A member of my Moms Club received the devastating news last week that she only had between 2 weeks and 2 months to live. She was supposed to begin chemotherapy but learned that her liver cancer which was believed to have been contained and removed had spread to her kidneys, ovaries and lymph nodes. She is very weak and the cancer is too aggressive so chemotherapy is no longer an option. She is now home with a pain management program and Hospice. My heart has been breaking for her. Colleen has 2 small children, a 5 year old daughter and a 2 year old son. How does a mom say goodbye to her children??? To know that she won't see her daughter go off to kindergarten next year, she won't wish them a happy birthday ever again or see another Christmas. Colleen has been very kind to my family in the past- bringing us a meal when we needed one and handing down some clothes to Emma. I can vividly remember many times when I've bumped into Colleen around town, either sledding or at the pediatrician's office, and stopped to chat with her. Our kids have played together at playgroups. And now, at only 40 years old, her life is almost over and her children will be lucky if they even have memories of her when they grow up.
I wrote a grant request to the National Moms Club organization last night requesting money be given to the family to help her husband with living expenses so he can stay home and help his kids deal with the tremendous loss of their mom and to assist with grief counseling. But money cannot replace a mother's love and advice and smiles and hugs and kisses. It' s just not fair. I have tears streaming down my face as I write this. The thought of it breaks my heart.
Over the last few days, I have found myself dropping everything to play with Ethan, Kaitlyn and Kylie whenever they ask. Laundry and dishes can wait..... I'm sure I'll fall back into a routine of telling the kids to play on their while Mommy does her daily chores but right now I need to be by their sides because you just never know what life has in store for us. Every moment is precious. No mother should ever have to say goodbye to her babies.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
She's 1!
It's so hard to believe that our little baby girl just turned 1..... Where does the time go? I remember so vividly lying in the hospital with Emma on my chest when she was only a couple hours old, the kids (especially Kaitlyn) running into the hospital room to meet her, bringing her home, spending nights during her first few months curled up in the double bed in her room with her snuggling by my side. These memories are so sweet and precious to me just like she is. Emma is such a joy. We call her our little "Bungo" because she loves to cling on to us and just walk around in our arms.
A picture of Emma earlier in the day:
After getting home from having her 1 year Pictures Taken at Molly's:
Playing with her 1st Bday present:
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We had a fun time celebrating Emma's first birthday. On September 26th- her actual birthday- she was a bit grouchy during dinner due to teething and exhaustion but she managed to make it to her Birthday song and chocolate cupcake. Ethan, Kaitlyn & Kylie were so excited to get to sing to her :)
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The next day, we had our family and friend party. It's always such a special time when we can get all of our relatives and some of our close friends in one house. JP and I always talk about how much we miss our pre-children friends since we have been the only ones with kids for quite some time. We were especially happy that Dave (or Uncle Davey as the kids call him) was able to come since he's been in Arizona for all the birthdays in the past. We were also really happy to Nana Perrault with us!
The kids patiently waiting for their cake:
Opening & Playing with Presents:
The Birthday Girl with Nana Perrault:
Monday, September 22, 2008
Emma's Big News
So one week ago, I meant to update the site with Ema's big news but somehow just never had the 2 minutes to do it until now.....
Emma took her first steps!!!! I am by no means ready for this feat and do not encourage it whatsoever, but yet she keeps on practicing all the same. Last Sunday while JP and I were at King Richard's Faire, Emma starting taking baby steps at my mom's house. When we got home later that day, she showed off her new trick for me as well. Four very well calculated little baby steps as she headed for a toy :) The little trooper doesn't even slow down when she takes a tumble- she just stands right back up.
I am glad to say that walking has not been a major priority for her this week and crawling is still her preferred method of getting around but she does still dare a few steps now and then. She's practicing in her crib at night though which is very funny. While I'm reading the kids their bedtime stories in the guest bed in Emma's room, she paces back and forth in her crib trying to perfect her new skill. I'm fairly certain one of these days she'll just stand up and run.
Emma took her first steps!!!! I am by no means ready for this feat and do not encourage it whatsoever, but yet she keeps on practicing all the same. Last Sunday while JP and I were at King Richard's Faire, Emma starting taking baby steps at my mom's house. When we got home later that day, she showed off her new trick for me as well. Four very well calculated little baby steps as she headed for a toy :) The little trooper doesn't even slow down when she takes a tumble- she just stands right back up.
I am glad to say that walking has not been a major priority for her this week and crawling is still her preferred method of getting around but she does still dare a few steps now and then. She's practicing in her crib at night though which is very funny. While I'm reading the kids their bedtime stories in the guest bed in Emma's room, she paces back and forth in her crib trying to perfect her new skill. I'm fairly certain one of these days she'll just stand up and run.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Kaitlyn's New "Chore"
Kaitlyn now has a chore that she has happily assigned to herself- doing all the school lunch and breakfast dishes on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday before dinner. I couldn't be happier! ;) That's not my favorite chore......
