My Girls

Adore each other...

Here they are playing this morning...it was hard to leave for my first day back to work, but this helped :)

Kelly's cheese is a little more difficult these days but equally as hilarious as before.

Shelagh went from being kind of indifferent and here and there towards Kelly to just all over her lately. We've been homebound for the last few days and Shelagh has taken over Kelly - playing with her, carrying her around, showing her things...for long periods of time. It's been amazing to watch. I kind of wonder if the loss of the expected baby has made her more sensitive and appreciative of Kelly. I know it has for me.

There is no Easy Way

to say this, so I guess I just will to get it out of the way and move on. Normally, I wouldn't post something as personal as this but since I already announced it, I kind of need to at least acknowledge what has happened. I've been avoiding it but really I've had lots to write about over the last few days and I should just spit it out already.

We are so sad to report that we've lost the baby we were expecting due to a rare genetic disorder called Trisomy 13. It is a chromosome abnormality that is not compatible with life and has very low survival rates both during pregnancy and after delivery. It has been a really shitty week but we're doing better and trying to focus on our 3 beautiful, healthy, and happy children. Here they are...I just can't get enough love and hugs from them right now.

This is a terrible loss for us, but we are so blessed and appreciative for what we have. Never moreso than now. The kids have taken this in stride and seem to feel okay asking questions and talking about it a bit over the last days.

I'm feeling better physically than I did and finally got a non-drug induced sleep last night which I'm so relieved about. My heart has been racing for days, despite almost no caffeine, and I had one night of zero sleep that was just the worst. It seems to have calmed...I guess it's hormones working their way out. Damn hormones.

So, I'm going back to work tomorrow since I'm getting stir crazy from being home and I need something else to focus my thoughts on. Plus I just want to get that first day back over with. People have been really supportive and thoughtful and having such caring family and friends has helped tremendously.

Anyway, that's that.

Movies: Where the Wild Things Are & W

Where the Wild Things Are: I thoroughly enjoyed this movie despite falling asleep a few times. That doesn't mean anything bad these days, it's pure tiredness not boredom. The little actor that played Max was wonderful. The music contributed perfectly to the sort of melancholy mood of the movie. I really didn't get how they would mix the fantasy and reality of the book let alone make a whole movie out of a book with few pages and words. But Spike Jonze did a great job...it blended so well and was very touching. Really liked it.

W: I like most Oliver Stone movies...certainly Platoon and Natural Born Killers is one of my favorites ever. I thought this movie was interesting. It was obviously not an impartial accounting of George Bush and his life before and during his presidency, but who expected that? I didn't love Elizabeth Banks as Laura (although I really like her). I thought Josh Brolin captured Bushes mannerisms and general appearance pretty well. The movie was too long. I didn't love who they cast for Colin Powell, but Richard Dreyfus as Cheney, the guy they picked for Karl Rove, and the woman playing Condaleeza Rice were all pretty good. The movie didn't quite do it for me, but it wasn't terrible either.

Kelly Loves the Swing

So happy we're in playground weather... so is Kelly!

Maple Syrup Cheesecake

I made this Maple Cheesecake from Dec 09 Bon Appetit for Easter at my sister-in-laws. I didn't start it until 830 Saturday night, which was a BIG mistake. I forgot that cheesecake takes an hour and a half to cook, plus sitting in the off oven time, plus full cooling time. I was out cold on the couch at 10 when the cooking part ended. I took it out and give it another 1/2 hour...it was liquidy and hot still when I just said F-it and threw it in the frig and went to bed. I had full intentions of stopping at the market and grabbing a cake to swap out. In the AM, however, it felt like it had set so I went with it. Notice the whipped cream bunny in the middle...I know you are thinking how cute that is and all, but really it was to cover the crater that was the sunken middle of my shit-cake.

Actually, it was very good; albeit a little soft in the middle. Next time I will let it cook for 1 3/4 to 2 hours and then give it another hour in the oven turned off and then plan for another hour or so out to cool completely. Also, I was too lazy to make the syrup-cranberry compote which in retrospect looked like it would have added nicely to the cake.

Beaded Jewelry Making Class

On Saturday I took an all-day beaded jewelry making class in Cambridge. It was something I had been meaning to do for awhile and I finally just did it. There were some freaky individuals in there and it was in a basement on a 70+ degree sunny day, but I enjoyed it and here's what I made!

First we learned earrings. Not too difficult. We did the drops first and then I asked to make hoops just for some variety. The beads we had to choose from were not what I would have picked so I had a hard time coming up with designs. I'm really not that creative...I'm more of a math person.

Then we learned necklace and bracelet stringing and I made a couple of things for Shelagh. She requested something with pink, blue, and purple and then I made the bracelet on a whim.

The necklace and earring set were my attempt at being really crafty. I like them! Now I need some green clothes or something to wear to complement the jewelry.

I definitely think I can do this on my own now...I just need a few hours in the bead store the first time b/c you know it will take me that long to figure things out.

Happy Easter

Kelly posing at Jeans (her caregiver)

Easter pancakes

The Easter Bunny brought the kids Queen Amidala and Darth Maul and customized superhero capes - Shelaghs is pink with a big purple S on the back and Rory's is yellow (of course) with a big Red R.

My little Easter egg riding on her fairy vehicle.