So it's been 3 weeks since I have blogged.. I know I know you didn't miss me at all... but I've missed writing here. I started my newest adventure... a new job at Genzyme in Cambridge, MA I'm doing Data Entry for the RenAssist program. Genzyme provides drugs for patients who are on Hemodialysis mostly due to End Stage Renal Disease or Cronic Kidney Disease. I've been there for 2 weeks so far and I like it... there's quite a bit to learn. Currently I've been entering Part D applications (applications from patients with Part D Medicare insurance) and Dailies - which are patients that are trying to verify that they have coverage.. I also get to do projects and have done 3 already in the 2 weeks that I've been there.
Anna and Lily have been doing great with the new routine that we've had to adopt so that I can get to work on time. I've actually been early by 15 minutes almost everyday. My mom has been very helpful in getting the girls for me from daycare most days and bringing them home for me or to her house for dinner till I can get home.
Two weeks ago the girls and I attended our second Camp Stepping Stones, which is a camp that is put together by the Center for Grief and Healing that is affliliated with the Hospice that Lee was at when he died. This year the girls seemed to have a really great time. They knew what to expect and made all sorts of arts and crafts projects this year. They also got some time to go swimming and have some pet therapy with Miniature Ponies. Meanwhile I attended a couple of presentations on helping the girls with their grief, got a massage, did some art projects of my own and attended 2 workshops. I'm looking very forward to getting the picture CD in the mail this year since I know that they took a ton of pictures of my girls during their activities.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Sometimes Life Sucks
Friends of ours from church got some not so good news last week. Their precious little girl , age 5, wasn't feeling well and they did what all parents do.. they took her to the hospital to be checked out. They got the diagnosis of Leukemia and she is now over at a wonderful hospital in the Boston area and has been told that she has the best type to have with a really great survival rate of almost 90%.
My heart keeps breaking for her and her family. I keep looking at my girls and thinking about how I'd be coping if something ever were to happen to my girls.. I know that I'd be devastated, heartbroken and not doing well. The same feelings I had just about 15-16 months ago when Lee was going through the last weeks of his life. My friends (the mom and dad) seem to be coping well so far. Yet I know that they are probably thinking "Why us?" "why now?". I'm trying my best to be supportive and since their daughters (they have twins also) are friends with my girls, I'm trying my best to discuss this situation with Anna and Lily in terms that they will understand. They know that C is in the hospital and would love to hear from them so this morning we got out some paper and markers and drew some pictures and mailed them off.
Lily was rather cute when I was telling her about C. She realizes that Daddy was in a hospital when he died and recently saw some pictures of me in the hospital when I was giving birth and asked me if I went to the hospital to die like Daddy.. so when we had the discussion about C, I made sure to tell her that C will be coming back to her home and that eventually we will get to play with her again but we will need to be careful with her. She seemed to understand but at the same time was asking why Daddy didn't get to come home too and wanted to go visit C to give her a big hug and get the monsters off her. I told her that we can't visit her right now but maybe once she is home and can have friends over.
My heart keeps breaking for her and her family. I keep looking at my girls and thinking about how I'd be coping if something ever were to happen to my girls.. I know that I'd be devastated, heartbroken and not doing well. The same feelings I had just about 15-16 months ago when Lee was going through the last weeks of his life. My friends (the mom and dad) seem to be coping well so far. Yet I know that they are probably thinking "Why us?" "why now?". I'm trying my best to be supportive and since their daughters (they have twins also) are friends with my girls, I'm trying my best to discuss this situation with Anna and Lily in terms that they will understand. They know that C is in the hospital and would love to hear from them so this morning we got out some paper and markers and drew some pictures and mailed them off.
Lily was rather cute when I was telling her about C. She realizes that Daddy was in a hospital when he died and recently saw some pictures of me in the hospital when I was giving birth and asked me if I went to the hospital to die like Daddy.. so when we had the discussion about C, I made sure to tell her that C will be coming back to her home and that eventually we will get to play with her again but we will need to be careful with her. She seemed to understand but at the same time was asking why Daddy didn't get to come home too and wanted to go visit C to give her a big hug and get the monsters off her. I told her that we can't visit her right now but maybe once she is home and can have friends over.
Update on the Bucket List for Summer
Here's what I wrote a couple of weeks ago...
1. Trip to Franklin Park Zoo.. hopefully on a day when the Giraffes are out. - Going Tomorrow... can't wait.
2. Trip to Canobie Lake Park. (will need to happen with friends).
3. Fly a kite. - DONE as of June 30th. We had a great time and will be doing it again.
4. A Beach trip... another to do with more than one adult
5. A trip to a DCR Pool. with more than one adult.
6. Ride the train to Boston.. hopefully on the Commuter Rail aka the Purple Train
7. Trip to Rockport
8. Trip into Boston to play at the Frog Pond
9. Carousel ride in Boston.. hopefully by the Frog Pond or maybe down by the Rose Kennedy Greenway
10. Swan Boat ride
11. Children's Museum
12. Museum of Science
13. Go to the Fourth of July Parade in Wakefield and possibly go see the fireworks show over the Lake in Wakefield. - FAIL... it was too hot and wound up being a stormy night..
