My Sick Valentine

Last week was interesting. Monday I had jury duty and when I got out, checked my messages and heard Shara had a 103 fever and then that Alan was on her way to pick her up. Tuesday we had to stay home and then stayed on Wednesday too. I can't say it was much fun, but she did let me do quite a bit of work, until she got bored, but then I got a lot done while she napped. It really wasn't that bad but I really don't know how people work from home part time with kids. I wouldn't like it. Thursday we actually went to school and work like normal, though I was feeling worse and at my meeting in the afternoon kept thinking that I shouldn't be around so many people. Alan picked Shara up Thursday, Valentine's Day, and I got home at a very reasonable time - before 4:30 PM, and got the cards signed, and started making dinner so we could relax when Shara got home.

I was going to make a fancy dinner like New Year's, but decided that it was too much to make steak, shrimp, etc. on a week night, so decided on a nice pasta w/ shrimp & veggies, bread, wine, strawberries & whipped cream - from the can because it's so much more fun. Well, things didn't go quite as planned. Shara & Alan got home and we started going through the valentines cards she got from her classmates. Very cute and more candy than I realized. Then Oma & Jidor came by for a quick visit - more candy, and when the left, we sat down for our fancy dinner. Shara was so wound up from so many treats during the day - pizza & lots of cookies, candy, cupcakes - that she obviously wasn't hungry. She still wasn't feeling too great either. She wouldn't sit down, but when she finally did, wouldn't eat - though she said she just wanted plain pasta w/ cheese. It was actually one of the worse Valentine's Days I can remember. Looking back it was no big deal, but I was so tired... glad it's over. Checked with the other moms at dance and they reported the same thing. Looks like the schools really need to rethink their parties. Jill recalls at Liz & Samantha's nursery school they had the parents bring in healthy treats for parties. I think that should be policy here too, like that will ever happen. Regardless, she had a lot of fun at school and we all had lots of fun opening the cards and seeing the tattoos - very exciting, and candy - happily less exciting.

Friday I left work early - sick. I was hardly at work at all last week! It was very odd. Then Friday evening Jill & Samantha came for a visit so Sam could see a local college. This was lots of fun. On Saturday they came with us to dance and got to see Shara do a quick stretch. Then we went home and tried to get in an early nap so we could go to the Outlets, but Shara wouldn't fall asleep until late, because she wanted to go without a nap, so we didn't go at all, which was fine with everyone and Jill, Sam & I watched Phantom Gourmet and exercised while Shara slept. Then when she woke up, we got ready and all went to Fresh Catch for dinner. Shara was great at dinner, and we were there for about 2 hours! We had calamari, salad and dinner. Then the check came and she wanted dessert, so I told her she could have a piece of chocolate at home from her Valentine's candy instead and she was happy about that, then forgot about it as soon as we left the restaurant. During our long restaurant stay, we did need to visit the bathroom 2x - and then found out we were just telling a story - didn't really have to go to the bathroom.

Sunday we all got up and went to breakfast at Good Days. We were inspired by the brunch episode on the Phantom, and really wanted to go to Marshfield to Arthur & Pat's, but that would take most of the day. After a very hearty breakfast for all, including Shara who had all 5 of her silver dollar pancakes, 2 sausages & almost all her egg, we went home to get ready for a classmate's party while Jill & Samantha went to the outlets. The party was fun. It was at the Little Gym. It took Shara about 1/2 hour to feel comfortable going with her friends around the
room and participating, but once she did, she had a blast. They played with the parachute, did basketball, and the parents had a nice time talking with each other - something we don't often get to do. Turns out another family was at Fresh Catch the same time we were and we didn't even see them! After cake and no ice cream (Shara wanted chocolate and she got strawberry so she didn't eat it), we headed to the office to change the backup tape, then home. Again we relaxed - Alan & Shara watched Aladdin and had popcorn, mom knitted mitten. Once Jill & Sam came back we tried various beers & wines, got dinner ready and had our leftovers. Surprisingly Shara wasn't too hungry so ate a couple pieces of broccoli, on demand, and colored. She really was off the wall, but settled down for what turned out to be another night in our bed.

