Haley and Maddie's Graduation

On Saturday night Maddie came down with a yukky stomach virus and slept most of the day on Sunday, running a little fever and feeling achy. Then on Monday she was still down but managed to get out of bed only long enough for me to hilite her hair in time for graduation on Tuesday. Yesterday morning came and she still felt bad. She couldn't even get up to go to her 7th/ 8th grade passing of the candle and her kindergarten BUDDY GOOD BYE program. She was really sad about that because she didn't want Emma, her little buddy to be sad! She stayed home in bed in hopes of resting up enough to go the graduation. She stayed in bed until it was her turn  for Blair to style her hair, she dressed and made it in time to take a picture with her fellow classmates. As they lined up to proceed into church she said she was okay and I took my seat with the rest of the family. As Haley walked in, smile shining, I sighed a sigh of relief that all was going well, then realized that Maddie was not behind her. I went to the sitting room in the back of church and there she was pale again, asking to please go home and go back to bed. Now as a mother of twins, I have beat myself up many a time, realizing that I can never split myself in two, always sharing time with two totally individual people. There again, they both needed me to show up for them and I did me best to suffice each of them. So Maddie ended up going home to bed while the rest of us stayed at the graduation. I know Maddie has a big heart and understands why we needed to be there for Haley! They both looked stunningly beautiful and all grown up. That 8th grade graduation always strikes an emotional cord with me. It is such a milestone. Yesterday was double the emotion looking at these two beautiful children who are growing up faster than I can believe! They have, in particular, this past year done more than their fair share of growing up emotionally and I thank them for all of their love and support through my less than great year. I hope I was there for them, even if in the smallest ways.