Drama at the preschool

When I picked the girls up from school today, Sam came out a little bit upset and told me that one her friends had gotten sick and an ambulance came to get her. One of the moms (that volunteers in the classroom on Mondays) was outside, so I asked her if she knew what had happened. She said she didn't know, so I dropped it. Then one of the girls' teachers came outside andold me that they had a little incident at school and I asked her what happened. This mother turned around and said to me "I told you they don't know what happened." Um, excuse me. I wasn't talking to you. Plus, the teacher better know what happened at school. And I wasn't asking to be nosey. *My* child was upset and I needed to know some information so I could ease her fears and answer her questions. I should have known better because this is the mom that loves being in the know. And apparently this was good gossip to have?

I have enough on my plate that I don't need to know the gossip. But I do worry about my child and can understand why Sam was upset by it. Besides it being her friend and being naturally scared, our entire last week was spent going to and from the hospital because my grandfather is so sick (and Sam still having not been able to see him). Luckily the teacher had enough information for me to answer Sam's questions, which she did have quite a few of. And then the head teacher (who rode in the ambulance I guess) called a little bit ago to let me know that the little girl was in the hospital, but was looking good and she'd keep us updated. So that's good news.

Rambling Thoughts

The last 6 months have been a medical nightmare for my family. Some may remember that back in October, one of my grandmothers (my mom's mom) was rushed to the ER because she was unresponsive. Well it turns out she was suffering from congestive heart failure. There were some other problems as well, but after awhile things were looking up. Then in December another grandmother (my mom's stepmom)was rushed to the ER and it was determined she was also suffering from congestive heart failure (or that was last I was told). Luckily, things started looking good for her and she was back in her own apartment the day before Christmas and we were all able to celebrate together. Overall the beginning of the year was quiet until a few weeks ago when my grandfather (my mom's stepdad) was diagnosed with leukemia. The poor guy was so busy taking care of my grandmother, he seemed to ignore the fact that he was feeling miserable himself. And even though my mom has many siblings, she seems to take on most of the work herself. Some is by choice, some by circumstance, but most of the load none the less. She doesn't complain about it - she just does it. Nacho and I pick up the slack where we can, like driving people to and from the hospital, waiting in the ER, making phone calls, making sure the sick's significant other eats, things like that. All of a sudden we're heros in my grandparents eyes and I don't really get that. I feel like we're doing what anybody would do. But maybe not? We couldn't imagine being anywhere else if there is any possible way we can help. It makes me sad that not everybody thinks the same way.

So this year Nacho and I decided we were going to do something a little more special for my mom's birthday (which was last Friday). I don't know if anybody else feels it, nor has she ever mentioned it, but we dropped the ball for her 50th birthday. Like dropped it and let it roll down the hill bad. But this year of all years she deserved it. So we took her to the Melting Pot, a place she's wanted to go but I knew she'd never take herself. And it was so much fun. The girls loved it, Jack was an angel and it was the first time in while I've felt like she's actually been able to relax. We didn't know it then, but boy did she need it. Because the next morning, she got a call from my granmother that my grandfather (the one with leukemia) had fallen and had a stroke and was on his way to the ER. My grandmother can't drive herself, so my mom called us to help get her. We sat in the ER for most of the day without any real answers, except that he seemed to be stable (thank goodness). Nacho took the kids home for awhile while my mom and I waited with my grandmother. I think he finally got admitted into a room at 11pm that night. We also spent most of yesterday at the hospital visiting him and it looks like things are getting better (although he's obviously still fighting leukemia).

Which brings me to my next thought - I have an awesome husband. He can drive me crazy (like I'm sure I do to him), but he is one of the most patient and understanding people I've met. He came to the hospital when we needed him, he took the kids home and let me stay when we all needed that. He did all the driving back and forth. He never complained about having to do bedtime by himself (since I got home late both Sat & Sun). He even fixed my car yesterday. He was there for my mom when she needed somebody and he was there for my grandmother who needed all the people she could get. I don't know, maybe all husbands are like this. I just know that mine has stepped up more times than I can count and I am forever grateful.

I also realize how truly lucky I am to have my grandparents in my life still and so close, both in distance and in heart. And how lucky my family is that my children are getting to know their great-grandparents and make memories they truly remember. I realize most people don't get this opportunity.

