Sickness

It seemed like longer, but I just looked it up.

Ending and including yesterday, our family has just been sick for 28 days straight. In the heart of a very cold winter, and at a time when I had to work anyway.

All of us got sick multiple times, except for myself...I was well throughout, until I came down with a hellish 12-day chest infection. Now except for a final little sniffle, it's all over.

I know in perspective to the hardship of the world, etc., that it's no big deal. But having a sick kid, especially when one is sick at the same time, just sucks. It's been some of the hardest weeks I've had in years.

Summer is coming. We are all well again.

Some Big Firsts For Ren

Monday about 5:30 we were all lying about on the floor of the living room, surrounded by pillows and blankets. Ren was standing on her own, looking at me. Suddenly, she started taking steps forward. I called Hiroko's attention, and we watched as Ren walked a couple feet toward my waiting arms. I thought it was cool the three of us could share this first moment. Even Ren appeared astonished. She repeated the trick one time with prompting, and tried again but couldn't seem to get it afterward. I'm sure it won't be much time now.

Yesterday was Ren's first day in day care. Hiroko has a new full-time night shift job, so there are some times when neither of us is available to care for Ren. Ren will be in day care twice a week.

She hasn't had any significant time under others' care, and we were mutually worried about it. But her first day went smoothly according to her caretakers, and I witnessed a couple hours there. Now between the play, socializing, and detachment from us, we are optimistic that day care will be a positive experience for her.