14. Breakheart Reservation to play and possibly go swimming
15. Go to Richardson's Ice Cream to visit the baby cows (yes i know they are Calves) and get some Ice Cream.
16. Mini golf... (maybe at Richardson's though Hago's in Stoneham might be more the girls speed).
17. Salem Willows.
1. Trip to Franklin Park Zoo.. hopefully on a day when the Giraffes are out. - Going Tomorrow... can't wait.
2. Trip to Canobie Lake Park. (will need to happen with friends).
3. Fly a kite. - DONE as of June 30th. We had a great time and will be doing it again.
4. A Beach trip... another to do with more than one adult
5. A trip to a DCR Pool. with more than one adult.
6. Ride the train to Boston.. hopefully on the Commuter Rail aka the Purple Train
7. Trip to Rockport
8. Trip into Boston to play at the Frog Pond
9. Carousel ride in Boston.. hopefully by the Frog Pond or maybe down by the Rose Kennedy Greenway
10. Swan Boat ride
11. Children's Museum
12. Museum of Science
13. Go to the Fourth of July Parade in Wakefield and possibly go see the fireworks show over the Lake in Wakefield. - FAIL... it was too hot and wound up being a stormy night..
14. Breakheart Reservation to play and possibly go swimming
15. Go to Richardson's Ice Cream to visit the baby cows (yes i know they are Calves) and get some Ice Cream.
16. Mini golf... (maybe at Richardson's though Hago's in Stoneham might be more the girls speed).
17. Salem Willows.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Make New Friends
We were both at the park today.. and we just happened to be chatting and she mentioned that she's a widow.. "Me too" I said and boom we were off to the races talking about our experiences.
Her husband died in a freak plane accident in October. He was the pilot of a plane that crashed into a soccer field. Thankfully without anyone on the field and he and his passenger passed quickly.
Unfortunately she's not from this area and is visiting / staying with her sister who lives here.. she was at the park with her 3 nephews and her younger son.
It was nice to talk to someone who gets it... who totally understands what we go through and how we get treated as widows. I wish that we could have talked longer but all the kiddos were getting tired and needed to head on back to our homes.
I hope to run into her again before she heads back home..
(originally written on June 17th)..
Her husband died in a freak plane accident in October. He was the pilot of a plane that crashed into a soccer field. Thankfully without anyone on the field and he and his passenger passed quickly.
Unfortunately she's not from this area and is visiting / staying with her sister who lives here.. she was at the park with her 3 nephews and her younger son.
It was nice to talk to someone who gets it... who totally understands what we go through and how we get treated as widows. I wish that we could have talked longer but all the kiddos were getting tired and needed to head on back to our homes.
I hope to run into her again before she heads back home..
(originally written on June 17th)..
A Summer Bucket List
I'm trying something new this summer... I'm making a Bucket List for the Summer. All sorts of fun adventures for the girls and I to do on our own or with friends.. Not sure if we will get to most of the list but I bet that we'll have some fun trying..
In no particular order....
1. Trip to Franklin Park Zoo.. hopefully on a day when the Giraffes are out.
2. Trip to Canobie Lake Park. (will need to happen with friends).
3. Fly a kite.
4. A Beach trip... another to do with more than one adult
5. A trip to a DCR Pool. with more than one adult.
6. Ride the train to Boston.. hopefully on the Commuter Rail aka the Purple Train
7. Trip to Rockport
8. Trip into Boston to play at the Frog Pond
9. Carousel ride in Boston.. hopefully by the Frog Pond or maybe down by the Rose Kennedy Greenway
10. Swan Boat ride
11. Children's Museum
12. Museum of Science
13. Go to the Fourth of July Parade in Wakefield and possibly go see the fireworks show over the Lake in Wakefield.
14. Breakheart Reservation to play and possibly go swimming
15. Go to Richardson's Ice Cream to visit the baby cows (yes i know they are Calves) and get some Ice Cream.
16. Mini golf... (maybe at Richardson's though Hago's in Stoneham might be more the girls speed).
17. Salem Willows.
In no particular order....
