Working Together.

Not a lot of big news around here this week. The kids started their new soccer league and got their uniforms last weekend. They're the purple team and Ellie suggested that their team name be the Purple Queens, but I suggested that since they're co-ed, maybe the Purple Royals? She is really loving it, because she's bigger than all of the other kids and so is the best on the team. It's going to be a sad wake up if she does AYSO next year. Meanwhile, Adam started a karate class after school on Mondays. It's very low-key, as the sensei comes and gets them after school and they have a half hour lesson. It's about a half dozen three and four year olds, so they're not breaking blocks or anything yet, but he likes it, and was very proud to show me "hands on guard." And I started another round of adult tap dance at the YMCA, with a recital this time. I know you'll all be getting tickets as soon as they go on sale.

Gigi and Grizz arrived home safe from Spain on Tuesday, and we were at home, freshly bathed and fed to greet them, take our presents and then get home and get to sleep. The level of tiredness is still pretty high around this place on weekdays, and it was super appreciated when we were home for early dismissal yesterday at 1:15 and yet no one saw fit to close their eyes and nap their faces. Oh well, 7:30 bedtime it is (they were couch-bound zombies by 6.)

In "funny things kids say," Tim started working with Adam on how to say TH sounds, so now Adam is saying three instead of "free." It's a little bit sad, but it's also funny to watch him concentrate on saying the word correctly. He's also learning new words, as he ran to find me while watching PBS the other day and goes "mom, did you know that burly means big and strong? I'm burly." Sure you are, noodle arms. The funniest was the other night in the car when out of nowhere, he asked me how babies get in their mommy's tummies. Now, I am all for transparency about our bodies and the truth about genitals... but I was not prepared for that question, nor did I think 7pm on a random week night was the proper time for the birds and the bees. And I don't think that was really what he was getting after, anyways. So I told him that the mom and the dad have to work together to get the baby in the tummy, and hoped it was enough. Then Ellie goes "oh! I know how babies get in there. Adam, so the mommy and the daddy get married, and then they wait a couple of years, and then they start working really hard to put the baby in the mommy's tummy. They work together and they keep working and working and working, and the mommy's tummy gets bigger and bigger and then one day, the baby comes out!" They both seem satisfied with that answer, so I decided to let that be enough for them. Hopefully any follow up questions will be directed towards Tim, obviously.

Kidney Girls.

It's been a long month or so dealing with kidney issues around here. A few weeks ago Lulu was so skinny and listless that we feared her time had come. Thankfully, after a day full of fluids at the vet, a new diet of kidney-friendly food (sadly, it's low in protein, which is completely the opposite of Thor's all protein diabetes diet) and an appetite increasing antidepressant, she's bounced back quite well. At her two week return visit, all of her blood numbers were better. So, I have narrowly avoided having to be a true adult and deal with making the choice about putting a pet to sleep.

In the meanwhile, I've been worrying about Ellie's kidneys. She's had a series of UTIs this year, and because she's small and doesn't recognize the symptoms as quickly as an adult would, she ends up going down for the count and even missing school, because she's running a 102 fever and miserable. Her doctor recommended we do a medical procedure called a VCUG, where they basically fill up her bladder with contrast and do x-rays as she voids, to see if any urine is backing up to her kidneys, or otherwise being problematic. I had it done as a kid, and it's pretty hard on a little, so I was relieved when they said now, with a kid her age, they put them under. Then immediately started freaking out about the risk of putting a child under anesthesia (which I realize are minimal.) Well, we went into the hospital at 6:30 on Monday morning to get it done, and it went better than I expected. Everyone we came in contact with was so wonderful and kind. The hospital has a child life specialist whose sole responsibility is making sure your child is comfortable. She had a little doll in a hospital gown with all of the wires and tubes that Ellie was wearing, she helped me explain the procedure, and she stayed with us the entire time.

The actual procedure was incredibly quick, less than 20 minutes, and when Ellie woke up she didn't remember a thing, and was plowing a popsicle as soon as they'd let her. We were home by 10am!

