Only A Boy

This is a very gross story. You have been warned.

Henry has been very active this morning. By this I mean that he's been running up and down the halls, dragging Vivian backwards on the hardwoods in her fleece PJs, and rough housing with Ev. I kicked him out of the house. "To the backyard, Son." As I folded laundry by a window that faces the backyard, I peeked out and saw him riding his Lightning McQueen hot wheels. I smiled. Robbie entered the room and asked if I could see our son. He looked out and said, "Is there something dead out there? He just put his finger on something on the concrete, then pulled it back quickly." Soon he climbed onto his trike, and yes, he started driving his big front tire over and object, then back again. He did this multiple times as Robbie quickly made his way outside. He yelled for a plastic bag, sent Henry inside for handwashing help, and he looked repulsed. He told me that Henry had touched and run over the back half of a dead baby squirrel. As he drove over the carcus, poop squooshed out of it. Some of that got on Henry's arm sleeve. Disgusting!! My girls would have entered the house in hysterics had they come upon such a find. Our boy, however, decided to investigate it. He has strict instructions to tell a parent should he find any yucky animals in our yard again.

I Did It. A Diving Polar Bear. Lorikeets on the Head.

Well, I survived driving my four kids to and from Illinois by myself for spring break. The trip takes 5 1/2 hours of driving plus stops. Actually, the kids were absolutely amazing. I couldn't have asked for better behavior or more cooperation. Life is funny like that. What I worry about goes well. What doesn't cross my mind ends up being the challenge. They watched their shows, and the baby stayed quiet. I listened to my music, and we were all happy. What I realized all over again is that Robbie is an amazing co-parent. My parents are all kind and loving and helpful, but their grandparent role has a different tone than a parent's. It was up to me to make sure the baby didn't flip her plate, or that Henry stayed seated during meals (no small task), or that the kids stayed on schedule and got bathed. Once again, I have new respect for single parents and military families. Taking on the major responsibility with four small children is no easy undertaking. The pace wears on a person. Granted, mom let me sleep a bit one morning after I nursed Vivian. Grandma Jane played cars with Henry while I showered, and I didn't have to cook for six days. THAT was a treat. Grandpa Mike helped Vivian navigate the tile steps time and again, and my dad happily held Vivian while I fixed plates for the others. I just know that I prefer traveling with my beloved spouse.

Highlights of the trip included a trip with Grandpa Mike to the rec center for indoor swimming. Olivia was finally tall enough to go down the curving water slide, and she loved it. Henry spotted two boys in Lightning McQueen Cars swim trunks. Henry approached the boys and introduced himself with, "I'm Lightning McQueen! Ka-CHOW!!!!" They didn't know what to make of Henry. My dad finally finished the multi-decade restoration of his 1937 Studebaker coupe. The interior was recently done by a really talented man, and the final look of the entire car is just amazing. Dad is really happy it is done. I can tell he's really pleased with it, and I know he must be proud of the outcome. Dad doesn't take shortcuts, and his car is one-of-a-kind with components designed and tooled with his time and talent...and treasure. I know my parents really appreciated my efforts to get all the way to Illinois and enjoyed their time with the kiddos. They were also ready to return to their own quieter existence when we left, and we were all glad to get home.

Olivia was hilarious. On our drive from Springfield to Kansas Ciy, Vivian ended up with a horrendous green diaper (maybe from her green colored watermelon yogurt?) that made the entire restroom stink to high heaven. Olivia was so embarrassed. Little Vivian made not a fuss about her stinky pants in the van. Shocking for sure. Once in our living room we told Robbie about the ordeal, and Olivia asked me to tell daddy about "those weird looking people." There were some bikers at McDonald's, and Olivia saw their skull and crossbones outfits and wondered why pirates were eating lunch with us. She later asked me if they kill people, and I had to give her the low down on Harley riders. So funny. She didn't stare, and she didn't say a word until we were a safe distance away from those folks.

Yesterday during our search for First Communion shoes we ventured to a shopping area where there was a T. Rex restaurant that we knew would make the kids' day. The place featured enormous dinosaurs that moved and roared. Henry and the girls were really excited to learn we planned to eat dinner there, and everyone left with a clean plate.

Today the forecast called for a high in the low 50s with a small chance of rain. Now this is not a day I ever would have chosen for a family outing. However, Robbie took the day off work to spend time with the girls during spring break. He wanted us all to go to the zoo first thing in the morning. They have a new polar bear who is 3 years old. His name is Nikita. The exhibit was amazing, and my children ended up in the most fantastic position to see the bear's action. He kept swimming large strong circles. Right where we stood, he'd approach the glass, rise up out of the water, then push off with his amazing paws into a backward dive. Vivian squealed, and the other ones were in awe. It was so cool. I could have watched for hours. As we prepared to leave the house, I had been unable to find my camera. I found it at home buried in my diaper bag, and I was just sick that I didn't capture those images. The young polar bear was over 700 pounds, and he was gorgeous.

Another extraordinay thing happened at 1 pm. We visited the lorikeets. They are small multi-colored birds that are quite lively. The kids received feeding cups, and a bird quickly landed on Olivia's arm to feed. Soon Henry had a bird crawl up his pantleg. He looked pretty uncertain about the situation, but he held still for once. He'd been running from animal to animal all morning at the zoo. so the stillness was a big change. Henry didn't know what to think when the bird got on his arm, and the cup started tipping. I was laughing the entire time. Vivian was chilled out in her stroller under a cozy blanket. She just took in the whole scene. Evelyn was quite brave. She fed a bird from her arm too, and she didn't even remotely freak out as I told Robbie I thought she would. The hilarious part came when two birds got on Olivia's little arm. Then a third appeared and landed on the top of her head! She started going, "Ahhh!! Get it off of me. Get it off of me." Robbie stepped in to help. He offered a finger to the bird, which encouraged him to leave Olivia's head. However, several strands of her hair got tangled around the bird's foot. He stood on Robbie with one leg and kicked his bird leg in an attempt to free himself from Olivia's hair rope. It was a funny move. She didn't scream, but she was nervous. God bless her. I was nervous too. Just before the bird on the head scene, I decided to raise the hood on my jacket. A bird landed on my shoulder, and I got the hee bee jee bees (I guess I've never seen that written.). We got a few poor quality cell phone pics, but I don't know how to get them off of my outdated phone. We laughed and laughed, and I don't think the children will soon forget their chilly trip to the zoo.

