Sidelined!

I haven't posted in a while and have lots to catch up on. We've been fighting an intestinal bug here for what seems like weeks now. First, Christopher got it, and then Emma and I. Pete and Matt were next. Both just went back to work and school this morning after being home since last Wednesday. Hillary didn't feel well yesterday and is still in bed this morning, so I'm worried she may have it now. Whatever it is, it last about 6 days before being able to get back to school, etc. but it takes another 4-5 days to feel like yourself again.

The timing is never good when it comes to being sick, but this is a really busy time. Hillary has had lots of really important events and concerts and the other kids all have their end of year activities (and finals exams). We are trying to get our house and yard ready for guests next week. Hillary graduates on Friday and has her senoir recital on Saturday. We are also having a big graduation party at our home next weekend. It was supposed to be for about 40 people, but Hillary somehow invited 165....without mentioning it first. I have no idea how I will make that much food. Help!!!

Earthquake Story

There have been so many stories from the earthquake in China. This one struck me. It's a story about the babies in the disaster. It's about the way one woman found that she could help them....simple, yet profound. Their needs are so basic.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/05/22/riminton.china.breastfeed.hero.cnn

Hillary, BYS and Yo Yo Ma

Yesterday was the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras' 50th Anniversary Gala at Symphony Hall. The BYS, conducted by Federico Cortese, played Dvorak Symphony No. 8 and the Dvorak Cello Concerto featuring Yo Yo Ma. The PSO and ICP also performed in this special concert.

Hillary has been a member of the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras for 10 years working her way up from the Preparatory String Orchestra through the Junior Rep and Rep Orchestra and now has been in the senior orchestra for several years.

I was reminded yesterday, by BYSO's former director of development, about a conversation we had had many years ago, when Hillary was a very young member of the orchestras. We had done the math in our heads and had figured out that Hillary would be a senior for BYSO's 5oth anniversary season. We laughed at the thought that perhaps by then she could work her way through the different orchestras and be concertmaster for the senior orchestra by then. Well, when he reminded me of this yesterday, we both had a good laugh because that is just how it turned out. She was the concertmaster yesterday and I think she had a wonderful time.

It was such a special concert. The kids played beautifully and had the extra thrill of playing with Yo Yo Ma (they already get to play in Symphony Hall with Federico Cortese, their conductor whom they all adore). Yo Yo is so inspiring. Not only is he a incredible musician and terrific teacher, but he is a wonderful, kind and giving man. The kids played with a ton of energy and beamed throughout the performances.

For Pete and I it was a little bit bittersweet. This was Hillary's last concert with the BYSO in beautiful Symphony Hall. She has one more concert with BYS next month at Sanders Theater. We are deeply grateful for all the opportunities this amazing institution has given her over the years and it's sad to see it end.

What a week!

I came home the other day and Hillary, who was babysitting, called to me as I walk up the walk and said, "Mom, we have a problem." She sounded upset so I ran into the house to find Hannah looking less than happy with her elbow stuck in the refrigerator door handle. I poured dish soap on her skin thinking it might help it slip out...no luck so I asked Hillary to grab a camera as I ran to the garage to get a screwdriver (it was actually pretty funny, though Hannah was not a bit amused). I got the handle off so fast that we never did get the photo, but I won't forget it. Oh, so Hannah!


I put the tools away and Hillary lifted her shirt to show me her waist and said, "What's this?" SHINGLES! I recognized them instantly. Pete had them about a 15 years ago and they looked just the same. My mind started racing. Okay, it's Wednesday. She rehearses with Yo Yo Ma on Saturday, has an orchestra concert with him on Sunday and she's concertmaster...so she can't miss. She then has a rehearsal with Hilary Hahn on Tuesday and a From The Top taping on Wednesday night and she has Shingles.

Also, Emma has not had her chicken pox vaccine (it was scheduled for June) and Hillary has been her babysitter three times this week (earning money for travel). So, I do the math...the incubation period would put Emma, if she were to get the chicken pox, right at Hillary's graduation weekend...the weekend that we have graduation, her graduation party, and her senior recital...oh, and many guests at our home. So, as I'm laughing at the absurdity of it all, rushing to get Emma a post-exposure vaccine, trying to make sure that Hillary will not be contagious to family members, orchestra members, and world famous musicians, Christopher comes down with the stomach bug. Oh no! How do we keep Hillary from getting that? How do we keep Hannah from getting that? She's has her big debut as a twirler at the annual strawberry festival and parade in town. Hillary, too, was also supposed to be in this parade, riding in the back of a convertible, dressed in an evening gown waving to the crowd, but she had to decline due to her Yo Yo Ma rehearsal (and was she relieved). We on the other hand were so disappointed to not have these photos to harass her with for years to come. Actually, it is an honor to be picked....it sounds beauty queenish and that's not at all Hillary's style but the Academy faculty nominates about a dozen girls all of whom have different strenghts in different areas...some in academics, sports, music, art, theater or a combination. I loved hearing about one of the girls who is a star hockey player. Her mom said that she hadn't worn a dress since third grade. (I saw her today in the parade, she looked gorgeous!)

Anyway, we made it through today...rehearsals, twirling, etc. We are keeping our fingers crossed that Hillary's pain resolves and that she gets through the next 4 or 5 days without further complications! It's been an interesting week.

Happy Mother's Day!

