First Day of School 2016-2017

On August 24th, the boys went back to school. I think we were all ready, for several reasons.

The boys had had a great summer together, but by August, they were more ornery with each other; too much "quality time" with their brothers, especially considering that several days had been too hot to play outside.

Mommy was looking forward to getting a minute or two to herself. She was also looking forward to having a less chaotic home. (It was like living with a group of stray cats who enjoyed leaving piles of toy poop all over the house.)

Yup. Definitely time to go back to school.

Matthew looked forward to being back with his group of friends and in that buzzy learning environment. Caleb also looked forward to being back at school, but he's been struggling with some anxiety issues from last year. So while he was saying that he was excited, I could almost see an invisible knot forming in his gut. Isaac still thinks school is FUN and all about Friends. I hope he still thinks that by the end of the school year.

None of the children are looking forward to homework. Neither am I. I think the older kids pull about 2 1/2 hours of homework a night--plus or minus homework meltdowns--despite the new principal's efforts to increase family time. There's so little time for them to play and be kids. This year I'm going to protect their free time like a crazy piranha monkey lady. (It's difficult to picture, but it works if you let the image settle in your mind).

Isaac, the Fearless First Grader

Caleb, the Courageous 3rd Grader

Matthew, the Mighty Fifth Grader

 The morning of Back-to-School, the kids and I got ready and began taking the mandatory BTS pictures. And then....my camera battery died!!! Ack. I was really bummed, but consoled myself with cell phone classroom pics.

We got to school earlier than normal, parked, and let the kids say hi to their teachers and get settled in their classrooms before the crowds. The kids really liked that.

After school first-day accounts were positive or mostly positive.

Caleb said nobody noticed the way he swallowed his food and that his teachers were nice. He also noted that the new kid in his class likes to fold paper airplanes like he does. Matthew was excited about his Immigrant Doll project. Isaac told me about his newest crush: a little girl that laughed when he knocked over the pencil pail (so he kept doing it). He was also super-pleased that his gray bubble pencil box matched the black class folder--and that his pencil box was the ONLY one that matched the class folder.

On the second day of school, we had a "normal" routine; dropping the kids off in the carpool lane first thing in the morning. Isaac was out first. I said, "Catch my kisses!" and blew him a kiss. Then he blew me a kiss and we both slapped the other's kiss on our cheeks and said, "Caught it!" at the same time. A second later he hopped out. Next came Caleb, with a secret grin on his face. "Ciao babe!" he laughed, and hopped out (a phrase he learned from the English version of The Return of the Cat movie). Last was Matthew. He put a hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eyes. "Bye, Mom," he said and stepped out.

I pulled out of carpool and onto the main road again. Then out of habit, I half-looked over my shoulder, ready to ask Isaac how we should spend our "you n' me" time together. Only . . . he wasn't there. I reminded myself that he was in 1st grade; 1st graders are all-day. I knew that. I KNEW that. But somehow the reality caught me by surprise.

How horrible that I'd been dangling this moment in front of myself for years like a golden carrot, using it as an incentive to push through years of babies and diapers and sleepless nights and toddlers and preschoolers and constant, constant, constant parenting. But then, when I finally touched that trophy, it felt exactly like the inside of my van: Empty. And quiet.

What did I do on my first day with ALL the kids in school ALL day?
Grocery Shopping. And Laundry. Then I went through paper piles.

Chris called as I was sorting and filing away the kids' school papers from last year.
Him: "What are you doing?"
Me: "Sorting. And listening to some John Denver and James Taylor."
Him: "Ummmm . . . are you okay?"
Me: "Of course I am." (sniff) "Sing it, sweet Baby Jaaaames."
Him: "I should probably call back later."
Me: "That would be wise."

Kind of depressing. I've enjoyed a good cry over everything. But enough now. Each stage of life must be enjoyed and used for good. So I'm going to fill up all those empty places. In fact, I already have. And I can't wait to tell you about it. But not yet.

It's Outta Here!

Christopher’s blood finally stabilized enough to get his PICC line out. After we hit the year mark, the Clinic started pushing for its removal. It’s a liability…blood clots, infections, not to mention it’s kind of a pain to have something with 3 heads crawling out of your arm.

The PICC line was great while it lasted. When Chris came from the hospital last October, he was up to 3 daily IVs on top of all the stuff they do at the clinic. I was pretty skilled at sanitizing lines, flushing them with saline, hooking up, unhooking, flushing, and locking with heparin. Christopher even trained Matthew to be my back-up in case I wasn’t home.  I have to say that Matthew did a great job!

Lately, Chris was only using it for a daily dose of Magnesium, weekly blood draws at the Clinic, and therapeutic phlebotomies (he has waaaay too much Iron in his body from all the blood transfusions) whenever he could handle it.

Once Chris could tolerate magnesium pills, the risks outweighed the benefits, so it was “lay down, hold your breath, bear down…aaaaand Congratulations! It’s out. You did not have an anaerobic embolism.”

Good to know. Good. To. Know.

First Day of School 2015-2016 School Year

This is IT. The biggest First Day of School Year yet (drumroll please)....because all of my boys are in the "big boy school." I admit that the night before the big day I felt a little tender, but I didn't cry when I accompanied Isaac to his classroom...which might be partially due to the Kindergarten teacher who chose not to do the annual 1st Day of School reading of The Kissing Hand.

Matthew started 4th grade, Caleb started 2nd grade, and Isaac started Kindergarten. Roots and wings, boys. Roots and wings.

They are so excited to be in school together! Matthew, Isaac, and Caleb

Isaac wanted to look like a spy on his first day of school. It was a great idea until he understood what Mommy meant about the school not having an air conditioner.

Caleb was excited to see kids his own age again, but not so excited about walk-the-track days and less Lego time.

