Christopher's Ear Surgery

Well, it's finally done. A week later than we thought due to mysterious childhood virus number 873 (an unexplained 5-day fever).
He went back to school today.
The doctors installed ventilation tubes and removed his adenoids, which is exactly what Tony had. John just had tubes installed. (At almost the exact same age!)
Christopher already seems happier, and is moving around possibly better. But that may just be getting more walking practice. The doctor, a lovely red-head with a warm smile, told us that she got out the gunk (my word, I can't remember hers), and she actually shuddered when she said it. It has to be pretty bad to gross out a doctor whose surgery waiting room has a TV that presents live cataract surgery. Yuck.
Anyway, here are some pictures. Sorry for the blurry ones.
















He had a little bit of difficulty in the first period of coming out of the anesthetic. He wouldn't take any fluids, but later he slowly worked his way through the day eating and drinking in usual Christopher style!

M is for the million things she gave me ...

Before becoming one, I never thought much about how much importance other mothers would take on for me and my own family. Now that I'm a mom, all the others moms in my life are vital to my well-being and happiness.
My MIL Judy has provided me with a wonderful husband and an amazing father to children who wouldn't be here otherwise!
My friend Christine, nearer to the beginning of her life as a mom, manages to make me feel wiser than I really am.
It has been amazing to share being a mom on the exact timeline as my sister Jenny.
My BFF moms Kerri and Becky are witnessing and experiencing my own day-to-day life as a mom, encouraging me, laughing with me, and helping me, as well as saving my butt when it needs saving (often). I had no idea I would find two women with whom I would share so much in the way of carpools, food, discipline, toys, clothes, emotions, alcohol, and schedules AND that I would love it!

And my own mom has provided a template for motherhood to which I now willingly aspire, after years of kicking against "turning into my own mom." Now, I hope that I can live my own motherhood with the grace, humor, spirit, and vitality she shows everyday!

5-year-old gymnastics

John started a new gymnastics class this week: a class for 5-year-old boys. After some initial clinginess and tears, he started learning about some the exercises they would do and warmed up quickly. Special thanks to Kevin (blue shirt in the first picture) for helping John get comfortable with the new class.

They did warm ups...

swang (swung? No, I'm going with swang) from the rings...and jumped on some sort of horse...

He did great!

The development of the American silverbacked gorilla

That would be Christopher.

He's definitely walking now! Enough to put him firmly in the "toddler" camp, finally! He often starts out walking, falls, then starts to scoot because he can move faster that way. But he's enjoying walking and chooses it more and more as his mode of transportation. One of his teachers said that he was walking around a little bit and then noticed she was watching him and he started blushing. But he gained a lot of confidence walking around on the playground at the campground where Mimi and Pa are staying this week (for John's Easter break). It's definitely been a lesson for me that he will not be rushed and will take things in his own time. Of course, his FAVORITE mode of transportation is still being carried by his Daddy!

Nettles Park

Enjoy!

Juliet's trophy (posted by Tony)

Do you remember the scene in A Christmas Story where the dad won a crossword puzzle contest and got a leg lamp for a trophy? Well...

Juliet ran in the Clemson Easter Bunny 5k at the Botanical Garden Saturday morning. While we were waiting at the finish line for our friends to finish the half-marathon, they announced the first-, second-, and third-place finishers of the 5k. Juliet finished 2nd in her age group (40-44)! She got a pint glass for a trophy...



On the way back to the car she described it as a major running award and herself as an award-winning runner. She also started making plans to add a running award wing to our house.

I'm never going to hear the end of this.

All joking aside, the boys, our neighbors, and I are all very proud of her!

OK, one more joke: we haven't found out yet how many runners there were in her age group.

Christopher has strep

Unfortunately, not an April Fool's joke... We are also officially in the process of being referred for ear tubes and possible adenoid removal... Everyone says the same thing when I tell them, "Poor little guy." I can remember going through this with John. Or maybe I can just remember the blog posts....