I know others can relate to the sacred time of the weekend. There are only so many hours and some of that time is spent with baths, meals, and naps (not to mention chores). So when Henry caught the twenty-four hour flu Saturday night and was throwing up all night, I should have known I was up next. My days were numbered (I didn’t forget about who I caught strep from).There were love notes from children and beautiful pieces of artwork delivered bedside as I slept most of the day.
Tonight after a long day at work, as I cooked dinner, that lost time caught up to Miss Olivine. She whimpered, moaned, and tugged at my leg. After a day apart and feeling like her weekend time was cut short, she insisted on being carried while I made dinner. Joe was at class, and with one arm I wasn’t getting anything done.
That’s when I realized, she is still small enough that I can put her in the Ergo. Problem solved and she was as happy as a clam.I looked over at one point to see a boy who is in love with his globe. I love this age!

So our lives have been slightly out of sorts. Our little girl went from breathing treatments last weekend to a couple days of not eating and throwing up this week. We had lots of bathing and cuddling and laundry as a result. But notice- she is still smiling all the while saying “tummy hurt” and my heart ached at the inability to make it stop.
By the second night, I had Joe drag the mattress into their room so I could help her in the middle of the night. This means not much sleep, but lots of peace of mind.
We even had an incident in the car requiring a full cleaning of the car seat. We used a blanket as the stand in cover.Then early in the week we let the boys watch the State of the Union address, but after that our phone and internet went out. A couple days of no phone made us feel very separated from the world and from each other. We are now discussing the real possibility of getting cell phones. No one else seems to care that our land line wires are shriveled and decaying.
Life did not stop though. Paul had pajama day at schooland Henry has been busy baking at school. Here he is with his apple tart.I am bummed that Joe had to miss two days of student teaching this week. But he was more than willing. And so we hodge podged the week and now it’s Saturday. More time for playing outside
or walking in the neighborhood to swing on random chairs in trees
and visiting the aquarium.
 Olivine can’t get enough of these penguins… she prefers “tiny one.”And there is residual coughing but she seems much better today. She was even playing with the water- pushing the buttonWowand just like that we are back.

As small as the porch out back is, we have managed to squeeze in some fresh basil (Thanks Trader Joe’s-only $2.99).and Paul’s pumpkin seeds have blossoms every so often which we admire.Then there are the tiny plants that need hardly any attention
and this gift.
Paul had a play date yesterday and he wanted to get a “thank you” gift. He originally picked out rosemary (he digs the smell) but then when he spied this bamboo and decided it fit Thomas perfectly. His friend loves Panda Bears. Plus it had a Chinese New Year- red envelope which we put a dollar inside of.

I am aware that as February approaches, my second job will start back up and these Saturday mornings will be missed. For now, we love the seventy-five degree weather and will soak up the sunshine.

The boys are content to ride bikes around the marina and come home for some out back play while little girl sleeps.

When I peek in on her, I find she has propped up her books and says “me read baby.”

A little while later when I can’t hear her voice, I find she has fallen asleep.Today has been breathing treatments every two hours for her, so I know this nap was needed.By 7 pm dinner has been served and children are sleeping, I guess this  is part of the new schedule: exhaustion.

A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Luckily none of us are contagious anymore. This means we can all be together, even if we aren’t in perfect health.Like this scene before school with Olivine having a breathing treatment and being kept company with lots of talking from Henry. These two are inseparable.Then there’s the 9 am phone call at work about Henry not being able to stay in child care because of crying , coughing, lethargy, tummy ache, and asthma. My brain thinks worse case scenario as I leave my class to my co-worker and speed over to get him. As soon as I see him, I am relieved. He definitely needs a breathing treatment, takes a three hour nap, but as the day goes on I realize with all the transition around here (with our schedules) he is having an old fashioned heart ache for some time just with his momma.
And as a follow up to my two times being diagnosed with strep in the last month. We found the culprit. It’s that smiley faced boy above. Turns out he has had strep butt for weeks. Happily, this did not spread to others in a shared bath. But it did infect me (twice) and so he has been on medicine (twice daily)Plus he has needed medicated cream, all of which is creating some regression when it comes to being readily able to use the toilet. This all makes sense, so when I got that phone call today, I couldn’t really be sure of anything until I saw his face. As soon as I did, I realized, he needs more hugs. Don’t all of us??

And since we aren’t contagious, we are having a hug party around these parts, knowing that we have one more day apart. We can make it!

After all the build up, I am happy to report we are doing it! I know you weren’t really that worried (I was).  This party of five is waking up early, making lunches, dividing labor, checking homework, washing dishes, and then passing out at bedtime.These new hours are forcing Joe to leave behind his reddit readings that leave him up until 2 am (I say it’s a carry over from his youthful days of graffiti). Meanwhile we are learning that doing a little prep the night before saves time in the morning.
In all the transition we are even managing to squeeze in new recipes, like the tofu pot pies thanks to my fellow vegetarian, Cara. So easy and all eaten up.
I will say my favorite part has been seeing everyone in the morning. We have even been sneaking in Henry’s room to take his Corduroy teddy bear (from the book) and hide him around the house. Henry likes to imagine that Corduroy is going on “field trips” or adventures while we are all sleeping. Last night, he was looking out the window. One by one, they come out of the room in their pajamas. I get a little cuddle time in the morning which (for this working momma) is a dream. It makes leaving a little harder because when it’s usually dark and quiet there may now be calls or pleas for me to stay, BUT I LOVE seeing their faces before I leave. They have no idea that I used to tiptoe in their rooms and kiss their sleeping heads.

is the best way to describe the emotions around our house lately as Joe gets ready to start student teaching tomorrow.

For the last six years this man has been raising our children full time (not babysitting) with bottle feedings, diaper changes, co-op working, bike cart riding, and many days of hugs with kisses. When Paul was born he left work and has looked back often, wondering why college has taken so long, discouraged at teacher’s assignments, and feeling like it is all taking forever. Just as many times, I have said to him that he will look back at this season as a gift from God that is priceless and went by too fast.

So here we are, on the eve of a life changing moment in our family. We will all wake up early (I am usually alone, creeping around in darkness) and Joe will pass our children into someone else’s care while he treks off to a local fifth grade class. My prayers will be with him.

Earlier today he found this butterfly in the grassdead and fully intact. So we brought it home for little ones to look at closer. But for me, a symbol and reminder of the seasons that so easily come and go. Time is fleeting.

This afternoon while Joe and Henry were at the laundromat, Paul invited Olivine and I to a tea party.Olivine had sound effects to go with the pouring of the tea.
I love watching her hold the tiny saucers in her hands with newly painted finger nails.
He made us grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup and served up a platter of fruit. Olivine surprised me by naming all the fruits.She is much better at pretend play than I am. She raved to Paul about how good the food was with “Yum” and “More” which had him smiling ear to ear.
Even after her insisting we eat everything with “all” and showed few table manner for a girl at afternoon tea.I was then impressed when she used her napkinand reminded me to use mine.

Every year these friends throw birthday parties and every year I am shocked at our growing families.Their little guy turned three
We played BINGO (with a little help, Henry won).The perfect game for this guyWe have learned to pack pajamas and little ones will sleep on the way home. We leave right around bed timegiving us an evening to hang out.
We watched Black Fish (so sad, but so good) and some episodes of Louie so we could laugh.