SeaWorld

Since I am planning on printing this out as a memory of our year I need to include a post on SeaWorld and the awful tragedy that happened this week.

One of SW's most experienced trainers was killed Wednesday during a Dine With Shamu experience.  It looks now like Tilli (the whale) grabbed the trainer's pony tail for whatever reason and she died of trauma and drowning.  There is some home video captured just seconds before that awful tragedy http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100227/ap_on_re_us/us_seaworld_death  Dawn was absolutely doing what she loved and I pray her family and SW family hold that peace in their hearts.

We told Lina because I didn't want her to hear in school and there is a 1st grade mom who is a trainer at SW so I figure word would get around.  Lina wanted to know "why" and "how".  I spared the details on Wednesday and Thursday, but today I shared with her what happened and we watched the video above and then our local news had footage from the first "Believe" show since Wednesday.  I wish we could have been there- but the weather was awful.

Lina first rattled off all her whale facts.  She IS doing her Independent Study on killer whales.  Thursday her teacher called to let me know she "wasn't feeling well".  I picked Lina up early and she asked if the trainer was a mom.  No.  She didn't have any children- animals and lots of family and friends and a husband.  It's not unusual for the girls to "play" SW on a Saturday since we have every SW stuffed animal in our house and today they did just that. And I heard Lina say- "we will just reward with claps and fish today".  I think Lina is just trying to process it all.  She LOVES SW.  She LOVES those animals. 

It's awful to think about.  I find my mind wandering thinking about what happened and then I think about my little girls next to those big fish and my heart races and I get chills.  I am a grown adult thinking like that.  My little 6 year old is thinking about that also.  It's just so tragic.

Bye Surprise and Sweet Little Lila

My dad and Pop left today after hanging out most of the day at the house with us.  They enjoyed a yummy barbecue lunch from 4Rivers.  No.  I did not cook for my people.  I am awful.  : )  The girls were entertaining and I enjoyed the adult conversation.  Sweetest moment I will never forget...my Pop "just closing his eyes" (not sleeping) outside on the porch with a crocheted blanket.  A crocheted blanket my Nannnie made.  I didn't take a picture.  I should have.

Bye boys!  Thanks for coming.  That was great.  You got me good.  Love you!!

Tuesday we went and played out at Orange Lake.  The weather cooperated.  The water was FREEZING!!

ADORABLE!!

And now little Lila story.  Lila had her 2 year old well check today.  I was fully expecting "woes" since my mommy gut is feeling "woes".  I find myself cringing when people ask how old she is.  She truly acts/looks/sounds like a 15-18 month old.

Lila weighs 22lbs.  While she has gained ever so slowly and although doc would have liked to see more weight we were happy with an up curve.  She is growing and her head is growing.  Lila still has about an index finger and middle finger together length "soft spot" on her head.  Doc not concerned about that....yet.  She thinks it may be related to..........

The doc's main concerns (and mine) are speech (while it's coming- it's soooo not there yet), low muscle tone, and to get these ear infections (yet another one in each ear- although we are thinking it just never went away- doing a follow up after THIS round of antibiotics) under control (which really could be causing issues with speech).

We had already gone to Early Intervention in October.....for gross motor development delay and yet she scored lower on communication than gross motor, but not enough for services.  The eval wasn't the greatest as compared to when we did that for when we came home with Lina.  Many reasons- it's a system, no money, gov't run, FLOODED with autistic population increase.  My doctor really wants us to see this one doc that is a genetics and brain development specialist.  We saw her with Lina- she is fabulous.  I am good with this.  I want to see what we can do for this little peanut.  This doc will more than likely request blood work where it might be found that Lila's thyroid is the culprit- apparently slow closing soft spot is a clue to that.

I joke that Lina will be in a car seat when she gets her license.  I have since added Lila to that punch line because well- she is little also.  HOWEVER doc would like Lila to be rear facing in the car for fear that if we did stop short her sweet little neck is not strong enough to withstand whiplash.  Ugh.  So Lila will be rear facing in a car seat.....when she gets her license.  I joke, but know this is serious.

So that's the story.  Stay tuned.

SURRRR-PRISE!

Today we had Lila's Tutu 2 Party.  Nothing fancy.  Blackwood family, Ramiz family, and our sweet former neighbors came over for some cupcakes, fruit, and ice cream.  Maybe an adult beverage or two also.  My parents called around 2:45 to say hello and ask how things were going.  Feeling badly for them for missing times like this I talked cheerfully.....up to my elbows in (delicious) cream cheese frosting I was finishing up.  We wrapped that conversation up and we headed outside to get some tutu pictures before everyone arrived.

