Katherine's wisdom: 2 gems from the last 2 days.

While I was changing Abby's diaper tonight (yes, diaper, please don't ask about potty training!) Katherine told me, "eww, that's gross....it's worse than a pee diaper......but not as bad as fro-ups at church right?"

(Abby threw up at Church yesterday, which was quite a scene, especially as the older sister!)

Also her theory as to why the Brewers were losing so many games? The philadelphia pitcher wasn't aiming the ball at the bat, he was throwing it away from the bat so the Brewers couldn't hit home runs.

Let's talk about poor Abby. In all the excitement of back to school, you might worry that she'd get forgotten. But not to worry, she's created enough excitement of her own during the last week!

On Friday, Katherine was home, so we decided to meet friends at the park for a picnic lunch. It sounds so simple. But, just as we sat down to eat, a bee flew near Abby. She's very skittish around bugs so she started swatting her hands shouting "GO AWAY BUG" and, as only my child could do, she smooshed the bee into her forehead, essentially stinging herself.

Enter parental panic. What do you do? I grabbed anything cold from our lunches to try to ice the area, but it was huge immediately. She was screaming and crying. We abandoned our picnic and went home.

(shortly after the sting)

After quick text consults from 2 of my nurse friends, I gave her expired Children's Claritin and Ibuprofen and tried to keep ice on her face. She has always believed in the magical healing powers of "Cinderella Cold." Cinderella is a small re-useable ice pack meant for minor injuries. For Abby, she's always been the magic healer - a quick visit from Cinderella Cold and abby would tell you "All better" and go on with her life. At some point during our treatment, Katherine was holding Cinderella, and managed to squeeze it hard enough to break it - causing gel to ooze out all over. I was annoyed about the mess. Abby, however, was DISTRAUGHT that Cinderella Cold was broken and heading to the garbage. For awhile there, she was far more upset about Cinderella than the bee sting. I figured she was fine and sent her to bed for her nap.

(just after nap, swelling is better!)

After her nap, the swelling was better and she was pretty happy. And, she was essentially fine that night - a little whiny, but overall she was fine. Gave her more Ibuprofen and sent her to bed.

(Saturday morning, swelling beneath eyes)

Saturday morning she woke up full of energy, singing and dancing like nothing was wrong. But she looked weird. It seemed like the swelling was more around her eyes than on her head. She didn't look right. More medicine, continued to watch her.

(after nap on Saturday, bad picture, but huge swelling, she didn't look like Abby)

After her nap on Saturday I got worried. She woke up completely swollen, so much so that the big girls were freaked out that she didn't look like Abby. She couldn't open her eyes all the way, and she was clearly uncomfortable. I called the pediatrician on call and he advised a more aggressive medication schedule. He also said he'd call in an Epi-pen just to be safe. He said one reaction like this does not mean that a future sting will be worse, but he would rather be safe than sorry. He also said sometimes it could take up to a week for the swelling to go away.
Luckily, by Sunday she was feeling much better - and even felt spunky enough to accessorize. (those are her princess shoes and tutu)
Monday she helped make the Labor Day pancakes. This was our way of bribing the girls into good behavior before we dropped the bomb - we were going to spend the day cleaning their rooms! HORROR! Actually they left us alone, helped as needed, and it was fairly painless. And a huge garbage bag was filled! Hooray! Fresh clean house before back to school on Tuesday!
Tuesday we needed sweatshirts at the bus stop - Delightful! Actually - Katherine spontaneously started doing jumping jacks and, well, then I had to pull out eh video camera. What do you get when you mix chilly weather, nervous excitement and Katherine? You get this. She really just makes me smile!

So with 2 girls off to school, and a gorgeous day to enjoy, what did Abby do? She took me to Starbucks and then insisted that we eat cookies, and drink our drinks outside. Then she announced it was time to practice our baseball. You never know when the Brewers might need an extra hand! I'd say Abby is just about ready to join the team.....what do you think?
Today was Katherine's last day home before her regular schedule of all day every day Kindergarten begins. It was a perfect weather day, so I thought she'd like to go to the zoo. But she told me instead, she'd really like to go to a park, and snuggle this afternoon. That was a hard sell! Ha! We went to a "new" park and had a blast. Then we came home for a quick picnic on the driveway, played with the neighbors, and then.....another Abby Injury! Katherine managed to bump into her while Abby was pushing a shopping cart. Somehow, she managed to bloody both of her thumbs. I had to put large band aids on both thumbs due to the bleeding. I don't think she minded the blood as much as it bothered her that her thumbs were immobilized! She cried herself to sleep, but woke up slightly better and was fine by bedtime tonight. Katherine and I had an hour of snuggles on the couch - I am going to miss those afternoon snuggles!

Tomorrow 2 big girls go to school and Abby will spend the afternoon at Aunti's (our sitter.) And hopefully, no one will get hurt in the process!

