Two of our three suck their thumbs (Paul and Olivine), My sister and I both sucked our thumbs.

The dentist has mentioned before that Paul’s mouth has changed shape as a result. But I see him as sucking his thumb only at night, and even though he is seven, it will stop at some point. Right?

Then with Olivine, I have noticed she does it a lot. During the day, while walking around, and sometimes she even tries to talk to us with her thumb in her mouth. Recently the pediatrician pointed out that this is not helping her with all the infections she has had and health issues. The doctor also suggested a nail polish from Australia to help. The packaging says it is for nail biting but it also helps with thumb sucking.

Last week we started: Paul, as oldest, went first (of course, Joe was the guinea pig and can vouch it tastes gross). The first night was heart ache. He cried and he wanted to know when it would go off his thumb. He complained he wasn’t ready and he needed his thumb to go to sleep. It was hard to hear. I held him and eventually he fell asleep.

This week, I sat Olivine down and explained it. She saw Paul’s reactions and had been asking. As soon as I put it on, she cried. We talked for awhile about the options she has to comfort herself, I gave her hugs, and when she calmed down it was over. Sure, she came out a couple times to show me and tell me how bad it tasted. But it was surprisingly not terrible. I am learning that I fear these sorts of changes more than my own children.

They are flexible, resilient, and strong.

Our sweet baby friend Leila recently turned oneand we were lucky enough to attend.Her party was at a place in South Pasadena (Amy’s Playground) with indoor playand plenty of space to chase and run and jump.In two hours they had worn themselves out with all the fun.Ollie found a tunnel and stockpiled all the babies around.On the way home we made sure to check out the Jackie Robinson monument for Paul’s project.A perfect sunny Sunday afternoon.

about the portrait Paul drew me and the heart he decorated.The Henry hand print flowers are super sweet:A morning spent lounging and reading my new book.After time in the aquariumwe stayed outside for a picnicwith plenty of space to play baseballor climb on rocksor hunt for treasure.What a lovely way to celebrate today: enjoying children and conversation and food and time together.Being a mom is pretty awesome.

On Mother’s Day I can’t help but remember my grandmother. Recently Olivine found a tin I hide in my nightstand (she finds everything) where I keep my Ba’chan’s glasses.Joe snapped these of her wearing them.She is a silly girl and I wish my grandmother was here to meet her.We hope you are smiling today. Your memory and spirit lives on. You are missed.

My son has not loved the performance part of the play his class has been working on.
He had moments of smiling, but mostly I could see how shy he was and I could relate.All week there were shows for the school and Friday night was the final, evening parent and family event. Grammy went to the day show and snapped this class/cast shot. Super colorful.
Maybe your eyes are drawn to the colorful background, I would like to say “high-five” to papa Joe. Yes, all those years of “outdoor artwork” paid off because he was the backdrop king. I love how it turned out.
And there was singing and dancing and choreography that was simple but exciting to see. This has been weeks of a practice, at home with a cd and script. Celebrated with a cupcake and exhausted by the end of it all. What a show!Final project before school ends: biography report. He chose Jackie Robinson so this weekend we will be reading and working on the poster. He already drew a jersey and wrote an acrostic poem. Busy, busy in first grade.

The clear marker of one HUGE feat: Joe is Done. He is all about the bragging that there is no homework, no more group projects, and he is officially able to join the working world. He already has a few sub jobs lined up for the month and some adventures planned with little ones. He is free. He came home with balloons and cake and a smile that follows so many years of hard work. Joe is done with his B.A. in liberal studies, multiple subject credential, and moderate/severe credential.

And at the same time we are getting ready to LAUNCH into the world of doctoral studies. This is a team effort. I couldn’t go to class or leave my family, if everyone wasn’t on board. So as Joe celebrates, I linger in anticipation and fear over the next three years. This is our commitment. What lies ahead?

But I will admit I am excited to have homework, group projects, and maybe even let go of one of the two jobs I hold. We see this as an investment and a preparation for the fast changes happening in education- who really knows what job I could have in the future?

Lately I have spent some time considering the true unique and individual interests of each of my children. I definitely see birth order being a factor. Especially with the trio of oldest, middle, and youngest being right before my eyes. This is the nurture part for sure. And then there is the nature. How they each feel, react, learn, communicate, and behave.

This in turn means they don’t all have the same needs. I hug all my kids but Henry is the one who needs more physical affection. He loves to snuggle and cuddle. While Paul is at an age where the increased responsibility and even certain privileges of being older really matter. And Ollie girl is my talker. She loves the undivided attention of telling a whole story or asking a series of questions. Like me, she just wants to be heard.

They also span this magnificent range of development. Just yesterday I listened to Paul read me fact after fact from the Guinness Book of World Records and power through vocabulary that was unfamiliar, but still he managed to comprehend the gist of the information. While Henry could read the post-it note I left on his bed with such excitement. And Olivine can see letters in signs or recognize billboards.