Thursday, September 4, 2008
The Great Stair Challenge
August 30, 2008
I was looking through the kids' baby pictures the other day to add some to their school projects and came across pictures of Kylie climbing the family room stairs for the first time when she was 10 1/2 months. Later I jokingly told JP that Emma was slacking behind at 11 months having not yet climbed the stairs to which he responded that we hadn't given her a chance yet- which was true. She's usually in her play area, in my arms, or playing on the floor in upper play room. So we put Emma to the Great Stair Challenge of 2008 to see what she would do-
And without any hesitation she practically walked up the stairs! We're thinking she probably could've tackled them when she was 8 months......
I was looking through the kids' baby pictures the other day to add some to their school projects and came across pictures of Kylie climbing the family room stairs for the first time when she was 10 1/2 months. Later I jokingly told JP that Emma was slacking behind at 11 months having not yet climbed the stairs to which he responded that we hadn't given her a chance yet- which was true. She's usually in her play area, in my arms, or playing on the floor in upper play room. So we put Emma to the Great Stair Challenge of 2008 to see what she would do-
And without any hesitation she practically walked up the stairs! We're thinking she probably could've tackled them when she was 8 months......
Monday, August 25, 2008
Family Follies.....
The kids are always saying and doing things that just crack us up, here are a few from the last week:
- At preschool, I was setting up everyone's breakfast and Kaitlyn was convinced that she didn't have as many blueberries as Kylie and Ethan did. So she counted them-"one, two, three, four, six, seven, five, nine, ten, eleventeen"....
- Kylie was acting out a bit this morning, so I pulled her close and gave her a big hug to distract her and we starting talking. She asked why I married Daddy to which I replied that I loved Daddy and we wanted to have children. At that moment JP walked by, having just woken up, and rolled his eyes..... Kylie then told me that she was going to marry Ethan but not yet- she was going to wait until she got older. I explained that she shouldn't marry Ethan because they were related but rather someone that she was really good friends with. She was ok with that. I asked what color house she wanted to live in and she said "pink". Then she said she wanted to have gardens so she could pick me flowers... So sweet! :)
- Emma now dances- anytime she hears music either from the kids toys or on TV, she bops up and down with a big smile on her face.
- Tonight, during dinner we interviewed the kids for a project we need to do with them for school- an "All About Me" box. We askedthem each about all their favorite things. When we were done, Kylie grabbed the paper and pen and said "OK- my turn, So Daddy- what's your favorite thing to do?" She then scribbled down his answer and asked everyone else the same question. Then Kaitlyn took a turn and then Ethan. It was a really fun dinner. And who would ever believe that when asked what her favorite dinner is- Kylie said "swordfish" which was what she had just finished third helpings of.
I know there is an Ethan story but for the life of me I just can't remember it right now... I'll add it when I do. Edited on 9/4/08-(I remembered! The kids went to the dentist for their check-up and all came home with new toothbrushes with really wide bases on them so they didn't fit in our toothbrush holder which bothered me..... The next night when we were brushing teeth, I muttered something to myself about how annoying it was that the toothbrushes didn't fit. Ethan took his toothbrush turned it upside down and put it in the holder and said- "It fits Mommy-look!". Outsmarted by a 3 year old! I never even considered turning the brush bristle end down).
- At preschool, I was setting up everyone's breakfast and Kaitlyn was convinced that she didn't have as many blueberries as Kylie and Ethan did. So she counted them-"one, two, three, four, six, seven, five, nine, ten, eleventeen"....
- Kylie was acting out a bit this morning, so I pulled her close and gave her a big hug to distract her and we starting talking. She asked why I married Daddy to which I replied that I loved Daddy and we wanted to have children. At that moment JP walked by, having just woken up, and rolled his eyes..... Kylie then told me that she was going to marry Ethan but not yet- she was going to wait until she got older. I explained that she shouldn't marry Ethan because they were related but rather someone that she was really good friends with. She was ok with that. I asked what color house she wanted to live in and she said "pink". Then she said she wanted to have gardens so she could pick me flowers... So sweet! :)
- Emma now dances- anytime she hears music either from the kids toys or on TV, she bops up and down with a big smile on her face.
- Tonight, during dinner we interviewed the kids for a project we need to do with them for school- an "All About Me" box. We askedthem each about all their favorite things. When we were done, Kylie grabbed the paper and pen and said "OK- my turn, So Daddy- what's your favorite thing to do?" She then scribbled down his answer and asked everyone else the same question. Then Kaitlyn took a turn and then Ethan. It was a really fun dinner. And who would ever believe that when asked what her favorite dinner is- Kylie said "swordfish" which was what she had just finished third helpings of.
