Dry guy

He made it and earned his hot rod. I think Blane's only had one wet night since. See ya, Pull Ups.

Science and Flag Test

Zacko got 101% on his science test (ask him about plants) and took his test today on the flag. He thinks he missed one, but made it up by answering the extra credit question. Great job, Zac!

Seth's Teacher

Yesterday, on the way home from school, Seth said, "Mom, I'm always the fuhst one to get my mohning wohrk done."

"Seth," I replied, "maybe you should spend more time on it to make sure you are doing a good job. Are you getting it done first because you are racing or because it is easy?"

"It's easy," he sniffed.

When we got home from church on Wednesday night, there was a message from Seth's teacher, Mrs. Owens. Just a routine call, she explained on the voice mail, to all the students parents to update them on their kid's progress.

I called her back. I couldn't wait to hear what she was going to say.

She was just as nice as could be. "Seth's doing great," she said. He is reading quite well. She built Seth up with several positive compliments, but I could tell she was headed towards something. "Seth needs to slow down a little bit with his work." I almost laughed. and told her what he said. "Yes, Seth is very excitable," I replied. I think she was a tad relieved that I didn't get defensive. (it wasn't like she was telling me something I didn't know--this kid came out of the womb looking for a party). She said there was a little group of boys who have been rather lively (guess who's in that pack?) but she's been working them. She even has her answer to Mrs. Ellis' errands--HALL PASSES, and lots of them. Seth is always being sent on little trips to "help out". "They are 6 and 7 years old, and it's hard for them to stay still for a long time," she said (thank the Lord for a teacher who understands little boys!) She also told me that Seth's hand shoots up for every question (guess he knows everything). The school OT is making a weighted pencil for Seth to help him with his writing. His fine motor skills are okay, but could use some honing, as his hand trembles when he focuses on writing, drawing or any small motor task that requires concentration.

All in all, our Sethie is doing a great job in school, just like Zac. I look forward to the October conferences to get more details from the boys' school years.

Royal (dreams) Flush(ed)

Seth is something else. But you knew that already. He is fun, creative, expressive, emoting and jolly...but his all-heart personality has its struggles from time to time.

When my parents were here, Seth had a cold. Nothing terrible, but enough to get him snotty and coughing from the drainage. I sent him to school that Monday because he didn't seem to feel very bad. I got a call mid-day from the nurse. Seth was complaining of a stomachache and was sitting in her office. I headed up there.

I could tell from Seth's eyes when I walked in the nurses office that he didn't feel good. So I signed him out and we went home. I told Seth that coming home from school was a big deal and if we were going to do this, he was going to be in bed or at least resting for the rest of the day (hey, we can't be doing this every week!) He agreed, and spent most of the afternoon on the couch watching a cartoons (1 hour) or reading, his barf pot at his side. Towards late afternoon, he was feeling significantly better.

Now, Uncle Michael and Aunt Pammy had given us four tickets for a Royals game that night. Originally, Scott, my dad and the older two boys were going to go. But Scott called me from work, sick with Seth's cold, and told me he didn't feel up to going. Of course, Seth was now out of commission, and I had to attend Back to School Night that evening to get info from the boys teachers. So, as it turned out, my mom and dad were going to take Zac to the game.

I left for BTSN and called my mom on the way there to discuss the plan for exchanging cars, since I had left before Scott got home. Mom told me that Seth wanted to talk to me about going to the Royals Game.

"I told him you would say no," she said to me.

"Put him on," I replied.

"Mom," came the little munchkin voice, "I'm feeling much better. Can I PLEASE go to the Royals game?"

I explained to Seth again the little deal we had made.

One thing I hate about cell phones is the awful feedback you sometimes get. Unfortunately, Seth and I were experiencing some feedback. He began to plead in a louder voice,"PLEASE MOM! I'm feeling MUCH BETTER!!" I said no several more times, but it was difficult for him to hear me as he escalated, pleading frantically. Embarrassing too...there I was in front of the school saying "SETH!" loudly into the phone because he couldn't even hear me over his own hysterics. Finally he hung up on me in great sorrow (not disrespectfully--he doesn't know that's a rude thing to do). My mom said he wailed outside for about 10 minutes.