So here I am today. Back to the daily grind. The girls are at school, the baby is napping - my house looks like a tornado hit it and I don't really care. Because the last few month have taught me how quickly things can change. How much we all take for granted. Yesterday I was able to joke with my grandmother like we have for years (for those who know her, you know her kind of jokes!) and it was so refreshing. Because not so many months ago, she wasn't able to complete a sentence and I wasn't sure I'd ever see her like this again. So I'm going to try to call people more often just to say hi. I'm going to stop talking about having lunch with my other grandmother (my dad's mom) and actually do it. I'm going to stop rushing through each day and actually enjoy it. Well, I'm going to try to do all these things - I do still have 3 children after all!

That takes nerve

Hopefully you remember back to the craziness in our neighborhood back in October with the forclosure where the house got stipped - if not, read here. Dude has some nerve and he moved back into the neighborhood, in a rental, right behind his old house. Like the backyards butt up. He avoids all of us like the plague, which is probably good because we wouldn't have anything nice to say. But the icing on the cake? He's got a new ski boat parked out in front now.

On a positive note, the other forclosure on our street sold.

Grrr...

Who takes care of Mom, when she's sick? Especially when she's busy taking care of three sick chicklets. Preschool germs suck!

Really? Like we need this headache

It looks like we're going to court with Nacho's previous employer, regarding the late payment of his final paycheck. He did finally get his paycheck on the regular payroll date, but he is still owed penatly pay for each day he wasn't paid between his last day of work and payday and his old company is refusing to pay that. They were given a notice of the claim, delivered by the Labor Board Deputy, which they decided to ignore so we got notice yesterday they're setting up a hearing date and that the old company will be served papers. Guess they can't ignore it this time, right?

The burden of proof is on Nacho. Do you think an email, an IM chat and a seperation agreement between him and the CFO all saying they are knowingly and willfully breaking the law will be enough? This has been going on for over 6 months now and we just want it resolved, but we've already put too much energy into it to walk away now. Wish us luck!

Happy Birthday Samantha

Five years ago today, at 11:25am our lives were changed forever with the birth of our first child, a beautiful baby girl. Samantha Lynn came into this world after a very long and difficult labor, weighing 8lbs 2oz & 20.5 in long and just as stunning as possible. She was a happy baby, an inquistive toddler and an amazing little girl. How 5 years has gone by already, I'll never know. Five is such a big milestone. There have been others for us of course - her 1st birthday because, as every parent knows, you're so darn happy you didn't break her! Her 2nd because there was a brief, but very scary time during that year we weren't sure she'd make it to see her birthday. But 5? That's huge. That's one whole hand. This is the year that she'll go off to kindergarten. The year she'll spend a good portion of her day away from me. This is hard for me, as I'm sure you all can imagine.

But I see the beautiful girl before me who amazes me each day and I can't help but be happy that we're at this point. She's smart as a whip (too smart a lot of the time), compassionate and sweet and overall loving. She's also stubborn and tempremental (hmm, wonder where she gets that from?). She is graceful and athletic (something she definitely didn't get from me!) She is helpful and the best big sister anybody could hope for. She makes me proud to be her mother.

So it is today, my sweet darling daughter, that I wish you a very Happy Birthday. May your year be filled with everything you wish for. And always now how much I love you.

Somebody slow down the clock

Jack is going to be 3 months old tomorrow. How did that happen? Did he not the get memo that he can't grow so fast? I know in actual time it doesn't go any faster, but why does the time seem to go so much faster with each additional child? Is it because we're more comfortable as parents and so we don't worry over every little thing or because we're busier this time around with all the girls' activities? What ever the reason, I wish I could find a way to freeze time. I love this stage - the happy smiles and laughs which are so rewarding...yet he is still in the same place I left him when I leave a room. I already know in the blink of an eye I'll be posting that he's about to celebrate his 1st birthday. It's one of those ironies of life - with the first one you don't really appreciate the little things because you're just waiting for them to hit those milestones. And it's not until afterwards, you realize just how fast it went. And then you have more children and you realize how important it is to enjoy the little things and it all just goes zooming by you and before you realize it they're walking, talking little people.

I packed away all of Jack's newborn and 0-3 months clothes over the weekend. And while I'm sure he's happy to be able to straighten his legs when wearing pjs again, it doesn't get any easier for me.

(and for those wondering, yes his eyes are still blue!)