The last month has taken us up and down, and all around.
First, after a few months of not feeling well (swollen glands, throwing up, lack of appetite), we finally found out that Amy has mono. What a bummer for a 16 years old. Her main concern was "How long will I be contagious for?" With a fairly new boyfriend in her life, having mono is a worst case scenario... The poor child. Last year her horse was hurt which put a damper on her competition season. This year she has a great horse to compete on but the rider is out for at least a month due to an enlarge spleen... The season starts yet again without her.
Then, one day as I was painting the deck, Carl picks up the phone in the house. He then comes out to tell me: "You are not gonna like this. Emma got into a fight at school and she got bit by a boy on the cheek. " WHAT??? Since he didn't have too much details, I called back the principal.
She told me nobody really saw what happened but they figure this boy was at the top of the slide, not going down and Emma must have pushed him to go down. He did not like this and bit her in the face. She did not cry and they put ice on her cheek and the swelling came down.
Later I talked to her EA, who told me a completely different story. What am I to do? Emma came off the bus and showed me her big "bobo" and kept saying: Emma, doctor. My feelings were mostly concern. Emma meets life. Things are bound to happen. How do I protect her from harm? How do I prepare her to avoid bad situations? She is so enthusiastic and always willing to jump in where the action is.
Then on the eve of Amy's doctor's appointment to take a look at her spleen, I hear wailing coming from upstairs. Emma is already asleep. These painful sounds are coming from Amy's room. She's on the phone with boyfriend. I kind of know what is happening and am waiting to offer some kind of comfort to her. I now hear a big bang. Emma fell off her bed!!! I need 2 of me; can't be there for both my girls at the same time! Dad goes tend to Emma and I just rob Amy's back as her world is coming apart. We slept together; my heart was broken for her. She went to the doctor wearing sunglasses on a very cloudy day...
But to my surprise, she bounced back pretty good. She surrounded herself with friends and activities saying the mono is gone. Hmmm... She came home one day from school and went straight to bed.
Then last night, at six o'clock I suddenly got very tired. I asked Amy if I could nap for 1/2 an hour, would she watch Emma. Emma would not have it. She came with me, sat on by bed and kept talking, and talking, and talking. Mommy sick, mommy tired, mommy sleep... I wake up with Emma sound asleep beside me. She slept from 6:30 to 6:30! Again tonight she went to bed quite early. Oh no, could she have mono? We are being so careful with Amy's glasses and toothbrush, and everything else.
We ride the waves. The girls are growing up with bumps on their paths. All I can do is steer them clear when I can and just be there for them when I can't and all these bumps will lead, with experience, to a smoother landing...