Saturday night was the only night she slept in her bed - no coughing. All other nights we ended up putting her in our bed because she didn't cough there. She coughs in her sleep, mostly, so it isn't a case of her wanting to come into bed with us. I think it's her humidifier. Saturday it wasn't on, but other nights it was. I'll turn it off tonight and see what happens. She's still sleeping now and hopefully she'll sleep for a while because I'd like to go to Whole Foods and if the weather gets nice, maybe the outlets, so that means no nap? My nose is starting to run pretty freely now, so maybe that's the signal that this cold is ending soon for me. My ears and nose were so plugged up during the night I was worried it was turning into a sinus infection, but I think it's on it's way out now. That would be great! It's hard for me to be patient when I feel like crap.

Told a book

Tonight Shara got on the toilet rather quickly and I commented that I was surprised she had to go so badly because I thought she had gone at school before she went home. She said she didn't really go but told daddy a book.

Just asked Alan and he actually said he didn't even remember to ask her, so no stories or books, at least not to daddy. Does sound like I got a little one though!

Another note - she misses her family and would like everyone to come and visit her - John, Maggie and Hannah, Pat, Faith, Nina, and Sophia, Bubbe & Papa, and everyone else. It has been a long time since we've seen a bunch of our family and friends. This summer we'll have a nice big bash! Summer! Pool! Warm!

Go Pats!

Friday was Patriot's Day at Shara school, so being a good mom, ran out at the last minute to find that perfect pink Patriot's tee shirt. Of course it wasn't in the one store I had time to go to, so I had to settle for a $15 boys small grey shirt. Worried she wouldn't like it, I showed it to her and she was so excited that she'd be just like her friends. Of course I must make her understand that it's also nice not to be just like her friends and to be like herself and if she were just like her friends, she wouldn't be Shara! Anyway, psychology aside, she had a great day at school. She's been having many great days at school. Ms. Maria is now her teacher, since Kerry left, and Ms. Amanda seems to to working harder - like interacting more with the kids, etc. Shara's on Ms. Maria's side most days, but her cubby is still on Amanda's side.

Last night & last Saturday we had dinner and a movie night. Last week we watched Shrek 3 and had Chilihead's BBQ and last night we watched Ratatouille and had Chinatown takeout. It's fun for all of us, but I'm sure we miss a lot. Often I have to remind Shara to eat. She'll say, "I'm relaxing" or "But I haven't seen this yet" or "I am!" and then take a bite. I've learned it's best to give her larger pieces so she can get more in fewer bites. She will quickly jump out of her chair and up on my lap if something starts to get scary. Then we have to coax her back down. This was not a particularly scary movie but Shrek 3 seemed to be. We were surprised she didn't want to stop watching it. She said it wasn't scary and she liked it.

Yesterday we got to see Shara's dance class and were treated to the first time they tried their dance for the recital. I have a feeling she may be the one who is 2 steps behind the rest of the group, but we'll see. I doubt she'll let me help her at home or do any formal practicing. We'll see.

What else is going on? We're having the Slaters over tonight to watch the game, but I'm guessing it will be mostly eating and playing. I think it's good for the kids to know what's happening in the world and be a part of the local community and certainly this game is part of that. It's not much different to me than taking her with me on Tuesday to vote and see that process.

We're really having a nice time these days. She loves to sing and dance most of the time. The other morning I felt bad that I had to rush her along in the morning when she was going to the bathroom. She started singing and then called me in to see her on her stage - the potty with the seat down. She was belting out some nonsense song and doing her performance. We had fun the other night dancing around the bedroom. I asked her if she learned how to dance like that at school or dance because she was really moving her hips and tush and had some great rhythm, but I wasn't quite sure where it came from. We have to get some video because she's very intent and serious when she's doing it. It's very cute.

Going to think about breakfast soon. I'm writing this while we're watching the IMAX Coral Reefs video download from the BPL. As the sound varies in the movie, Shara takes the mouse and adjusts the volume as needed. She also clocks herself in and out at daycare each day - all by herself. I have to say that she is still pretty smart. For a while I was thinking she wasn't progressing at the same rate as she had, which was really fast. I've had it in my head that at some point she may even out with the average, and I thought that's what was happening, but I actually think she wasn't very stimulated in Amanda's class and now she is learning more, quicker.