June 2022: USA & Camp Drop Offs

June was filled with the broken wrist, travel to the USA, time in DC and summer camp drop offs....

Maria had some rough nights after the break and bone resetting.  

We went back to the hospital a few days after the break
as the pain was still intense. 
A second x-ray showed the bones were not set properly yet.

The doctor decided to set the bones again, this time under general anesthesia.

Off to the OR....

She was mostly sad to be giving up all of her signatures but the resetting went well and she was in much less pain.

Maria missed a week of school in the end which upset her greatly- hard not to spoil her!

Returning for the final week of 3rd grade.

Very hard to say goodbye to Mr. Odungh'uli. ("My best teacher ever!")

Ice cream makes everything better...except perhaps being 13.

Time to head to the USA- goodbyes with our favorite beasts are always hard.

Made it! This time we are staying one block from The White House.

Trying out her new cast cover at the pool near my parents' house.

Day 2 in DC and visiting a pediatric orthopedic surgeon.  He gave her a new, shorter cast.

Much cooler!

Teenager at the park...

Heading up to the zoo on the Metro.

Top of the Washington Monument.

Sorting out all of Maria's things for camp.

Back on the Metro for one more x-ray.

Final (and favorite) DC activity before camp-
Crumbs & Whiskers.

.

All packed up and ready to drive to the Catskills (Gio) and then to Camden, Maine (Maria).

Daily Covid tests.

Road trip! Gio was dropped first at Camp Scatico.  He refused any photos.

Alone with Maria for the drive up to Maine.

First dip in the cold cold Maine ocean!

Reunion with Amelie, Maria's best friend in Nairobi Kindergarten through 2nd grade.  She now lives in NYC and the two girls are going to camp together!

Camp drop off- in their uniforms and ready to go!

Maria's tent counselor!

Paolo and I are empty-nesters for the next 3.5 weeks! 
On our flight back to DC.

First photos from camp....

Maria and her tent #3 friends (one is missing in the photo).

 

Her happy place.

Meanwhile...

Winston in action at his dog camp!

Ragu happily at home (he is too old for camp!).

Gioia at camp.

Salt is keeping Ragu company (and our car warm).

Another action shot!

July will bring a trip to Erie, PA and camp pick ups at the end of the month before we head to Italy.  

xox, Clara

May 2022: Yellow Boat & Jagger

The highlights for May were Gio's performance in "The Yellow Boat" and in the concert band.  We are so proud of him.  Paolo and Gioia celebrated birthdays.  Other than these events, though, the month was a very difficult for the Belli family, especially for Maria.  Our dear Jagger passed away on May 21st after a 5 month battle with lymphoma.  And then Maria broke her wrist 9 days later....  

We started the month celebrating Paolo's birthday on the 4th.

 

Day care photos

Maria rode Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays most of the year.

Gioia turned 3 on May 6th.

She kindly shared her cake with the gang.

Afternoon naps before the school bus vigil.

Gio likes to send me Winston scenes from his bed.  Here is "Winston watching funny cat videos."

New "Shark Girl" hoodie!

More daycare photos...

After months of intense rehearsals Gio's play weekend finally arrived!

So proud of him! 

Gio and his best friend Nicky shared the role of "father" and "coach" (they each performed the lead role of father twice and the coach the other two times).

A sweet friendship.

Maria's music class show!

Checking progress on the bite re-alignment.

On May 19th Jagger's health took a dive. He stopped eating and began to moan heavily whenever he lay down.

He spent two night sleeping in the garden clearly not feeling well.  Ragu never left his side.

On May 20th an ultrasound revealed a large tumor in his abdomen.  I brought him home so we could all say goodbye.  We put him down the next morning.

We stayed with him throughout the night.  Maria read to him.  It was heartbreaking but we knew we had made the right decision for him.  

Rest in Peace, dear Jagger.  2016-2022 (age 5)

It was very hard to take only 3 dogs to the forest the following week but luckily my gang gathered there to walk with me.  One day there were 17 dogs!

Maria created a Jagger wall in her room.  

Gio's rugby season came to an end.  He cannot wait for next year.

Winston continued his battle with the recycling.

Gioia tried her best to cheer up Maria.  

Gio's concert band concert.

Maria's end of the year class party.

 Winston vs. a palm frond.

9 days after Jagger's death Maria broke her wrist.  Poor child.  
More about this in next month's post....

xoxo.  Clara