welcome, saturday

Something about a three day teaching week is always frantic.  Three days is great, because it meant we had two off, but it's still like teaching five days of material... just in less time. I'm glad it's over.

These three days were a doozy at home, too.

Little man did not adjust well to going back to school.  Wednesday was okay, Thursday was a disaster, and Friday we were all glad to have the week over.

Here's a snippet of our conversation in the car Wednesday afternoon:
Me: I'm so glad you had a good day at school and you got to play with your friends.
Reese: Me too, but I'm not going back.
Me: Excuse me?
Reese: I want to stay home tomorrow. For a lot of stay home days.
Me: I know you do, but you can't.  Mama has to go to work.
Reese: But I'll be really sweet and good! Please. I don't want to go back to school day.

It was pitiful.  Because really, the guilt of being a working mom never ends.  And Thursday morning he was the most pitiful baby in the whole world.  If you had been here you would have thought so too.  He wasn't bratty and sassy, just sad.

Chick fil A Friday helped soothe him yesterday morning.  I'm so glad I started that little routine.  It really helps get him up and out of bed, happily, Friday mornings.  {Truthfully though we do it because by Friday we've run out of bananas, he's morning staple.}

Yesterday afternoon took a not so fabulous turn at school.

Our sweet Mrs. Gibson keeps the office going.   She's also appointed herself Reese's in town grandmother; she's my heart at school.  Long story condensed, she wasn't feeling so well after lunch.  One thing lead to another, the nurse came from the middle school, and then 911 was called.  And the whole time I just sat on the floor and cradled Mrs. Gibson and talked to her about Reese and the sweet grand baby she has on the way.  It was a long few hours, but after some tests, the doctor's are sure it was a little blood pressure incident that can be fixed with an adjustment of her medication.  I made her promise me she would never do this again.  Ever.

And now the weekend has arrived.  Lofton and I have some paint projects to complete when he gets home from work.  And we also have some preparations to make for next weekend-- Easter.  We are really excited to be hosting our families at our house this year.  We feel very grown-up! It really was just a logical arrangement since everyone is coming from different directions, but I'll take it.  I love a party.

Pictures of our room reno {times two} coming soon.

that's why it's called mini

Hell's Bells.  I have to go back to work tomorrow.

It's hard to say who is more upset, me or Reese.  He has, after all, been out of school for a full week.

Tomorrow may be disastrous.  I think I'll just say a silent thank you that I'm not the one who delivers him to school.  Sorry hubs.

We celebrated day two of our mini break by meeting daddy-o for a lunch date.  Reese loves lunch dates-- especially when they occur outside.

It is a boo-T-ful day Mama.  I think we should have a picnic with Daddy-O.

You don't have to twist my arm.

mini break monday and a resolution update

My favorite thing about a summertime Sunday is knowing I don't have to work on Monday.  I went to bed last night with the same joy.  Mini Break?  Yes, I am enjoying you. Pretend errand running later?  Lunch with handsome husband?  Powdered sugar doughnuts eaten in the bed?

All of the above. 

And now an update on my resolution.  The one where I committed to being present.  It's going well-- thank you for asking.  My sweet middle school friend, Emily Ley {she is uber talented}, blogged about this very topic yesterday.  And although we are at very different stages of parenting, I immediately thought of this:

My baby boy is learning to write his letters. Sigh.

Literally, you blink and they've gone from learning to walk to learning to write.  And then you realize your baby starts soccer camp next week and he's learning to pedal his tricycle.

One of the benefits of being present is seeing all of these moments. Really soaking them in.  Because as the time passes, the milestones will get more frequent.  Being present means appreciating all that this curly haired boy is learning and doing. Right now.

So while parenting a three year old is teaching Lofton and I a whole lot about patience and grace {oh the grace}, it's also teaching us a whole lot about love.

For each other and for this pint size preschooler.

it's a wrap

And then it was over!

We are home from the hospital, new tubes in place.  The procedure was a little more involved than last time.  Something to do with one of the holes from the old tube being bigger than we needed for the hole for the new tube.  There was some extra stitching needed on his ear drum.  Whatever you gotta do, I don't care.  It's over.

let's do this...

Last night was long....

Knowing that Reese wouldn't be able to eat this morning was a little unsettling to us.  This is the child that likes to eat as soon as his feet hit the floor, after all.  I stuffed him with chicken nuggets {8!}, french fries, yogurt, and grapes.  Just our luck, it didn't help.  The first thing he said this morning was, "I is hungry and I is not going to the hospital." oh, okay.  I'm glad you decided that on your own.  Ears be damned, I guess?

Needless to say the two hours between when he woke up and when we left for the hospital dragged slowly.

The anesthesia made him very angry and upset.  We knew that would happen, though. But now we are home. And he's eaten--twice.  And wouldn't you know, he doesn't want to nap.  We did have one little stumble when he hopped from my bed onto the floor, but other than that he's been fine.

are you kidding me that the nurses bandaged Leo & Peter's ears, plus gave them hospital bracelets? i die.

