family

Barbie Charm School

Melissa

Last week my girls went to Charm School courtesy of Barbie. They were so so super excited. We had scheduled it for a few weeks ago, but it got canceled thanks to a little rainstorm called Hurricane Irene. Meanwhile, Grace was asking every 5 minutes since we had to cancel it when we were going to have it. She was dying – DYING – to see what was in the huge box marked Barbie Princess Charm School that I wouldn’t let her peek inside 😉

We turned our playdate in to a Charm School party!! The girls set the table for their friends with the adorable pink and orange plates and napkins we picked out.

We had these cute placemats to guide them. My girls set the table every night, but they still struggle with where to put the silverware.
Before we served our cupcakes (because one simply cannot have a princess party without cupcakes, according to Gracie) and pink lemonade (because princesses ONLY drink pink drinks, according to Gracie), we had a lesson in manners.

We practiced asking for things politely “Would you please pass the strawberries, Ellie?” “Yes, Gracie, I would love to!” “Why, thank you!” “You are so very welcome!”

If only every dinnertime could be so pink and polite.

Gracie was the official hostess, so she poured the pink lemonade.
Ellie was the big girl at the party (being in third grade now) so she read off the manners checklist and made sure we covered everything.

After the party, I opened the last surprise in the box…. BARBIES!!!!!! After the girls stopped their high-pitched squealing, Gracie handed out the dolls to her friends and they immediately ripped them open and were playing for the rest of the playdate. Gracie’s friend said, “This is the BEST playdate EVER! Do you do this every time????”

We can’t wait to see Barbie Princess Charm School!!

We love Barbie movies and I’m sure this one will be no different. We’ll have to watch it wearing our tiaras.  We passed on the Charm School placemats to Ellie’s brownie troop – they’re working on their etiquette badge this month and are learning table manners and how to set the table. Perfect!

disclosure: we were provided with supplies for the party from One2One network. As always, all opinions are my own.

 

and then my baby went to school

Melissa 6 Comments

This morning Colin went to school for the first time.

He was so excited. Super-dooper excited is more like it.  I opened the car door at the drop off line and he leapt out of the car and ran inside to his teacher.

And I drove away. Alone.

I’m home alone for the day. For the first time in…. well, ever.

Now what?

 

kelly ripa on OCRF, finding balance and the “mom uniform”

Melissa

Last week, while I was busy with a sick boy and couldn’t get to New York (or even to a phone), the folks at Electrolux were kind enough to video my interview questions with my fav celeb mom, Kelly Ripa.

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, so show your support by stopping by Kelly Confidential. During Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Electrolux is donating $200 to Ovarian Cancer Research Fund for every washer/dryer pair purchased. Plus, when you join Kelly’s virtual sleepover, Electrolux will donate another $1 to the cause, and you’ll be entered for a chance to win the set!!

I’ve posted here several times about the pressing need for more Ovarian Cancer research. Ovarian cancer is difficult to detect, as the symptoms of ovarian cancer are often vague and subtle, similar to those in other non cancer conditions affecting women. Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancers in the United States and is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among American women. Until we have better early detection tools, all women need to be educated about ovarian cancer so they can get an early diagnosis and successful treatment.

Be sure to take a minute and educate yourself at OCRF. And take a moment to support this important cause at Kelly Confidential! (And send me your Perfect Steam Washer and Dryer when you win, cause my washer and dryer are dying a slow and painful death.)

 

 

what a difference a day makes…

Melissa 11 Comments

First, thank you for your kind words. for your hugs. for your prayers. for your words of advice and encouragement. Knowing we are not alone in this, knowing people are coming along side us in prayer and are there to help has been a lifeline. Truly.
from the bottom of my heart, I thank you. Every one of you.

  • Colin really has turned a corner today. He’s back to almost normal – still really thin and tired – and his system is really delicate. He can only eat really bland foods – and will have to stick to that for awhile. But he has gone one whole week without throwing up and over 24 hours without diarrhea. We have follow-up visits, but the doctors are optimistic that this really was just a nasty virus that caused some damage to his system that will probably take 3-4 weeks to heal.
    Praise God!
    He went to preschool today to meet his teacher one-on-one for 20 minutes and he loved it. LOVED it. They had dinosaurs. And monster trucks. He was chatting his teacher up and says he is so excited for his first day on Wednesday. Last Wednesday, I wasn’t even sure he could go to school this week! (Not to mention, last week he told me he hated school.)
  • Grace went to school this morning, without crying. Although, she did bring her favorite doll. And she came off the bus with a huge smile and told me that she didn’t cry all day and had a great day. Then she had dance and discovered not one, but two girls from her class at school are in her dance class. They are her new best friends and they want to have a playdate.
    This is good. This is very good.
  • Husband’s car got fixed. And it was under warranty.
  • I’m still far behind at work and still have a massive to-do list. But suddenly, its not quite so daunting.

