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.

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.