Vaccine

Today, I was able to get the COVID vaccine.  I had mixed emotions about this vaccine, because our family had COVID before it was a thing.  Back in Jan/Feb of 2020, Jessica missed 2 weeks of school due to high fevers & coughing.  Ella had to have a nebulizer treatment following a week of fevers because she was having trouble breathing.  Michael was tested this summer for antibodies & he has them.  Our entire family does.  This past year when I returned to practice (dentistry is considered one of the highest risk professions), I was scared.  I knew I needed to keep my patients out of the ER and I didn't want anyone to be in pain, but it was scary.  I, obviously, took every precaution I could think of and fingers crossed our entire team has not been impacted thus far.  Michael and I discussed the vaccine and we both felt it was safe & effective at protecting us & others.  Here’s hoping there is light at the end of this dark tunnel!

Friday hike

This past Friday.... hopefully… Our last Friday of remote learning… We finished our work early and headed out for a hike at one of our favorite parks. The girls love enjoying time outside.  Although it was cold, it was sunny and it felt warm.  The girls even decided to wade in the water.  I should say, Jessica, decided it was warm enough for shorts & no shoes.  It was 50 and I was wearing a hat & heavy coat, but not her. These times with my girls are very special and I am thankful.

Almost 4

 Almost 4, sassy & sweet.  Grumpy & giggly.  

Return

Ella was finally able to return to tennis yesterday.  Her lessons had been canceled since Thanksgiving.  She was thrilled and said she had butterflies as we were in our way to class.  She absolutely loves the physical challenge of tennis and is extremely competitive despite her gentle personality.   I’m so happy she is back to doing something she loves, she looked amazing on the court and I couldn’t be more proud ❤️

She’s back

After a long time off the ice, Jessica restarted ice skate tonight.  The joy of her face & the carefree look in her eyes was amazing!  After being away from her hobby since March 2020; it was much needed and she looked amazing on the ice.  So proud of her!

Lunch/recess

 Lunchtime/ recess at mom's homeschool often consists of whatever they can find; however, today we got out...since the restaurants had just reopened in PA.  We went to Stack'd, one of our favorite burger places.  We had fun just enjoying each others company.  We laughed until we cried about silly things that we'd seen happen and about some of the funny things from my teen years that I though were cool.  Namely bowl cuts, butt-cuts, and brown lipstick, which seems to be coming back in style.  It didn't look good the first time around.  So thankful for my Mondays off and I appreciate them even more with my big girls being home.  

 Dear blog, it's been a long time.  I haven't posted since 2017, everything that happened in these last 3 years was documented in photos, but I realized looking through my old posts that there are many things I'm missing because I didn't write my thoughts down to go along with my photos.  Since 2017, I've been through a complete mental breakdown, brought on by severe post-partum depression.  I was treated in the hospital and am glad to have survived.  In 2017, after many months of being unable to work, I realized (with the urging of my ever supportive husband) that I needed to leave my TOXIC corporate dental job.  The beginning of 2018 saw me buy & take command of my very own dental practice.  Practice ownership has been a whirlwind to say the least, but I am so very thankful for what God has provided in terms of a truly enjoyable and satisfying job.  The girls have grown & thrived.  Jessica has turned into a "teenager"(she thinks & acts this way), although she is only 10.  Jessica's creativity has flourished and she writes & illustrates her own comics (Super Cat & Evil Dog, guest starting Super Hamster).  Speaking of hamsters, 2020 saw us have our first family pet pass.  Jessica's beloved golden hamster Miranda (named for the Humphrey book series) passed after a good long life.  She had to be put to sleep due to an illness and needless to say our family was heartbroken.  Ella is our sweetheart and continues to amaze us with her gifts of empathy and encouragement.  She is definitely a young lady and is very responsible at 9 years old.  She got her dream come true this year when we got an Australian Shepherd puppy in March 2020, right before the Corona Virus caused our entire world to shut down.  Charlotte is a spunky little toddler, she is a total ham & loves attention and playing pretend with her toys.  Charlotte and our dog Callie Jane are best friends.  Callie & Charlotte can be found rolling around on the floor like pups together.  Charlotte started preschool in fall 2020 & loves going to her little Red School (Kindercare).  2020 saw us go through an unprecedented pandemic aka COVID-19 aka The Covid aka the 'Rona.  I had to close my business for almost 3 months.  A business closure was hard enough, but the girls also had to move to full virtual (home school) learning to finish out the 2020 spring school year.  The end of winter/spring & summer of 2020 was full of toilet paper shortages, my bouts of rage concerning Google classroom, and the masses hoarding masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and the ever desirable Clorox wipes (still not in stock & it's the beginning of 2021).   I intend to pick up blogging again to record things in a more meaningful way.  That's a new years resolution for 2021.  The older girls recently discovered the blog and ask "why did you stop?"  I quit blogging in 2017 mostly because of the mental breakdown I had.  I lost interest in everything and struggled to pull myself out of a dark pit everyday for almost a year.  Things got better once Charlotte was about a year, but the anxiety & depression did continue until she was almost 3.  3 years lost, but also 3 years of personal growth, physically, emotionally, professionally, and most importantly spiritually.  May this blog continue over 2021 to document the special moments in our family life!

All masked up & getting donuts with Callie

All masked up & getting donuts with Callie

Date night Nov. 2020 Alla Famiglia

Christmas morning 2020, Char with baby yoda

New Tesla, Merry Christmas to you Michael

Jessica thinking she's cool getting a decaf latte

Shopping in the floral aisle of Joann's