We survived the first day of school today! So many stories, but first, jump back to yesterday. We decided to visit Discovery World to celebrate the end of summer. It's so fun to go there because even looking at the same exhibits, it's a new experience every time. The volunteer divers were in one of the large fish tanks, scrubbing and cleaning. An official-loking gentleman stopped to chat when he saw the girls watching. He explained that the divers were sending lots of algae into the water and showed us that the Paddlefish was swimming with its mouth open, gathering all that yummy algae.

Have you ever tried to explain what a pay phone is? Or a phone booth? You should try it - it's pretty interesting!

After 2 injuries in the museum (non life threatening, but dramatic nonetheless) I thought we might benefit from going outside. We made it as far as this cool sculpture area before the whining was overwhelming and we went home for lunch and rest time.
HA! Apparently I was the only one who missed the memo that there would be not a single nap enjoyed. sigh. Instead the big girls got freshly painted toes and I baked cookies for back-to-school lunches.

Because of the no nap afternoon, all 3 girls were bathed and in bed by 730. I left to go exercise and returned about 845. I found the lights on, but no Chris. I looked all over until I found him in Maggie's bed. Clearly they had been too chatty and he went up to enforce bedtime. He fell asleep too! (possibly before the girls, but I'll never know for sure!)

This morning everyone was up just before 7. Daddy got plenty of back to school hugs before he left for his first day with students.
Then I managed to contain the excitement until 0825. Then, I gave up and went outside for pictures. I took as many as I could to kill time, but we made it to the bus stop by 0840 - a full 15 minutes before the scheduled bus.





Luckily the bus was on time, and off they went! Abby and I jumped into our car and followed the bus to school. Then it was a long wait for the bus to release the kids - always a lot of confusion on the first day.
Maggie jumped off the bus and ran inside, barely stopping for this picture.
The Kindergarten class takes a little bit of time to collect everyone, allow parents to take pictures and say good bye. Katherine knows about 7 little girls going into Kindergarten - so she had no qualms about leaving me. In fact, I had to laugh at a picture I saw from one of the other moms. As the class lined up and walked into school, the single file line stretched 4 girls wide as they held hands and walked in together!
When Abby and I pulled into the garage, it looked so empty in the back seat! She asked on the way home if the girls were coming home from school yet. I thought it would be a long day.
But we went to the library where she enjoyed playing with trains and choosing her own books. And then off to the grocery store before coming home for lunch and naps. Pretty exciting.
Abby took a delightful nap and I enjoyed a quiet afternoon. I pretended to be a Food Network Star - I harvested basil from the deck, and made pesto sauce for a chicken pesto pizza. (It was awesome)

Soon enough it was 4pm and time to meet the bus.
Katherine says she was running to Abby, but I know she was running to me! She and Maggie were bubbling over with excitement about their days. I don't think either could think of a bad thing from the whole day.

Really the only sad part of the day was katherine crying in her bed. She actually doesn't go back until Tuesday now. (The class of 24 is split into 3 groups, each going to school for a day to give the teachers time to assess skills, get to know the kids, allow the kids to be familiar with school in a smaller group setting) Tomorrow she'll be home with me. She cried from her bed "But I just want to go to school every day!" I promised her that she had 175 more days to go and she accepted that answer and promptly fell asleep.

I'd say it was a pretty fantastic first day of school!

"Daddy, I'm not your servant!"

How many times has that story been told? Plenty of times.

How big is my smile when my girls race to go out to get the newspaper in the morning?

My smile is HUGE!

(and yes, some days all 3 go out, and then fight about who gets to carry it back.)

If you leave a container of pretzels on the counter, someone will drop her plastic phone on the floor, abruptly ending her conversation with Gram.

You will never know why she kept saying "I sorry Gram, you all better now?"

You will know that in approximately 22 seconds, she can get the bathroom stool, run to the kitchen, and steal your container of pretzels.

You will also know that after feeding herself as many as she can fit into her own mouth, she will start putting as many into your mouth as she can. "Here-ah-go Momma! Pwetzels for you!"

Deep thoughts about church.....

Curious Katherine, walking out to our car after church, "Why do all the old people come to church?"

Wise Maggie, "Because only old people go to church, and all old people like to go to church!"

Rational Mommy, "But Maggie, you girls are not old, and you go to church...."

Logical Katherine "But we don't LIKE it!"

Simple Abby, "I WUV CHURCH!" (says the girl who used potty as a (false) excuse to leave church 3 times and was injured once, thus meaning that she and I only saw about 20% of Mass today anyway!)

Abby wasn't happy that Katherine was wearing the Jasmine dress. I believe the syllables that she cried were interpreted "I have my princess shoes and my crown but Katherine won't let me wear the princess dress!"
Not to worry, she soon decided that her "White B" had the power to change her into a Superhero!
Katherine earned her first Library card today. turns out her name is WAY too long for the provided line. 'Katherine S' it is!
Chris fixed the storm door today! YAY! And by fixed, I mean, he got rid of all evidence of the old one, which was ripped off the house by a spring wind storm. Then he installed a brand new one! With sliding glass for easy access to the screen! Hooray for Chris!