Today was a fun day.  I had no doctor’s appointments, I ignored my cancer-specific to-do lists and tasks; today I was Regular Mommy.  We played.  The house was disaster by six o’clock.  It was a great day. We went to the local library.  Unfortunately, I am one of those people who doesn’t fully take advantage of the “free” element of the...

It’s Mother’s Day.  Maren has already delivered a bowl of blueberries to me in bed.  Just blueberries.  I love that girl.  Now, she is downstairs crafting, and Brad has gently suggested I wait for his, “All clear” signal before venturing down myself.  Maren takes her art, especially Present Art, very seriously.  I can hear Greta babbling...

This morning, Maren and I went in to Greta’s room together when we heard her wake up.  We sang happy birthday to her and filled her room with chatter, as we do most mornings.  As a tactic to get Maren to change out of the Christmas dress she had chosen to wear today, I asked her if she would like to match clothes with Greta.  While Maren and I were discussing...

Maren came home from Phenom’s house after her first day there talking nonstop about The Girls: The Girls’ toys, The Girls’ bedroom, The Girls’ general awesomeness.  You see, Phenom has elementary-aged girls who dote on and indulge Maren’s whims in a way that I can only hope Maren will indulge Greta one day.  Maren is often a same-age...

‘Twas a great weekend. My Maren turned five.  I remember oh-so-well that feeling of giddiness when it is your birthday and you’re little.  She wiggled with the joy of it all weekend.  At her party I learned what a leader she is among her peers, and so enjoyed watching how she relates to the littles in her life: very tender and attentive (and, at times,...

Conversation between Maren and I @ 7:30am today: Bouncing from one foot to the other in excitement, Maren says, “Mom, when can we go to Phenom’s house?” Putting lotion on my face, “I have to finish getting ready, then we have to wake up Greta, then I was thinking I would feed Greta so Phenom doesn’t have to, then we can go.”  I...