Now What?! (aka Our Crazy Karma Week)

Maliana ~

After such a tough weekend for us all, Daddy took you bowling with Jay and Erin (our friends) on Monday night. I work with Erin and she is a riot. I could tell you clearly agree after you came home and told me, "I want Erin to be my mom!" When I asked, "Wait a  minute..you want Erin to be your mom instead of me?!"...you replied, "Well, maybe just my great, great, great, great friend!" Ha ha. I guess you were in rare form at the alley and when I asked Erin about it the next day, she responded that sometimes she forgets that you are only five! You are a hoot, girl!

We spent the next day or so gearing up for Aunt Lori's funeral on Wednesday. It was so hard to say goodbye but it could not have been any more perfect with at least 500 people in attendance. SO MANY people adored her...I only hope to have such a legacy of love and laughter when I depart this world. Anyway, you were a patient and well-behaved champ throughout the whole evening and even afterwards when we went to Marky and Allie's house to hang out and visit with the family before Uncles Matt and Mark had to leave for Austin at 4am the next morning. I know how hard it was to deal with so much grown-up stuff that night and I am thoroughly impressed with and proud of you for hanging in there so well. You are definitely an old, sweet soul.

Thursday, karma was clearly not going to go easy on me as this was my Facebook status (which doesn't even encompass everything!)...such a crazy day.
~ My day in a nutshell: after saying a final goodbye last night to one of the best aunts and friends a girl could ever have, I woke up to more heartbreaking news, was late to work, on the verge of tears all day, drove across town through floods and waded through knee high water to pick up my kiddo from school only to drive her to urgent care because of a mysterious lump and infection on her foot, then be told that the only facility in town that can do a foreign body ultrasound is Children's Hospital downtown and we can't get in tonight, so we just decided to raise the white flag to today and have dinner out with Daddy where "someone" just dropped green jello in my purse...and it's not even bedtime yet. Where is my drink?!? Luckily, Mali is still happy as a clam. Guess that's our silver lining, right?
On the way home, as I laughed at your antics, I told you (through the rear view mirror), "You can make me smile even on my darkest days". In fact, you were making lots of people smile no matter where we went, simply by being yourself...I am so thankful for you.

used your charm to convince the doctor at urgent care to
give you a copy of your foot x-rays...ha ha.

you and Daddy "battled" once home and after
dubbing me "The Boss", you made me
pronounce you "Champion!"

I took you to see Dr. Dan on Friday to look over your foot and give us a second opinion. While explaining the issue to him and that I am a bit jumpy when it comes to your health lately since there has been so much tragedy surrounding us lately, I got all teary and cried (right in front of him). Oy vey. Fortunately, Dr. Dan is not only a great pediatrician, but a fabulous human being as well. He was empathetic, patient, and reassuring to us both. He took the time to listen and even expressed his condolences. It was such a random exchange but meant a lot to me. Just more proof that the little things do mean a lot in life. I have no doubt you are in good hands with him (so thankful he is your doctor) and during our visit we came up with a terrific game plan to get your foot all better. I felt so relieved walking out of his office, in spite of the two sets of antibiotics and pending 'foreign body' ultrasound scheduled for next week. Your bright attitude, dancing and singing everywhere we went (nothing is slowing you down, kid!), coupled with Dr. Dan's confidence and reassurance, helped me get my groove back and see the 'sunny side' of life again. I even felt invigorated enough to tackle a little bit more of your school clothes shopping where we found this...

you loved this windbreaker so much that you
wouldn't even take it off so they could scan it

We headed down to southern Ohio on Saturday for a much needed break from the stress of the week. Family reunion for Memaw's side of the family was held in good old Meigs County. It was a day of good food, nice people and relaxing in the beautiful countryside, enjoying the simplicity of country life. I had my moments (dealing with all the grief and stress of the past few weeks tends to hit me at random times) but it was just what we needed to reconnect and feel a little bit better about the world again. As we started off on our trip...here were my Facebook statuses:
~ listening to Daddy do Mali's hair and I hear him say..."Go show Mommy your hair...you look like Flock of Seagulls!" (oh boy!)

~ heading to Meigs County for a family reunion and just opened a bag of our usual 'road trip beef jerky' when Mali asks, "Who farted?!?"...had to explain it was actually the jerky but normally that's a legit question in our family's car.

silly Daddy partaking of a fresh peach from the tree

mwah!

walking through the fields and down to the river

munchkins in a corn field

you were really loving on your Aunt Beth that day

picking your first fresh peach

yummy!! doesn't get any fresher than that!

in front of the house where Memaw grew up and where Daddy has so many fond childhood memories

cats were EVERYWHERE

Sammy giving this poor little kitty some "help"
in smiling for the camera

this little guy finally stopped struggling and fell asleep on your
lap...you must have stayed there for a half hour snuggling
with the sweet boy...and LOVING every minute

Sunday you spent some time with Wai Gong, Memaw Lisa, Uncle Blaize and Uncle Johnny at the zoo. When you got home and I asked you how your day went, you exclaimed, "It was great!!" Definitely looks like you had a good time from the pictures below!

So, while we did have a lot of enjoyable moments this week, I also have not felt entirely like myself. It's been so tough to deal with all of the huge life changes that have happened and are happening. Attempting to keep my chin up and a smile on my face is easier said than done lately. It's all a bit overwhelming for me (and Daddy). It's one of those weeks where I keep looking over my shoulder and waiting for "the other shoe to drop". I feel like every time I turn around, it's something. I logically know that this is just the ebb and flow of life and that things should turn around again eventually. Sometimes it just gets hard to see the forest through the trees. You will have times like this in your life as well...and I hope that you can handle them with more grace than your old mama, here. I don't really have any grand words of wisdom for you either...except to suggest trying to hold onto your sense of humor through it all and to always look for at least one silver lining each day. Even in your darkest days, it is there. Trust me. That being said...I think it's safe to say that all of us are praying for better weeks ahead.

Love,
Mama