Back to School

The first week of school is done and over. And truthfully I am so done and over with this week! What an adventure it has been! Everyone is exhausted from the new schedules and routine and nerves are frayed. In fact, I think all 5 of us are hanging by threads. Good thing I have all weekend and know how to knit!

Cale has loved 1st grade. In fact, he is so disappointed that there is no homework that yesterday he tried to stuff a book into his bag from his bookshelf to try to fool me that he had work to do. Sorry little man, I did not trust what you were doing in your room.....who would have thought you were trying to give yourself homework? Next time, I will try to trust more and not be suspicious of a child running into their room with their backpack before they show me what's in it. But seriously, the homework will come. Such a cute little man. Warms my heart just thinking about his face yesterday wishing he had work.

Here he is leaving the house:

Mary just fell into preschool like she had done it a million times. She, as usual, didn't even need to say good-bye. I think she wondered why I hung around a little. Well my darling Mary, you are just too cute and I love to see you do your thing! Speaking of which, she was doing "her thing" at Costco today. They had a music kiosk up and we had to stop and pause so she could rock out much to the delight of the other shoppers! (and of course me) If you haven't seen this happen, you really are MISSING OUT! The girl can rock! I am never tired of watching her dance party. The best is when she asks for Bon Jovi. Seriously, could the girl get any cuter?

So, here we are at the end of the week. I find myself at the end of my rope. Time to take a deep breath. Already poured the drink and it's time to relax and revel in the fact that the husband will be home shortly to help out. That there is no bus to catch tomorrow. That after a short bible school training, my boyfriend and I will get a cup of coffee without any kids. Some things are good. Who am I kidding, things are great! I have 3 beautiful children, a great husband, and this blessed life adventure that we are on together.......

Oh, and did I mention that Monkey can now crawl, wave, and (if you can believe it) is giving Mary a run for the money in language skills? Babbling all the time!!! How I love my little Monkey.

My Boy

Lucky. Blessed. And ever so grateful.

Today we took our little family to the MOA to celebrate Cale's 7th birthday. This is our tradition that on their birthday the birthday person may pick whatever they want to do and we all go and have a blast. We did have a blast! We rode rides we never had been on and were having a great time! Time as a family, time as a Mom and Son! See, this year I am not pregnant and got to ride the rides with my boy.

Oh my boy. My boy, my boy, my boy.

I write this with tears in my eyes, so grateful things turned out the way they did. See, in the quick second it took for you to slip coming off the log chute everything became crystal clear. You fell and I could not catch you. Your sweet little man/boy arm got caught between the edge of the canal and that giant, heavy log boat. Watching you slowly get dragged along with your arm stuck and you screaming, me screaming......

I never realized how many thoughts a person can have in a short moment. Watching and thinking your arm was being severed. Wondering how we were going to get you to the hospital, were you going to keep your arm? How bad is this going to be? Did your dad hear me screaming with all my being? Where is he? Why is this ride not stopping. Please stop. Please quit hurting my little man. Please don't drag him further under. Please stop. Please let him be okay. Please let me be the one hurt. Please, oh, please God. Then it stopped.

I pulled myself off you. Gently pulled you out. Clutched you to my chest.

My boy. Oh my boy. What a visceral, crazy love I have for you. I could feel your pain to my inner depths. You were so scared. I was so scared.

By nothing short of a miracle your arm was not torn open. Some scraping. Nasty bruising. Needless to say, I took you in to Orthopedics Urgent care. I love those people. Thank you for opening the clinic next to my hospital. I forgive you for disrupting the traffic flow during construction.

My boy. I love you so. I love you so, so much. Tonight I was given just a glimpse of how deep and visceral and incredible this love is. I have always loved you to death. You are my boy. After this close call I am so very grateful for experiencing how powerful my love is for you. Thank you Lord. Thank you for all I have. Thank you for my boy. And thank you, that was enough of that feeling for a lifetime. I will never complain if I never feel that deeply the depth of my love for this amazing child. Please keep him safe in his journey.

I love you my boy, my buddy.