October 2017-Willow turns 2 years old!

Oliver-friend from school and Jimbo's

Beautiful girl at park

Lyla is "a pro" now...

2 years old!

Birthday at school

Beach Birthday

Willow Allergy test results

Lyla Halloween

Lyla and Friend and Granny-Halloween

October 2017-Willow turned 2 years old. I’m writing this July 2018 so it won’t be long before another school year begins. I’m relieved I haven’t had to have any more surgery, although I did have an overnight in the emergency room followed by discussion of surgery by one surgeon, Dr. Porterfield, which was overridden by another, Dr. Kennedy. So “routine” is a good thing which I’m grateful to have. On school days when Angela works I have time after I take the girls to school to relax, do errands for Angela and spend several hours in Mt. Laurel area where I often eat at Pannera Bread as well as wash clothes etc. at their house. Lyla is in 1^st grade and Willow is in all day Toddler Class with the same teacher (Ms. C) Lyla had at her age at Hilltop Montessori School. Since Lyla has Girl Scouts, ballet, jazz, piano lessons and hockey practice and games, I have the opportunity to drive Lyla places or stay with Willow while her parents go to events. And of course, many after school hours at the park! It is a good life I enjoy. And I realize it is a precious and fleeting thing. Willow’s second birthday was celebrated at the beach which Angela described as a special family time together. Despite being in school and working full time, Angela makes time for her family a priority. Most of the time when I’m at their house it's because Angela is at work. So I don’t spend much time with Angela. But I do have the opportunity to watch “the Amazing Brock" fix meals, pack lunches for the girls and get Lyla ready for school etc. before he heads to Mountain Brook High School for the day. And at the end of the day he plays with the girls and gets dinner ready and gives baths and puts Willow to bed. When I spend the night Lyla sometimes sleeps with me and sometimes with her parents. In the mornings after Brock and Angela have gone to work I get to wake up Willow (she is such a good sleeper!) and hold her before getting her ready for school. She always knows what she wants to wear to school. And she's so sweet to hold! After breakfast and vitamins and “yummy tummy” and Miralax, I get to walk the girls into school. Lyla goes with me to sign in Willow and I watch Willow bravely walk into her classroom to begin the day. In the afternoon the best part of the day is seeing Willow sitting on the bench outside her classroom. I see her “light up” when she sees me! But she obeys her teacher and does not get off the bench until I can grab her and hug her. Usually she asks if we’re going to the park and if she can have some gummies and the answer is usually "yes". No one came to “Trick or Treat” while I stayed at their house and The Rotters went “trick or treating”. I took Willow to be tested for allergies which turned out to all be non-reactive! As I’m writing this I realize School year 2018-19 will probably start with dropping the girls off in the carpool line rather than watching Willow go into her class room to meet her friends. She is a part of a group of 4 children who spend all day 5 days a week at HMS. She calls them “My Johann,”My Clara” and “My Milley”. I will miss walking her into school! It’s been almost three years since I packed my many boxes on 14^th floor (actually 13^th but that number is officially skipped) of Jefferson Towers (original hospital building) of UAB hospital (after 25+ years) and left for the last time. I’ve never regretted leaving. Children grow up when we’re not looking!