Granny's Little Swimmers

When it comes to personal flotation devices, it's not about safety. It's about style!

Granny took my "Little Swimmers" shopping for some new pool toys and this is what they ended up with. From day one, they've been attached at the hip (pun intended).

Thankfully, we finally convinced the girls that "Mommy Ducky" and "Baby Hippo" were more comfortable living outside in the deck box. So far it's worked, but that's only because we visit them daily.

A few days later Cousin Deb sent the girls flippers. Another huge hit with my little fishies who often refer to themselves as "Mermaid" and "Dory."

Who can blame them for loving water out here in the 113 degree heat? As they (courtesy of Little Nemo) say: "Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming."

Sounds good to me!

What surgery?

I'm often asked if the girls are identical. It seems bizarre to those of us who know them well; but for those who don't, a quick glance at the coordinated clothing and similar height and hair color can be misleading.

From the moment I felt movement during pregnancy, I knew my girls would be completely different. I'd like to think it was my mommy-to-be intuition, but the constant action from "Baby B" (who ultimately pushed her way into "Baby A's" position), kind of gave it away.

Since then, my "No Fear" Claire has been on the move -- stopping only to sleep.

And despite the failed doses of Benadryl (kidding!), and the dental visits with sedation (not kidding!), I HOPED she'd surprise me and take a little down time after the Tonsillectomy.

I really should have known better...

After a wild "hulk-child" moment in the recovery room, and an afternoon awake and wiggling, she mostly acted like nothing happened.

I kept waiting for things to get bad -- the dehydration; the terrible pain, etc., etc. However, it never happened. Essentially, this was a good thing. Even though there was no rest for the weary (Granny Kay and me), it was an experience I'm grateful for. Considering all the other "crazy" going on (more to come on that), a speedy recovery from one tough little toddler is quite a blessing.

The picture in this post was taken shortly after we got into the hospital room, post surgery. Absolutely amazing!

Tonsils, Take-Two

It's deja vu around here, but such is the life with twins. After a toddler-sized Barium Swallow test, the doctor has decided that Claire's tonsils and adenoids have to go. They're huge, with only a tiny space in between. The result is that she's not getting enough air when eating or drinking, so she's choking frequently.

The surgery takes place next Wednesday and Claire couldn't be more excited. She likes to remind us of Syd's surgery by explaining how she was "too little" to go inside the hospital. When we signed-in for her test this week she asked me if her finger would get pinched ("pricked") and when she'd get a bracelet ("ID Tag"). According to her Going to the Hospital book (gotta love that Mr. Rogers), these are things that must happen at the "hos-pi-tal."

I doubt I'll have the same enthusiasm she does come surgery time. Thankfully, Granny Kay is coming to the rescue again and will be here to help out. Sadly, Curtis will miss the event because of work. As Forest Gump says, "That's all I have to say about that."

I took the picture in this post at Claire's test this week. As I previously mentioned, she LOVED the whole visit. I couldn't have been more proud of her.

Change is good

Diving into the world of "blogging" has been fun for me. I've been able to reconnect with some old friends, spend time writing "for fun" and to watch the reaction on my girls' faces when they see themselves on the computer screen. In short, it's been a pleasant addition to my to-do list.

However, it was only a matter of time before the hyper-focused inner me started thinking of ways to change my blog: center this, add that, etc. The list went on and on and sadly, beyond my technical expertise.

Thankfully, I stumbled across Darcy and Graphically Designing. She was able to make sense of my madness and create this beautiful new layout. I LOVE IT!

In the process, I decided that my blog - despite its short existence - needed a new name. "Sugar and Spice: Ingredients for a Happy Life" was cute, but I felt it wasn't capturing what I wanted to say or do with this blog. (Yes, I over-think just about everything.)

Why Roots & Wings?

1. The purpose of my blog is to share moments. The significant moments, and the not-so-significant moments in between.

2. My granny (my mom's mom), who I miss dearly and is often on my mind, had a favorite quote that she referenced throughout her life. I didn't understand it as a teenager, but it sure makes sense as an adult.

"There are two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings." (Hodding Carter)

So true.

3. I like to think that our "roots" are established through the friendships we make, the places we live, and the experiences we go through; and that our "wings" come as a result of those experiences and relationships - ultimately enabling us to fly on our own.

So there you have it -- my over-thinking, brainstorming process in writing. Frightening.

In closing, I'd like to say thanks to Darcy for making my blog dreams a reality. She's talented, witty and very patient. Please check out her site if you're interested in blog tips or makeover services. She's great to work with and delightful to know.

Lastly, thanks to everyone who keeps coming back to check in with us. Truly, it means more than you know.