My week as a single mother

For a week in July Adam had to go to Vegas (for work).  While I pity him for having to spend a grueling week away from his family working, I also pity me the girls.  Life isn't the same when Daddy isn't around!  He is a great help to me, especially at bedtime! Usually I'm in charge of putting Abby down and he is in charge of Ellie.  Here is our week without Daddy.

Night one:  I did our usual routine with the girls.  I decided to put Ellie down for bed first.  

Teeth brushed...check

Fresh diaper and PJs on...check

Tuck her in and rub her back for a few minutes...check and check

Sneak out...

Standing in the hall I see this girl,

"My Mommy is taking me to college.  I've got my purse and my vroom to clean up."

(oh and the hat was a surprise from Nina after being sick).

Never a dull moment.

 After I tuck Abby into bed and think to myself, Okay I did it.  Night one down.

Not so fast...

 Ellie did NOT want to wear pajamas!  She wanted her "wess" back on.

Pick  your battles right?

Whew, they're both asleep.  Yay!!

 The next morning I wake up to find Ellie wandering around downstairs looking for Daddy.  

Adam told Abby to be a good helper for mommy while he was gone.  Abby remembered this instruction and helped whenever possible, including bath time.  I am surprised Ellie went along with it.

To a four year old the days kind of run all together.  To help Abby understand when Adam would return home we told her he would be back on pancake day (Saturday).  Before going to the grocery store I had Abby help me with the shopping list.  She was the one who knew that we needed more Bisquick (since she is the one who makes the pancakes every week with Adam).  It was added to the list.  Somehow while we were shopping, i walked right past the Bisquick.  From behind I could here a little voice say, "Wait, Mommy, you almost forgot the pancakes for Daddy!"

What a helper!!

She totally earned her Sandy ride

Night two:  I had the awesome idea to let the girls sleep with me since we got home late after being at my mom's for dinner (thanks again, mom).  

(Ellie is reading my devotional)

I mean they are so cute, what could go wrong right?

Three hours later...(1:30)

Worst idea ever.  

They were all smiley at breakfast.  Me?  Not so much.  It took me half a day to wake up.

Night three:

Ellie hid in the closet to avoid bed.

Can you find Abby?

Day four

We had Mommy/Daughter fun day!

A trip to the library and Disney Store

Only my kids sit down in the middle of the store to watch TV...

We just so happened to make it to story time at the Disney store.  I didn't even know they did that.

Night 5

 They tried so hard to wait up for Daddy. 

I truly don't know how single parents do all that they do.  

Sicky

While I absolutely hate it when my children are sick (especially throwing up), I also love it.  Why?  Because look how precious and pathetic Abby looks!  I love taking care of my baby...

Even if it means doing laundry from five in the morning until nine at night nonstop.  

2 Year Check Up

 waiting got too boring...

 So the girls made their own fun

 Ellie was weighed on the grown up scale for the first time.  She was unsure what to do, so Abby demonstrated for her first.  She is such an awesome older sister.

26 lbs (40 percentile) 

 Height 33 inches (27 Percentile)

49.5 cm (92 Percentile)

 Look at that smile :)

Pulse 100

Such a nice visit turned into this...

 Our family doctor noticed what sounded to her like a heart murmur, so I had to rush from that appointment to the heart hospital to get Ellie tested.  Everything was going well until the technician told me to remove Ellie's dress.  Mind you the girl had been at the doctors for the past three and half hours, and it was past nap time.  Taking off her "wess" was the last straw for her.  (She threw a fit).  Not knowing how sweet Ellie usually is the technician immediately told me that we could not do this today and that I would have to come back another day to the hospital on the south side.  She didn't want to get behind in her appointments (though we had only been back in the room a total of five minutes, oh, and it was Friday).

Um...No.

I told her that she should at least try and do the test, and that Ellie would calm down.   Apparently the test was an hour long and the patient needs to be completely still.  While I was politely disagreeing with the technician Ellie was self soothing with a hospital sheet.  I suggested the technician give it a go.

Dear Ellie stayed perfectly still and calm during the entirety of the test.  The technician had the audacity to say that she was shocked and thought there was no way "this child" was going to cooperate.  Is it even necessary for me to say that I did NOT like this woman?

We got the results the next morning.  Ellie does have a murmur, but it isn't anything that we need to worry about.  We simply need to be aware of it and keep an eye on it.  Our doctor feels that she will probably grow out of it.  

Never take for granted good health.

Praise Jesus.