Christmas and Charlotte

Charlotte did end up getting ear tubes place on December 22.  She handled it like a champ.  She did not have the crabby/crying confusion that some kids have when they are coming out of the anesthesia.  She had so much thick fluid in one ear, and a bulging ear infection in the other.  The infected ear was itchy and uncomfortable with the tubes in place.  I hope her hearing is restored.  I hope I did the right thing.

Christmas eve was a beautiful night of Christmas Pagent and our little star (Charlotte) and angel (Natalie) and a moving Mass afterward as well.  We traveled over several rivers and on the edge of some woods to get to Aunt Missy's for Christmas Day dinner.  Natalie was crying when we had to leave.  I don't know what to do about the distance between her and her dear cousins.  I don't know what to do about her perceived injustices on that topic. 

Yesterday, the 26th, we went to Aunt Sherry's to celebrate the Wessing Family Christmas, as I have done for the last 40 years.  It was warm and fun.  There are so many amazing people with amazing lives in that family.  I hope some of that trickles down to my girls.  They are amazing and deserve the same.

ENTs for my two ones

It was a hard weekend.

We sent Alex kitty down to the cat lady neighbor for an extended playdate.  You both said you miss him but were very brave about our kitty-less house.  Charlotte, you drew one of your sweet cat pictures, which I will photograph for posterity and said, "I miss Alex."  Natalie, you had your sweet pout going this morning before school...the same one that slays us ever since you were a wee one, and I asked what was wrong.  "Alex," you said.

Today, Charlotte goes to the ENT to find out if her inner ear tubes are not functioning right.  You have had ear infections since Alex arrived in September.  Bad ones.  On and off.  Your pediatrician thinks you may have allergies blocking up your inner ears.  I don't know if it's kitty allergies (they run in our family) but the timing is suspicous. I needed to take Alex out of the house until you can see the allergist in January.  Or maybe the ENT will give us some more insight and we'll just take him back tonight. :)  We will get through it.

Natalie you have had nosebleeds on and off for over a year.  You had a bad one at school last week.  Your blood count indicates that you clot slightly slower than you should.  The ENT will look at your nose and make sure it doesn't have an erupted, non functioning vessel that needs to be cauterized.  You told me all you wanted for Christmas is no more nose bleeds.  And, the ENT squeezed you in early due to cancellation so maybe you'll get your wish.

All in all, we are so fortunate for your health.  I hope we can resolve these little hiccups quickly in time for Santa.  And I hope Alex is happy with the other four cats today.  I'm sorry he had to leave.

Confession

If the girls didn't love Alex the cat so much, I would have shuttled him down to the willing and able cat lady neighbor shortly after we found him at the shelter.  She loves black cats and, given my indifference and sometimes concern, she was willing to help us out. 

Alex is a fine kitty.  He is going to have a playdate with his cousin Shya, the dog, next weekend.  The last time they played, they got along so incredibly well...blew all the dog/cat stereotypes out of the water.  I am in email correspondence with my SIL re: our family gathering with animals included and she tells me that on their first and only cat-dog playdate, Charlotte pleaded with them,
“make sure he doesn’t hurt him because he is really special to me.”

Yeah, he's a keeper.  He has the advocacy of the heartstring tuggers in our home to thank.  I'm still more of a dog person.

Origins

Two ones originated from two year old 'lottie.

C: "Mommy can I have a cookie?"
M: Ok, one cookie."
....

C: "Two ones?"

She still uses today, age 4.

2=two ones

LOST

• 1 cardboard square cut out mailing material with $85 worth of professional wedding photos (8 total).  Images include: cute flower girls, lovely natural scenery complimentary to and bride and groom, big families, etc.  I already had buyers remorse for my excessive spending on 4x6 snapshots but now...ugh.
• 1 maroon Blackberry.  Long overdue for replacement with its cracked crystal and limited features/no data/web access.  I need to get the contents of phone book and calendar from my relic phone.
• My mind

On the morning commute

Mama, do porcupines live in the woods?  WHERE do they live?  Do they live in our woods?

Mama, did I talk when I was zero, one or two?

C: Why can't we have another baby?  Jillian's mom had three girl babies.
M: Can you imagine how loud our house would be with THREE little girls?
C: I'd like a boy baby.

You Can Do Better (exclamation point)

That is all.

Back from San Diego

And, despite the 80 degree temps, I think I brought a cold back with me.

This outing was especially hard on N.  She missed her mama more than I missed her, which is a milestone.  Usually we are able to keep her entertained just enough so she doesn't care.  She was sad on phone calls.  At one point, we discussed how it's ok to be sad, but is it really worth the energy to cry so much and sob.  I was coming back the next day.

I know there are a lot, A LOT of emotional highs and lows with girls and I hope I help mine through it with as much useful knowledge as possible.  I always think I was socialized like a boy, growing up with two brothers before and after me, and then a sister eight years later.  Birth order?  I am more direct but I am also extremely senstive, like my Natalie.  I'm not sure it is helpful to send her to a Catholic school but that's an issue for another day.

Charlotte was sweet and got on the phone quickly to say, "I yuve you Mama," and that was about it.  I found them some sun gear from Del Sol...rings and hair clilps that change colors in the sunlight...so cool.  So cool that I stashed the first "mommy goes on a business trip" gifts I got them for Christmas in favor of the sunny San Diego memorabila. 

I also went for the first time to Cornado Island.  Saw the Hotel Coranado, watched the sunset from the deck of the HC, and just soaked in the beauty of that little corner of the country.  San Diego, so lovely. 

But, now I am sick and need to start popping airborne.

My love and light

On September 10, 2002, Natalie Grace entered our world at 5:26 a.m.  She has changed my world in so many fascinating and amazing ways.   She taught me how to be a Mama and forgave my many missteps along the path of learning.  She is a bright and conscientious second grader now and I continue to learn from her. 
Three and three quarters years later, on June 9, 2006 at 5:24 pm, Charlotte Elizabeth came into my world.  She is a very particular princess and absolutely charming to everyone she meets.  She inspires me like her sister.  She has won my heart and captured my soul
This little blog is for them.  I cannot always find the words to describe the depths of my feelings for my two sprouts...my September and June bugs.

I also hope to direct some of the posts I did on Livejournal to these pages.

I love you two to infinity and beyond, to the moon and back...thank you for being my girls.