Keep praying.  It is working.

 

 

 

broken down

Melissa 11 Comments

Please excuse me while I whine for a minute. I promise to make it quick.

Colin is still not well. He’s better – but not well. Yesterday, he started with diarrhea again. I am so, so very tired of this.

Not to mention the tree is still hanging over our house, since we haven’t had time to get it fixed.
And both of our cars are having issues.
And the dishwasher is hanging on by a thread.
And Grace is refusing to go to school (that’s a whole ‘nother post right there.)
And I am so so so far behind at work.
And blah blah blah.

It just goes on and on. Seriously – its ridiculous.

I just want to pull the covers up over my head and sleep for a few days. And wake up when its over.

 

baltimore grand prix

Melissa

On Friday we went down to Baltimore to see the Baltimore Grand Prix. It was so exciting – we’ve had tickets for like nine months, so this has been a long time coming.

Our gorgeous hotel was right on the race track:
Luckily we could see the action from our room, since Colin got sick again on Friday night and spent the whole time in our room 🙁 He still had a BLAST on Saturday, though, cheering for the cars through the window.

It was amazing.

We even got to meet some drivers! Colin was in awe. AWE!!

with #9 Anders Krohn - notice Colin cannot take his eyes off him!

The girls were cheering hard for Danica, yelling “Girl Power!!!”

We had to leave on Saturday, so we didn’t get to see any actual races, but it was so much fun while we were there! I hope we can go back next year… when we’re not sick.  We’ll definitely stay at the Hilton Baltimore again – it was gorgeous and it was SO fun staying inside the race track!!

hit the wall.

Melissa 7 Comments

Colin is still sick.

We spent Sunday afternoon in the emergency room again. And were sent home once again with the very helpful “Just wait it out! Its just a virus.”

“Just a virus.” Perfect.

Meanwhile, Colin has been sick for 12 days now. He is still suffering from diarrhea and throwing up every night. But, the most puzzling thing is that he is fine all day. A little more tired than usual, but happy, playing, smiling… FINE. Then between 6-9pm, it starts all over again. Another night of not sleeping, followed by another day stuck in the house.

I’ve been constantly on the verge of tears for days. I’m so so tired. We’ve had a vomiting child in our room for 13 nights now, so I haven’t had a good night sleep in about that long. So tired. And so frustrated that he’s not getting better – and so helpless because there is nothing we can do, apparently.

I feel like an over reactive mother if I keep bringing him into the doctor, but I feel like a negligent mother if I don’t.  I can’t figure out if we should trust that its a virus or push for more tests. I feel like I can’t trust my instincts anymore.

I just don’t know what to do.

I just want it to stop.

brave little man

Melissa 18 Comments

Colin and I spent today in the hospital. Last night Colin was quite sick again, then this morning was no better. So we followed doctor’s orders and took him to the ER.  Colin got his little hospital gown (“Why I have a nightgown? I a boy!”) and he was fascinated by the “riding bed.”

He was so good. SO good. Even when they couldn’t find his veins to take blood (which he did not appreciate). Even then they had to catheterize him (which he really did not appreciate). Even when they had to come take blood again and couldn’t find his veins again (which he REALLY did not appreciate). But then again, he got popsicles.

yummmm!!!

He says he liked the hospital, except for the “pokey nurses who gave me ouchies” and that it was fun because “I cuddle in Mommy lap allll day and watch cartoons.” He wouldn’t let me leave his side – I had to sit on the bed with him cuddled up to me. When the nurses had to do things, he insisted I hold his hand or he could sit in my lap. He screamed and cried, but he stayed still and let them do what they needed to and took all the meds they gave him without complaint.

He was released from the hospital late afternoon. We’re basically waiting for test results that won’t come in until tomorrow night, so we elected to wait at home. We don’t have a diagnosis yet, just a few theories (none of which I can spell) but hopefully he can beat whatever this is quickly and we can get back to normal soon.

We were overwhelmed by all the well wishes, thoughts, prayers, texts, emails, tweets, facebook messages, calls, offers of childcare, offers of meals, offers of Starbucks deliveries and the general outpouring of love we saw today. Sometimes I get so sad that we’re alone here, without family living close by. But today I was reminded that just because our family isn’t next door, we are by no means alone.

Thanks for holding my hand through this. It meant the world to me.

my poor guy

Melissa 6 Comments

Colin and I spent this morning in the doctor’s office. My poor baby has had the stomach bug for six days now. I hardly know what to do – he’s getting worse. Usually its just a 24 hour thing – but every day he is getting sicker. Last night was the worst yet. Then this morning, he was so lathargic… just laying on the floor… whimpering. So we called the doctor again and she said to come in right away.

We’re trying to force fluids on him today and if he doesn’t get better, the doctor is going to admit him to the hospital.

Hoping we can skip that.