The more I ponder the true diversity of this family I am excited at the challenge to support the child, while also truly enjoying the ways these qualities overlap and strengths benefit our entire family. I am learning constantly from my children and having opportunities to see the world through their eyes.

Plus, we have found some common ground. We all love to laugh. Sometimes until our sides hurt or eyes water. They make up the craziest jokes. We love to eat dinner together. The highchair, baby food, or even feeding someone phase has passed. So we are learning to sit and talk and be a family around the table. While also starting to prepare food and clean up together.

I feel blessed to have this many people on the Home Team.

to health around here. A quick recap of the month: all three little ones had ear infections and fevers, Olivine also had a respiratory infection, I had a stomach virus, and Joe got strep throat. We went through a ton of medication, many doctor visits, used thermometers and breathing treatments daily, but we are back! And wow- does good health feel amazing.
The fog has lifted. We have joined the living again.

Well timed for visiting family back in the United States after being in Italy for weeks. This meant a necessary get together and catch up. A little play, some food, and of course – just some time to zone out.

I am not nearly as eager as Joe to hold a baby. But holding one that is happy and not keeping me up in the middle of the night feels sweet. They are tiny. They remind me that mine were tiny.

These two are still all about the bath time together. This is about as close as Olivine will get to experiencing a sister at this age. They will giggle and squirt water and gibber gabber to one another.

They all crash in the car ride, we carry them in, and today we all slept in. Score!

Did you watch cartoons as a kid? I remember this slightly disappointing phrase at the end of the episode. It has been running through my mind as Spring Break ends. I had ten days off and guess how many of those days I was sick? three, five, seven nope: ten! And still counting. My fever is back today.

I am convinced it is related to declaring that my word for this year is to “Listen” and I really haven’t practiced it that well. A girl like me loves to talk and how else can I quiet myself?

I have been to the doctor’s twice, spent close to ten hours in the ER, had an IV, was definitely dehydrated, and misdiagnosed as having colon issues. I had a CT scan with iodine warming my insides, and all I could think of was the radiation. I had a fever every day and the most terrible pains inside. They are fairly certain I had a virus but the first round of medication worsened the situation. I am sparing you even more details of this illness. Let’s just say I have been wrecked.

This means facing true heart ache. I struggled with disappointment while laying around, doing nothing, as every single day of spring break slipped by. This meant canceled plans over and over. And wow, did my kids shine!

They were just happy to be. I did a lot of listening to my family.  I heard Paul teaching Henry the ins and outs of chess. I was impressed because I don’t have all the pieces memorized. I listened to the details of the camp out. Paul’s first sleep over ever and I missed it. Joe picked Henry up because he wasn’t entirely ready.

I listened to Henry write and draw a book about a cat, that evolved into tigers, and the drawings are the sweetest. I oversaw projects from the couch and listened to them really help one another.

Meanwhile Joe was the hero: cooking, cleaning, going to class, shuttling children, and wrapping up paperwork to substitute in Long Beach. He doesn’t favor multi-tasking or having to lead the whole show at home, but he does pretty darn well. So it was hard not to feel like I was sucking the life out of the week for everyone. But man, is it humbling. To not be able to feed, bathe, or care for my children and to depend on others. To stay positive in my prayers rather than bitter and frustrated. Believe me, tears were shed about deserving a spring break and wanting to go outdoors and needing this time with my family. I guess I really needed some time with myself. I have so much to wrestle and work out.

Olivine also wound up with another respiratory infection. Her and I were sick together for the first five days. But by now, she knows the medicine and procedures. Sure she pushes it away, but for the most part, she handles it. Luckily, we have a pediatrician who takes extra steps and is very helpful with running tests on Olivine.

And that is a wrap up of this household’s spring break.

Permission is being granted to myself to practice over break and in my life, the art of being present. To drink sparkling water as much as I want (are there side effects?), wear shoes without socks, sit on blankets in yards or parks, leave my wrist watch at home (sometimes on purpose), and to not have “plan.”

Joe really hates when I ask about the “plan for the day.” His usual answer is “whatever we want” or “eat, sleep, …I don’t know.”

The promise is to my family to try harder to say “yes” instead of “no.”

That means when Olivine asks if she can wear a bathing suit I don’t give her the list of why that isn’t the best idea. Instead I realize we live in Southern CA, I want to encourage positive body images, and note to self: she asked, rather than told me. I have to look at the bright side(s).

That means when the boys ask if we can go to the park and I have a running list in my mind, instead of sending them to their rooms- I drop what I am doing and go with them.

Once in a while, I promise to live as spontaneous as I feel. Otherwise you- my dear children will never know that your momma has a bit of a free spirit inside. Or you, Joseph, will forget that your wife fell in love with a boy in SF who would jump on a bus and make up the adventures as we went, winding up in all sorts of places. I was (am) just happy to be at your side.