Our party people arrived and then it was time to sing Happy Birthday 2 YOU!

Strawberry cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and funfetti cupcakes with chocolate buttercream frosting. Um.  YUM!!  I love homemade frosting now. 

So all is going as planned.  Again not a fancy gathering.  I bring Lina's plate outside to her (it was a BEAUTIFUL day) when out of the corner of my eye I see my DAD.  MY dad.  With a bag of playground sand (we are getting sand for a new sand box) and he says he heard we needed sand.  MY DAD.  However not only my dad.  Bob comes around the corner with MY POP.  MY DAD AND MY POP flew in from NY this afternoon to surprise us.  Surprised I was.  I haven't been this surprised since my bridal shower in NY the day after Christmas......and finding out I was pregnant.  This ranked right up there with knocking my socks off.  SO cool.  The funny thing is- I am the surprisER not the one to BE surprised.  : )  I fly to NY and WI to surprise people.  So cool.  SO blessed.

They are here till Wednesday.  Quick visit.  We'll probably go play on Tuesday out at Orange Lake.  Yeah!

Oh Happy Day 2 You Lila Joy!

2 years ago almost to the minute as I write this little Lila Joy was born....a few weeks earlier than planned.  From day 1 we all felt her name fit her so well....JOY.  What a good baby.  What an easy baby- other than those first weeks of no weight gain and jaundice nonsense.  Sweet Lila has been slow on hitting on developmental milestones, like WALKING at 21 months old!!! and talking (of which we can actually understand) is slowly developing, and the gaining weight (only 21 lbs at home scale). 

We had a great day today.  I made muffins this morning and we sang and blew out candles.  Lila wasn't completely sold on it.  We played all morning and then met Carmen for lunch at the Chip.  Came home for a great nap (Lila only) and then went to Gramma and Pa Blackwood's for ice cream sodas.  They offered to take us to dinner and well I thought about it for a minute and said sure- after all I worked hard 2 years ago!!  We enjoyed dinner at Outback where Lila was sung to and enjoyed a big ol scoop of ice cream after chowing on salad, chicken, and broccoli.  Came home in time for a bath, sippy of milk, and some books......only to crash a few minutes later.  What a great 2nd birthday!

Lila you love to read "bukkks" and giggle with your sisters.  You scratch your belly when all excited (and that makes us giggle).  When you feel well you sleep through the night and without any complaints no matter if it's a few minutes earlier than usual.  You say "weeeeeee" when you see (or go on) a swing or slide.  You walk around non stop allllll day.

When you wake up you want your sippy of....chocolate milk.  (Awful mommy- sometimes I can sneak Ovaltine though).  Your favorite breakfast is scrambled eggs, banana, or oatmeal.  For lunch you like turkey, pasta, fruit, or chicken nuggets from Chick Fil A.  For dinner you will (usually) eat whatever mommy makes without complaint.  You LOVE broccoli and cucumbers.  When we walk to get Lina after school you enjoy snack on an "apppppple" and sipping some water while chill-axin in the stroller.

You are finally wearing 12 month clothes.  Sometimes even 18 months isn't too big on you.  Your foot is tiny...size 4.  Your daddy and I joke that your sweet little baby bottom is a peach!  I am so blessed to be your mommy.  I love you baby girl!!  May God bless you this coming year with good health and growth!

Hello little girl

Blow out those candles!

Happy 2 to me!

Yum!  Big sister gets in on the ice cream also

If you're happy and you know it- shout HOORAY!  : )

Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday

Nothing like pancakes for dinner.  Bob was thrilled.  NOT.  But he embraced and joined in the fun.  We had pancakes, purple and green sprinkles, blueberries, and pixie dust for Lyd.  Explaining to the girls why we are having pancakes and talking about Lent....Lina asks, "what are you giving up for Lent?"  NOW I said nothing about us giving up anything just that was behind the whole "chowing on pancakes" and such.  So.  What do you do with that?  I quickly thought of something- sweet tea and Chick Fil A.  Which will be HUGE for me.  HUGE.  Although I have now turned onto a chicken strips SALAD at our 3x a week CFA run....that shouldn't count, right??  We'll see.  The sweet tea though- that will be a sacrifice. 

I turned the cards on Lina and asked what would she think about giving up.  She decided on chocolate milk....which she gets at lunch 3x a week.  We'll see if she can do it.

I don't usually give something up.  Not sure why.  Just wasn't emphasized growing up and I think that's more of a "Catholic thing", no?  Regardless, I could use a little reminder of sacrifice....as trivial as sweet tea is compared to the sacrifice Christ made for ME....for you.

