills Mall to look for a flower girl dress for D.  After only three stores, we found our flower girl dress!!!  D was great and played dress up very nicely.  Then, we got shoes.  So, D is all set to be the flower girl in December.  We had a very productive and fun day with Grandma and PeePaw, Uncle and Ash.

Now, husband and the girls are off of school tomorrow and I still have to work.  It is going to be hard to get out of bed with husband is still sleeping, but at least I only have to make one lunch for tomorrow!

Teachable Moments

I was reading a blog that I regularly read that belongs to a friend of my bestie.  She does Tot School with her kids twice a week (or maybe more).  They learn so much through hands on activities.  Now, my girls both go to daycare since we are both working parents, but the teacher in me still feels that it is my duty to be teaching my girls.

I have been using sign language a little with Little L.  At 6 months, she doesn't necessarily get it, but it is the exposure and repetition that are needed.  We also talk to her a LOT, and I do mean a lot.  As I am folding laundry, I am telling her what I am folding and who it belongs to.  While I am emptying the dishwasher, I am describing the bowls and plates to her.  As I am building a train track with D, we are talking about the shapes of the pieces and the colors of the cars.  This is great for both girls.

Big sister D is a talker.  She has been talking since before she was walking and I think it has a lot to do with the way we talk to her and how much we talk to her.  When I was driving her to work with me, I was talking to her the entire ride or I was singing to her.  Just the exposure to the language was important to me.  D loves books too.  Once again, it is because we read to her all the time.

So, as I was reading this blog, I followed a link to another Tot School.  This site called 1+1+1=1 was talking about Tot Books and Lap Books.  Basically, these are a new version of File Folder Games and thematic units folders.  You pick a theme, skill, letter, etc. that you are learning about or that your child is interested in.  Then you create a "book" made out of a file folder full of mini-books, counting activities, writing activities, etc. all focused on the same area.  The homeschooling community appears to use them a lot.  Well, D is really into princesses all of a sudden (last week it was trains). 

So, I followed one link to another link and found a Tot Book on Cinderella.  I went to One Little, Two Little where the book was already created.  All I had to do was print, cut and glue.  No really, that was all I had to do.  So, I made it for D.  As I was working on it, she woke up from nap and walked out.  She was so excited to "play" with it that I had to move it to give the glue time to dry.  I just had to pass on this new project.  I am sure that I will be making many more and their difficulty level will increase with her age and abilities.  She is so excited!!!  She likes that she can "read" it by herself and can play the games by herself. 

Belly Laughs

Little L went to the doctor on Thursday.  She has had a stuffy nose for two weeks.  The nurse practitioner told us that it is just allergies.  We can continue doing what we have been doing, and when we get a cold snap, it should go away.  There is nothing like the helpless feeling a mother gets when their baby is sick and you can't make her feel better.  Last week, we stripped her to a diaper and I sat with her in our bathroom with every faucet blasting out hot water until the water ran cold. 

Since we had the doctor appointment in the morning, I just kept her home with me.  She slept a LOT that day, with two naps that lasted over three hours each.  I know she was also catching up on missed sleep since she is only taking cat naps at daycare.  We had a really nice day between naps. 

L has a laugh that rises up from the bottom of her tummy.  Once she laughs, she will continue to do so and continue to do so.  She laughs when you give her raspberries on her tummy.  She laughs when you sing and dance.  She laughs when you laugh.  But most of all, she laughs at her sister.  D can get her to laugh when she is crying.  All she has to do is get close to Little L and the laughing starts.  D will dance and sing and be silly.  L can't get enough of this.  Seeing D make L laugh and seeing L smile at D, I pray it never ends.  I hope that their love, affection, and closeness continue forever.