Saturday, May 18, 2013

Abigail loves bananas. A lot. Bananas and green beans are her favorites. I gave her one of those little mesh fruit things and when she figured out there was a banana in there, it was gone in no time.


In fact, I gave Olivia and Abigail the same size of banana and look who finished first?


Olivia is struggling with swimming lessons. She literally started hyperventilating about lessons this morning. We didn't make her go, but we are doing a make up session (with dad) this week. I feel bad for the other 5 kids in her class because she really requires one on one attention. Her swim instructor last week ( who I really like ) just dunked her to make her go under water. That is probably the best way for most kids, but it kinda traumatized Olivia. I did buy her some goggles to see if that helps. And the Y's outdoor water park opens next week and I think she will have a lot of fun. She struggles with a lot of anxiety, especially being separated from me. I just pray for her every day and that I may help her in the best way I know how. Our biggest challenges remain her anxiety, eating and weight gain. If we could just get a handle on those three things. . .well, I'm sure there are always new challenges out there. Please continue to keep my family in your prayers.


Totally off subject, but this week Olivia started watching Jake and the Neverland Pirates ( it's on Netflix now.) Adorable show. I had never seen it before either. She loves that there is an Izzy on it. This girl is crazy about her cousin.

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Last Day

Today was Olivia's last day of preschool. It was kinda hard for both of us to say good-bye as preschool has been such a blessing this year. Olivia has a lot of anxiety about going to new places and experiencing new things. But, never once did she cry about going to preschool this year. She adored it and her teachers were fabulous!!



She learned so much and it was such a positive experience for her. Thank you to the wonderful teachers and staff at Kidslink! We'll definitely see you with Abigail in a couple of years!



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And Now The Happy News. . .

After being told they could not have any more children, my brother and his wife are expecting! Izzy will be such a fabulous big sister!! We are all so excited! All of Abigail's cousins are at least 5 years older and we thought she would always be the baby. Christmas will be so much fun this year!! Please keep them and this new, precious baby in your prayers.



Izzy and Abigail

Jodi- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Bad Day

What a rough, rough day.  [Insert the song Bad Day by Daniel Powter. It can play in your mind while you read the rest of the post.] My sanity was greatly challenged. I've had horrible insomnia the last two nights and last night I was up until 2 am. For 3 months Abigail has regularly gotten up one time a night.  She eats and goes right back to sleep like clockwork and sleeps until 7-8 am. Needless to say, 4 am came pretty early.  And for the first time, ever, she didn't go back to sleep!  She was up until 6:30 am.  I finally got her content in her swing and I laid down on the couch.  Olivia usually sleeps until 9 am and she woke up at 7:30 am and woke Abigail up in the process. Holy moly I was tired. I tried to work in a quick nap all day and nothing worked in my favor. Both girls have colds and I'm teetering on the edge of one. 

Olivia is really struggling with a lot of jealousy towards Abigail.  She literally broke my heart in two when she told me that I didn't take care of her as good as I did when she was 4.  I always take care of Abigail, she says.  Wow.  I don't see how parents of multiple children do it except maybe the kids are closer in age and don't remember what it's like to be an only child? Olivia very clearly remembers. She literally bawls if I go into Abigail's room with her and shut the door. I'm just at a loss ( and getting by on 3 hours of sleep right now.) So, I decided to cancel my appointments on Thursday, take Abigail to grandma's and Olivia and I are having an afternoon to ourselves. She wants to go to the park and swimming at the Y.  Just the two of us.  Maybe that will help.  Maybe when Abigail gets a bit older and able to play more, that will help Olivia too because she will have a playmate. Olivia is also acting out quite a bit too. I was feeding Abigail in the recliner and she was rocking it really hard.  I told her if she rocked it again, she would go to her room.  She looked straight at me and pushed the chair really hard.  So, of course, she went to her room and I became the meanest mom in the world.  Deep breath. :-) Some days are just rough.  Then, Olivia and I had a heart to heart and she said:

Mom, I love you every day and every night.  In the night I dream about you and during the day I have daydreams about you when we are in different places.  She is so sweet.  Just wish I didn't feel guilty no matter what I do.  And I need sleep.  Precious sleep. 

To further solidify my evidence that today was an awful day, my day's friend Marty that I told you about passed away today. Thankfully, my dad was able to spend Sunday and yesterday with him. Please pray for Marty's family and my dad.  Life can be so rough sometimes.

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to my mom.  I have been so blessed to have such an amazing mom all of my life.  Whether it was calming my fears as a child, playing Even Elephants Forget with me a million times, attending every school function I ever had, sleeping in a chair beside me (that we didn’t know folded out) every night while I was in the hospital as a teenager, taking me out for ice cream after I got dumped, keeping my house in order while I was pregnant, picking my daughter up from preschool or coming over at 3 am because my husband was gone and I had a newborn and a puking daughter.  She is always there when I need her.  35 years and always there.  Is there any greater mother than one who is always there when you need her? I try to be that kind of mother for my girls.  I hope that in 35 years, they can say the same about me.

Happy Mother’s Day to ALL of the wonderful mothers out there including my wonderful mother-in-law, my grandma, my grandma-in-law, my three wonderful sister-in-laws (or is it sisters-in-law?) and the many women who have been like a mom to me throughout the years.  Thank you for shaping me into who I am today.