Little T.Puzzle’s blood test confirmed that he is no longer allergic to eggs!
A happy day!
Category: happiness
Anything is Possible
Despite the hectic day of a sick T.Puzzle, bed delivery, and feeling quite tired; I had to pick-up Full Speed from school. The day prior, my good friend had dropped off a home-cooked meal for us and let us borrow her movie rental of ‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.’ She is a lifesaver. I wanted to save her some time so while I was out getting Full Speed, I wanted to return the movie.
We pull-up to the Winn-Dixie where I know there is a Red Box Movie drop-off. I tell Full Speed that I am returning the rented movie, that he can see me from his window at all times and I will only be a minute (he doesn’t like to be left in the car without me even for a few seconds). Turns out that this particular Red Box was down and a kind stranger told me to head to Wal-Mart which is nearby. For the Red Box at Wal-Mart we have to park and walk into the store (just the entry part with the carts). I give Full Speed the movie to hold as his ‘job’, grab his hand and then heave not-so-little T.Puzzle on my hip.
As we are walking to the store, Full Speed keeps asking over and over about where I “grunted” the movie. I have no idea what he is talking about as I am trying to keep everyone safe from all the cars and people. When I have a moment where I can catch my breath and think, I finally understand what he means. I say, ‘Oh, you mean RENTED not GRUNTED.” Full Speed is clearly relieved that he finally got his point across.
“I didn’t rent the movie, Miss Kelly did. She was kind enough to share it with you and T.Puzzle when she generously brought us over dinner. She is a kind friend, don’t you think?” Full Speed agreed.
Then we turn to the Red Box and I coach him through how to insert the movie and we are a success. I turn and give him a high-five and he giggles at his simple accomplishment that Mom is making into a big deal.
I grab his hand and we make the turn to head to our truck. A woman near us stops us. “You are the sweetest family!” she genuinely says. I’m taken aback. I resist the urge to look behind me to see if she is talking to another family.
Who knew my clan had the ability to be referred to as sweet? If this is the case, than truly anything is possible.
End of an Era
I must be in shock. I am not feeling sad that little T.Puzzle’s crib is disassembled and gone. I thought it would be harder. Maybe I’ll feel an aftershock at some point.
I think I’m adjusting well to this transition for three reasons. First, we put it off for so long and the thing was on back-order for so long, that I was thankful it was finally here. I kept picturing T.Puzzle telling his future therapist that his Mom kept him in a crib until he was sixteen. Secondly, he’s a big kid and his crib was frail. I was certain there would be a horrible crash in the night and Mad Dog and I would find T.Puzzle buried under the collapsed rubble of his crib alive, but visibly disoriented. And the third reason is that a part of me way deep down in the secret vaults of my Mommy reality; I never, ever, ever, ever (am I making myself clear?) again want to have a newborn as a permanent resident of my home. So the crib leaving my house was symbolic that my newborn days are forever behind me. It didn’t feel sad, it felt like freedom. I often wonder if that ‘i want a baby’ feeling eventually comes or if I will have any regrets. I’ll let you know just as soon as I send little T.Puzzle on his way to college.
It’s the end of an era. My little guy loves his new bed.
Goodnight Smooches
As the evening is coming to a close for the boys, if Mad Dog is home, I head to my green leather chair in our master bedroom. Mad Dog gets the boys set up with a show or movie and I get a few minutes to journal. The boys are used to this routine and when their actual bedtime arises, they know to find me in my journaling chair for a goodnight ‘hug and mooch’ (as T.Puzzle likes to say). You would think this would seem fairly typical. With my boys typical is a word that doesn’t always apply.
First, T.Puzzle comes in without wearing any pants or even a pull-up. Apparently he made a u-turn on his way to getting his nighttime pull-up. He leans in for a ‘mooch’.
“Good night, T.Puzzle. And I love your pants by the way,” I say.
He turns and exits and his little cheeks are bared for the whole world to see. “Tanks, Mommy,” is his way of thanking me for the compliment. He heads out the door to find Mad Dog and put on his pants (at least I hope that is what happened).
Then, it is Full Speed’s turn. Lately my new nickname has been Agent Juarez (a guinea pig from the children’s movie, G-Force). Full Speed is Agent Blaster.
“Hi, Agent Juarez. Will you marry me?”
“Of course Agent Blaster.”
Full Speed leans in for a kiss and declares us “married”. He is quite serious about it and a tiny smile creeps over his face. It’s obvious he is feeling nothing but love for his Mom. He grabs me with both arms and squeezes me tight.
“Goodnight, Mom. See you tomorrow.” And he’s off with a dash.
In my five years of motherhood I have seen and heard a lot. I still marvel at the fact my boys manage to bring something different to our daily rituals and routines. This is one of the many reasons that no matter what, I have one of the best jobs on the planet.
For the Love of Trains
If you are doing what you are supposed to be doing in life your face should look like this…..
That is the joy T.Puzzle demonstrated at the Christmas-themed model train display. I mean for goodness sakes there was even a Thomas the Tank Engine train!!!
Fun was had by all as the boys scurried from one station to the next. They could press buttons and make different sections light up and move. That is until Full Speed thought it was his little brother trying to climb up on his chair (it wasn’t, it was a poor, unsuspecting boy we did not know). Full Speed shouts and brings his arm back and attempts to karate-chop off the boy’s head.
It was time to cut our losses and leave. Of course this turned little T.Puzzle’s joy into sadness.
However, all’s well that ends well with pizza.