Sisters

When I was pregnant with Caroline and didn't yet know if she was a boy or a girl, I often thought it would be nice to have another girl so Hannah would have a sister. That's not to say I wished for a girl b/c I didn't, but I did think about the bond between sisters and what that means.

I have three sisters myself and I'm not sure what I would do without them. We've had our share of fights, not speaking moments and plenty of disagreements to go around.  BUT we also have our marathon chats, shopping trips, family get together where we laugh and sip wine and I have their unconditional support among everything else.  Sure they'll give me the truth if an outfit doesn't look good and hardly anything is secret around us...if you tell one sister, chances are as soon as she hangs up with you she's on the phone with the other sister telling her =)

I wouldn't trade it for anything though because without them my life would not be complete.  And as I watched my own girls tonight I saw that bond already as I caught them both laughing, at the same time, at each other about something they only know...and inside and out I smiled.

Okay, so Caroline doesn't looked thrilled here but it could be she's falling over and not exactly a comfy position!

In sickness and health...

I often don't write about my husband, Tim.  I reference him from time to time but I don't really write about him so I decided this was a day to do that. (I'm sure he's thrilled...)

This week, we had enough sickness to go around.  He was sick Sunday night with "God only knows what" type of stomach ailment.  So, I took care of the girls, him and all my other chores that evening.  Fast forward 24 hours and I was the one on the couch...and it was his turn to take care of the girls, me and his chores.  Only the girls didn't want Daddy.  No matter how much he tried.  Caroline was the first to cry as he attempted to feed her...the consistency of her rice cereal and the tempature of her green beans were not what she was used to...so, as any six month old would do, she began to fuss and cry.  All while I attempted to lay on the couch with Vick's on my chest and nose... =) 

Then I heard Hannah start to whine about wanting her pajamas on and going to bed...clearly, the house was no longer under control and I heard Tim's voice begin to waiver. I had two choices at that moment: either ignore them and lie on the couch as best I could OR interject, get the situation under control and then go to bed.

Yup, I chose the latter and I think everyone was glad I did.  Of course my ailment turned into a down-n-out cold that rendered me on the couch for the last three days...and in this time Tim's figured it out more and more where Caroline will now take food from him and Hannah will actually let him tuck her into bed...all without crying.

Thanks to my hubby for taking care of his girls this week!

"Or Else..."

So I became a parent this week "officially".  Okay, I've been a parent for the last three years but this week I used the phrase my parents used...the dreaded "or else..."  It's funny but growing up I remember my mom using that phrase with us and it being followed by something she was going to take away.  As I think back I remember a few things taken away but most of the time she said it just to get our attention...and it usually worked! Up until this week, I would laugh thinking about that and thought "who would use that phrase b/c it really doesn't mean anything..." Well, guess what? I did...this week. With Hannah. Just to get her attention!

She was in one of her three year old moods one morning and it was time to leave.  She sat down in the upstairs hallway and decided to whine and yell "Nooooo! I don't want to go to school.  I want my gramma!!" I didn't have time for this nor was I in the greatest of moods myself  to deal with...so, my response? "Hannah stop whining and get downstairs now or else you will never see your gramma again!" She stopped and with mild fear in her eyes said, "Okay." And off we went. 

Perhaps my mom and dad were right...afterall!

Funerals, showing and memories

We experienced something "new" this week..two funerals in three days.  I'm guessing there really isn't anyone out there who will say they like funerals...myself included.  I like to pay my respects and attend a funeral mass or prayer service, however, sitting around and talking while there is a dead person in the room, is just not something I'm comfortable with at all.  They say that funerals are for the living not the dead, well, let me write here and now: I'd rather people celebrate my life with a fantastic party at one of my favorite restaurants!  I doubt that will happen but at least I can put it out there.

My grandmother passed away last Thursday, somewhat suddenly and was buried on Monday.  Hannah saw "Great Grandma Jeanne" last Tuesday while she was in Hospice. At that time, Grandma was relatively alert, chatted with us and laughed at the funny things Hannah and Caroline said or did. When I left there, I never would have thought within 48 hours she would be gone.  I've come to learn since her passing a bit more about death and its four stages (as explained by the wonderful caregivers at Hospice of Northwest Ohio!).  What I saw on Tuesday was my Grandma's last "rally" before death...and am I ever thankful for it.  I was very close to her.  Growing up she lived just the next block over and we'd ride our bikes over there all the time. She'd help care for us after school and would pick us up whenever she was needed.

I remember one time very clearly: I tried out for my 8th grade school musical and didn't get a single part (yes, I realized then acting was not my calling!).  The day I found out I wasn't picked was the day she picked me up from school in her little cherry red Mustang. I remember crying to her and feeling so down about it. She comforted me as only a grandmother could and said "You'll get something else more wonderful someday Sarah, just you watch.  It will happen honey." And she was right.

Of course it wasn't just about me mourning her death, but also Tim and Hannah.  Or better yet, explaining to Hannah what death meant.  She's putting the pieces still together and will for a long time but she knows "Great Grandma Jeanne" is her second Guardian Angel in Heaven...and how special for her that she has two people watching over her.  Her first Guardian Angel is Grandpa Bob, my father.

And tonight as I put Hannah to bed, she prayed for her family on Earth and then said, "and God Bless Grandma Jeanne and Grandpa Bob in Heaven who are my Angels." Yes, Hannah they are indeed.

Felix--The Wonder Cat

The title of my post says it all...but the picture says it even more!  For a cat who's SUPPOSED to be indoor/outdoor and was gone for two months...he sure appears to prefer to be indoors all the while ripping our screen apart to try and come in =) But he has a part of  heart so I couldn't yell at him that hard!

Life and death

Over the weekend Tim's aunt suddenly passed away and today I find myself thinking about what we will say to Hannah this weekend at the funeral.  She is in her "Why?" stage and almost every question or comment I make to her tends to be followed by a Why mom?  It's challenging at time but so far I've managed to satisfy her with answers.  But this weekend will be a little more challenging.  How do you talk about death with a three year old?  And I think about the questions she'll ask and I don't think I'll have any answer to some...and that's okay.

Felix and Hannah

Last night as we were playing after dinner, Hannah turned and looked at Felix and said "Hi Buddy. Mom I love Felix!" Then she proceeded to try and grab his tail and tell him "no" to laying on her blankets.  LOL. I have to give Felix credit b/c he took it all in stride and walked upstairs to get away from her...or so he thought.  For the last four years, Felix has loved our bed more than anywhere else in the house...until now as he discovered Hannah's room with a bed almost at his height that doesn't require much jumping.  Well, you can imagine what transpired when Hannah discovered him on her bed with her "other" blankets.  She called him a bad kitty and told him to leave her room.  So, while I think Hannah does love Felix, it tends to be on her terms. 

Fast forward to later in the night after Hannah had gone to bed and it was time to put Felix into his bed...we found them both peacefully sleeping together! Hannah at one end of the bed and Felix curled at her feet. They say animals have unconditional love and I witnessed that last night.