We had the nicest weekend I can remember. Pete and the kids did so much to make Mother's Day really special. Actually, they had so much planned that the celebration lasted all weekend long. It was so much fun and I appreciate all their love and thoughtfulness.

On Friday night, Pete and I got a night out together. This doesn't happen too often, but with the help of the big kids who babysat, we got out to the ballet. Going to the ballet is actually our favorite night out. It's always so relaxing...the ballet asks nothing of you...you just sit back and enjoy all of the beauty that your eyes and ears can take in. This one didn't disappoint. It was Boston Ballet's production of Swan Lake and it was incredible. It's a huge production with so many dancers on stage at one time that we were just mesmerized. The company is very strong right now and both the dancers and orchestra were incredible. It was all so gorgeous; the costumes, choreography, and the dancing to Tchaikovsky's beautiful score. We can't wait to go back.

Saturday morning came early. We were off and running with the kids by about 8 am. Pete took Hillary off to Boston for her lesson and NEC prep (music school) and I dragged Christopher and the girls off to Chris' baseball league picture day. After pictures, we ran to get breakfast before Chris' game at 10. It was supposed to be raining and cold but we ended up with a warm, sunny day which was a gift. Pete arrived home just after us with two dozen red roses and a car full of groceries....he was doing the weekend cooking. We spent the afternoon working on my perennial bed. It had once been so beautiful, but years of neglect while we spend the summer by the beach left me heartbroken, so that was his gift to me. He did all the hard work of removing weeds and grass (and searching for perennials among them). I got to head to the nursery for plants. Later that day, we headed out shopping. He and the kids had some shopping to do for Mother's Day and I had more shopping to do for plants. I love our old garden design and wanted to replace the plants I lost with just the same ones, so it's a bit of a scavenger hunt!

On Sunday, I woke to a houseful of excited kids and a bunch of handmade cards and gifts. Hannah made me the most beautiful scarf handpainted with all of the members of our family on it. She was so proud and I will cherish it always. Christopher had made me a beautiful card with a Golden Retriever on the cover and a gift certificate to a wonderful little country store in town on the inside. He's quite an artist! Matthew gave me my own flashcard for photography class since I've been borrowing his for weeks, Hillary gave me a beautiful beaded jade "karma" bracelet, and Emma gave me hugs and kisses and the incredible gift of just having her with us. It's been a year and I still wake up and pinch myself that she is here!!! Pete thought he was very funny and got me a "Harvard Mom" sweatshirt and baseball hat. He wasn't sure I'd ever wear them, but I think he is just feeling so excited and proud of Hillary and wanted to let me know how much he appreciates all the ways I have supported Hillary through the years (he explained this in his card to me). He then prepared a delicious breakfast of baked eggs, homefries, fruit and bacon. After breakfast, I went to two more garden shops while Pete got the next area ready in the garden. By the time I got back, Pete had put together a wonderful picnic lunch. We had originally planned to go out for a picnic in the park and fly kites, but our yard is so beautiful right now with all of the trees in bloom, that we decided to picnic on our front lawn. It was so much fun to sit in the sun with the kids, eat and talk. It was so simple and special and much better than running around had been. After lunch, we had a family game of whiffleball. All of the kids kept saying how we should do this more often and I agree. It was such fun! After the game, Pete started dinner and then headed back to Boston to get Hillary. I finished up what I could in the garden. We had a great dinner together and then all went out for ice cream.

It was such a great weekend. I couldn't help but think how blessed I am to be a mom. Having these five beautiful and sweet children in my life has given me more joy and beauty than one person could ever ask for. They should have been the ones being showered with cards and gifts as they have given my life so much meaning. The collective and individual relationships I share with each of them is what my life is about and for me, Mother's Day was all about me appreciating all that I have with Pete and the children in my life. Thanks guys!

New Outfits!

We ordered these adorable outfits from a mom who is sewing as a fundraiser for her adoption. We love them. The fabric is beautiful! The top can be worn by itself as a dress or you can wear it with the matching jeans. She also offers capris, which are the same as the jeans but 3 inches shorter. She is offering some other items as well. If you like to order an outfit and help another adoptive family, see Desiree's site: http://sewingforgracie.blogspot.com

Hannah Pics

Bit of a Shock....

Someone sent me a link to a You Tube video this morning and just said in their message, "look what I came across." I opened it and was shocked. It's a video of my brother, who passed away in February, playing his harmonica with a local band. It's not the best video, but priceless to me. The kids came down for breakfast to find me crying in front of the computer screen.

Watch This on 60 Minutes Sunday Night

60 Minutes is profiling Partners In Health, an amazing organization that started out working in Haiti and is now world-wide. Click here for details http://www.pih.org/home.html Also, read the book "Mountains Beyond Mountains" about one of PIH's founders Paul Farmer. It's an amazing testament to how an individual or a small number of people can have a huge impact.

Hannah

I've somehow gotten over my head with my camera and have really fouled up all of the settings. Today, I'll have to read the manual and try once again to reset it, but whatever I did wrong made this photo kind of interesting. The sun was begin to set and I love the light on her face.

Emma

I took this photo the other day and love it. I don't know quite how to explain it, but it is very "Emma" and looking at it just makes me smile. She's so sweet, stubborn, smart and very funny!

Signs of Spring

I haven't taken many photos this week because of all the rain, but here are a few taken from around my yard. Spring is finally here!