Nothing's Easy

Sooo much in Emma's life has been hard.  And it continues to be.  We have recently gone through a weird bout of illnesses that are mostly inexplicable.  It all started with a hoarse voice, moved on to some difficulty breathing (scary revisit of 18 months ago), mixed in with 3 visits to the pediatrician in 9 days...let's see...there was a discussion between 3 pediatricians and Dr. Troup, a diagnosis of a throat virus (after which the hoarseness still didn't go away).  Throw in "playing" with Miralax dosages (this is not a game, people.  Not.  A game.), 2 weeks of steroids (which make children hyper, if you're wondering), doses of Mylicon to counteract the bloated belly caused by the steroids, Prevacid twice a day in case the throat stuff is reflux-related (and none of the doctors really think it is, but we're trying everything), and where does that get us?

A brand new cold that literally cropped overnight, in the blink of an eye.  Emma is now taking 6 different kinds of medicines/vitamins every day.  You'd think she'd get a break.  Rarely is anything easy with her.

Another thing that's really hard about Emma...try NOT loving her.  It's impossible.  Especially when she gets frustrated that Russell won't answer her when she calls, "DaDEE!  DaDEE!  DaDEE!" Then she pulls out the big guns: "WUSHUL!"  If you ever get the opportunity to hear your barely 2-year-old call your spouse by his or her first name, brace yourself...one of the funniest moments of your life.  I'm going to try to get it on video soon.

Most things that aren't easy about Emma are that way by no fault of her own.  There are a few things here and there, though, that she makes harder on herself.  She will learn the shortcuts soon, I have no doubt, but tonight, while she was on a steroid high, she decided that her beloved Minnie (thank you, Mandy, for one of her favorite toys!) needed to accompany her while she wheeled around the kitchen in her Bumbomobile.  Minnie also needed to be rocked and have her diaper changed just like a regular baby.  Oh, speaking of babies, Emma has started saying to us, "Hey, baby.  Hey, baby."  Because we say it to her.  So why wouldn't she say it back?  Makes sense to a 2-year-old.  Anyway, here are Emma and Minnie: