After the concert we went to the beach. For people that used to go 3 times a week it is odd to admit that that this is the first time we've been since moving here. We will definitely make this a regular weekly trip. We had a great time.
Today was the Mother's Day Concert at Maya's school. No you didn't forget Mothers Day! The Brits celebrate it in March. What a wonderful end to the semester and Maya's year there. Maya made me a beautiful necklace, a bouquet of daffodils, a picture and a card. We got to listen to 12 wonderful songs. We will sure miss Miss Simone and ElderTree!
When Gemma woke up this morning she told me her ear hurt. I kept telling myself that she couldn't possibly have an ear infection, she just got off antibiotics on Monday. By the time we got home from taking Maya to school Gemma was crying telling me her ear still hurt and she didn't feel good (something she NEVER says!). Had a quick shower and took her to the doctor when it opened at 9. Sure enough ear infection plus she still had the upper respiratory infection she was originally taking the antibiotics for. Gemma has decided that she hates the doctor and he is scary. Not true, the nicest person in the world. She told me she didn't need to see the doctor she just needed a vitamin. Anyway she proceeded to get so upset at the doctor's office during her exam that she started projectile vomiting. Of course her first target was me for taking her to the doctor in the first place. Then she just continued to spray his entire office. I didn't think she'd had that much to eat that morning. So we left his office covered in vomit smelling lovely. As we left the hazmat team came in to clean up.
Then on to the Pharmacy, they didn't have the antibiotic he prescribed so I took her home cleaned us both up and went in search of the antibiotic. 3 Pharmacies later the lady told me I would not be able to locate that in Doha. Apparently all bottles expired and the Pharmacies pulled it off the shelves.
Back to the doctor where I waited for 45 minutes for him to finish with a patient. Got new prescription and back home. Sure hope this baby feels better soon. She is so pitiful when she is sick. She breaks my heart.
Sadly, Thursday is Maya's last day of school. She wanted me to make something for her teacher and teachers aid. We found a picture of similar items on the internet. Sorry can't give credit where credit is due as I didn't save that info. Maya has been very specific as to what needs to be done, so I took her shopping with me. I think she is pleased with the results. Hopefully Miss Simone and Miss Alma will be as well. 
I love my kids, I really do but I can't help but think about the following quote.
"If there were no schools to take the children away from home part of the time, the insane asylum would be filled with mothers."
-- Edgar Watson Howe
I updated you on our fun week in my last posting. Little did I know things would get so much better. On Saturday both girls came down with a fever, runny nose and cough. Gem has coughed so hard that she has vomited. Maya is just listless. Kept her home from School on Sunday (Boy was she mad about that!) thinking she would be over it and back to school on Monday. Monday more fever, more crankiness, red weepy eyes and Maya said her ear hurt. Went the doctor. He looked at Maya then at Gemma then at me and asked me what I'd done to them. Had to explain the burn and the black eye. Hope he believed me and the cops aren't on the way..... Home armed with antibiotics, burn cream, tylenol for kids over 6 (Maya is a giant and we've never had big girl medicine in the house) and decongestants.
No one tells you how hard motherhood is when your kids are sick. When my kids are sick, they still want to play. We've done a billion puzzles, played play dough, moon sand, popped poppers, had a silly string fight, watched movies, made a laminated bound book about dinosaurs, played fairies and ate ice cream for lunch and had mac and cheese for dessert. I think we've done it all. They are still not happy. 1 more day and Maya will be back at school and they will be released from the confines of the house to play with friends. Problem is, I don't have anymore ideas to keep them occupied for another day.
Now what? Massage and leave the girls with Judyfe? Yes, that sounds lovely. Perhaps a mani/pedi as well. No I wont leave my sick kids but it is nice to dream.
We've been having a rough week at the Ponte house! Yesterday Gemma was playing at the neighbors house jumping on a bed. Well as graceful as my girls are, Gem fell hitting her face on the foot of the bed. She cried forever. I knew it was going to be bad. She has a big bump on her forehead and another just under her eye. Then this morning we woke up to the black eye!
Today, Maya and I were baking "healthy pumpkin cookies" (pretty good if I do say so myself). I took a pan out of the oven just as Maya touched the cold pan that I was getting ready to put into the oven. I asked her "what if that were the hot pan?" Got no response from her and turned around to deal with the cookies. Then I heard the screaming. Maya decided to smell the hot cookies. Unfortunately she isn't quite tall enough to clear the oven and the hot pan. She seared all of the skin off of her chin. What is next?
