Happy 10th Birthday Wendy!

Yesterday was Wendy's 10th birthday! She had a great celebration, or celebrations rather, as she enjoyed brownies with her class at school, cupcakes with her adoption playgroup, and then a party at home with friends in the evening. She held it together pretty well overall in anticipation -- we had one difficult evening when she had a hard bedtime, but other than that, she really was in good shape leading up to the big day. She did express that she was worried about turning 13 and then I wouldn't take care of her any more, so I was careful to emphasize that I still need my own mom and that she will always be my little girl. This seemed to help . . .

We opened Wendy's presents first thing in the morning yesterday, and she was very sweet, saying thank you and giving hugs after each one. She seemed really happy with her gifts (even though there was no DS or hamster, as she had requested at one point!!). After present-opening things got a little stressful as our older dog Lucky seemed very sick, just lying miserably on the rug without moving and even screaming in pain a few times, so we were all very worried about him. The girls were amazing though, taking turns with me sitting with him, and helping each other get showered and dressed and breakfasted while I made calls to the emergency center and the vet to try to figure out what to do. I got the girls to school and then was able to take him to the vet, where he was diagnosed with a stomach infection and likely an inflamed disc in his back. Luckily the vet was able to see us as soon as the office opened, so I was able to make it over to the girls' school for the performance Fer was doing with her class that they had developed through an artist-in-residence program. They did a piece called "I Speak American" and Fer recited a poem about yoga and then did a brief monologue in Spanish. I was so proud! She did wonderfully, so calm and spoke clearly and slowly just as she had practiced. It was really great to see and she felt so good about it, which was fabulous.

After Wendy's classroom and playgroup celebrations in the afternoon, she had friends over to our house for her party. Thank you to Ms. Amy and Ms. Joyce for staying and helping me organize and corral the kids as the energy level was quite high! A good time was had by all between outdoor playtime, indoor games, and then a movie ("Rio"). Afterwards 2 party guests stayed the night for a little after-party sleepover, which Wendy and Fer really enjoyed. And then this morning the four of them watched the movie again, had breakfast together and then spent some time coloring and singing (Wendy has found a book of Christmas carols and is enjoying trying to sing the different songs) before it was time to go on with our day.

And now, onwards to the school show -- Wendy's last off-site rehearsal was this morning and the performances start on Friday.

I didn't realize it but March has turned out to be the new December as far as transitions, challenges, and anticipation of exciting events -- between my going away for 3 days to Orlando, the time change, Wendy's birthday, Fer's performance, the school show, and then the unforeseen medical stuff which brings its own stress and worry, we are dealing with a lot right now but trying to handle it all calmly and with some measure of grace. We are hanging in there but I must say I am looking forward to a new normal in April and May with hopefully just our usual routines of school and activities, without all the extras that March has brought.