TWELVE

 Oh Emmy, how are you already 12 years old?! It seems like yesterday I was 12 days overdue patiently awaiting your arrival. I was SO EXCITED to be a mom and I've loved every day since. 

This past year has been a true roller coaster. I have both loved every second I've spent with you but felt sad knowing how much you are missing out on. Fortunately, you have a few really good school friends and thank God for your gymnastics friends. But I don't forget for a second how many people are out there waiting and ready to meet you! 

You are fearless, driven, strong and don't really give a shit what others think of you and I LOVE IT! I look at you and wish I was as carefree as you are, when I was younger. I am so impressed by how dedicated you are at school - you have maintained a 4.0 during COVID! And your school work has not been easy, I am embarrassed to say, I literally could not help you answer that math problem you had a question on. Your commitment to gymnastics all year but especially during COVID and after a broken finger really is inspiring. You are so brave! Much braver than I'd ever be. I get so nervous and excited watching, even during your "zoom meet"! I watched the whole 3 hours from my lap top :) And you are so creative with your art projects and ideas, you really are amazing in every way. 

You set such a good example for your brothers on how to be kind, patient and inclusive. They are very lucky to have you, we all are! We love you so very much and hope you have a great 12th birthday!!

COVID Life

 I have been terrible about updating the blog. I feel like we've been busy, but when I think back to our "old life" and it was so much crazier than it is now! We have a routine down I guess, breakfast, Emmy starts her zoom school at 8a, Josh starts working, I take Owen to school, me and Ryan run a 1/2 mile around the loop, he hops on his zoom at 9a, I walk Sadie and then start my work day.  Josh and I trade spots in the office all day long and then we all break for lunch. Fortunately, Emmy still has gymnastics 3 days a week and basketball 2 days and Ryan has basketball 2 days as well. Its hard to keep them motivated and moving, everyone is getting SO LAZY! But all in all, we are good. Starting to try and break things up a bit again and are always so grateful we live in San Diego :)

We had a pretty killer heat wave so headed to the beach one day. The water was unbelievably COLD!

I mean - we really are living the life here in SD

After a busy day at the beach

Trying to get her to love exercising as much as I do! (don't mind the liquor cabinet haha)

The best part of COVID has been watching the kids be kids and play together. I will cherish all of these memories 

Every other Friday Ryan has recorded PE so we skip it and head over to the tennis courts! We are both terrible but have fun running around the court together :)

We ventured over to Coronado a few weeks ago for a change of scenery 

Owie, being Owie 

Most people know I absolutely despise ipads, yet I let me kids play on them. We are constantly implementing new rules, etc. But the funny thing is whenever they play they sit RIGHT next to each other. I often times hear them laugh (or fight) and cheer each other on when they are playing games. So  I guess they aren't all bad, right?

We pulled out our painting supplies again! :)

Owen has also been drawing, pretty much every waking moment he is home. He reminds me of Emmy when she was his age, always drawing/creating something, cutting things up. He takes pictures to his teachers every morning. Ha! He gets to focused, I wish I could look inside his sweet mind to know what he is thinking and trying to create!

Owen's babies have made an appearance in our family again. I think the arrival of Ronan has gotten him excited about babies again :) She had to come with us to pick Emmy up from gymnastics. 

This kids focus during online school just amazes me. 

We went to school to pick up some supplies and special bags for valentines day. All of the teachers and the principal were in the parking lot dressed up and dancing, talking to all of the kids. It made me tear up - these kids are missing out on some much by not going to school. School is a community and I think theirs is doing the best job they can to keep that connection. He teacher drives over to our house and drops books off for him!

Still drawing!

I had a two day production shoot down at the beach last week. Not a bad way to end a work day :) 

The kids went to the dentist last week and it was easier to just keep Owen home. So I had some co-workers for the day :)

We are recycling back to our original activities - fort time!

I actually got 3 appointments at once - wahoo!

Lunch in the fort :)

COVID Vaccinations

I feel like we've entered into a new phase of COVID. It feels like nothing has changed and everything has changed at the same time. The country, and world, were able to develop a COVID vaccination in record time and now vaccinations are being distributed world-wide which is a complex task that none of us really understand the magnitude of. I've said it before but working for a hospital, an academic medical center at that, during COVID has given me insight that I normally wouldn't have had. UC San Diego Health was one of two institutions to receive the first batches of vaccines in San Diego and we immediately began distributing them to health care workers. Fortunately, for me, I somehow fell into that category. If I could've handed over that vaccine to my parents, teachers or anyone with an underlying health condition, I would've. But I couldn't so my contribution to society was getting myself vaccinated. I received my second dose yesterday and the described side effects of chills, body ache and headache were spot on! My arm hurts so bad it was really hard to get comfortable last night but this is all short lived and a small price to pay. 

UC San Diego Health also partnered with the Padres and the County to stand up the first vaccination super station in the state, in a matter of 5 days. We've been vaccinating 5k people a day. I've volunteered two times now, a pretty cool thing to be a part of. The first day I was an observer, reporting any reactions (fortunately there weren't any) and the second day I checked people in. I arrived at 6a and after a 15 minute crash course in EPIC, I was thrown into deciphering if people's credentials actually qualified them to be vaccinated. Let's just say it was one of the more stressful days I've had in a while but at the same time a very proud moment. People were so grateful to be there and that we all volunteered our time! We are standing up a second station on campus next week. It is a slow but extremely complex process, especially for the most populous state in the US! I do feel like we've entered this new phase of the "haves" and "have nots" - those who have and have not received their vaccine. Honestly, I keep my mouth shut right now....  There are so many glimmers of hope yet set backs with new variants that are predicted to spike in the upcoming months. Its like 2 steps forward and then 1 step back, constantly. I just try and enjoy each moment, finding the joy and positive moments, knowing that things will only continue to change. What a crazy time!

Michelle, my partner in crime at work

Ariel view of the super station 

Someone from work took this pic. Ha!