We went to church tonight at 7.  BAAAAAD idea, but we pushed through.  Fabulous Lenten meal prepared at church though- Lyd ate sketti with SAUCE and Lila chowed on my chicken.  Lina picked a little of everything.  Service was ending and the imposition of ashes....I had explained to Lina before about it and said if she didn't want ashes that was ok.  Well, Lydia decided she wanted ashes as long as it "doesn't mess up her pony tail".    We got home and Lydia scrubbed her ashes off immediately.  ; )  Lina wants to "wear hers to school tomorrow".  My little witness.

Some pictures from pancake night:

Lila was NOT thrilled with crown and posing.  She chowed on pancakes and blueberries though!

Sweet pouty baby.

Not Much Going On, but Busy

How is that possible?

Sweet Lila Joy once again fighting an ear infection and she has molars coming through.  She does NOT sleep well with either.  We got Lydia feeling better and SLEEPING in her own bed by HERSELF and then it's Lila's round.  I tell you.....I can't do all nighters anymore.

Lila seems better today.  She put away half a bagel from Panera and then ate 3 of Lydia's chicken nuggets.  Why yes, I did not make anything for my children to eat today.  Lila got some money and a gift card for her b-day and I felt the need to get out of the house.....so off Lila and I went on some errands this morning.

I enjoyed a wonderful day in Ocala this weekend.  You remember my friend Jen Reese (Rath), right?  We have been friends since Kindergarten.  Somehow we both ended up in FL in our grown up life.  So fun.  We saw one another more often before marriage and kids, but at least 4 times a year we get together.  Ma Rath turned 75 and the kids (all 5 of them) put together a surprise party for her.  It was great!  She was totally surprised.  I met some folks from Long Island and met Jen's uncle who worked with my mother-in-law's cousin's husband.  Follow that?  Small world in other words!  : )

Me and Jen

Nothing spectacular for Valentine's Day.  My husband is still claiming the van as a gift.  Which pretty much ticks me off, but what can you do.  Just hoping he doesn't play the "van card" on March 2.  ; )

 

Bathing beauty!

We are having another cold snap.  I can't do it anymore.  I couldn't hang like my Northern folk friends with all that snow.  We had frost this morning.  Hoping tomorrow is a little warmer.

Valentine's Sweetness

I love Valentine's Day for kids.  It's so sweet and innocent....and FUN!!  Lydia cut her heart Valentine's out last week.  Lina made hers on the computer.  I helped a little with some wording options.  She chose:

LOVE is patient and kind.

A FRIEND loves at all times.

Thanks for being a friend.

Taped a lollipop on and she wrote her name.  Sweet.  Innocent.

Lina's teacher invited moms and dads to come read a Valentine story to the class.  Haven't read to a class in a long time!  I signed up and searched for a good Valentine book.  We found Amelia Bedelia's First Valentine.  The author of this is the nephew of the author of the AB as a grown up.  This was AB as a young girl....yet still very literal.  It was a sweet story.  The moms got the humor more than the kids.  : )

The kids then enjoyed some sweet treats and delivered their Valentine's.  Nope.  No pictures.  It was pouring, Bob came home for lunch so that I could go, and I ran out the door.  What a gross weather day it was yesterday.

We were just about ready to pack up and leave when the exceptional ed PK teacher came in looking for Lina.  (A little background- Lina's school is a magnet program for exceptional ed.  The school does a great job of inclusion/mainstreaming.  At Thanksgiving time Lina's reading group buddied up with this class to do a play together.  The bigger kids just holding their buddies' hands, keeping them quiet and helping with their line.  Lina took GREAT pride in her new friend, Mark.  They are still good friends.  Lina plays with Mark on the playground twice a week.  In December Brookshire had a book night at Barnes and Noble.  Mark was there and the two of them hugged and walked around the children's section....Lina reading to Mark.  It is a very sweet little friendship).  Ok, that's the background.  Mrs. T comes is in with a Valentine for Lina from Mark!

It is the sweetest note from Mark's MOM to me and a note to Lina thanking her for being a good friend to Mark.  It is precious.  It made me cry in the classroom when I read it.  Something I will save.  Lina was so proud of getting this Valentine.  Her little buddies next to her both commented on what a good friend Mark is.

Now truth be told this little "relationship" Lina has with Mark "worries" me a little.  I shared my concern with Lina's teacher and asked if Lina misses out playing with 1st graders when these little guys are out..  She assured me that Lina always has a first grade buddy with her when she goes to build in the sand box (which grosses me out) or ride on bikes with Mark.

