The Adventures of the Flahertys

The weekend started with Mariel's preschool graduation on Friday afternoon.  She's not actually going anywhere, since she is too young to begin kindergarden in the fall.  All of the kids take part in the ceremony, which included a play version of "The Grouchy Ladybug."  Mariel played a lobster (with whom the grouchy lady bug chose not to fight).

The kids all got to wear caps and gowns, and each got their own diploma.  Sitting up in the front of the room of parents, when Miss Crystal announced that she would read children's names and then they would get the diplomas, Mariel spoke up to make sure of what happened next: "And then we get cake, right?"  They did.

Next stop, dress rehearsal for her first ballet performance.  She was a "Baby Monster" in a version of Where the Wild Things Are. The rehearsal was absolute chaos, and they were running about an hour and forty minutes late.  We did not even leave until 7:45... about an hour after she is usually tucked in to bed.  Mariel was so patient and quiet and just waited by the side of the stage.  She was so enthralled by all of the "big girl" dancers that I think she could have just watched all night.  Her costume was a mix between a unicorn and pegasus, complete with fuzzy tail.

Saturday I got up early with the girls so Patrick could sleep in a few minutes.  We walked to a cafe in town (since the weather here has been so insanely hot and humid the only reasonable time to be outside is actually right around 7 am).  After girls' morning out we played on the back porch in the sand and water, and decided to just let the girls run around naked.  Patrick suggested bringing out the training potty, and before we knew it Miss Noella had decided that it looked like a good idea.  With a little coaching on how to do it (she was sure that her feet were supposed to go in the pot while she hung her behind over the back), she actually went pee several times.  She has become a big fan of this, and has now been asking to sit on the potty. 

Noella is very excited about toilet paper and wiping herself.  She is not excited about having to give that toilet paper away at the end of the process.  We have now had several instances of having to chase a toddler who is clutching urine soaked toilet paper to her chest while racing around the house screaming "MINE!"  We'll have to work on that. 

In the afternoon, we headed to the actual recital.  I had my first experience as a "stage mom," helping to do hair and corral small children.  The kids had fun coloring  and playing while they waited their turn.

Then, the big event.  Here is Mariel with two of her fellow Baby Monsters.

They all did great- they had a nice short dance and two bigger helpers to guide them through.  Since they were the youngest group (3 and 4 year olds) the audience was suitably adoring.  It was strange for me to see Mariel in the context of the entire dance company.  I tend to only see her with her age group or kids a few years older at the most; in that context she always seems older than she is.  It was almost startling to see her as one of the babies.  She enjoyed her time on stage, and was happy to take a private bow for us after the last curtain call.

Saturday night, a high school graduation party for our neighbor, who is also Mariel's babysitter and idol.  They had a bounce house for the kids, which was quite a hit.

Today we went to church in the morning, then out to lunch as a family.  We have not been out to eat much in the past two months because of all of the various constraints on Noella's diet.  We ate all of the wheat and dairy products we could get in our bodies.  After that, a trip to the zoo for a farewell party for Mariel's friend.  I forgot my camera, but it was a very fun party and Mariel was thrilled to get some special time in.  And now the girls are in bed and I think I am on my way.... our fabulous weekend of adventures is drawing to a close!

Allergist update:
No new allergy tests.  According to the allergist we met with, it seems unlikely that we will find a cause at this age other than the top allergens that she has already been tested for.  In my exhaustion, I think I have to agree- at some level, she could be allergic to everything and anything.  And even if she is, that particular thing may not even be related to her eczema.  We are going to reintroduce (carefully) the foods that we have eliminated, and keep cleaning to get rid of dog dander.  After three weeks of the elimination diet with no change, the foods seem unrelated to the eczema.  Patrick and I have to really step up our skin care for her, with tepid baths once a day and major applications of cortisone and aquaphor twice a day to get her skin under control.  This seems like a lot of work, to be sure, but far less work (and anxiety) than trying to keep her from exposure to most foods. 
I had just joked to Patrick yesterday that it seems like all women want is a man to tell them what to do (for anyone who has a hard time picking up sarcasm in type, this is it).  Yet I sat there today in a doctor's office, desparate for this man to just tell me what to do.  In this situation I am absolutely worn out by trying to understand what is going on and decide what the best course of action is.  So I will listen and follow directions completely and embrace with blind faith the idea that THIS will help my baby.  And it better.

