When I'm Happy, I Know It

All the parenting books say to encourage your children to "use your words" and to help them "label their emotions." Well. I think we are doing something right, against all odds.

And Then There Were Four

It started in November, the week of Thanksgiving, with Cody. He's usually the hardiest of the bunch, so when he fell asleep reading one afternoon, I knew something was up. 

Sure enough, before long he had a high fever and what seemed like the flu, but was actually called adenovirus. Key word "virus," meaning "THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU. HANG IN THERE." 

He missed the entire week of school. The night of Thanksgiving, Cordelia looked suspiciously warm. Then followed the sickest she has ever been, including the foot and hand and whatever disease. It was  absolutely awful. 

She got up to 105 for a couple of days before the fever finally broke. She had to miss the whole week of school.

Then we had, like, 30 hours where everyone was great. Naturally, on a weekend, but hey! We figured we were in the clear! We could go out for our anniversary! I could go to JVL's book launch!

The next morning—December 6—we awoke to this face:

 
It was the saddest (and scariest) thing I've ever seen with her. She couldn't even help decorate the tree. Oh, and she missed a week of school, by the way. That would be three consecutive weeks with one of them out of school. It's amazing we still have jobs.

 This is her getting BETTER, believe it or not.

Anyway, somehow, in the middle of this—despite the fact that I was literally sleeping in someone else's room or on the bathroom floor for a couple of weeks—this happened. 

I can only explain it by trusting that it's God's will and plan for us. That's the only explanation, really. My doctor has a different opinion. ("Haven't I TOLD YOU BEFORE how this happens?!" : )

Anyway, come August, we will have a quartet. Well, minus Emma, really, because it's increasingly clear she can't carry a tune in a bucket. Maybe we have two mixed doubles tennis teams? Well, except Cordelia might knock herself unconscious on the pole or get herself caught in the net. Anyway, we will have another little boy soon!

Cody and Emma are psyched. Cordelia is getting there — but her initial reaction is one I'll never forget. My sweet girl.

Rocknocerous

A couple weeks ago, I took the girls up to Alexandria to meet Fiona, Kelly, and Mark for a kids' concert, which was adorable. The girls had SUCH fun together. I have video, too (in which Cordelia dancing hearkens back to Elaine Benes), but I have to upload it, and I don't know when I'll get to that, so…to tide you over. Cousinly love!

UPDATE: Here's video!

Swim Kids

We have suddenly become people with too many activities. It used to be just the big kids swimming. Now we've got swim, soccer, piano/guitar (for Cody) and religious education. Um. The week is not long enough. And yet, interminable…

 

But in bigger news, in an effort to reduce the near-constant conflict amongst these harmonious little creatures, we moved Cody into the small bedroom and moved Emma into the lower bunk (and Cora moved up a level). So there is now a "Girls Rule!" room and a "KEEP OUT BOYS ONLY" room. Seriously—that was the first fruit of our deconfliction efforts. Anyway, we got a bed at Ikea (poor JVL sighing, "Why do your big ideas always involve me building something?"—but he did it so well!) and just in time. Turns out Cody needs the room.

 

Emma is still adjusting to her new room. Slowly. Painfully. Agonizingly. With many tantrums and climbing into the top bunk and urging Cordelia "let's TALK!" I find this both irritating and hilarious, because Emma is now playing the role of annoying, wakeful little sister that heretofore Cordelia has occupied alone. So, Cora spends most nights falling asleep in our bed while Emma freaks out and finally passes out, and then we move her into her bed when we come up. This too shall pass. Right?

 The thing is — when she DOES sleep, she's damn delicious.