March, belated

Well, March came and went, and half of April too!  Let's see - Erin started her first session of social skills group on March 2nd at Learn With the Best in Cary.  We have since started a second 5-week session, and she is doing a great job!  She has learned lots about emotions, how to talk with friends, and empathy.  Anna is pleased with the playground that the place has, so it is a win all-around.  Bob was busy the first week of March with meetings for Parish Council as the newly elected/appointed chairman.  I got to help in Erin's centers on the 4th, which is always a wild time.  First grade boys are wild!  That weekend, we just had gymnastics on Saturday and Little Flowers on Sunday and I can't remember what else!  That weekend was also when Bella hurt her back - she woke up that Saturday morning and couldn't walk on her back legs.  Considering that she's about 13 years old, Bob and I immediately thought the worst.  I took her to the vet and they said it was a slipped disc that is not really age-related, and after a week of pain meds and anti-inflammatories (as well 2 weeks on bed rest, which was loads of fun for us carrying her everywhere), she was as good as new...or as good as old, in her case!

The next week was busy as usual with the normal routine, plus going to Anna's art class, my book club, and we went to the Angus Barn with a neighbor couple on Wednesday, which was lots of fun!  Anna was off on the 11th for incoming kindergartener testing, so she helped entertain Sawyer for me.  We had the last fish fry that evening that was delicious as usual!  That weekend was gymnastics on Saturday and Anna went to classmate Zoriana's bowling birthday party on Sunday that was lots of fun!

Bob was in California part of the following week, and we ladies held down the fort.  Erin got sick on the 15th, and I took her to the doctor for a flu test because the flu was going around her class.  As we were at the doctor, she started having a really high heart rate, which bought us a trip to the Childrens ED at Wake Med.  Naturally, it had resolved on its own by the time we got there, but they did lots of tests anyway, and all came back ok.  We followed up with a cardiologist on April 5th and have instructions to monitor and document the next time this happens.  Grandma A. came up to help get Anna from school and stayed with them while I got Erin's Flumist.  She was home the next two days with the flu as well, but thankfully nobody else got it.  We all had the flu shot!

Friday the 18th, Bella had her second incident of the month when she was on the wrong end of a dog biscuit that the neighbor's dog wanted.  She and I had a wild night at the emergency vet from 10:30pm-3:00am so she could get some stitches on the side of her snout and rack up another big bill.  After 2 weeks of stitches, sporting The Cone, antibiotics, an infection, more antibiotics, pain meds, 3 more vet visits, twice daily cleaning the wound, and not eating due to all the meds, she is back to her normal ultra-sassy self.  Bella lives on!

We spent that weekend continuing to watch the neighbor dog but at his own house instead of at ours, gymnastics, and I got to go to neighbor Megan's lovely bridal shower at the art museum!   The following week I worked on promoting the school spring festival as the marketing coordinator, we had Bob's coworkers over for dinner, Anna and I went to the dermatologist to get some bumps removed (mollusca?  apparently a virus that runs its course in 6-12 months), went to Erin's art class, social skills group, had Sawyer 2 days, made a cake for Anna's classmate's mom who had surgery, and went to stations of the cross, all before lunchtime on Thursday!  We were all excited for the early dismissal and kindergarten egg hunt that day, and then spring break for the next week!  We went to Holy Thursday Mass, then Good Friday service which was very nice.  Saturday, we enjoyed a yummy brunch with Liz and David after gymnastics, which was a nice treat!

Easter was lots of fun with the bunny bringing us some great treats, the Cinderella movie, and a game for Anna and workbook for Erin.  We went to standing-room-only Mass on Easter morning, then came home for non-traditional Easter spaghetti, then a fun visit with Cole, Cooper, Rio, and their parents and a great neighbor egg hunt! 

Monday the 28th was our Raleigh staycation, where we checked out the Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center (lots of fun!), then stayed at the Renaissance at North Hills with Bob's hotel points.  The kids enjoyed the indoor pool that we had access to, and Bob and I enjoyed not cooking or cleaning for 24 hours!  We had  fun Mexican dinner downtown and toured Videri Chocolate Factory as well!  Tuesday we hit the pool again and then the art museum on our way home.  The kids had a ball, and you can't beat free!  The rest of the week, we took dinner to neighbors who had their second baby, kids went to the dentist (no cavities!), had a fun park playdate with Anna's friend Kacey, social skills group, and toured the new police station.  The rest of the break falls in April, so stay tuned for more!  We had a fun month and are looking forward to the rest of April and May...the countdown to Anna's birthday has begun!