End of the month Friday!!

Well, what a schedule Ellie has for this last Friday in January. Not only is it school tshirt day which alao means they get to play musical chairs this afternoon but her besties are throwing a pizza party for the class during lunch.

And not that but they are also going to celebrate the Chinese New Year. They are going to bake almond cookies and "sweep away last years bad luck".

Pfew. I'm tired thinking about everything going on!

She was very excited to get up and get ready for school. However, something set her off and she lost it. I think it was when I asked her to brush her teeth by herself (which she does on her own every morning) while I went to do something. She freaked out. And when I said it was time to put on shoes and socks, which I usually help her with, she yelled at me, grabbed everything and ran to a corner. She put her socks and shoes on by herself albeit through tears and flinging insults at me (apparently in the worst mommy in the world). And of course, being the worst mommy in the world I had to take a picture of the situation.



But by the time we got to school all was well and happy. She grabbed a puzzle clock (she actually has the same toy at home) which is a new addition to the classroom and started moving the hands to "tell the time". She has been interested in clocks and time lately.




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Books and caterpillars

Today Ellie and I had a great morning, despite the fact that I woke up at 3:45am and couldn't fall back asleep (practice for the arrival of a baby I guess).

At school she showed me the books she is reading and she was excited about that.



Then her teacher showed up with some caterpillars for the classroom. They will be doing a caterpillar/butterfly habitat this Spring. Ellie and I had just read one of her new books about how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly so it was perfect timing. We also need to get her butterfly habitat set up at home...put that on the to do list.



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Nothing exciting

Today was a very regular morning. Nothing exciting happened. We got up, we are breakfast, we got dressed, and we left for school.

No new class pets, no legs on the tadpoles, no funny stories from a teacher or friends.

Nothing exciting.



But she was happy to be at school. I guess that's exciting.

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The gecko now has a name

Yesterday the class gecko received a name, Vedder. Those of you who weren't in junior high in the 90s may not recognize that as the last name of Pearl Jams frontman, Eddie Vedder. Vedder is also a Chicago native and big Cubs fan apparently. Nick was very excited to see that Vedder was the geckos name. This morning I was able to confirm that Ellies teacher is a "slightly excessive obsessed Pearl Jam fan". So that makes sense...



This morning Ellie happily grabbed some stamps for her before school activity.



This morning I received an email from Ellies teacher. She said that Ellie was VERY excited to write about her birthday party plans. She snapped a photo and sent it to me.


If you can't read it, Ellie has used the moveable alphabet to spell out words to make the following sentence: "Im goen to hav a yugrtlued and frozn brthdey." This is her phonetic attempt to write the following sentence: I'm going to have a Yogurtland and Frozen birthday. She will write the sentence in her booklet, and discuss the missing vowels with her teacher.

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"Mommy! My lunch!!"

Few weeks back when I forgot Ellies lunch and then the other day when I forgot my cell phone I asked Ellie to help me remember these thing in the morning because "sometimes when you have a baby in your tummy you become forgetful". This morning, thankfully, as I was about to walk out the door without her lunch she said, "Mommy! My lunch!!" After I got her lunch from the fridge she said, "and you have your phone today right?" Good thing she was more on top of it than I was this morning!



The new class gecko was out and about this morning and pretty active. So Ellie and I watched him for a few minutes before she ran off to play with her friends.



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"Mommy! My lunch!!"

Few weeks back when I forgot Ellies lunch and then the other day when I forgot my cell phone I asked Ellie to help me remember these thing in the morning because "sometimes when you have a baby in your tummy you become forgetful". This morning, thankfully, as I was about to walk out the door without her lunch she said, "Mommy! My lunch!!" After I got her lunch from the fridge she said, "and you have your phone today right?" Good thing she was more on top of it than I was this morning!



The new class gecko was out and about this morning and pretty active. So Ellie and I watched him for a few minutes before she ran off to play with her friends.



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One out of five ain't too bad

So she is back at school. She didn't have a fever overnight at all and she was a normal grumpy cranky Ellie this morning.

When I said that she missed four days of school she was quick to correct me that she only missed three because Monday was a holiday. So I decided then and there she was well enough for school.



And it was a good thing too because the class now has a pet gecko! Ellie was pretty excited by the new classmate she saw when we arrived.



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Sick Ellie Day 3

So it definitely looks like she has pneumonia, but at least this morning when she woke up her fever was only between 101-102 and not around 103 anymore. So hopefully the antibiotics are starting to kick in. We have another dr. appt today to see how shes recovering. Unfortunately, I think she's out of school for the whole week.

