Summer Update…

I can hardly believe that July is coming to a close.  We have had such a busy and fun summer, and we still have so much to pack in!  After an early morning painting session today with Mary Clare, I packed her bags and sent her off with Nonnie.  They are driving to Hilton Head this morning to meet McCanless and Mimi down there for the weekend.  Mimi took McCanless down there on Wednesday.  Two girls with two grandmothers all weekend long.  I’m nervous about how long it will take me to sort them all out when they return.    McCanless called me last night on the way to Harbor Town to see Greg Russell play, only after a day long shopping excursion, lunch with friends and ice cream for dinner with Mimi.  She is in heaven!  (They did eat real dinner after ice cream, of course.)  They have beach and pool trips planned and a visit to the Children’s Theater to see Peter Pan.  I know they will have a ball.   I’m so proud that my girls are independent and can handle being away from Mommy and Daddy sometimes.  They both loved to travel and go with family and friends!  (Lucky us!)

The girls are so ready for school.  They both will be at Thomas Hart Academy this year.  It amazes me.  I have been teaching at Thomas Hart since Mel and I were married and always knew I wanted my children to be there with me.  It is hard for me to believe we are at that point in life.  Wow.  Time truly flies.  I was offered to teach again this year, but I think I’ll stick to the office until Mary Clare’s surgery is complete.  Last year, I opted to work in the office a few hours in the morning because I thought her surgery would happen during the school year.  I feel that it will be so much easier to leave the office rather than three classes of students.  We’ll see.   I just know that I love being with the girls at school.  First grade and 3K.  Wow.  It still amazes me.

I have yet to hear from MUSC regarding Mary Clare’s surgery.  Emerson, her best heart friend will have her Fontan in September.  Please keep her in your prayers.  Our families have certainly been on this journey together almost from Day 1.  I specifically remember the very first time I spoke to Erica, Emerson’s mom.   I was sitting in my car in a Target parking lot.  A mutual friend connected us and gave her my cell phone number.  We were both pregnant with our heart babies and we talked and talked and cried for over an hour.  We have been keeping up and keeping in touch for over 3 years now!  Emerson is a couple of months younger than Mary Clare and they have both done amazingly well!  We were both hoping that their surgeries would be around the same time so we could be at MUSC together.  We wanted not only play partners for the girls, but emotional support for each other.  It looks like Mary Clare’s surgery will be postponed a bit, however.  They just want her to be closer to 30 lbs.  Do you know how hard it is to gain three pounds when you are only 27 lbs?  If only it were that difficult for me.

Mel is keeping very busy, as usual.  He has completed his firefighter training and is now an official Darlington County Volunteer Firefighter.  He is working on his letterpress business, still has his hand in Pennington & Bailes and being Mayor is always interesting.  He’s also doing a bit of design work here and there.  He’s a pretty great dad and husband, too.  McCanless is growing up before my eyes and continues to love to draw and paint.  (Little sister is following suit.)  McCanless, however, has to have her down time/alone time.   She is so passionate about everything she does.  She reminds me so much of Mel, and yet so much of myself.  A friend once told Mel he was like a human light switch.  One moment he was wide open, literally with words, movement,etc.  Then the next moment, he was completely OFF, zoned out, quiet, contemplating, still.  This is so McCanless.  Other parents, teachers, adults comment on how mature and well-behaved she is.  She wouldn’t dare disappoint and seems almost shy around others.  (Almost.)  She is so interesting.

Mary Clare is my little girly-girl firecracker.  Like McCanless at age three, she knows exactly what she wants and does things her way.  She is so independent and thinks she is McCanless’ age.  She loves to sing and dance and dress-up still.  She reminds me so much of McCanless, but with a bit more gusto.  (If that is even possible.)  My sister said she reminds her of a recent Sour Patch Kids commercial.  (Sour Patch Kids is a type of sweet and sour candy.)  The commercial shows a Sour Patch Kid trip a little boy on a bike, making the boy crash badly, then turns around a helps him up and hugs him.  Sour then sweet.  That is certainly Miss Clare.  She will play for hours with her Barbies and her dolls.  Unlike McCanless, she loves alone play and never takes the time to watch television.  She has such a vivid imagination and I often hear her twirling and talking and singing aloud in her playroom alone.  She loves all things pink and sparkly and princess and right now her plan is to be a pink, sparkly cheerleader for Halloween.  It’s never too early to start planning, you know.

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