Humbled.

Today was a challenging day. I don't know why we continue to trip over this rut, over and over and over. I can't seem to see past all the things that need to get done - I know I had to work very late tonight honey but you need a bath and it is getting late and I need to wrap the birthday present for tomorrow's party and I forgot about the card and did I remember to finish that at work today and you have to remember to apologize to Claudia tomorrow because that kind of behavior is not okay! You still feel small and out of control, struggling between what has happened in the past and what you are becoming in the present. I need to see beyond the behaviors, instead I send you to your bed early.

It is then in the quiet that I remember where you were just one year ago...



... and what you had to leave behind...



... and no matter how frustrated I was when I sent you to bed, all I can think of now is how I want to curl up in your warm little bed next to you, and hope you can feel my love, even in your sleep.

Some serious thinking while enjoying the sun.



Peace.

Not what we wanted to see...

Brad thought she was being far too quiet downstairs, I told him not too worry.



Whoops. Guess I was wrong. I would show you the rest of the picture, and the fact that her legs are completely white with lotion, too - but she had decided she needed to undress as much as she could to truly properly lube up (she couldn't get the shirt off, it buttons in the back).

Funny thing is, when I was helping her get her pjs on tonight, I noticed her legs were really dry. Maybe she was just trying to tell us something?

Or, let's not...

One of Tesfanesh current favorite games is to run away from the (imaginary) crocodiles that are chasing her. (No, we do not have real crocodiles in our house, but sometimes I like to daydream that we do - I would keep it stationed outside the bathroom door. With perhaps a moat around it, too. Ahhh... dreams of privacy that will never be found again...) Anyways, it is a very loud game, which usually involves Tes yelling things like "Quick Mom, Dad, run away! There are crocodiles coming!" Today the crocodiles were going to drink her milk. Some parents would take that as a unwillingness to share, I see it as the fact that Tes must know they are lactose intolerant, and she was just trying to keep them from a bellyache. In an odd turn of events, she then usually pretends to eat the reptile, says it is delicious, then spits it out so it can chase her all over again. She can do this for a long long time. It is actually quite funny to watch.

This whole game took a bad turn the other day, though, when we were out running errands. We were in a parking garage and you could hear a police siren outside. Tes yells very loudly "Quick Mom, lets run! The police are going to get us!"

Ummmm... no. Running from lactose intolerant crocodiles who want to steal your milk? Okay to run from. The police? Not so much, kiddo. Not so much.

Recharge

We traveled a wonderful whirl-wind tour of WI visiting a good friend, swimming in the coldest pool in America, and just all around recharging our family battery. Back in the MN now, but will be continuing our 'wanted / needed a vacation but the economy sucks she we can't really venture far from home' vacation tomorrow with a trip to the aquarium, and Tuesday's plan is the Children's museum. By the time Wednesday rolls around, I am pretty sure we won't be feeling guilty that we are bringing the Little One to daycare... even though we still have the day off. Other parents do occasionally fib to their children, too, right? Just a little bit? For sanity's sake? No? Oh well. I never wanted to be like you other parents, anyway ;)

Peace.

Recovery

We have gone from this :

Back to this :

Thank goodness, I think we have said our goodbyes to the strep throat and influenza. Her fevers actually only lasted a few days, but boy-oh-boy did the sickie-crabbies stay on board. She was not feeling well, and everyone in a mile radius needed to know.

We are fully well just in time to head out of town for the weekend - hi ho, hi ho, its off to Wisconsin we go!

(Oh - and P.S. - even though the sleep-inducing fevers are a thing of the past - the falling asleep on her own with no fights, squables, and pants peeing have been here to stay! Everyone keep your fingers crossed, but I think we've hit our bedtime groove!)

Peace.