Halloween 2010

As Halloween approached this year, I was very worried that Daddy would not be able to join us. He had been in the hospital for the better part of a month and a half and we were all really frustrated and sad. However, Daddy had a goal. He decided (and I think this was big for him) that he was going to go Trick or Treating with Gracie and Luke. His entire focus was on being well enough to come home. But more on that later.

We started the day with a Halloween Breakfast at Hometown Buffet with the Cook-Uribe-Arteaga-Uribe Family. If you count, that is 6 adults, 1 teenager, and 6 little kids. It's a big group! Nana wanted a shot of everyone together and we managed to snag this beauty:

Notice Nathan in his Batman costume. He would not take it off for anything!

Gracie and Lukie went as a giraffe and a dragon. They loved their costumes! Loved them!

Not that they look that excited in them or anything!

That's better!

And surprise! Look who did make it home from the hospital to go Trick or Treating!

We had the best time and we have more candy than should ever be in a house! Gracie and Lukie made it to 12 houses before Lucas declared, "I'm done Trick or Treating, Mommy."

keeping positive despite set backs

As happens too often in our lives, Daddy is very, very ill. His kidney transplant a month ago went very well and he was home five days after the surgery. From there, all of his old issues reared their ugly heads and, this time, new ones cropped up as well. He is in the Intensive Care Unit for the 3rd time in 3 weeks.

In the beginning, Gracie and Luke were doing okay with Daddy being in the hospital. They knew that he was "with the doctors" and that he would be home soon. As the days and weeks drag on, they are acutely aware of his absence and their sense of security has been shaken. We've had meltdowns and screaming matches, hitting, kicking, biting, bad-listening, and defiance. It hurts my head just to write about it.

Tonight, after a particularly bad episode, the following conversation took place:

Gracie: "I don't like you, Mommy! You are mean."

Me: "I'm sorry you feel that way. The good news is, I'll always love you, no matter what."

Gracie: "No, Mommy! I don't like you and I'm going to runaway!"

Me: "Oh! Well, no matter where you go, I would always find you." (Even though, I wanted to say, I want to run away too!).

Gracie: "NO, MOMMY! I'M GOING TO RUN AWAY!"

Me: "And I will always find you."

There was silence in the back seat and then, a few minutes later, she said, tearfully, "Mommy, I don't want to run away."

Me: "I'm glad, Gracie. I don't want you to run away either."

Gracie: "Mommy, I won't runaway like Daddy. Did Daddy runaway from us?"

I SO almost lost it.

Me: "No, Gracie, Daddy did not runaway. He is very sick and has to stay with the doctors, but when he gets better he will come home. I promise Gracie. Daddy will come home."

Gracie: "Okay, Mommy. Daddy is coming home soon."

And all was right with the world for 5 minutes.

Come home, Daddy. We miss you.

Things overheard in the car and around our house

"Lukie is stinky because he is stinky and he has a stinky booty."

"Gwacie, do you want to be my Mommy?"
"Okay, baby!"
"Waaaaa, waaaaa!"
"It's okay, baby!"

"Wook, Mommy!  I'm a pirate! Arrrrr!" said with heart shaped post-it notes stuck over one eye.

"I want some bubble gum, Mommy.  I want some bubble gum, Mommy.  I want some BUBBLE GUM, MOMMY!"

"Mommy!  Daddy is in the computer!  Wook, there he is!"

"Mommy!  Don't turn off my Daddy!"

"Don't go, Mommy!"

"No, I don't want you, Mommy!  I want my Daddy!"

"I don't wike you any more, Mommy."
"That's okay, Lucas.  No matter what you say, I will always love you."
"I don't wike you, Mommy.  Leave me alone."
"Okay, Lucas.  But remember, no matter what you say, I will always love you."
"No!"
"No matter what you say, I will always love you."

whispered:  "Mommy, there are no monsters and no mean witches and no ghosts in  your room, right?  Daddy made all of the monsters go away, right?"
whispered back:  "That's right, Gracie.  Daddy sent them all away.  They can't get you, because I love you and Daddy loves you and Lukie loves you and those mean monsters and mean witches and mean ghosts can't get inside our house."
"Okay, Mommy."  pause  "And there are no coyotes under your bed.  Right, Mommy?"