No Limits

Hi Blog Family,

It's been some time since I really sat down to rifle through my thoughts and get them out on virtual paper. To be honest, this summer has had me struggling to keep my head above water, just in scheduling and trips with the kids and the hellish last weeks of August. This is a post I've been meaning to write for almost 2 weeks...

About two weeks ago, we took the kids to see an ice skating and acrobatics show. We were astounded by the skills, the stunts, and the pyrotechnics. The kids were blown away and couldn't stop talking about it. 

Tehilla was especially taken in by the aerial acrobatics! It truly was amazing. Mid show, she turns to me and says, "I want to do that, Mama. I can learn to do that?"

My initial response was a snicker and a "Yeah, right", as I envisioned our little heart warrior princess flying through the air, suspended by fabric, soaring above ice...

But then I looked into her big greenish blue eyes and watched her micro-expressions of awe and delight, the reflections of the colored lights dancing on her face and her lips curved into a smile of pure joy. And I said, "Yes. Yes you can. You can do anything and be anybody. Nothing can hold you back."

This little interaction really explains where my headspace has been. I spent so long fighting for her life. So much time spent on worry and fear. Now that we have reached this period of calm and stability, my job has changed to fighting for her to live life. 

The days of worry and fear are not behind us. We know that the future will bring many more periods of unrest and medical challenges. We aren't fooling ourselves. But while we have peace and calm, we will make sure that Tehilla has every opportunity to live her life to the fullest and with no limits. I'm not saying we are enrolling her in aerial acrobatics at age nearly four (wow!). But I'm saying we won't be holding her back. That little princess will be allowed to follow wherever her perfect half a heart leads her. 

Too Much Puppy Love

We were perfectly prepared for Sammy, the puppy.

Collars and name tags- check.
Leashes and dog crate- check.
Dog toys and water bowls- check.
Check if your 3.5 your old is a raving jealous overly excited madwoman who picks puppies up by the face...oops. Missed that one.

So Sammy settled in nicely but Tehilla got a serious case of "new baby/jealous sibling syndrome" and we have been scrambling ever since to help her adjust and give her attention and teach her not to smash puppies skulls. It's been fun. (That was the sound of my eyes rolling).

We have Sammy nearly housetrained and sharing a peaceful existence with Hunter the cat. She has learned come, sit, down, let go, look at me, dance, paw, and is making a lot of progress with stay, and leave it. She is sweet and affectionate, smart and playful and has been an amazing new addition to our family.

But hardly an hour goes by without someone screaming , "Tehilla! Don't pick the puppy up by her ear!" Or "Stop squashing the puppy!" We are making progress and teaching her how to properly handle the puppy. We will get her adjusted with time...

Tehilla has been put on an antihistamine because we think she has allergies and has had a dripping nose for over 6 months without any relief. So far there is improvement.

Otherwise everyone is surviving the summer and providing the perfect amount of crazy for us to be counting down the days until school starts.