Matthew was also excited, but yeah, not so thrilled about the homework load.

Caleb, finding his desk in Chinese class.

Matthew, with his Chinese teacher, Su Laoshi. Parents weren't invited into the classroom of THESE big kids. We left them at the classroom door. So grown up.

I'm just gonna say it: ADORABLE!

Isaac said he was nervous, but excited to start Kindergarten. Still, he had a great start to the year. I liked watching him interact with the kids. He is playful, but kind.

His Kindergarten teacher only speaks Chinese to the children, so they have to guess what she wants them to do. It's so cool when the kids begin to understand what she's saying.

Well boys, I'm excited for you to learn and grow. And for the record, your homework gives me fits too. I wish you had more time to play. But we'll stick it out together, one day at a time.

And wasn't Summer lovely this year? For the first time in 3 years the whole family--even Daddy--got be together (with the exception of a small 2-3 day hospital stay) all summer long. Wishes do come true, Matthew!

Bear Lake August 2015

Every time we make it on a vacation it's a miracle. This vacation was no exception. I got a bad, puke-your-guts out virus 4 days before we were supposed to leave. That kind of virus is no fun for anyone, but at my house it's a disaster waiting to happen. The whole house goes on lock down and we have to do everything we can to keep Christopher from getting it because puke = can't keep pills down = trip to the hospital.

After a night of alternate puking and crawling to get Chris ice and meds, I was feeling pretty low.  Chris went to work (a safer place) and I needed to get up to take care of the boys without getting them sick. What to do, what to do? Then Matthew came into my room with 2 pieces of plain toast and a Gatorade. "I'm fasting for you and Dad today," he said. "I'm fasting that you'll get better soon and that Dad will be okay at work today."

In that moment I had a solitary thought: "We're saved!" because there is nothing more potent than a child's earnest prayer to God. Despite a sleepless, pain-filled night, Christopher was alert and productive at work. And after Matthew broke his fast, I was able to keep crackers and liquid down.

The boys checked in on me throughout the day. They took excellent care of their Momma and looked after themselves till Daddy came home. By the next day I was feeling better. And you know what? No one else got my virus.

Miracles are real. God's grace is real. And it's pretty amazing to see how trials can shape people--after 2 years of helping their dad, my boys really know how to care for sick people! In the end, we made it to Bear Lake.

This is the Porter's place. They graciously invited us to join them, stay in their guest house, and pamper us. I was grateful to have an extra set of hands to help with Chris or the kids. Chris was grateful to have his own room so his nightly pain wouldn't wake up the children or our hosts.

On Day One, the Porters took us out on their boat, despite smoky wind and choppy waves. The kids didn't seem to notice and had so much fun tubing. It did my heart good to see the kids with huge smiles stretching across their faces.

That night we told stories and made s'mores and doughies around the fire pit. The kids also ran around in "the sandbox" and played with the sand toys until it was too dark.

On Day Two, the water looked more like Hawaii, with its waves rolling in. Christopher and I liked remembering the beautiful ocean. However, boating was not going to work. The kids weren't too sad; they started hunting for frogs.

Matthew almost caught a couple of frogs, but they got away. He was so frustrated; he wanted to quit! I invited him to keep trying. He persevered and had no trouble catching and releasing frogs for the rest of the day.

He even got his brothers excited about catching frogs. They found every adult on the property and rattled off each frog's made-up name and special qualities.

Everyone's new favorite animal is Frogs.

I just put this picture here because I love Isaac's eye color.

I think we ended up with 2 or 3 bags of shells.

Chris savored the change of scenery and being a part of the kids' memories. The Porters were constantly making ways to include Chris and to help him feel more comfortable.

The Porters also introduced us to Corn Hole. It's a serious game with points and minus points and corn trophies... "Not your mother's bean bag toss."

 
The Life! It was a walk out to the beach, but the Porters already had a system for getting Gimpy down there to watch the kids play.

I love this picture. My handsome, sweet boys being carefree and happy...

...and slinging wet sand and stringy, slimy lake vegetation into the water.

I built a sandcastle with Caleb then ran for cover. It was cold!!! The boys were ticked when we said they couldn't go into the water until after they'd finished playing on the beach. But once they got in the water, they understood what we were talking about.

"WHY???? WHYYYYY??? Why did we get in the water???!!! It's so cold! We can't warm up!" They huddled together under the biggest towels they could find and were grateful for hot showers and rest time.

While I packed the van, the Porters took the kids 4-wheeling.They certainly gave our family a trip to remember!

As we drove home, Christopher looked content. "It was just the right amount of time. I had fun and now my body needs to be home." Everyone slept well that night.

End of the School Year Photos June 2015

 The Before and After Pictures:

August 2014: Matthew, Isaac, Caleb

June 2015: Matthew, Isaac, Caleb

 Isaac 2014-2015

Caleb 2014-2015

 Matthew 2014-2015

Second Cousins:

My cousin, Laurie (Bos) Webster, lives one town away. But when her son, Reed, got accepted into the Chinese program, all her kids started coming to our elementary school. The boys loved hugs and hi-fives from Emma, Reed, and Andrew.

Matthew wants to have more friend-time this summer. He also wants to keep playing the piano, reading, building Lego's, and going to swimming lessons.

Caleb wants to do Lego's this summer. He wants to go on a vacation, move up a level in guitar, and go to swimming lessons and Lego class. He would love to have more friend time too!

Matthew, Caleb, Isaac (and "Lick" the black kitty)

6/28/15 *I asked Matthew what his favorite thing about summer was, and he said, "Being together as a family." I love that. The past 2 summers we haven't been together; Dad was in the hospital. Being together this summer--all summer long--would be a great gift.