1. Trip to Franklin Park Zoo.. hopefully on a day when the Giraffes are out.
2. Trip to Canobie Lake Park. (will need to happen with friends).
3. Fly a kite.
4. A Beach trip... another to do with more than one adult
5. A trip to a DCR Pool. with more than one adult.
6. Ride the train to Boston.. hopefully on the Commuter Rail aka the Purple Train
7. Trip to Rockport
8. Trip into Boston to play at the Frog Pond
9. Carousel ride in Boston.. hopefully by the Frog Pond or maybe down by the Rose Kennedy Greenway
10. Swan Boat ride
11. Children's Museum
12. Museum of Science
13. Go to the Fourth of July Parade in Wakefield and possibly go see the fireworks show over the Lake in Wakefield.
14. Breakheart Reservation to play and possibly go swimming
15. Go to Richardson's Ice Cream to visit the baby cows (yes i know they are Calves) and get some Ice Cream.
16. Mini golf... (maybe at Richardson's though Hago's in Stoneham might be more the girls speed).
17. Salem Willows.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Diapers Done!
The diapers are gone... none during the day and none at night.. I also removed all temptation and gave away the diapers that I still had to the Family Network that we frequent. I am so proud of and amazed by Lily. She has become such a big kid lately. She still loves to be held and cuddled and likes to sleep in my bed (I find her with me in the mornings quite often). We've had a few accidents here and there but for the most part all the small people that live here are able to get to the potty when needed or prompted and do what they need to do to get things done. Life is getting easier though it's minorly stressful when we go to new places and need to find the bathrooms before there is a need for their use.
What else is going on here? Not much. I'm slowly going through all our stuff. I boxed up more of Lee's clothing (his t-shirts) and am planning on donating them soon. I saved a few that I couldn't part with at all. I also need to make a phone call to a book donation place for a pick up. I have 9 boxes of books for them to pick up and many more to go through still which includes my own books that I'm no longer reading or want.
Better weather is here so we've been starting to spend more time outside playing.. I love this so much for many reasons. The best one is that we get to run off our energy and that makes everyone happier and sometimes sleepier and ready for bed quicker (though not always).
Last weekend we went to visit the Firefighters in Melrose at the Fire Station and had a great time learning about being safe and getting a chance to explore the firetruck and the ambulance that they had available for us to explore.
We also went to the local Lake and attended a Festival that was going on there. It was fun and the girls had a great time bouncing on the Moon Bounce and playing some of the games that were available for playing.
What else is going on here? Not much. I'm slowly going through all our stuff. I boxed up more of Lee's clothing (his t-shirts) and am planning on donating them soon. I saved a few that I couldn't part with at all. I also need to make a phone call to a book donation place for a pick up. I have 9 boxes of books for them to pick up and many more to go through still which includes my own books that I'm no longer reading or want.
Better weather is here so we've been starting to spend more time outside playing.. I love this so much for many reasons. The best one is that we get to run off our energy and that makes everyone happier and sometimes sleepier and ready for bed quicker (though not always).
Last weekend we went to visit the Firefighters in Melrose at the Fire Station and had a great time learning about being safe and getting a chance to explore the firetruck and the ambulance that they had available for us to explore.
We also went to the local Lake and attended a Festival that was going on there. It was fun and the girls had a great time bouncing on the Moon Bounce and playing some of the games that were available for playing.
 |
| Anna |
 |
| Lily |
This weekend we went to a Park that I'd not gone to before and had fun playing in the playground area and also finding the barn animals (when we needed to locate the bathroom in a hurry). The girls had a great time and seemed to make some new friends (some of which are kids of my twin mom friends). I think we'll be possibly go there again.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Success
I'm declaring it... Lily is potty trained. Not for night time.. that will take a bit longer but she is trained during the day. She wears panties everyday (so glad that I have a drawer full of panties) just like Anna. We celebrated today by getting her a Potty Prize. I carefully steered her to the Calico Critters set that she liked a few weeks ago and then made her peruse the store before making her final choice of a prize (the Calico Critters set and a pair of Calico Critter Cow Twins). We wound up at the Bagel shop and ran into 2 sets of friends.. while there Lily told me that the Poopies were coming (uh oh) but she did great and made it to the potty in time. She had no accidents all day and continued peeing on the potty whenever she told me that she needed to go. So proud of her.
I'm sure that Lee would be proud of her too. We are slowly adjusting still 13 months later. Tomorrow he would have been 53 years old. Doesn't seem possible at all. Last weekend was Anna and Lily's 4th birthday. Last year I was in panic mode for the whole day of the party and felt like I could have used some sort of medication to get through the day. This year I felt more in control and sure of myself and my ability to make it through. My cousin even commented to me that I was doing it and doing it well.. I agreed with her but commented back to that even though I was doing it, it didn't make any of it suck any less.
So lots of success going on here.. from going pee and poop on the potty to getting through the tougher dates on the calendar without my best friend.
I'm sure that Lee would be proud of her too. We are slowly adjusting still 13 months later. Tomorrow he would have been 53 years old. Doesn't seem possible at all. Last weekend was Anna and Lily's 4th birthday. Last year I was in panic mode for the whole day of the party and felt like I could have used some sort of medication to get through the day. This year I felt more in control and sure of myself and my ability to make it through. My cousin even commented to me that I was doing it and doing it well.. I agreed with her but commented back to that even though I was doing it, it didn't make any of it suck any less.
So lots of success going on here.. from going pee and poop on the potty to getting through the tougher dates on the calendar without my best friend.
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