"I need to give you medicine or some-fing."

Vivian learned how to crawl into the laundry basket yesterday. She did it again and again, and it made Evelyn and Henry giggle. This morning I heard Baby crying with distress, and I found that Henry had put the now empty laundry basket over the top of her. She was folded in half in a seated position, and she was not happy with her brother.

Henry got a terrible haircut this weekend. Robbie specifically told the stylist to leave his bangs long, and she didn't listen. Not only are his bangs a half inch off his scalp, they are also straight across. She cut his hair as though he has no side part. Robbie can't even talk about it without becoming irate. I lost my air when I first laid eyes on my son. His hair had gotten so long it was actually shaggy, but we liked that he had some length. We only wanted a clean up job, and instead we got whacked.

As I grocery shopped with the children this week little Henry noticed another shopper. "Mommy, look. He's a BIG guy. He's not little like us, Mama. He's a really big guy in a blue shirt." The man smiled. Luckily, he wasn't obese. He was just super tall and thick through the chest and shoulders. Henry paid him a compliment.

Little buddy threw up last night. He is such a good boy. He called to me from his crib, and luckily, I went to him quickly. "I have a tummy ache, Mommy." I took him to the potty, and all seemed okay. However, as I carried him through my room toward his bedroom, the telling sound began. We rushed back to the potty, and he got really sick. He didn't know what was wrong, and he was scared. After it was all over, we praised him for calling out to mommy from his bed. We then instructed him to yell for me if he felt sick again. He said, "OK, Mom," with the most serious face we'd ever seen. Robbie melted. Henry looked so sweet and cute. He's such a good guy. He's been copying me. I'll say, "You are a wonderful little boy." He'll respond, "You're a wonderful little mommy."

Yesterday when I felt awful, he stroked my cheek and said softly, "Oh, Mommy. I love you so much. You not feeling well? I need to give you medicine or some-fing. You are soooo pretty. You are the sweetest mommy. You are a wonderful mommy." I felt so lucky to have such a charming little guy to call my Henry. I need to recall such moments when he throws knock down drag out temper tantrums over having to remove his Cars PJs so that they can be washed. That happened yesterday too, and it was ugly, so ugly. He's passionate about what he likes.

Evelyn Made a Funny

Last night Olivia freaked out at dinner. She freaked out because she felt it was unfair that her daddy got to eat as many saltine crackers as he wanted with his homemade baked potato soup, when she was limited on crackers until she ate more of her soup. She cried. We reasoned with her. Daddy is five times her weight. She cried harder and louder. She really raised her voice. I offered to make her some peanut butter cracker sandwiches for her Monday lunch to calm her down. We at the table got a good laugh at Olivia's expense when Robbie asked her if she'd like some eggs with her crackers. Olivia is not an egg lover, so that worked her up even more. We erupted in laughter when Evelyn said, "Would you like some mushrooms with your crackers?" Olivia can't stand mushrooms, so that was quite clever and quick of Miss Evelyn. Olivia was so angry that she marched to her room. We just kept laughing at the table. Robbie went to have a talk with her after she quieted herself. Crackers were the cause of such a dramatic outburst?! Seriously? What is in store for us down the road?

The baby has had some terrible, awful, absolutely disgusting poopy problems going. Each time she dirties her diaper it spills out...everywhere. Yesterday Robbie and I were able to tag team the issue. However, this morning I had one final step left before I loaded baby into her carseat and drove the girls to school. Vivian needed a dry diaper. Olivia had picked her up out of her bed for me, and she didn't notice the odor. When I picked her up the smell about made me faint, and I quickly realized we had a major problem. She had pooped all the way up to her baby boobies, and her PJs had to be left outside while I drove to school. Vivian got dunked in the bathtub, and we barely made it to school on time. I called Jane Hill in a panic when the baby was screaming and covered in yuck. A trip to the doctor resulted in a diagnosis of a virus causing diarrhea and an unresolved ear infection. She's on an antibiotic, and I hope she starts eating better soon. She doesn't feel well.

Mrs. Scarboro offered to find a 1st Communion veil as a gift to Olivia. She brought some over yesterday afternoon, and Olivia tried them on while we watched. Henry asked if he could please wear the veil. He had on a shirt, red undies with baseballs, no pants, and Spiderman slippers. We said, "No," but that would have made quite a sight.

I figured out that my circuits workouts have helped me gain strength, and for the first time in my life (that I can remember), I can do a chin-up. It was Robbie's idea for me to try one, and I resisted. However, I was ecstatic when I did it. He said, "Just think about how buff you'd be right now if you had done them during your whole pregnancy like I suggested." He's nuts. I do think I will do a few as I pass under the chin-up bar on my way to the ever present laundry in the basement. When I told Olivia I had something really exciting to tell her, she exclaimed, "Are you pregnant again?!!!" She sounded so happy. I laughed and said, "No, I can do a chin-up! Do you WANT me to be pregnant again?" She said, "Oh, yes, with twin boys." God help me. Not five, but six??

Work calls.