Lina loves her buddy Mark.  She accepts her little buddy for his very loud ways, his learning differently than her.  He is just her friend.  All 4 years old of himself  : )  It doesn't matter.  Maybe I should just learn something from my girl and not worry so much.

YET will scream and yell at her 3 year old sister each and every day?  Hmmm???

ACK. Sick Again

Lydia hasn't been herself for a few days now.  Icky nose, bad cough, waking more than usual.  I have given it about 5 days.  No fever so I hate to run into the doc.  Lila has icky nose also.  AGAIN.   I called and got....a 3:00 apt.  You know 15 minutes after I am to pick up Lina.  Luckily Bob had a slow day so he came home and helped out.

Well.  Lydia has both ears infected and doc heard some "wheezing".  So they gave her a breathing treatment in the office.  THAT was a lot fun.  I literally had to "man-handle" that girl.  She honestly screamed like I was pulling her fingernails off.  Poor Lila started crying and the really nice guy nurse picked her up.  She finally settled and Lyd, after screaming "DO NOT DARE turn that smokey machine on", she did the treatment.  I was sweating.  Doc mentioned some possible side effects with that albuterol....and we were out the door.  Do need to go back on Friday for a re-check though on the wheezing.

Side effect, you ask?  May be hyper.  WELL, Lydia Jean was bouncing off the walls.  I did not give her a treatment before bed and she didn't shut off until 9:30.  YIKES.  Not looking forward to tomorrow or the next.  Poor girl.

OH Lydia. The Things You Say.

I need to just start this post and add to it as my girl makes us chuckle.

First, no day is complete without one of these looks.  Something wasn't "fair" or Lina "did" something to her.

Lydia has a new phrase- "some people call it (insert the word that LYDIA would like it to be called)".  Examples:

• Over Christmas break our beloved Ramiz family friends took the girls (ALL 3) for the day.  They were doing some preparing for an African themed New Year's Eve party coming up.  They had some musical instruments out and Martin held the "jambe" (I think) which is an African drum.  Lydia looked at him and said, "well some people call it a drum".
• I drew some hearts on paper last week and hung them on our easel for Lyd to paint.  Thought I would show Lydia how to make different colors.  She was a little interested.  So I go for pink.  Make some pink paint and bring that outside to the easel and told her to use the pink to paint the hearts.  Lydia looks at me and says "some people use red".
• Today.  I was doing some repair work on the "Princerella blanket" (she no longer calls the "girls" Princerella, but the blanket will always be princerella to me).  The binding is coming off and I thought "hey- I can use my sewing machine" and show Lydia how I am doing this and maybe have her press the "gas".  She was only interested in watching (and Lina can't even watch- she is afraid that needle is going to stick my finger!!)  So Lyd is watching and telling me that the "feathers" are so soft and it is so pretty, etc.  Again commenting about the "feathers".  I agree that the blanket is so soft and pretty, etc and that the fleece ("feathers") is pink.  Lydia's response after a few minutes of silence, "well, some people call it feathers".

No sweet girl- YOU call it ______________________ and it's one reason you make me smile and love you so much!!

Birthday Month

I always like to think March is all about my birthday.  ALL month long, well until Bob's b-day on the 26th.  : )  SO with it being February...we are celebrating Lila's 2nd b-day all month long!  Today we started with Grammy and Papa's present.  I can't believe that we have never had one of these before.  It will be put to great use.  Bob assembled the table with some help.

If you look at Lila's little lips you can tell that she was grunting.  HILARIOUS.

The bigs loved playing IN the box; and they let Lila join them.

All settled in for a snack.  Once the bigs tried every seat out and finally settled on these.  Thanks Grammy and Papa.  Lila (and sisters) love the new table!

And So Ends the Week

Girls are snuggled up watching Tweety and Sylvester.  Bob has this sudden desire to share the "classics" with them..  They LOVE them.  Total girl giggle.  Sweet Lila says "owie" with every head bonk.

Lina had a field trip today.  I LOVE this side of field trips.  : )  80 first graders walked to the mail box a few blocks from school and then we walked over to the park and took that over for an hour or so before having lunch and playing for a few more minutes.  Lina has her tongue out concentrating EVEN when opening a mail box.  Love her.

I am happy to report that our little buddy, Abigail, did great yesterday with her heart "shock day" and her heart is beating like it should be.  She still will need to have a heart catherization on 3/11.  Please keep this little sweetie in your prayers....as well as Dianne and Scott. 

Not much on our agenda this weekend.  I am trying to re-paint the girls' bathroom- garden theme- so hopefully I can get in there and paint.  Sunday we will enjoy some first half SuperBowl festivities at a friend's house.

