update

I know it's been awhile....the biggest reason I haven't written is because we've all been sick--AGAIN.  This winter has just been the worst.

But in other news, today was very spring-like.  Rebecca said, "It's a beautiful day.  The sun is shining, and there's nothing in the sky but blue!  There is no snow drip dropping down."  So funny, that silly girl.

When she got home from school Rachel wanted to go outside and play.  Usually I make her do her homework right away, but since I knew by the time that got done, it would be dinner, and by the time dinner got done, it wouldn't be so bright and warm out, I went ahead and let her go out until dinner, telling her she'd have to get it done after dinner.  So the girls went out (and got filthy in all of the mud....but I guess I'd rather deal with mud than snow!). 

She tried her first try on the monkey bars since the infamous elbow break in October.  She got up there to start, and was too scared.  I watched from the window and could tell that she was afraid.  Eventually she got down and didn't attempt it.  A little while later I went out and asked if she had tried it.  She said she was too scared.  I told her to just try hanging and dropping to start.  That sounded okay to her.  Well, not only did she hang, she did three monkey bars.  She was so proud of herself.  And I was thrilled that she pushed through her fear and tried.  I'm sure she'll work back up to doing the whole thing in no time.  I'm just glad she was willing to try it, even though she was afraid.  She doesn't have a good track record at doing things that scare her.  Way to go, Rachel!

Yesterday she had to get impressions of her teeth taken at the dentist for a retainer.  That was another thing she was really scared about, and she did a great job and didn't put up a fuss.  This is another case where I was thrilled with her bravery--she really doesn't have a good track record when it comes to being brave during medical procedures.  So proud of her when she pushes through the hard stuff.

She has a molar that is growing in sideways, which is why she needs the retainer.  It will be cemented in her mouth for 1-3 months, they said.  We'll see how that goes, and how it affects her eating, speaking, etc. 

I'm on "spring break" from my teaching for a couple of weeks.  I'm really hoping we can all get well in the next two weeks and not have to deal with any more sickness for the rest of the year.  It's causing all kinds of problems with my getting to work (either I'm sick, one of the kids are sick, or my friend Emily's kids are sick (Emily watches my girls for me before school and watches Rebecca after preschool is done on the days I teach), practically every week lately!  It's been a huge stressor, trying to juggle child care and work and my own sicknesses.  I don't know how moms who work full time do it.  Ahhhhh!!!)

I recently wrote that I found my first grey hair.  Well, last night I got my hair cut, and the woman cutting my hair said, "Did you know you have all kinds of really curly hair back here in the back?"  I haven't had a curly hair on my head in my life--not even the few times I got a perm, desperately wanting curly hair--they never took well in my stick straight hair.  So I couldn't believe it.  She cut one of them to show me.  Not only was it super kinky-curly, it was also grey.  She cut another couple to show me.  They were all grey.  So apparently, I have a bounty of curly grey hair growing in the back of my head, underneath my top layer of hair, so they're not visible.  So strange.  And gosh, am I getting old.... 

Speaking of getting old, I only have one more week in my 30s.  Then I'll REALLY be old.

And that's the update in our world.