Which means we are all cranky, grumpy, and exhausted. Ellie has cabin fever. Nick just wants his normal routine back and to go running...no exercise and odd (well different than he's use to) nap schedules makes a cranky Nick. I'm exhausted from juggling too many balls this week...when I'm at home with Ellie everyone needs some thing work related, when I'm at work all I can think about is how Ellie is doing. So hopefully she recovers fast and we have a normal weekend and she's back to school.

As she was the grumpiest I have ever seen her this morning, seriously it was the worst I have ever experienced, I didn't get any pictures. But here is a picture showing off the coolest part of the new car (besides the working clock). I call it the mom mirror. Just a quick peek and I can see everything going on in the backseat, including a sleeping Ellie. This will definitely come in handy in the near future!



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Sick Ellie Day 2

So she still has a fever and we are keeping her home from school again. Spent quite a bit of time at urgent care yesterday (her doc didn't have any open appointments...too many sick kids) and after lots of tests (negative for flu and strep) they did chest x-rays. We have to wait for a radiologist to review them and provide definitive results, but the urgent care doc "saw something on the x-ray" which may be pneumonia and so she is being treated now with antibiotics. I have a call into her regular doc so we shall see what comes of today.

In communicating about her absence with her teacher I learned that besides Ellie, 4 other kids were out sick yesterday and another got sent home with a fever. In a class of 13 kids...that is almost half a class out sick! So something is obviously going around.

Despite her fever, cough, and complaining of a headache she is happy and in good spirits.

This morning while I was getting dressed she came with her apron and asked for help putting it on. I though she was just playing in her kitchen. Nope...she was in mine. She got out all the ingredients (that she could remember or reach) for muffins and asked if I would help her. How can I turn down making pumpkin muffins with her?





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Sick day

After a long day of fun, Ellie was obviously exhausted she also kept saying she was cold, but she did go swimming in the evening.

However, when I did my usual 10:00pm check on her she had a fever. And not a low one. I have her Tylenol and sat with her. My 1:00am check showed that fever had gone down. And in the morning her fever was back but not as high. She has a cough and was a little lethargic this morning. I made the decision to keep her at home today. Her teacher said high fevers had been going around and one kid actually was diagnosed with the flu, so i think i made the right decision to keep her home. Which of course means another hand off day.

Fortunately I had to be at a movie studio lot around 9ish this morning. And fortunately this studio happens to be a block from Nicks work. So I met him at work when he was done and passed off Ellie. After my site visit the plan is I will go home and take over so Nick can get a good nap in. Also have calls into the doctor. So we may be taking her in later today.

I leave you with photos of yesterday and a happier healthier Ellie...
























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MLK Jr. Day

Today Ellie is off of school, but Nick and I still have to work, which means a hand-off day. I have her in the morning and Nick has her in the afternoon. Nick has promised to take her to Santa Monica to the amusement park and then she has swimming lessons. She and I had a full morning. We gardened a little bit. She practiced riding her bike in the driveway (no photos as I had to stand guard and make sure she didn't go in the street). And we had a rousing game if hide and seek in the backyard. Lots of great places for Ellie to hide. A 32-week pregnant lady? Not so much...






The weekend was pretty full too. We went to the zoo on Saturday and the gorillas and orangutans (including the baby) were out and about and playing around. We watched a large adult orangutan hide from a younger one by putting a garbage can over his head. It was pretty funny.

On Sunday Ellie had ballet and then she met up with some friends at the mall to go to a movie and do a little shopping. Yes, my 4-year-old is really 12. A couple if dads (including nick) took the girls to see Frozen at the Paseo and then they ran around the mall. Even taking some pictures in a photo booth!! Nick came home worn out...I think a exhausted at the prospect of Ellie actually growing up.









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Happy Anniversary!

Do you know what you were doing exactly 20 years ago today? I woke up early in the morning to my bed moving. Then went to school where I ducked under my desk several times that day (often prompting teachers to think we were playing practical jokes on them). I got to watch TV in the morning and after school. Memories of January 17, 1994 will forever be burned in my mind.

20 years ago a 6.7 earthquake hit the Los Angeles area. Know as "Northridge" this quake changed laws, regulations, and how engineers analyze and design buildings in seismic zones.

