Ode to Cuddle

It was about this time two years ago when I noticed that Annabelle had petechiae all over her back. We were on vacation in Virginia, and I remember calling my mom to ask if it was possible that it could be caused by the sun (knowing deep down that it wasn't).

A few days after we got home she started bruising really badly. They were pretty much everywhere, and I had a feeling something wasn't right. I remember laying in bed and crying, thinking that it was The Worst.

The next morning, she fell going up the stairs, and within an hour she had a bruise so deep and purple that it prompted me to call our pediatrician immediately. Luckily, our pedi is cool and sent us in for stat bloodwork without hesitation.

Annabelle was not quite happy about that pick, but she was quite a trooper. My mom was going to get the results of the bloodwork and give me a ring on my cell. I took Annabelle to visit my grandmother and when I came out, my mother was waiting in the parking lot. She said that the lab wouldn't give her the results, and I needed to vomit. I dialed our pediatrician's office, and they said to come in immediately (even though it was a Friday afternoon). I was completely unable to drive to the doctor's office, and I had to call Chris to tell him to meet us there. My mom drove, and I cried, and I called my friend Ben and left him a very crazy message about my world ending.

At some point Chris arrived. I don't remember how horrible he looked, but I do know that he did vomit, and then got stuck in traffic, and that Annabelle is his special person.

It seems like it took forFUCKINGever for the doctor to come in the room, and when she did, she was like "it's okay, it's okay, it's okay". She explained that while Annabelle's platelets were crazy low, but all of her other blood counts were normal. So she didn't have The Worst, but it's not exactly optimal to walk around with a platelet count of 15,000. The doctor made us an Monday appointment at the Tomorrow Fund Clinic, which is a pediatric hematology/oncology clinic at our local children's hospital.

We left the office feeling relieved but incredibly wiped and still relatively freaked out. Chris ran to his car to get the gift he got for Annabelle- a pink Care Bear who Annabelle immediately named "Cuddle Bear".

The next few weeks were full of stress and indecision and bloodwork and appointments. I spent that whole weekend freaking out about intracranial hemmorhage, and Annabelle did her best to give me an anxiety attack. She was two, and very much unwilling to wear the helmet I had strapped to her head.

CuddleBear came with us to every appointment and sat with Annabelle for all of her bloodwork. CuddleBear started sleeping with Annabelle every night, and pretty much became family member #6. Even now, two years later, Cuddle bear is still Annabelle's constant companion. Sleep does not happen without Cuddle. Sleep is interrupted if Cuddle is misplaced. If our house was on fire, I would get the children out- then Cuddle would be next, even before our photos.

The last time I needed to go for bloodwork, Annabelle grabbed Cuddle on our way out. She thought there was a chance I might need Cuddle to sit on my lap.

Annabelle made a full recovery, although I don't think Chris or I did. She had Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, which resolved on its own after a few months. It was at least mid-July before her platelets were up to 50,000, and by October she was back in the 200k range. Although the Tomorrow Fund Clinic is an amazing place, I am so glad we don't have to go there on a regular basis.

Holy Heck

Beautiful day #4.

Today was another gorgeous day. I really wanted to head to the beach, but I had a mid-day appointment I couldn't blow off, so we spent the day in the backyard. We had leftover Chinese on the back patio, and the kids played in the sprinkler while I knit and read the newspaper. The girls spent a lot of time formulating a plan for their company, "Molly and Mandy's Matzah and Meatball Surprise". The surprise is that they are made of sand.

Tomorrow it's supposed to be... not as nice. I'll take that as an opportunity to clean the house and get some very boring errands done. I've been doing just the basics for a few days, and there are piles everywhere.

There are only about 6 weeks until school gets out, and we have a bunch of day trips I'd like to do before it gets too crowded to enjoy. I want to go to the Adams National Historical Park, Sturbridge Village, the Ecotarium, the Gilbert Stuart Museum, the Eric Carle Museum, and a few farms. I suppose I should formulate a plan of some kind.

Molly and Mandy's Matzah and Meatball Surprise.


Baby yoga!


It's coming along- I'm improvising a little.

I went from never updating my blog to updating too much. I blame it on the camera. And the nice weather which has made me not-miserable.

