As some of you may know, I have been sick this past week. This has been a sickness actually induced by the doctor. Thanks, doc. I was informed that there was a miserably large kidney stone I had to confront before it turned evil and tried to kill me. The doctor planned a preimtive strike. Unfortunately for me, this entailed anesthesia and a stint that has to remain for the entire week. In case you didn't know, THIS SUCKS!! I have horrible back pain and cramping in my abdomen. Women - this feels like labor. Men - you have no idea. The meds for pain make me feel cloudy and stupid. Stupid like: My friends from Houston called to say that the insane decision to STAY in Houston DURING A HURRICANE actually turned out okay. I was relieved and happy they called. Then, when the doorbell rang and Betty Kuipers was standing there with a meal for dinner, I suddenly thought "Oh! Tim doesn't actually want to talk to me...I need to get dinner...Ummmmm....Okay....bye Tim...Glad you're alive......this food looks GREAT!"


Yes.


Stupid.




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Hope!

We have started the process of toilette training the youngest of our pack. We're out of diapers once again; so it's time. Is it really possible? Could it be? We've been purchasing diapers for 6 1/2 years. Just the notion of having all my children trained makes me giddy!!

Lost

Several weeks ago, I was sitting in the car at a stop light. All the kids were loaded in behind me. Henry was gazing out across the street considering a cemetary. "What are all those statues and flowers for Mom?" I thought about my answer. He's only six, so I tried not to be overly morbid. "People put those things there to remember moms, dads, brothers, sisters, and even kids whom they've lost." "Ohhh." This moment became just one of many lost moments in my memory....until yesterday. Yesterday, as I was waking up I found Henry's face precicely three inches in front of mine. Then he whispered heavily, "Remember mom, if you lose me, you can always put flowers and statues in that garden for me. But I will stick close to you and dad and I won't get lost."

The Most Miserable Day of My Life

The most miserable day of my life happened this week - on Tuesday, to be exact. Monday I was weepy all day. Monday night I couldn't sleep; I kept crying. I actually got out of bed to have some warm milk (like they do in the movies). What, you may ask, was making me so miserable? It may seem simple to you, but it was the first teeny tiny step towards independence from my son Henry. The very same step that I wanted him to make, that catapulted my thoughts and emotions towards the day when he is an independent man who no longer needs his mommy.

Henry started first grade.