Alice and I made a big attempt to pay as much attention to each other and to our relationship as we did to raising Kallie, and for the most part we succeeded. Of course, we couldn’t do that completely, but we tried to be in agreement on anything major with her. Even when one of us was away at work or something, we tried to keep the other updated as much as we could.

As to our own relationship, we tried to talk as much as we possibly could. We gave each other space when we felt it was needed, though. Still, one night a week we’d leave Kallie with one or more of her aunts and have a night for ourselves. Usually we didn’t do much of anything aside from go for a drive and talk or maybe go laugh at an old movie or something, but it was still nice and gave us a chance to talk about ourselves. Our one rule on those nights was to talk about ourselves as people, without mentioning Kallie. Obviously we had to sometimes since she was such a big part of our lives, but the entire purpose of the nights out was to maintain our connection as a couple.

It wasn’t as if we always got along, though. I know I’m painting an idealistic picture of those days, ad it’s probably because when I look back I see them as being perfect. Still, Alice and I had our bad days and disagreements as all parents do.

The one I remember most happened at Bette and Tina’s when we were having family night there. By this time, Kallie was pretty vocal. I’m guessing she must have been a little over a year, and she was able to walk a little bit by that time too.

Anyway, I’d given her a bath and gotten her all cleaned up right before we left. She’d eaten just before and it was close to seven at night, so I wasn’t planning on having any reason to clean her again aside from washing her hands or something when she went to bed. Usually, after she’d hugged all her aunts she played with Angelica anyway.

We were all sitting around talking, one of us looking in on the kids every ten minutes or so. They came back out to the living room and were playing on the floor with some toys. Apparently, at some point in time when I wasn’t paying attention, Alice had given them each a small piece of chocolate from her pocket. I guess she hadn’t really thought of the consequences. Angie was fine, and Kallie really wasn’t that bad in the end either. Still, her hands and face were sticky, and I got really upset with Alice for doing that since it meant I’d have to give Kallie another bath when we got home.

Alice didn’t see it as a big deal, and looking back on it, I don’t either. Still, at the time it really aggravated me. But all in all, I was incredibly happy. I never could have imagined, then, that before long I’d be watching Kallie come close to death.