Lila is cracking me up lately with her WEARING OF THE PIG EARS NOW and enjoying them.  Halloween you would have thought we were sticking her with needles.

Lydia inherited Lina's Leapster and after a few frustrating weeks she is really enjoying it.

Lina is now into chapter books.  Her reading teacher is encouraging the kids to try them out.  I am not sold yet that a 1st grader should be reading these even if they can, but we are giving it a try and keep my mouth zipped.  She likes them though.  Just need to slow her down.  I hate to read.  It's awful.  I want to like to read, but nope, I don't.  Here is Lina reading one of Puppy Series books.  We just got a few from the author of Because of Winn Dixie.  I am looking forward to hearing her read these.

Fun with Friends and Black and White

Lina is so very much enjoying school this year.  Her teacher is absolutely wonderful.....and is so nice to me and understanding to my many questions/concerns/emails : ) .  Today she asked about the choir Lina sings in and to tell her when she sings that she would try and come.  Lina would eat that up.

Well, academically I so very much do not worry about Lina.  Socially?  Yea, that I worry about.  She is a tiny one in her class, quiet, and not the most mature....that summer b-day!  Lina is happy and her teacher tells me she plays with everyone, she is never being a "loner" and just friends with everyone.  So I should just let it go.  I KNOW.  We have started doing some play dates after school every now and then and that helps.

Every Wednesday Emma(lina) comes home with us (helps her mom who picks up lil brother at same time).  Some days Emma stays for a little bit.  Emma is probably the tallest girl in their class.  Today Emma and Lina came out of the hallway holding hands and being all giggly and silly.  Why?  Because they looked like a page from Gymboree catalog!

Isn't that funny?  Totally coordinated.  Funny in 1st grade, but maybe not so much in HS!  : )

Ok, here is my black and white tutu.  I dropped it off at Trinity today and the office gals all oohed and asked if I am making these now.  I said, yes.  Kind of hoping I get a "bite".  And my "company" name is

L'TuTu

Sewing and Cutting

My dear friend, Rennie, came over to help me finish one of my (many) projects I have going on right now....Lina's nightgown.  I have just a few things to do on my own and it is finished.  Only to begin 2 more.  I am getting a little more confident behind the ol' machine.  Not much, but a little : )

I am working on a black and silver tutu for Trinity's auction.  If I sit uninterrupted it takes me an hour to finish one.  My thinking is that maybe someone will bid on it and maybe it brings me some business.  I see these things in the store for $25-$50.  I wouldn't sell them for that, but a few dollars for my time....might be nice.  We'll see.  The auction is the beginning of March.

Rennie left and I started to make a copy of a Brighton bag that I have.  I made a drawstring bag!  I am having a hard time figuring out the string, but it's cute if I do say so myself.  I am going to make another one and the girls can use them to bring their Valentine's to school.

Lydia loves to cut lately.  So I thought I would get her started on her class Valentine's.  She rocked on cutting hearts.  Writing her name....not so much.  : )  She gets stuck on Y so then she gets frustrated.  So she cut and I wrote.

First Field Trip Fun with Lydia

Aw.  Little Lyd had her first field trip today.  They went to the brand spankin' new fire station in downtown Orlando.  Wowie wow wow.  Swanky!  ; )

Mother of the year that I am....forgot my camera.  Truth be told though.  I was soooo looking forward to the hour and a half to myself to run some much needed errands.  There were enough cameras though and a nice mom emailed me some tonight.

This is Lydia's class.  Check out the little guy with his fireman jacket on!  Isn't that adorable.  He is a sweet little guy.  See Lydia?

Fire stations.  Why is it that 3 year olds need to go there??  It's very interesting as a mom to see the firemen, I mean the fire station ; ), and how it all works but by the end there were 6 kids in tears....Lydia being one of them. She was fine until the guy put his gear on.  Then she was done.  Then "let's hear the siren/bell ring and see the fireman slide down the pole (ok, this was WAY cool)" and most of the kids had enough.  They did get to spray the hose.  Oh no, not Lydia though.  She might get wet.  Monkey.  We were a block away from school and it started to rain.  THAT was fun ; )  Good trip though.

I went to the Y this afternoon. It's been uh um er since September.  I couldn't find my membership card, but they scanned me in at the door.  The girls did great in the child watch- there goes that excuse now!  Actually it was a sigh of relief and I did :30 on the treadmill.  I did find my membership card.  IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BASKET IN THE CHILD WATCH ROOM.  How embarassing.  : )  Hoping to get there 3x this week.  Not tomorrow AM though....I'll be sewing!  Got lots of projects going on...nothing completed other than 3 tutus..