So not only is it a strong memory for me, but it had a great impact on my studies and the work I do now. So yes, I am marking today as an anniversary. And apparently Mother Nature decided to too, sending some small quakes (M2.6 was the greatest) to wake up residents in the valley (right by Studio City).

In the car on the way to school we listened to the radio where they were talking about Northridge and the aftermath. Ellie I said, "I know what to do in an earthquake! You duck and cover your brain to protect it. Mommy, what's an earthquake?" And I guess it's true, you learn to be prepared but don't know what to expect until one actually hits. Northridge wasn't my first quake, nor was it my last. But it was the biggest so far for me, even being 90 miles north Santa Barbara shook and experienced several aftershocks.

At school Ellie really didn't want to be there. She said she wanted to be home and play with her doll house and Luke and Leia. I made her a deal...she goes to school today and I won't make her go to school on Monday (MLK day). She thought that was a great plan.


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Red Flag morning

At 4:22am Ellie started yelling from her bed. "Mommy I had an accident in my bed. Can you come help me clean up?!?" I went in there and she was freaking out about having an accident. She hasn't. She was dry. Her bed was dry. Nothing. But that didn't stop her from needing new underwear and crying and being very distraught about the whole situation. I could not convince her she did not have an accident. I think it was a dream and that she was still asleep when I was with her. Because this morning she didn't have any recollection of the whole incident! It was weird.

As we were leaving for school Ellie looked up into the sky and said, "look at the pretty clouds mommy". I looked at the sky and thought to myself...that's smoke. I couldn't smell anything so I figured the fire was far enough away that I didn't have to worry and school would be open. But we called Nick just to be sure. The fire is in the foothills over Glendora, 2-3 towns to the east of us. So our home is in the clear, but structures have been damaged and there are evacuations in Glendora.



At school we arrived just seconds before her besties. So I asked her to pose a for a nice picture.



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Too hot

So I know this will probably sound whiny and obnoxious to those of you who are not currently living in or visiting SoCal, Hawaii, or parts of Florida.

But it's too hot here.

I'm sorry, but 84 degrees in the middle of January is just a little to warm for my liking. Maybe it's because I'm 31 weeks pregnant that I'm a little sensitive to the heat, but even Ellie was complaining yesterday. Granted, I'd much rather have it this way than have to put long underwear, boots, long pants, gloves, mittens, big winter coat, hat, scarf, etc on Ellie in the morning. But really, it's too hot for her to wear her beloved Uggs to school! And it doesn't look like the temps are going to cool down anytime soon. Thanks global warming...

This morning Ellie and I studied the tadpoles...still no legs. She had a good morning and even got herself dress all by herself. Practicing to be a big sister when I won't have much time to help her with things she is qualified to do herself perhaps??



Also, for record in Monday I submitted Ellies paperwork and forms to enroll her in public school for kindergarten. When I dropped them off the woman at the front office remarked that I was really early and most people didn't do it till March. I put my hand on my obviously very pregnant belly and remarked that I would be busy in March. She laughed. But at least I got one major thing crossed off the to-do list.



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Like a weed!

It looks like we will not only be buying baby boy clothes in the next month but some little girl clothes as well. Ellie has been growing like a weed and almost all her dresses are too short! Things that fit even a couple months ago are not too short. Convincing her that skirts and pants are great alternatives to her play dressed is a tough argument in the morning...especially when it's an early morning (as it was today). So she goes to school in a dress that is just a tad little too short, but she'll survive.






Also it was oddly windy at school. Not windy at home, but one mile north and into the foothills it was super windy. We saw signs knocked down and a couple potted trees knocked down. Apparently some parents who live up in Altadena didn't have power either, but school did.

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Monday morning

Despite moving a little slow and waking up a little late (me not Ellie) we made it out the door on time. Mostly because she was very cooperative and efficient (even getting her own shoes on).

The weekend was full. We had a Mary Poppins viewing at the El Capitan Theatre on Saturday. It definitely was a success, as for the rest of the weekend she was singing and dancing to multiple songs from the movie (mostly I Love to Laugh and Chim Chim Chimery). Then we decorated her room and moved her clothes and books to her room. All we have left to do is hang a bar in her closet and get her clothes hung up. Yesterday we had ballet and some shopping and misc chores. Ellie was very helpful with laundry and making her own lunch.

But ask her what her favorite thing about the weekend was and she will respond, "my mommy let me use TWO sharp knives to cut lettuce and apples!!". Yes I did. And note we don't have any pictures of it because I was about 1" away from her while she was doing it. She did well and was very focused.

