31 March 2009

125

We're all tired of the run. We're not saying we don't want them to win, we're all just saying ... when will the madness end?

B's got a bit of a cold but he's still holding on to his cuteness and Brennace the Menace behavior. Today he was eating the dried fruit from the cereal and when I looked up I realized he had dumped the entire bag through the family room and kitchen. Some of it had taken flight after he rocked out the Baby Neptune.

Then when Jack and I pointed it out, he was quick to say, "uh-oh."

Um, yeah.

26 March 2009

124

I recognize it's been a significantly long time since I last posted. That doesn't mean there hasn't been things to talk about. On the contrary, life has been so busy I don't usually have time to do much more than try to ride the wave until sleep.

Of course with Joe on the road, sleep doesn't come easily. So here I am at 11:35 p.m. writing this blog.

The boys are well. They are amazing and smart and perhaps the most good looking children I have ever seen.

Brennan's vocabulary grows with each passing day. He's adding phrases and words and his facial expressions are priceless. I know someday when he blows me off or shrugs off my hug at least I will have these moments now in my heart.

I know I have said this before but Jack proves again and again he is the smartest person I have ever met. The things that come out of his mouth are thoughtful, insightful and truly incredible. We often forget that he is only 4 and 2/3.

I was supposed to take him to a birthday party tonight after work. I thought it started at 6 p.m. On our way there I got a sick feeling it started at 5. I drove that kid to a party an hour late and he was such a champ. I was so upset to tell him. And when I let him know I had made a mistake, his reaction made me choke up a bit.

"It's OK, Mama. Everybody makes mistakes, right? No biggie."

And that was it. No tears, no guilt, no bad reaction. This, of course, made me feel even worse. He had been looking forward to this party for several weeks.

"Jack. I am so sorry. I honestly thought it started at 6."

"Mama. It's OK. Remember when we were at Walmart and I was climbing when you told me not to and I fell? I made a mistake and you said it was OK because I made a mistake. This was a mistake."

I try to tell people how he is ... I know they think I am bragging or making it up. But I am not.

The other day my girlfriend and I were driving him home from preschool and she asked him what he wanted to do when he grew up. He told her he wanted to make movies. She told him that was a great idea.

Then he said:
"I want to make movies but my daddy wants me to play basketball. But I know deep in my heart I am supposed to make movies. I will just have to tell Daddy."

Quickly, Dawn agreed.
"You have to follow your heart, Jack. Daddy will understand.''
"Yes,'' he said, sighing. "I hope so."

Yesterday morning Joe was getting Jack ready for school. He asked him what he wanted for breakfast. Jack quickly said cookie cereal. Cookie cereal is his most favorite. He eats it everyday.
"Cookie cereal? That's all you ever want!" Joe teased. "I am going to call you Jack 'Cookie Cereal' Rexrode."
"Oh yeah?" Jack teased back, "Then I am going to call you Joe 'Computer' Rexrode."

02 March 2009

123

Jack woke up last night around midnight and told me that dynamite had exploded in his left ear. Tears and moaning later, I Motrin-ed him up and put him back to bed. Of course he's sick, Joe is on the road.

This morning he told me that he felt fine and wanted to go to school. So I sent him. Because I am a working mother ... go ahead judge me. But he really acted fine. But minutes after sitting down at my desk I reconsidered and called his doctor. They had availability at 4:30. Sign him up.

By 11 a.m. and two big meetings later, I was heading back to school to pick him up and drop him off so I could shoot back to work to hit two more meetings and then shoot back home to pick him up and take him to the doctor. Did I mention Joe is on the road?

Alisha texted me. Her mother was in a head-on collision, was in the hospital and she wanted to go to her. This is another good reason to never live more than 2 hours away from my 'rents. Mom was able to jump in her car and head to EL. She's thankfully here until Wednesday. And she's making me some yum-yum dinners.

I ended up working from home. Working from home seems like a great idea and maybe it would work if both kids weren't sick. Brennan was all over my business and Jack just wanted to watch Madagascar 2 again and again and again.

Luckily Ma arrived and could entertain so I could jump on my calls and get Jack to the doctor. Even by this point he told me he was fine ...

Double ear-infection fine. Did I mention Joe is on the road?

****
Jack asked me if God invented the world, who invented God. He seriously asked me this. He is four. I had no answer for him. So, I had him ask Ma. Her answer: God just is. And he accepted this. "God just is" made perfect sense to my 4-year-old.
Then he turned to her after glancing at me and said, "Grandma, how come you know so much more than us about God?"
Way to call me out.