New Ride

The girls and I test rode a Triple Bike Friday this morning. I am still mulling it over, but I am pretty sure this is going to be our new summer ride. The squeals of delight were LOUD and it was a blast. I think this bike would see us through many years of riding together. There are several cool things about it: it fits them, it can be either a tandem or a triple, its a Bike Friday so it comes apart and fits into 2 suitcases for airplane travel. Of course it is hugely expensive, but i think it pencils.

dental drama

i adore our pediatric dentist, dr. pike. he has been in pediatric dentistry since the 60's, and the phrase "you've come a long way baby" certainly applies to how he cares for kids. i know a lot of people who take their kids to dr. pike. in fact yesterday we ran into one of my fellow cnm's who has boys ages 11 and 13 while we were there. the waiting room and the dental room are cheerful places and no one is unhappy. gerbils and a treasure chest, video games and a therapy dog.

things were going as swimmingly as usual- until ruby found out she has a cavity. she burst into tears and was sobbing. huge tears and loud wailing. those of you who have seen ruby really sob will understand when i say that she really sobs. dr pike immediately came over to her, got down on his knees and began to talk to her. he opened his own mouth and showed her all his fillings. they had a conversation and soon she was ok. dr pike looked at me in the process and told me that she was likely not upset about the cavity but about her body not being whole. which is for ruby a big big issue. it can be a post institutionalization issue, and in her case its made more dramatic by her personality. ruby is my girl who is incredibly physically cautious. she has never skinned her knee or stubbed her toe. she completely falls apart at the smallest physical injury and always has. it's one of the things we work on all the time.

we'll be heading back to see dr. pike in july to have the cavity filled. i made sure to make our appointment on the day that the therapy dog is in the office.

bikin fools

hazel is 4!!

famous family

those of you who know me well, know that my sister and i are not on speaking terms. in nut shell, she has "issues" with me and has declined my offer to go to family counseling to try and resolve them. so even though we live in the same town, we never see each other. its quite sad on so many levels, but having exausted all avenues for reconciliation, i am resigned to estrangement. so i never get to see my nephew or niece despite the fact that i am fond of them and would love for my kids to have a relationship with them.

her just turned 15 year old daughter has become uber famous. and i do mean uber. if you google her name you get over TWO MILLION HITS. you read that correctly: 2,000,000. ( try it ,google olivia bee)

this girl is very smart and beautiful,her talents are many. she was recently named one of the big stars of flickr for her photos. she had a double page spread in american photo this month.

you can check out her photos here:
www.flickr.com/-oliviabee-

and yes she is only 15 , in fact she just turned 15.

milestones

friday i watched in awe as my almost-four year old ran laps for run for the arts. her class went first as they are the little guys in the school. wearing one of her many creative "outfits" she was easy to spot in pink pants and a blue shirt. the joy on her face was amazing every time she came in for a mark on her card to signify another lap. all told she ran eleven. she was very proud of herself and her smile said it all.i got very choked up watching this amazing kid run and run, thinking about all she has been through.

when i see her little naked chest with the white lines sometimes i think nothing of it and keep on slathering lotion on or dressing her or whatever. sometimes it takes my breath away to remember. seeing her just out of surgery . to know how different her life is here with me, than it would have been had she stayed in china.i am lucky to be her mom.