A boy discovering snow for the first time

He noticed it himself before I pointed it out. He saw it and sat at the window for a while. Just watching it. Loved it. We went out for a few minutes before picking Av up from school.

Skate party

The skate parties have begun. Av's school had one last night. All week Av talked about it and said she wanted to go. J and I just looked at each other knowing she prob is just not old enough. I didn't want to go. I told her if she asked her friends at school if they were going and if they were she had to come home and tell me who. If her friends were going I promised to take her. I figured she would never remember to ask her friends and actually know who was going. She went to summer camp for 2 weeks this summer and everyday I asked her to name one kids name in her group and she NEVER could do it. Even with me reminding her everyday to figure out someone's name. So I thought it was a long shot. J knew otherwise. Her very first words off the bus were "Mckinnely is going." No lead up to let me know what she was talking about. She knew I would know. So as promised I had to take her. A friend warned me to be prepared to be sore the next day. I thought no way. I was not putting skates on bc I knew I would be holding her up and one of us had to be steady and I have done so much working out lately I thought that was crazy. But she was right. Oh my on your lower back, holding up a 40lb ready to fall person. Anyway so off Av and I went when J got home. She was super excited. We got there and I think thats when she realized what she had gotten herself into. We got her skates on and she stood up the tears started right away. "I'm tired. I want to go home." Ugh I had not really prepared for this. What was I going to do? I wanted it to end on a good note so someday she would want to go again, but I didn't want to push her too hard either. So we sat there for awhile. I thought maybe if she got comfortable. Nope. She had several friends come up to her and offer to help and talk to her and she talked to them but none of them could talk her into it. (she is very well liked and that makes me soooooo happy) Finally I was sick of sitting there and I finally had a good idea. (this parenting stuff is hard. have to think on your feet and I was a little slow last night). We made a deal. If she would skate once around the circle with me holding her and then if she still wanted to leave we would. So that's what we did. She made it and I made it too. I could not have done much more. Holding her up was sooooo hard. So it did end on a positive note.

Leaving there I had so many emotions going on in my head. Proud of her for trying, proud of her for wanting to go so badly, sad for her that her body limitations hold her back so badly, sad that she doesn't have the energy her friends do, worried if she misses stuff like this will she be able to make real friends, worried she will not be able to handle sleep overs and such with her low energy, proud of myself getting her to try it, proud that I didn't let her see how sad I was that she couldn't do it, worried she will just never have a "normal" life, but most off all this huge amount of love for my sweet little girl who is loved by so many people. At one point a little girl I didn't know came up to help her. Come to find out it is Lilly from her bus. So sweet. She was right too, McKinnley was there. When we got home she showered and then wanted us to read her a book. Fine we always do that but what was different was that she read 50% of the book!!!!! It's a new book too, not one she has memorized. She is learning and she is doing so well. That's the most important thing.

recovery weekend

We had the best weekend. We laid low bc we were still recovering. It was a nice fam weekend. Friday was just me and the kids. John got home safely around 9. The kids were soooo excited to see him Sat am. They woke him up as soon as they were up. We all took Av to her gymnastics and then ran some errands. After quiet time it was really pretty out so we all went outside to play. Av wanted to play soccer so that's what we did. J built a fire and we played soccer forever. Av is getting really good. On Sunday J and I did boot camp as always and then he worked on the house while E slept and the girls and I ran some errands. It doesn't sound like much but it was a great weekend!!!

more vomit

Well the vomit was not over. 20 hours later from the first car seat vomit it happened again. Yes in her nice clean car seat, again. I thought I was in some sort of bad movie. She had been fine and actually wanted dinner after the first time. All the sudden she started screaming her head hurt and 10 minutes later it happened. So guess that's the clue with C. Get near a toilet if her head hurts. Then that night in the middle of the night it happened again. J made up for being gone though and took one for the team on that. The vomit didn't get anywhere but on the 2 of them! He caught it in his hands. Very gross for them, yay for me!!! I'm not even sure I could let someone vomit in my hands even if I wanted too. We are now 36 hours vomit free. I hope it stays that way!!!

vomit, vomit, vomit and much more vomit

Warning this post is going to be gross, you probably shouldn't read it. If you do, don't say I didn't warn you.

OMG seriously, if I have to clean up any more vomit I am taking off. Running away. I am DONE!! Right before xmas break I woke the girls up one morning and found a huge pile of chunky vomit next to Av. It stunk sooooo bad. Cleaned it up of course. Then over Christmas break E threw up in his car seat on the way to my Aunt's house. Again, it was chunky and very stinky. Again, I cleaned him and it up. Cleaning vomit from a car seat is HORRIBLE. I hope you never have to do it and I hope I never have to again. Tonight C threw up in her car seat. OMG NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! We were about 30 minutes from home and again it STUNK so bad. I could smell it all the way up front. Again, I cleaned her and the car seat up. That car seat is even harder to clean. Shoot me now please!!! It took me forever to figure out how to get the car seat cover off and I was beyond pissed and cursing J the whole time for not being home. I really hope I can get that car seat back together again for tomorrow. Then poor Av threw up tonight too. Could it get any worse?? Luckily she was not in the car and she got most of it in the toilet. The "tomfy toilet" took one for the team by catching the rest of it. This better be the end. Or else!!!!!!!

school

Both girls have been very happy being back in school. Tuesday started a little rough with Av saying she was still sick. Just as she convinced me that she was and as I was getting ready to call the school she popped up saying she was fine. With that she got dressed and I took her to school. Later that day she got off the bus as happy as can be and said several times she was so glad she went to school and that "she was not sick any longer." Today was much the same. Came home so happy and full of life and energy. I love seeing her like that. She can't stop talking about school, thanking me for things and giving me hugs and kisses and telling me she loves me. She is so sweet. She loves loves loves that school. Makes me love it too. Camille woke up today in a perfect mood until she realized it was a school day for her. Her mood got way worse when she then figured out it was an after care day. She did an annoying noise type thing all am. We all just ignored her. When it was time to get in the car and go though she was fine. We dropped Av off and headed to her school. She was back in a good mood. She asked if I would stay for a few minutes. In her classroom I was talking to her teacher and at that point she decided it was time for me to go. She kicked me out. When I picked her up at 3 she was happily playing in the gym. She came over to me, gave me a huge hug and then ran off again asking to stay longer. Silly girl.

endings are hard

I was so so so sad when I woke up today. The end of a holiday and a break is the worst. We all had 2 weeks off together and now it's over. SUCKS!!!!!!! (sorry mom) It's the coldest it's been here (in the teens) so hard to wake with the alarm and get out of bed, J left for an all week business trip and will not be back till late Friday night, I had to wake all 3 kids and Av had to go back to school. So no fun. The day has gotten better though. The sun is out and Av will be home soon. I also went to Trader Joes to get myself some yummy treats for the week. Makes me feel a little better.