Post- Bachelorette weekend in Austin, a list of things that I like and perhaps wish I was doing at this very moment (although probably not all at the same time, as this would be confusing, dangerous, and potentially involve violating laws of physics):
Celebrating loved ones' lives.
Eating gelato.
Eating cheese.  Bread and cheese and crackers, all together!
And cookies.
(hello, life after nursing baby allergic to everything!)
Drinking wine.
And laughing with friends.
Texas brisket.  Mmmm....
Infinity pools.
(see, its not all about consumption)
Hiking in Texas, even at a cool 95 degrees.
Dancing on rooftop bars.
Singing along with 80s bands.
Seeing friend's new homes and hearing renovation ideas.
Sleeping past 6am.

Good weekend.  Thanks all!

If a tree falls...
According to the rules of insurance, if your tree falls on your neighbor's house or property, it is their problem. 
UNLESS you happened to know about a problem beforehand.  Then you are negligent. 
We had the second tree (neither of which were ours) fall on our property in a month. This time around, the tree in question had been split and hanging precariously over our yard for several weeks. We had spoken to the owners about it, but they did not do anything.  Now that the darn thing has actually come most of the way down, they are giving the impression that they had not done anything in the hopes that it would just fall on our land and become our problem.  So we will take down the limbs in our yard, but what to do about the large portions caught up in other trees and hanging from the original trunk?  I am perplexed; Patrick is angry.  The city is now involved.   We'll have to see how this ends, but I don't think that we will be having any cozy get togethers with these particular neighbors.  Frost wrote that good fences make good neighbors... he did not mention anything about trees.

Noella is looking better- it is hard to say "good" because on most kids the scabs/ crust/ redness would still look pretty bad.  For her, though, she definately looks good.  The steroids have helped tremendously.  We stopped that medication today, and we go to the allergist (thanks to the suggestions of our friend, "Dr. Fred") on Tuesday.  Keep your fingers crossed for us.

In the meantime I am headed to Austin for a weekend of bachelorette fun with grad school friends.  I am going to bed early tonight, since I am already exhausted.  I know that I can hold my own with the single and wild ladies (I did make it up until 3 am recently with a particularly dangerous friend of mine)... but I also know that if I do so it will take me about a week or two to recover! 

Maybe I am taking the wrong test...
I am starting to feel as though I am in one of those silly high school/ college dreams you have right about finals time.   I did everything- went to class, did my homework, studied for hours, was well rested and fed... only to show up and find out that I am taking a test on a different subject entirely.  Maybe you studied European history and are taking a test on metaphysics.  Surprise! 
In the real world, I did everything I was supposed to- nursed, avoided processed foods, made my own foods, all introduced at the right times, etc.  Now I am trying to follow directions (at least I finally got on the course of seeing who are ready to help!) but can't seem to get direction fast enough to keep up with Noella's symptoms.  In other words: I don't know what to do.  I have no idea what the answers are, or even what they could be anymore.  I am a bit too type A to be comfortable with this experience, and I cannot imagine any parent who would not be concerned about their child's ongoing discomfort.
We have taken out all of the potential food allergens.  The dogs left yesterday to spend some summer vacation time with my parents.  Every toy has been scrubbed or washed, the floors have all been steam sanitized, the carpets have been professionally cleaned, all linens from sheets to carseat covers to shower curtains washed, you name it we have done it.  Granted, the food has been a bit over a week and the dogs have really only been gone a day and a half.  I should not (although of course I will) expect an instant reaction.   The most frustrating thing is that not only is she not getting better, but in many ways it looks like she is getting worse.  The eczema is spreading on her arms, is almost permanently on her upper thighs, and her ankles and fingers are almost constantly scratched up.
She has a stomach bug today and a fever, which made her eczema worse.  When she got up from nap, her feet were all blotchy and - now that I have seen it once- look like they are ready to erupt into blisters.  So we went to the doctor, consulted with multiple people in the practice, and agreed to put her on a short course of steroids to try to bring all of the inflamation in her body down.  Next step: an allergist.  Hopefully they can help us with finding some answers.