He got over it. But hopefully, he'll use his sick passes carefully and sparingly for the rest of the year.

Dry nights

The other morning, Blane woke up with dry pull-ups. Words cannot describe how excited I was, given my genetics. Figuring this was my big shot, I told him he could earn a hot rod if he stayed dry five nights. Later, I added more incentive by telling him I would get him a little car for every night up to five that he was dry.

He was a man motivated. The first morning he burst into our bedroom at 4:30am to announce that he was dry! We told him to go back to bed, but of course, made a big deal about it come morning. He earned cars, and we got up to four nights by yesterday, the eve of the big hot-rod debut.

I was consigning clothes yesterday with my friend who is running a big kids' sale at the Holiday Inn in Olathe. I took Blane out there with me, and while I was hanging up the clothes, Blane found a white hot-rod in the toys section. He slobbered over it for a while, then obediently put it back when it was time to go. So of course, when I went back last night for the pre-sale, I picked that sucker up (it was only a $1). I went home and told him this was the hot-rod he would get if he stayed dry one more night. He excitedly placed it on his dresser by the Hummer, so he could look at it, even if he couldn't play with it.

Well, excitement has a way of distracting people, and Blane was no different. He forgot to go to the bathroom before bed. I heard him sobbing in the bathroom this morning and knew what had happened. Poor baby! I hugged him and told him that I'm sure he would be dry tonight. He was so brokenhearted that he wouldn't get his hot-rod today! It took some steeling to keep from handing him that car. But he has to earn it.

Look for the hot rod update soon...

Fur shaver

Several weeks ago, Blane asked me about Scott's razor.

"What does that do?" I asked.

Promptly he answered, "It cuts off daddy's fur!"

Grampy

It's been a while, but most of you know what's been going on around here. We had a visit from Mom and Dad towards the end of August, and Grampy, Scott's grandfather, passed away on August 26. Things have been busy to say the least!

About Grampy... this was the "first death" for the kids--you know, someone they actually had seen and knew. Of course, what they knew mostly was Grampy in his wheelchair at the nursing home. Grampy lived 91 years, and had Alzheimer's for about the past 9 of those. The boys weren't around for any of the cogent part of his life. Nevertheless, I think Grampy, in their minds, was an old, sweet grandpa who didn't say much, but was comfortingly there in the background when they visited Nana and Papa. He handed out hats and had a remote-controlled pig. Not a bad way to remember your great grandfather.

Shortly after we learned about his passing I picked the boys up from school. I had let Zac know the day before that he was soon to die. When I told the guys, Seth was sweetly distressed for a few minutes. "He died?" he said compassionately. I explained that he was very old and sick, and now he was in heaven with Jesus. Later, Blane--who always processes things by asking numerous questions--asked if we were going to get a new Grampy.

Funeral and visitation were held here. The visitation was very well attended. We took the boys up to the casket and let them look at him for a bit. I don't know what they thought of him. To me, even the nicest prepared body never looks quite right. But...the person isn't there any more. Maybe it's best that way.

The guys handled that fine and ended up playing quietly in a pew with their third cousin Ian.

For the funeral on Saturday, Scott had prepared some remarks on behalf of the grandchildren. The plan was for me to stay in the back of the church auditorium with Seth and Blane, who we seriously doubted could make it through the funeral without loud whispering or fidgeting. Zac sat up front with the family.

Scott had a lovely address, as did Mack, Gram and Grampy's oldest son. We drove out to the cemetary on a flawless summer day--bright sunshine, no clouds, perfect temperature. My tears came at the 12 gun salute (I had to cover Blane's ears) and the presentation to the widow of the folded flag.

We finished the weekend with the extended family and had a beautiful time. Ironically, there is often no more sweeter time for family fellowship than funerals. At the end, we took a picture of the family, 30 strong.

This week, Blane prayed at dinner. It went something like this:

"Dear God,
Thank you that we had a good day today,
Thank you for the food.
Thank you that Grampy doesn't have to die anymore.
Thank you that we are having cornbread.

In Jesus name, Amen"