Birthday Babies

What a whirlwind month! My babies turned 8 and 6…which is crazy. Cordelia had a fantastic day. Per her request, I picked her up from school early, and we went to Panera and the secondhand bookstore...

… where I gave her a new tote bag and told her to fill it up. (The books are $1.00 - $1.50 apiece!)

She chose…26.

And then couldn't wait to start!

Cody gave her the first Harry Potter, now that she's six. I gave her The Wizard of Oz, because her big present is that we are going to see the show in DC in a couple of weeks!

Then we went out for dinner at Not Your Average Joe's, where she informed the staff they have "the most amazing chicken tenders in the world."

The day before Cody's birthday, we surprised the kids at school at lunchtime. They grabbed their lunch boxes and we hopped in the van for a trip to the beach! It was COLD. But really fun.

Cordelia gave Cody Harry Potter #4, since he had just finished #3 and lives in an HP world in his mind.

Later that morning, JVL ran the 5K that I ran last year, with a great time!

We had planned to hang out on the beach, but the wind was wild and it was chilly, so we went to the bookstore, where everyone got a special present, and then to the movies! It was Cody's second time at the movies (Star Wars was his first, this past December) and the girls' first movie. We saw Zootopia, and they loved it.

Then, dessert from Ben & Jerry's.

The next day was still chilly, but no wind — so we got a little beach time!

All in all, a good weekend. Next up: First Communion! What a year this is.

Easter, Eggcetera

We've had a incredibly busy couple of weeks, and are preparing for the Season of Birthdays! This year, at the Easter Vigil, JVL and I were honored to sponsor Monika & Sean as they were received into the Church. It was so fantastic. 

Sarah, bless her forever, stayed with the kids all evening and slept over with her boys, so we had a wonderful, relaxing Easter morning, too. 

 

Then, yesterday we celebrated the consolidation of Monika & Sean's marriage at St. Mary's — another beautiful occasion. I've never seen Cordelia so excited. She kept gripping my hand and beaming, whispering, "THIS IS IT! THIS IS THE BEST!"

 Monika, ever a genius, had packed goody bags for each of the kids for when our own supply ran out, somewhere in the middle of brunch. Cordelia sprawled on the floor with a library book (no surprise), Cody built Legos and didn't talk for a whole half hour, and Emma kept herself pretty much entertained. She kept all of us entertained, too. :)

 Then we capped off the day with a lovely walk through Old Town. All the Last ladies fell fast asleep on the ride home. :)

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.