I know there is an Ethan story but for the life of me I just can't remember it right now... I'll add it when I do. Edited on 9/4/08-(I remembered! The kids went to the dentist for their check-up and all came home with new toothbrushes with really wide bases on them so they didn't fit in our toothbrush holder which bothered me..... The next night when we were brushing teeth, I muttered something to myself about how annoying it was that the toothbrushes didn't fit. Ethan took his toothbrush turned it upside down and put it in the holder and said- "It fits Mommy-look!". Outsmarted by a 3 year old! I never even considered turning the brush bristle end down).
Friday, August 15, 2008
Clothes, clothes and more clothes......
In preparation of the summer coming to an end (or washing away as the case may be here in New England), this morning I decided to tackle bringing out the kids' fall and winter wardrobes while everyone was happy watching TV. I trekked up to the attic and shifted around all the diaper boxes that house hand me downs and clothes that were bought last season. There are a lot of boxes up there, all labelled neatly with Ethan's, Kaitlyn & Kylie's, or Emma's name as well as the size of the clothes and the season they should be brought down. We have boxes labelled through 2010 up there.
I thought I was doing really well after bringing down 9 boxes of clothes to sort through. In the end 5 boxes worth were "keepers" for the fall and winter and headed to the laundry, 3 boxes worth aren't needed until Spring, 3 boxes worth were worthy of going to consignment and 1 box worth will be heading to charity. Then I hung up all the consignment clothes on hangers to save time when I drop them off.
I was so happy before dinner tonight to have this task done! I proceeded to bring the 3 boxes of clothes for next SPring back up to the attic and what did I see?!?!? 7- yes 7- boxes all labelled "Emma- 12-24months". Apparently last summer when I was doing all this while 9 months pregnant, I didn't separate the clothes I was pulling from the girls' closet into 12 months- 18 months and 24 months- I just shoved everything into boxes.
I have no idea how I overlooked these 7 boxes when I was in the attic this morning.
but regardless I trekked back down to the foyer with 7 more boxes to sift through. Of these, 2 more are heading to consignment, 1/2 a box is going to charity, 2 more are headed back to the attic for the Spring and the other 2 1/2 are headed to the laundry and somehow need to be fit into Emma's already overflowing closet and bureau.....I must say though that I really do enjoy sorting through the clothes for Emma because they bring back such sweet memories of Kaitlyn and Kylie wearing certain outfits. I pick up a pair of overalls and see Kylie climbing the family room stairs in them and I hold a sweater and picture Kaitlyn smiling at me while wearing it.It seems like just yesterday that they were wearing all these.....
So today was definitely productive, between all the other daily Mommy activities that I did, I sorted through 16 boxes of clothes. Of course, I'll be busy doing load after load of laundry for the next few days and then putting everything away but by the end of the weekend this oh-so dreaded task will be done (until March rolls around and I start it all over again).
I thought I was doing really well after bringing down 9 boxes of clothes to sort through. In the end 5 boxes worth were "keepers" for the fall and winter and headed to the laundry, 3 boxes worth aren't needed until Spring, 3 boxes worth were worthy of going to consignment and 1 box worth will be heading to charity. Then I hung up all the consignment clothes on hangers to save time when I drop them off.
I was so happy before dinner tonight to have this task done! I proceeded to bring the 3 boxes of clothes for next SPring back up to the attic and what did I see?!?!? 7- yes 7- boxes all labelled "Emma- 12-24months". Apparently last summer when I was doing all this while 9 months pregnant, I didn't separate the clothes I was pulling from the girls' closet into 12 months- 18 months and 24 months- I just shoved everything into boxes.
I have no idea how I overlooked these 7 boxes when I was in the attic this morning.
but regardless I trekked back down to the foyer with 7 more boxes to sift through. Of these, 2 more are heading to consignment, 1/2 a box is going to charity, 2 more are headed back to the attic for the Spring and the other 2 1/2 are headed to the laundry and somehow need to be fit into Emma's already overflowing closet and bureau.....I must say though that I really do enjoy sorting through the clothes for Emma because they bring back such sweet memories of Kaitlyn and Kylie wearing certain outfits. I pick up a pair of overalls and see Kylie climbing the family room stairs in them and I hold a sweater and picture Kaitlyn smiling at me while wearing it.It seems like just yesterday that they were wearing all these.....
So today was definitely productive, between all the other daily Mommy activities that I did, I sorted through 16 boxes of clothes. Of course, I'll be busy doing load after load of laundry for the next few days and then putting everything away but by the end of the weekend this oh-so dreaded task will be done (until March rolls around and I start it all over again).
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