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August 25, 2004
Okay, okay... I know it has been a couple weeks since I have posted an entry and even longer since I have had a real update on us.... I apologize, dear diary and all my (2?) readers...
Things have been rather insane lately - but in a good way, mostly. A few weeks ago, I took the girls back to Florida (yes, again!) to visit our family before Veronica's school started. We took my cousin from SC with us as well as transported a dog from SC to FL. (The dog's owner is very ill and needed to find a new home for his pets. He goes to my aunt's church in SC and my one of my mom's friends in FL said she would take the dog - so, that is how I came to be the courier.) It was a good thing my aunt swapped cars with me so I was able to take her van. Because on top of 3 kids, a dog and crate and me, I took a toddler bed/mattress and many many baby toys/clothes. It was an adventure just getting all that packed into a minivan - oh, let's not forget the TV, videos, snacks, etc. for the trip!
It worked out well - I was happy to get rid of the dog after 34+ hours, in spite of the fact that he really was a sweet dog. He smelled bad and I bought stuff to bathe him and he still needed a bath after the first one. He also had an infection in his mouth which made the whole van smell like dog breath. It was not a fun trip down. But, it was wonderful to be "home" and see the girls so excited to see all their grandparents. We swam at my mom's house (she just got a pool in the last two months) and spent time with Adam's parents and grandparents. I was even able to get in a little time for a couple of my closest friends. It was a nice extended weekend (Thur-Tue), but I am not looking forward to the trip again in 2 weeks. Yep, that is right... We are going back in 2 weeks. Adam and I have tickets to see the Sting/Annie Lennox show, which I really am looking forward to. We are taking the kids the next day to Disney - and somehow we have managed to convince all 4 grandparents to come with us in celebration of Veronica's birthday, which is actually next week. Adam suggested that since we are all going to stay overnight in Orlando Friday, we can "suggest" that each set of grandparents invite one child to stay in their room. That would mean Adam and I can go out and have a date! Yee haw! So, we'll turn around and drive home Saturday, so Veronica won't miss her first day of Sunday School and Adam will still be able to play drums at the noon mass.
Whew... I am exhausted just thinking about it.
Well, as I mentioned above, Veronica has started school - pre-K. She loves it. She goes Tue/Thurs from 9-1 and she asks every day if today is a school day. I am really pleased with the school so far - she is learning to perfect her writing skills already - practicing and practicing letter by letter. She is getting a little frustrated with her ability, but it will come - she'll only be 4 next week. They are testing her for math and will possibly be putting her into Kindergarten only for math. Wonderful. Ana loves going as well, as she gets to play in the nursery with the other younger children while I volunteer in the office.
Speaking of Ana, I don't know if I have mentioned before that she started crossing her right eye back in June. Well, we thought it was just lazy, but wanted to get it checked out. The pediatrician referred us to a pediatric opthamologist to have her looked at. Well, her appointment was last Friday morning and by Friday afternoon, she had the cutest glasses you've ever seen. Turns out she doesn't have a lazy eye - she was straining to focus since she is far-sighted! Doggone-it! I had no idea that maybe she was having a tough time seeing things close up. I felt really bad that I didn't push right away when I noticed her cross-eye. Well, that's that. She wears glasses now (probably forever). And how, exactly, do you think a 2 year old treats glasses? Well, let me tell you, we were so impressed that she mostly left them on as soon as the first day - obviously was happy she could see! But, Saturday morning, she walks into the other room and I notice they are gone... I go searching for them and find them in a heap on the coffee table. She had obviously wrenched them off her face and those little flex-y joints in the arms totally broke. What the &^%??? Come on, she had them for 20 hours and totally had them bent out of shape? So, we went to have them "adjusted" only to find out that even though they could be bent to the right shape, the flex-y joints were broken and couldn't be fixed without buying another frame!!! And to top it off, they didn't have that frame in the store (we bought the only one) and they were unwilling to call around to find it. So, I went elsewhere. Good thing LensCrafters has a 30 day return policy, because as soon as her new glasses come in, I am returning those suckers. I didn't want her to go a week without them, so the broken ones are held on with a strap around the back of her head. You can't tell they are broken, but the arms just aren't strong enough to stay up. Anyway... a lesson learned. I also found out yesterday that Pearle has a package for children's flex glasses and lenses and insurance for 2 years (full-replacement) for $150. I will see how we do with the one year policy on these others - but it cost $135. Considerably less than the "deal" at LensCrafters. Anyway, she mostly leaves on her glasses and when she really just wants them off, I am conceding. I figure it doesn't make sense to fight with a 2 year old and eventually she will get used to how they feel on her face/ears and will just appreciate that she can actually see with them on.
