We were expecting this to be a quiet week leading in to celebrating Huff’s 4th birthday, and it was, until we had a surprise trip to hospital for Mum, who needed to stay overnight.
Big thanks to Aunty C and Uncle J for all their help, and to everyone who helped out by providing meals and other forms of help and encouragement.
The kids didn’t seem all that worried on the way through, and were relishing their extra screen time.
On Wednesday night, with Mum settled in to stay overnight, Dad took the kids home. There was some discussion about what they might like to eat for dinner (Puff wanted fast food, Huff wanted scrambled eggs. Puff really didn’t want scrambled eggs) and we eventually ended up eating Thai food. Dad managed to order about the right amount of food for everyone, and distract the kids by encouraging them to look at the men in the kitchen cooking stir fry by flipping the food out of big woks.
Aunty C organised some flowers for Mum that were from huff and Puff. Huff was very glad to be put in charge of carrying them when we brought Mum home again on Thursday.
On the weekend, it was Huff’s birthday. She was finally 4! Here she is wearing the birthday outfit that Grandragon made for her.
Dad and Puff went for a walk and threw some paper airplanes they had been folding, despite not having seen the currently released movie of the same name.
The next morning we had sprinkle-pancakes for breakfast. Huff was a big fan.
Dad took the kids to church, so that Mum could rest at home. The kids had a lot of fun – Huff went to Sunday School for the first time, all by herself, and came back and sat by herself in the kids talk (normally she asks Dad to sit with her). She’s growing up!
Sunday we visited Grandma and Doc, and Huff had some more candles to blow out. She had a lovely birthday weekend.
And then we were back to the normal routine of life again. Puff didn’t seem worried at all about the week’s adventures. Huff was a bit anxious about being separated from Dad on those few occasions during the week where that was necessary, but generally seemed fine.
It was a reminder of how fragile life is, but we’re very grateful that Mum is on the mend.