My mama is almost here, Lofton's mom headed home, and we are ready to rest and recuperate.

keeping it real

How about a collection of random thoughts?

• This is teacher appreciation week at Reese's school.  I have yet to acknowledge it.  And I really feel so bad, but this weekend was hectic and I forgot.  And then this week.... flying by the seat of our pants trying to make it to Thursday.  I have a plan, though.  I just need some time to get my act together.
• Lofton has to work late.  That means my boyfriend and I picnic on the floor while watching Octonauts.  It's a rare treat for Reese.  We eat dinner every single night at the dining room table.  Dinner in front of the tv once in a blue moon won't kill him.  
• One of my students was admitted to the hospital today.  Boo.  She has asthma and her parents couldn't get her breathing regulated at home.  Say a prayer for her, okay?
• Speaking of school, I still haven't had spring break.  Yep, not until the third week in April.  Hells bells.  That's a crazy long time away.  My kids are wearing me out.  Although, I have begun to see the light at the end of the tunnel.... the fourth grade light, as I call it.
• My eyes are on fire.  This allergy season is killer already.  I headed to Target this afternoon to get a new kind of eye drops.  I was out of my old... you know, cause I've used them five million times in the last week.  Hopefully, these new drops will do the trick.  {Probably should have picked up teacher's appreciation gifts at Target. Shoot. }
• Did you know I gave up wine for Lent?  I believe Cassie said, "What the hell were you thinking!" when I told her.  I've asked myself that question a lot over the past few weeks.  I miss my half glass of wine at night {not every night, but most.  And if you spent your day trying to educate the world's children you'd need one too. don't judge.}  My only consolation is that Lofton gave up sweets.  All sweets.  He is DYING, y'all.  My husband loves him some sweets-- cookies, skittles, cake, ice cream-- pretty much all of it.  And he has had none of it.  

And that's all I got, folks.  Thursday is t-day are our abode.  Tubes, for those of you not following our ear saga.  Prayers for my baby boy, please. And maybe a few for his mama, too.  She's wacky.

all you need is love...

Oh, happy day!  Something to celebrate...

These two love birds are ringing in 34 years of marriage today!

What a perfect example of how marriage should be.  They have learned lately things aren't always easy or fun, but that in sickness and health business is the real deal.  True partners and friends, just as it should be.

Happy Anniversary you two.
XOXOXOXO.

totally tubular, round two

It's officially official.

Reese will be having his old tubes removed and new tubes put in place.  Surgery is scheduled for next Thursday, March 22nd.  We just didn't see the need in prolonging what we already know is needed.

He clearly has no memory of his first procedure---

february 2010

But I do.  Although the procedure will be the same, we are now working with an entirely new level of understanding.  He's already asked me, "Will this be scary?"

Sigh.

a delightful mess

We enjoyed a relaxing weekend of doing little of anything.  Ran a few errands, washed some clothes, picnicked on the rolling plains of Dixie, and went to church.  It was everything a weekend should be-- just delightful.

Speaking of delightful, how about this for you:

To me, this picture pretty much sums up life with Reese.  

He's fiercely willed.  Which I love, I really do. I mean who wants a wallflower for a son?  However, with fierce will comes a semi-stinky attitude and a strong determination to get his way.  Hence the backwards underwear.  He put them on himself.  And when we told them they were backward, he told us they most certainly were not.

Reese is also funny.  He loves to make people laugh- with him or at him, he isn't picky.  That's why he kept his underwear like this for over two hours.  He knew he was making us laugh, and he ate.it.up.

And this picture:

Reese was acting a fool in church this morning.  Climbing all over the pew, writing on the window sill with his pencil, talking very loudly. Needless to say, stern words were whispered into his ear.

In true three year old form, he proceeded to pout.  And in doing so, slammed his mouth into the arm of the wooden pew.  He immediately burst into tears.  There was blood pouring out of his mouth... and onto my pants.  I scooped him up and we ran outside.

Needless to say, when the preacher came out to greet people at the end of church, there Reese and I were.  On the steps, waiting for Lofton.  Blood and tears on my sweater and pants, Reese spitting blood into the bushed.  I was mortified.  I mean this is a new church, and I hadn't even met the preacher yet.

No worries, we are now well acquainted.  He assured me no one noticed and I should not feel at all embarrassed.  He probably won't forget Reese anytime soon, though. I asked him to pray for us.  I really did.  I think we are going to need it with this one...

ears and ants

Boo hiss.

This Mama is glad tomorrow is Friday. The past two days have been looooonnnggg.

Little Boo has an ear infection.  Again.  Damn ears.

The only good thing about a sick three year old is the extra snuggle time.  Being sick is the only thing that slows Reese down.  We've been doing lots of this:

Cuddling.

And on top of his ears, he also has a nasty ant bite on his finger.

Ouch. It's rough being three.