Cleo

On Thursday, March 25, we said goodbye to our dear, sweet kitty cat. Cleo was very, very sick and so we sent her to heaven. It's going to take a very long time for our hearts to heal. We got Cleo on our 1st wedding anniversary. Her given name was Peanut Butter (her brother was Jelly!) but we renamed her soon after she came to live with us.

Cleo was a companion to all three of our kids. She withstood a lot with those three.
Losing Cleo has been very difficult. More than I ever imagined that it would be. I thought I was prepared, but I wasn't. Explaining it to the kids was difficult but they are handling it well.

I know that one day we'll see each other again. Thanks to all our friends who have been there for us. It's nice to know we have friends who care so much about us. We know that Cleo has crossed the Rainbow Bridge and is scampering in Heaven, without pain.

RAINBOW BRIDGE

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially

close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends

so they can run and play together.

There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and

our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor.

Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again,

just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing;

they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one

suddenly stops and looks into the distance.

His bright eyes are intent.

His eager body quivers.

Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass,

his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet,

you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.

The happy kisses rain upon your face;

your hands again caress the beloved head,

and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet,

so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Until we meet again, Cleo....

Diabetes Walk

On Friday, March 12, Caroline and Sam joined their school in the School Walk for Diabetes. Thanks to those who donated. Nate and I went and walked with the kids, too. What a great way to raise awareness!

Caroline & her class lined up ready to go

Sam and his friend, Derek
Sam & Derek have been friends since Pre-School and are so lucky to be in the same class together again this year!

Until next time...

Nate's casts

In the E.R. with the temporary splint

After getting the cast at the orthopaedic

Until next time...

Spring Break....not so much of a break for this mom!

We started off our Spring Break week on Monday by going bowling with Katie, Coy, Cydney, and Kyle. We all had a great time. A great time until......Nate fell. He was chasing after the ball down the lane and he slipped. He cried for a little bit and then he acted fine.
Fast forward to that night, he wouldn't put any weight on that foot. Nothing looked out of the ordinary so we gave him Motrin and sent him to bed.

Tuesday morning, Sam had an ENT appointment. Nate still wasn't putting any weight on his foot and he was extremely whiney. Go to the ENT. Find out that Sam's tonsils have to come out and soon. They are not infected or swollen. They are just too big for his little mouth. The ENT did give us some encouragement that this could be part of his food issues. We can get him to taste foods now but he takes forever to swallow. The tonsils will be evicted mid-April so we'll see.
After the ENT, I dropped off Caroline and Sam at a friend's house and took Nate to the E.R. to get his leg x-rayed. FIVE hours later, it is determined that his foot might be broken. They put it in a temporary splint and we were sent to see a Pedi Orthopaedic on Wednesday.

Wednesday morning, Jason left for NJ for work until Tuesday. We got an appt. with the pedi ortho at 1pm. Took all three kids and met a few friends at Chuck E. Cheese for a little fun. The big kids hadn't had much fun yet so CEC was perfect! Big kids went home with a friend and off Nate and I were to the ortho. The ortho determined by looking further into the x-rays that Nate had a broken bone in his foot near his big toe. He is now sporting a very lovely PURPLE cast and will have it for 3 weeks.

Thursday started off okay. Until Sam woke up crying in pain. His throat hurt. Bad. So off we went to the pediatrician. One look down his throat and he had Strep. Got him an antiobiotic and we were on our way. Nate wasn't feeling all that well. His breathing was labored and he was just unhappy. Called his pediatrician and they wanted us to come in. After Nate's nap, we loaded up the van ONE MORE TIME and off to the pedi we went. Nate got a change in his inhaler regimen. He no longer is to use the nebulizer. We are now on 2 inhalers with a spacer. Those seem to be working much more effectively. He also scored an oral steroid to kick this mess for good.

Friday was NICE! We didn't get dressed, didn't do much. More importantly, we didn't go see any doctors. My co-pay count was up to FIVE by Thursday!

Saturday morning brought a nice surprise. Jason came home early. They ran into some issues with the product in NJ and he'll have to go back in April but for now, he's home!

We went to Mass on Saturday night and all was well again in Babinland :)

Until next time....

Just a swingin'

We took advantage of the great weather and did some playing outside!

And now it's Caroline's turn to be a V.I.C.!

\Caroline received the Very Important Cougar award from her teacher this month. She got it for the "Responsibility" character trait . We are so proud of her!

Until next time...