This morning she wanted to run and play with her buddies.


But she did take time to kiss the baby goodbye.



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Key to success: 12 hours

Last night we put Ellie to bed early. She got just about 12 hours of sleep.

This morning she was happy, chipper, excited to go to school, talkative at breakfast. It was fantastic!

She actually got up a little before I would have gone in to get her but played with her doll house by herself (after using the potty). Then when I told her it was time for breakfast she didn't argue. She put away the toys and came with me.

Basically I started off my morning sane because I didn't have to repeat myself at all...

At school, she was bouncing off the walls excited about life.



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Vocabulary Lesson: Embarrassment

Yesterday Ellie had a potty accident at school. Rumor has it she didn't want to lose her turn on the bikes and therefore didn't make it to the potty and had a poop accident.

At pickup, despite wearing different pants she didn't tell Nick what happened until he saw the note from the teacher and asked her about it.

Ellie has not told me about it. Although I have asked her about her day several times and asked if she rode the bikes yesterday (her response: yep, I had fun...then the topic was changed by her).

This morning she was full of excuses why she really didn't want to go to school today and see her teacher. But never did she mention the accident. So I'm pretty sure she was embarrassed and ashamed and didn't want to relive any memories from yesterday. I spoke to her teacher about it who said they tried to be as discrete as possible and she didn't think anyone else knew. But the teacher knew, and Maybe that was enough for Ellie.

Needless to say, she wasn't happy this morning.


But she was also pissed that we didn't have anymore bagels for her breakfast (because she had the last one last night...silly kid!)

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First early morning of 2014

Today I had to drive up to Somis, CA (home of the famous nut house...walnuts, peanuts, cashews kind of nuts) for work. So Ellie and I had an early morning.

She seemed totally content, although groggy, and ate a full breakfast in the car. No problems...pfew. I didn't have a chance to brush all the tangles out of her hair however.

At school she showed me the tadpoles (bigger but no legs) and a new task chart for the 5 year olds. I think she really wants to be five and get to participate with the task chart because this is the second morning she has shown me and last night she talked about it all through dinner.






There are also pictures and books about MLK Jr. all over her classroom. But I don't think they have started discussing him yet. Because Ellie wanted to show me the new pictures of a president her teacher had put up. I explained that he wasn't a president. So the next question, "if he wasn't a president how come he's special?". I tried to explain...but yeah leave that for the teachers to explain to Ellie who can't see differences in her friends (besides which princess they wore on their shirt that day) that at one time kids like her and some of her friends weren't allowed to play together, had to go to different schools, and even use different drinking fountains. She's going to be baffled and confused and knowing her empathetic streak, sad and upset.

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Good night...ugh morning

I should clarify, Ellie had a great night and a great morning. My morning...ehhh...you know when you have a day start out and it's like the universe is telling you to go back to bed, that's how my morning was. I left my phone at home, spilled water (while I was taking the lid off of a bottle) across my desk, two coworkers have already asked if i was feeling okay because i looked tired and not good, and I'm convinced that I left something else I needed at home but I can't remember what it is...

And I had a great nights sleep last night! That's the totally weird thing. Oh well. I hope I can get through the day without any other uh ohs.

So there aren't any photos of Ellie at school this morning (because I forgot phone and had to go home after dropping her off...).

But, Nick did move her bed to her new room yesterday and she spent the first night in her new bigger room. She was so excited. She and I are going to decorate the walls and organize this weekend. And then we can start on Número Due's room...






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Back to routines

Well after a fun filled two week break from school and the routine, it was back to normal for me and Ellie.

I made her lunch last night, she was groggy and difficult to wake up, we had a nice breakfast together, she and I had a mini battle over what she would wear, I brushed out tangles while she brushed her teeth, and she diddle daddled when I wanted her to put her shoes on...you know normal.

One thing that wasn't normal, I didn't take her nap stuff to school. Before the holidays she was complaining about taking a nap and we decided that in the new year we would try no nap at school. But if she has trouble paying attention, listening to words or is cranky...she will go back to napping. She was so happy to not have to take a nap today. We shall see how it goes.

At school she was so excited to see her friends I only got one photo of her. And yeah...not the best. Kinda her "mom I'm with my friends leave me alone face" going on.



And while Ellie gets to play outside in 75 degree temps today, we are thinking about her cousins, friends and family in Chicago where they have -15 degree temps (-50 with wind chills) today. Stay safe and warm guys!

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