The best news is that we've already heard back, and there's nothing abnormal on the VCUG, so nothing wrong with her kidneys or bladder. I will still need to talk with her doc about what we do from here, other than being diligent about wiping and washing and staying hydrated, but it's a relief to have it behind us. I was so proud of her in the hospital. She was so funny and sweet to everyone - she told them she's going to grow up and be the American Ninja Warrior, she joked that she doesn't like having a little brother, and when the nurse was asking me about medical history and brought up diabetes, she piped up "Thor has diabetes!" and I had to explain that he's a cat, adopted, no blood relation. I felt so very proud to be the mom of such a fantastic little lady.

Proud of this little goofball rock star too. It's finally cooling off around here, so yesterday he wore his new back to school outfit from Mimi. Told me the pants are like fireman pants because of the stripes around the bottom (was mad that they were falling down on him, was also reluctant to let me tighten the draw string for him) and he calls his sweatshirt a jacket, but he certainly loved stuff it full of stuff during our nature walk yesterday. He was so funny, asking me if I wanted to kick rocks with him. Sure kid, why not!

Ninja Warriors.

Just an average afternoon at the park with these two hooligans. No matter where he is, when Adam takes to the course, he does it shirtless.

But don't worry, he also takes the time to be a caring father to Lamby.

This Week.

Well, Gigi and Grizz have once again abandoned us and headed off to Europe. Once again I'm left wondering, WHO DO THEY THINK IS GOING TO RAISE MY CHILDREN?

Both kids are settling into their school routines and having fun. Adam still plays with his buddy Milo on the play ground, but really has hit it off with a little dude named Luke in his current class. There's a boy in Ellie's class who is enjoying sending her lots of love notes, though when asked she says she only has "a little" crush on him, and that she knows she's not allowed to get married until after she finishes college. Rules are rules, kid! She's mostly been working on her American Ninja Warrior training on the play ground, and is very proud of the callouses on her hands from going back and forth across the monkey bars.

In boring adult news, we had to replace our water heater this week after it leaked all over the garage on Sunday morning. Still better than our neighbors, one of whom is redoing their roof, and another one who's been repiping and repairing a leak. THIS WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD IS A MESS.

While I haven't gone over and stolen Spike from mom yet, I have enjoyed torturing all the cats this week with a shark hat I bought for Yogi Bear. I feel like he's my best bet at a cat wearing a Halloween costume, but our cats are getting into it too.

HALP.

Another First Day

Check out this big guy, in his old trusty "Friendly Shark" back pack, and his new outfit, selected by Ellie and purchased by Mimi. Finally, he had his first day back at school yesterday, which went great. He's in a new room, but he was familiar with his teacher from last year. She knew him by name and when he started telling her about his new firetruck shirt, she leaned over and cupped his face in her hands to listen to him. It made my heart explode from the sweetness... and then I basically bolted from the parking lot. If he's not crying or looking back, I'm sure not going to give him the chance to do so! He had a great three hours, and came home happy as a clam.

Overall, the transition back to school has gone well. Ellie is loving first grade, but the earlier mornings and longer days are kicking her butt a little bit. Every Wednesday at her school is a half day, so that they can do teacher in services without having to take a full day off of school, and those days we're home by 1:15 and I try to make them nap before music class, which I think helps for the week. We're definitely trying to get them in bed with lights out by 7:30, instead of sometime after 8. She was so delighted to bring in a couple of horn worm caterpillars this week, along with a book she made up about them called Yum Tomato. She doesn't realize that they're actually terrible for gardens and that either myself or Gigi is going to squish her new friends, rather than encouraging them to turn into moths.

The kids went and did some good pottery painting for fun over Labor Day weekend, and on Monday the weather cooled down and we were able to go and float around on Lake Mission Viejo with friends. It was chilly enough that the kids demanded jackets - the only one I have in the car for Ellie is her old Hannah Anderson elf jacket, which I think she got when she was three. Still cute as heck, even if it's too small.

(Different elf jacket, from February 2012. But still ready to wear it out on the open seas.)