The Aftermath of Callie and Arizona

Hurt Is Life's Way of Teaching

Arizona's POV:

"Ari! It's so good to see you. You look like you are doing well, sis. Come give me a big hug!"

Ari, Sophia and Callie, had just stepped into the kitchen where I happened to be standing with Madelyn at that moment. It was the first time I had seen Ari since she went into rehab, about 6 weeks prior.

"Hey sister-in-law! Oh my gosh, you look incredible! There's no way you had a baby 3 months ago! What have you been doing?" 

Callie took Maddy from me, as Ari walked over to me for a tight hug. 

For being in such a devastating car accident only 6 months ago, you'd never know it by looking at Ari. Thanks to extensive physical therapy and some brilliant surgeons at our own hospital, Ari looked perfect from the outside. The physical effects however, would follow her for life. Just like my own continue to do, as well.

"She's been working out like crazy and starving herself. Me, on the other hand, let's just say I've taken over eating for two now that Arizona gave birth. I don't know why, but 'new baby' stress makes me want to eat. I did the same thing with Sophia once we were finally home."

"Calliope! That's so not true, about me! Especially the part about starving myself. For the record, I upped my workout sessions by another 15 minutes and I'm really watching my carb intake. Just because I'm not eating sweets like you might be Calliope, doesn't mean I'm, 'starving myself.' That's a bit melodramatic, to say the least."

I was smirking at Callie as she was gently rocking Maddy in her arms.

"Uh Oh, Sis... Your wife just used your full name, twice, in her last statement. Sounds like you are in the doghouse, tonight!" Ari started giggling, as I chuckled and then Callie pretended to be annoyed and huffed.

After watching the adult's conversational interchange, Sophia, with a perplexed look said, "What do you mean, Aunt Ari? We don't have a dog or a doghouse! How can Mom be inside of one tonight?"

The three of us suppressed our laughter and simultaneously bit our lower lips at Soph's response.

It's always fun to attempt to explain an idiom to someone for the first time. There's especially something cute about when a kid inquires and tries to make sense of the explanation. Sophia's reactions over the years had been priceless because of her very literal sense of the world, so I wasn't surprised to hear her question Ari to begin with.

"No, Bug. Your Aunt didn't mean that I was actually going to be in an actual dog's house tonight, but that I might be out of favor with your Mama about my comments regarding her losing weight." 

Callie's eyebrows were raised, as she appeared to be waiting for a proverbial light bulb to appear above Sophia's head when she understood what the idiom actually meant.

"Out of favor with Mama? Huh?"

Ari giggled at Sophia's reaction and piped up, "What your Mom meant to say was that, she might be in trouble with your Mama for her jaded comments!" Ari finally succumbed to letting her laughter surge and grabbed her sides as her body shook.

"Oh, well that makes sense! But I'm confused about why a dog house? How come not a bird cage or something else?"

I noticed Callie and Ari start reaching for words and short answers when I said, "It's because some dog owners think it's punishment for a dog to sleep outside, rather than inside, when they're bad. A lot of dogs have houses that are outside in their owner's yards."

We all saw the understanding light bulb turn on after I explained the idiom to our oldest. 

"I get it now Mama, thanks! I'm going to go put my backpack away and use the bathroom." And in a blink of an eye, Sophia was charging down the hall to her room.