Today Chris took a vacation day so he could gear up for a nasty week of fundraisers and get some house stuff done. We've been saying that the back patio needs a coat of paint for 2 years now, and it hasn't happened. On his way home from a talk-radio appearance (is there no eye-roll icon on blogger?), Chris stopped and got the color card for patio paint. He wanted "iced coffee" and I wanted "iced mocha". I won, since "iced coffee" should have been called "feces".

So lovely day #3- backyard homeschooling, painting, quick jaunt to Savers, trip to local hardware store, planting flowers, and Chinese food with Grandma and Grandpa.

Before:


After:


I know it's early, but I couldn't resist.

Perfect Weekend Day #2

Water fights, knitting outside, Enzo's naked croquet, a visit from Grandma, Cobb salad, and long walk in the dark.

Cemetery Knitting

Today my No-Kids knitting group was cancelled. A bummer, but whatever. The weather was gorgeous today- the first day when you can go out and leave the sweatshirt at home.

I got a take-out lunch (and a coffee) and headed to Swan Point Cemetery. I parked myself under a tree and tackled a new knitting project.

After less than an hour, two older women wandered over. They (of course) were knitters, and one of them ran a knitting guild for 30 years. We chatted for a while, and they told me all about the graves they visit- people they actually knew, and people who have interesting headstones. They referred to it as "visiting our friends".

When I got home, we were down to one kid. My husband Vince Flynn and I spent some "quiet" time reading in the backyard with EnzoChenzo.




As for the "sticks" aspect- this will eventually be these cabled arm warmers. I've been eyeing this lone hank of Berroco Ultra Alpaca since last summer, and I'm glad to get it out of my yarn basket. I spent last week in a knitting funk, but I'm excited to finish these, even if I can't wear them for six months.



Tomorrow's a beach day. I'm sure everyone else in RI will be there as well.

Pt. Judith

The beginning of today was terrible- the house was a mess, the kids were fighting, and I was at the end of my rope.

I decided that we needed the beach, and miraculously, less than an hour later everyone was bathed and fed and we were off.

I had this fantasy of sitting and knitting while the children frolicked, but I forgot about DangerBoy.

It was a lovely afternoon (even without the knitting) and I hope to do that more often. That first glimpse of ocean at Rt 138 makes me really happy.

Happy Earth Day!

Enzo

He is constantly in motion. It's a miracle he's gotten to 2.5 without breaking a bone. He is also the King of Mischief. At least twice a week Chris fills our Keurig Rack with coffee pods, and he arranges them just so. Enzo's right on top of that. He rearranges them to his liking.




He also has this habit of disappearing. I'll be folding laundry or emptying the dishwasher, and he sees this as his opportunity to Do The Things He Knows He Shouldn't Do. Today's disappearance was hilarious. I opened Hannah's door and found a big lump under her blankets. The lump did not respond to my calls, but it did suspiciously crackle like a candy wrapper.





Eldest child needs to get a little more inventive with her Easter Candy hiding.

Traditions

Every year we have a little party for Hannah's birthday. It's usually a weekend-long event, because my friend Ben and his kids spend the night. This year was great- it was a smaller party that ended on the early side, and a chill night with my favorite people.

This morning was lovely. I had my favorite bagels, some coffee, the Sunday paper, and then we went outside to sit in the sunshine. I couldn't ask for more.


Every year I wax nostalgic, and this year is especially significant because Hannah's turning ten. Ten years ago, Hannah was a wee 9 pound bundle of yummy baby. Now she's this creative and independent pre-teen. Sometimes I see her from behind and I'm reminded that in a few years she's going to look more like an adult than a child.

So yeah, Birthday weekend. I look forward to Hannah's birthday more than I look forward to my own. It's a birthday for both of us, in a sense.

Thrifty Yarn

I live 2 minutes away from a Savers, so I tend to stop in frequently. I have a circuit- first the books (specifically knitting books), then kitchen ware (vintage Tupperware and Pyrex), then men's sweaters and ties (cashmere and Vineyard vines), then to blankets (I'm waiting for a pink Hudson's Bay). The knitting/sewing/craft stuff is next, and then I make a run through the linens and cross my fingers in hopes of a Viking Husqvarna.



Today I scored, both in the Pyrex and knitting category. There's some Malabrigo and Blue Sky Cotton, some Peace Fleece worsted, an unidentified tweed, a handpainted sock yarn, and Lamb's Pride Cotton Fleece. I also got two (more) cashmere sweaters, both for about 6 bucks each and a sweater that resembles Buttony in my favorite shade of brown.