Gosh it’s been a while since I posted - so sorry!  Things have been a little hectic but I now find some down time.  Nicole was induced this morning, she has been laboring since about noon.  And now, at almost 10pm, she is still laboring.  Today was my dads birthday, if my granddaughter is born today she’ll be in good company.  Looks light it might go into the wee morning hours of tomorrow though. 

I won’t post too much about this as I will leave the details for Nicole to post when her little miracle is born.  Let’s just say it is very hard to watch your daughter in pain, even if you know it’s a good thing, having a baby and all.  Hoping she has a smooth, safe delivery and that mom, baby and dad all come through healthy, safe and happy, albeit tired.

I’m off now,  to not worry at all.  Right.  A feeling Nicole will know all to well when she becomes a mother.  Prayers and well thoughts.  I can’t wait to meet my beautiful granddaughter and kiss the new mom and dad!

This evening we were at the Park District for Ross’ swim lesson and as usual, after his lesson he joined us over in the kiddie pool which is where I keep Francesca occupied for the duration of his class.

As the kids were playing in the kiddie pool, I issued the 10 minute warning that we would leave soon. Francesca wanted to go down the slide and as she was leaving the pool and going over to the slide she slipped and slammed down hard on her arm.

As I rushed over to her - a whole 3 feet away or so, she was screaming and holding her left arm.  I picked her up and tried to see if I could get her to move her hand with no luck.  As I was excidedly telling Ross to come out and that we had to leave - (most likely to go to the hospital since her arm was bruised and looked swolen to me), one of the moms who had just dropped her daughter off for lessons and had her younger son in the kiddie pool calmly asked me to sit down and put Francesca on my lap.  I didn’t even know her name but we’ve engaged in small talk over the last few weeks.

She proceeded to place a towel on my lap and another over Francesca’s body and then started asking Francesca to tap her fingers on to her hand.  By now Francesca had stopped crying and was starting to move her hand a little.  As the mom continued to worked with Francesca, having her move her hand, her elbow and her shoulder - asking her to squeeze her finger and tap her hand, I asked if she was a nurse.  Turns out she is a Physical Therapist.

After some good time was passed  it was clear that she likely didn’t break anything and that I just needed to keep an eye on her for any problems most likely, she was fine.  I thanked this mom and asked her name - we finally introduced ourselves - which normally would have happened already - I guess we were both wrapped up in watching over the kids.  I also told her how very lucky for me she was there and that she was a Physical Therapist to boot!

She very politely said that if the roles were reversed I’d have done the exact same thing.  I wish I could say I was more calm and purposely reactful but I was not - I was scared and not sure exactly what to do.  After 4 kids, you’d think I’d have it down but none of my children have ever broken a bone (or almost broken one) before.  We’ve had stitches and blood - and for some strange reason I reacted more calmly and knew what to do. 

 I hope I don’t have a situation like this again although I know I’m lucky everything was just fine, but I’m going to need to brush up on my emergency first aid.  Julie, I know you are not reading this but thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Not just because you knew what to do but because you knew how to be so very calming for Francesca and for me.

Easter has passed and it was a very busy, very wonderful time for all of us.  The children went to Soldier Field for the candy grab, we had our own Easter Egg hunt at Nonna’s house and went to mass Easter Sunday and then had the family over for dinner.

At Soldier Field

Coloring Easter eggs

Nonna’s Easter egg hunt

checking out the candy

Yum, chocolate!

Easter Bunny brought baskets and Wii!

Hope your holiday was wonderful.  As for me, NO MORE CHOCOLATE!

Everywhere I turn these days I am seeing such gorgeous Daffodils.  I don’t know why I haven’t considered them before for the garden.  This fall I want to order a bunch of bulbs for a nice showing of Daffodils next spring.  I see a lot of the yellow ones but www.michiganbulbs.com  has this pretty pink variety called Pink Charm.

photo from: Michigan Bulb 

I like the yellow too - maybe I’ll plant some yellow along the side of the house and then plant the pink ones in the back yard.  They are such a breath of fresh air in an otherwise dreary early spring garden.

On the plus side, my Hostas are popping up - they almost look like little asparagus spears poking their head out - I never really closely looked a them before now.  It looks like my purple Alliums are coming up too, there are little green chive- like shoots coming up.  The daylillies and the Autumn Joy Sedum are poking their heads out too.

My Hydrangeas are still looking sad - just a brown twig at the four spots where I planted them but the twigs,  under the brown -  way down by the soil is green.  Hopefully they are still alive and will grow.

I also have some things popping up that I am not sure what they are but they do not look like weeds.  The only things I planted in that area were the Alliums, Purple Coneflower and Coreopsis.   The leaves popping up don’t look like any of those plants.  I guess I’ll just have to wait and see what pops up!

 

Francesca had her first pre-ballet class this week.  She has been so patient over the past year going with me to all of the classes Ross has been signed up for and waiting patiently (well, sometimes patiently) .  I thought she might be a little apprehensive about me leaving her in the dance studio with the teacher and the other kids but she was all “see ya” to me.

The class description included the suggestion that the children could wear dance clothes or comfortable clothes.  I brought Francesca in shorts and a t-shirt.

She was the ONLY one that was not in dance attire, more specifically; the only child not in a pink leotard, pink tutu and pink tights with ballet slippers.  Not this mattered one bit to her.  But it did to me.   I’m all for self expression and individuality but right after class we ran to the store and pinked up picked up proper ballet attire.  Only fitting for a tiara wearing princess.  And only fair anyway since Ross started karate and will soon be wearing his new karate uniform.