My 40th birthday!

Yes, lots of big changes in 2018. I am not in my late 30's anymore. I couldn't care less about he number,   but it still makes for a great reason to celebrate.
Nice dinner, many hugs from my girls and lots of presents. Parents with me for my birthday, first time in over 20 years!!!

 It's worth turning 40 when you have this with you. Always! Happy birthday to me :)

Good bye, Fox Chase

Bittersweet, mostly bitter. My last week at Fox Chase has been hard. I was dreading starting a new job, a very long commute, being away for so long from my girls. But it had to be done, my career had to move forward. Not knowing what's in store is scary!
I had farewell parties, I had my parents with me that last day. It was sunny and for that last day I was able to keep my spirits up!

And the LOOONG road to GSK started. Here is to hopes of successes ahead!

Disney 2018

Just before my last week at Fox Chase, we headed for our Disney Vacation. It was Amelia's first visit there, and Catalina's 3rd. We thought we knew the drill...We did, it's just we did not realize how different Disney is during spring break. It's packed, you can barely see your feet in a sea of people...

Maybe it was the crowds, maybe it was my own anxiety over the very new, big step that was coming my way, but this vacation had the magic diluted for me. Once we got home, this is what was waiting for me:

Another reminder that life as we knew it for the last ten years was ending. Hoping for pastures at least as green!

Little Miss Independent

I was taking a walk with Catalina today when we saw young, beautiful neighbor taking her trash out. WE commented on how pretty she was, and then Catalina said: when I grow up, I don’t want to have a husband. I want to be independent,  and travel, And be just like her. Take my own trash out and see a kid riding her bike and then just be on my own. And then she said:but wait, then you won’t have grandkids. I was starting to tell her that she can have kids on her own, when she said: no wait, Ami will have kids, os you will have grandkids.

First, I felt a heartbreak that I am not a good model for her, that our rocky marriage does not inspire her to have one of her own. But maybe it’s for the best. Maybe she knows herself better and she'll do it all by herself, teach herself how to be on her own. Or maybe in the great scheme of things it doesn’t matter after all. But my heart stopped a little, just to be so incredibly proud at how mature she is.

MY little lady!