So.... Gosh, I have never written a long entry in this little box here, so I have no idea how long this is turning out to be. I will close with a few last minute thoughts that need commenting...
Charley... This hurricane caused horrendous damage - in 45 minutes it went from a category 2 storm to category 4, helping to turn it east far south of the projected landfall. The poor people in SW Florida were not expecting this at all and were devastated by the destruction this hurricane brought. There is something about living on the west coast of Florida that you don't really think you are going to get a direct hit by a hurricane... I know, I lived it for 8 years - seeing those tropical depressions on the maps and basically thinking "it's not gonna come here, so why bother paying attention?" Well, we all stand corrected. For the first time in a year, I think Thank God I don't live in Florida anymore. I can't imagine the newfound fear of hurricanes that has blossomed all along the west coast after Charley pounded through the state 2 weeks ago. My grandmother has property in the middle of the state and her renters stayed on through the storm. Man, are they lucky that the buildings were not damaged like the rest of the place. I guess there are trees down everywhere and stuff just kinda tore up out of the ground. The renters are lucky that all those things didn't come flying through the windows - even through the walls, since they are not "permanent" buildings. I am eternally grateful that the path changed and none of my family was directly affected by this terrible hurricane. Can you imagine how strong a Cat 5 storm this would have been if it had stayed over water another couple hours to hit where they thought it would? And to tramp through Clearwater and Tampa would have caused much more in damages than tramping through lots of farmland caused. I do not say this to diminish the anguish of all those who were affected by this storm, particularly those who lost their lives/loved ones. I say it honestly. Man, am I glad my own family and friends were safe.
Me. I am feeling much better... So much so that I thought I would wean off my anxiety meds and that was just dumb. :) I didn't take it for 3 days and jumped right back on it. I guess it is helping more than I thought. Even though I was still sleeping at night, I was short-tempered and irritated those days. So.... a little longer. I guess maybe the stress of are we moving or not is having some kind of effect on me. I have had a couple bad days recently, as I said in a recent post, this month marks 10 years since we lost my Dad to heart disease (at 38 years old). I had a really bad day on the actual anniversary and some sad days before then. This month also marks when Gabriella was due to enter our physical lives. As I think about what could have been, I am saddened a bit, but my real problem is how I have reacted to another mother from Veronica's school. She is giving birth next Monday (Veronica's birthday and we had told Veronica through the pregnancy that the baby would come for her birthday) and Tuesday was the EDD. Well, I have spent too much time questioning God's plan for this other girl being in Veronica's class - why do I need to encounter this family??!? Why would God do something so cruel as to place these people in my life that are having a baby on the same day that I would possibly have given birth to a healthy and beautiful baby girl?! Well, I have had a long enough pity party and I am ready to concede to God again. I have no idea what His plan for me or our family is. I do know that after talking in person with this other mother yesterday (after a week filled with pitiful thoughts after talking to her on the phone), I am feeling much better and actually look forward to holding this baby that Gabriella could have been friends with. Maybe I can just ask Gabriella tonight if she wouldn't mind being that little baby's guardian as he/she enters this world to their own family.
Anyway... if anyone is still reading this far... I am going to close for now and say that I am SO dang EXCITED!!!!! I am going to meet Cara (former iP diary writer) next Monday!! I can't wait!
Many Blessings to you all,
Holly
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