Turning into chrysalids

I've been cooking most of the day in preparation for leaving on Monday. I made a veggie lasagne, a tuna/spinach/noodle casserole, quinoa mac & cheese with kale, mung dal, carrot/apple/zucchini muffins and blueberry cereal bars. Whew.

In that time, our caterpillars started changing into chrysalids. It's really quite interesting to watch them change--it happens in just a few minutes once they start hanging quite still upside down.

One of the jars is turning faster than the other. The caterpillar on the far left was the first one to make the change.

He was followed by the other two that are hanging upside down.

Here all three are turning into chrysalids. The one on the bottom has his face in the food and is pooping steadily up the wall.

The other jar is a bit slower. The one in the center was the first to transform.

He's a bit blurry in the background but you can see he's turned and now the one in the front is changing.

Mom and I are fascinated.

TGIF!

Friday finally came for the girls. Why was Friday the day to wait for? Because Nana came on Friday!!!

Len went to get Nana at the airport, Ms. Julie took Lucy to the beach and I took Kate to cooking class. On the menu was salad with goat cheese croutons.

This was a good exercise for Kate--dredging goat cheese rounds in egg and then breadcrumbs...twice. She was not too happy with getting her fingers this messy.

 She chopped garlic for the dressing and radishes for the salad.

 Next up was taking thyme leaves and basil off the stem.

And then I totally forgot to take a picture of the beautiful salad! Kate loved the salad but was not too keen on the croutons (I thought they were delish!).

Len dropped Nana off at the hair salon where I was getting Kate's hair trimmed again. Then we went out for lunch. Kate was practically vibrating with joy having Nana back with us.

 Nana kept them entertained with books on her iPad while Kate breathed in the nebulizer.

Kate is still, unfortunately, still coughing. It woke her up (and me) up at 5:15 this morning.

I'm off to Houston on Monday, MRI is scheduled for Tuesday and then I meet with two oncologists for a checkup before returning home on Friday. Nana, Len and Ms. Julie will hold down the fort here.

Rolling on down the hill

It was such a beautiful day that I packed up a picnic lunch so we could spend the afternoon outside after morning swim lessons. We set up camp right next to the playground where the girls mostly just used the swings before discovering a large hill across the field. It was their first time learning to roll down a hill and they quite enjoyed themselves. There's a short video of the fun at the end.

Rolling on down the hill from Lisa on Vimeo.

Caterpillar update

We've gone from this...

 ...to this, in 5 days.

Celebrating Mother's Day

Yesterday I slept in for a glorious 2 extra hours before the girls beseiged me to open my cards and present.

Len had already fed them breakfast earlier but we still went out for brunch to one of our favorite kid-friendly spots. It was totally crowded when we got there but the hostess recognized us and came rushing over to say hi. I actually haven't been there since before I went to Houston for cancer treatment (which she knew nothing about). She asked where I had been so I told her what had been going on and the next thing you know she is showing us to a table...in front of several other families. So, I didn't *technically* use my cancer card but I'm not going to turn down an open table when there is a 30 minute wait.

After brunch we headed to the zoo for the day. First up was a ride on the carousel.

Although most of the animals were sleeping the polar bear put on a really good show for quite some time.

A ride on the train was enjoyed.

 In spite of the 50 degree temps. everyone screamed for ice cream.

We had a great day and the girls were wonderful until they crashed and melted down around 3pm. We headed home, had supper at 4:45 followed quickly by bath and bedtime for the girls by 6pm. They were asleep before we finished singing to them. I'd call that a successful mother's day!

Love Letter, Month 40

Dear Kate,

You are 40 months old today, Mother's Day 2013. 

This month has been…challenging…with you. On top of your normal 3 year old PITA behavior, I also had to deal with you on steroids. It has so not been fun. At. All. 

Your coughing got so bad that Dr. Ettner prescribed steroids in an effort to stop the downward trajectory. You are amicable enough with the nebulizer but holy hell, that is where your amicability stops. You were already difficult when it came to, oh say, LIVING LIFE getting dressed, getting undressed, eating, playing, bathing, etc. but on steroids...it's probably best if I not try to explain as I don't want you to have written amunition to show your therapist one day.

You are very much enjoying your ballet class...

once we are actually there...ok, I'll stop now. But really, you should know how much this month has cost me in frown lines and gray hair. 

You are learning new things like how to twirl and skip-to-my-Lou.

Your leotard (and Lucy's as well) were gifted to you by Tita Wheez and were worn by your cousin Martine when she was your age. Isn't it nice to have things that were well-loved by people who love you too? I hope you grow to know just how much you are loved and wanted by our family.

One of the things that is upsetting to you this month is the weather. Yes. You read that correctly. You are very concerned that winter will not leave to make way for spring. I've tried to explain that spring is a time when sometimes the new plants need water

and sometimes they need the heat from the sun

and sometimes they need relief from the warmth so it gets colder for a day or two...but we can still play on the beach!

On one of those really nice, warm days we met up with your friends Luke and Lina at the Botanical Garden. You were *mostly* agreeable and we had a lovely day playing in the sun and water fountains.

In fact, you were the last one in the fountain, happy to have your face repeatedly splashed by the water sprays.

We finally thought it was warm enough to open our butterfly habitat that came from Uncle Ry Ry and Uncle Paul. We ordered our caterpillars and you are anxiously waiting for them to DO SOMETHING.

Another fun thing we've done this month is cooking class. You asked me repeatedly before we went to class if you were going to have to get your hands dirty. When I said "probably", you looked a bit concerned but still wanted to go nonetheless. You very much enjoyed yourself and were quite the chatty one in the group, telling everyone that we were on a date and that next week Lucy would come on her date.

In fact, when we are anywhere without Lucy, you always make sure that everyone we meet knows that you have a sister named Lucy. Oddly enough, Lucy does the same thing when we are out without you. Have you two discussed this with each other because it's really quite extraordinary that you both do this.

In spite of all your contrariness you still manage to crack me up on an almost daily basis. Here are some of your latest funny comments:

Kate: Look Mama! Look!

Mama: (Not looking b/c I’m trying to cook)….Uh huh.

Kate: Look! It’s me on the computer (pointing to her picture that was scrolling on the monitor)

Mama: (still focusing on the stove with my back to the monitor) Yes, I see!

Kate: You can’t see out the back of your head!

Mama: I'm a mama, of course I can!

Sometimes what you say is funny but not so much when it happens at 3am like this particular exchange:
Kate: (coughing and sitting up in bed moaning)

Daddy: Kate, what’s going on?

Kate: I’m feeling left out.

Daddy: What do you mean? Why don’t you lie down and cuddle with your babies?

Kate: But they all said “NO” when I tried to do that.

Daddy: Then why don’t you just sing to them?

Kate: They said NO when I did that too!

Daddy: Oh…your babies are leaving you out. I’m sorry…I didn’t know that. Maybe you should just lie down and think about all the fun things you did with Miss Julie today. And while you do that, I’ll sing a couple of songs for you.

Kate: Okay

You made me a mama 40 months ago and for that I will be forever grateful. In spite of all the less-than-desirable behavior you've exhibited this month, you are still, and always will be, my little love bug. 

Your smile and your laughter are what makes every day mother's day for me.

Love,

Mama