Lake Season is Open

Lake Season is finally upon us! Our first lake weekend was also Memorial Day weekend. For the first year since I entered the teaching profession, school actually ended before the holiday weekend. I was so excited about a relaxing two days with family, movies, sun, and naps. I should have known better. When Barry goes to the lake, there is no relaxing . . . especially when his child is involved.

I'll start with the easy stuff. Canon got to spend a little more time with his new cousin, Xan. The last time they met, Canon was a little feverish so we kept them apart. As it turns out, Canon really wasn't bothered too much by that. Now that they are able to hang out, Canon's just not that interested. I hope this isn't any kind of foreshadowing for future siblings. The rest of us still had fun with him . . .

One person Canon was VERY interested in was Aunt Lydia. She taught him all kinds of new tricks, including how to climb on a stool to sneak chips off the counter.

And though he doesn't look completely ecstatic in this picture, he really loved riding on the SeaDoo with her.

Aren't aunts the best!

We also tried a little bit of swimming, but Canon wasn't so crazy about his lifejacket. He liked it best when his dad sat on the dock with his legs dangling in the water. Barry would hold him on his legs and bounce him up and down in the water. Apparently, it was much more fun than floating.

We also tried a sprinkler toy, but apparently it was just a little too aggressive for Canon. We'll try it again soon, I'm sure.Ok, now for the scary stuff. You already saw Canon on a SeaDoo. Well, he rode that several times with various people, and I was proud of myself for not hyperventilating every time he was passed across open water from one pair of slippery hands to another. I know I sound neurotic, but even though I'm an experienced swimmer and love the water, I have this freakish fear of drowning and an even freakish-er fear of my one-year-old son drowning. I blame it on the fact that I read "The Perfect Storm" as a teenager and paid much too close attention to the step-by-step breakdown of what your body goes through when you drown. It's horrifying . . . don't read it!

So, I pulled through on all of the SeaDoo experiences, then finally gave in to Barry's plea to let Canon ride the float. Now, I know what you are thinking. "A float? How dangerous can a float be?" You're absolutely right. A float is not dangerous . . . until it is pulled behind a motorized water vehicle at 30 mph and there are babies on it! Even after agreeing to this absurdity, my stomach was in knots. I made myself let Barry go through with it because I was too embarrassed to back down in front of so many people who assured me that it was fine. As it turns out, they were right! And it really was so much fun to watch him. He loved it!

Barry and Lydia rode with him. I have a hard enough time keeping myself on a float, and I didn't want to chance falling off. Jon rode beside them on the SeaDoo, just in case.

Can I say again how much he loved it?! Poppa drove as slow as possible to keep the float on top of the water and was very steady. I don't know if it was the water splashing up or the wind blowing in his face, but he really had a great time.

I think it's good that Canon has two parents who don't always have the same idea about what's "fun."

Hopefully, it will mean that he gets to experience all different kinds of fun and will find it all entertaining. And it definitely means that I'll be forced to participate in those same experiences so that Barry doesn't overestimate the abilities of a toddler. But that's ok. I've got plenty of "fun" quiet nights at home that I intend to force upon Barry and Canon at some point in the next fifty or so years!

We've Created a Monster: An Unreliable, Invalid, and Completely Ridiculous Parenting Theory

In the last couple of months, Canon has been biting Colt. It doesn't seem to be out of anger, or really for any reason at all. But it always ends with plenty of crying on both ends and a nasty mouth-shaped bruise on Colt's arm.

The other day, our tiny family was in the car headed . . . somewhere. Anyway, I was sitting in the backseat with Canon, trying to entertain him on our long road trip. He loves to stick his hand in my mouth and giggles incessantly when I lightly gnaw on it. After awhile, I decided to extend our little activity to his arm. You know, treating it like it was a corn cob, gnawing up and down repeatedly. I love to hear Canon laugh and will do practically anything to keep it going. I had only eaten about two rows of corn when I froze and looked at Barry, who by this point was watching us in the rearview mirror.

"I wonder why Canon likes to bite everybody?" was all I could ask as I sadly put his arm down. Until he learns how to gnaw instead of go for blood, we'll have to find other ways of making him giggle.

Not long after this, Canon was trying to take a toy from Colt, something he does quite often by the way. We had realized by this point that his stealing might possibly be due to a game of "give-and-take" that Barry likes to play with Canon. Again, an innocent attempt to hear that angelic chuckle. Well, Colt had had just about enough of Canon's bullying. Colt leaned down, mouth open and teeth bared to self-defensively "gnaw" into Canon's stealing hand. Again, lots of tears and more mouth-shaped bruises.



Since that time, we have quit playing "give-and-take" and "corn on the cob." The biting seems to have stopped, though Colt has gotten in a few more rounds. The stealing phase, however, is still in full swing. I guess we'll have to figure out some other way to teach him that everything does not belong to him.

Other Forms of Life

I'm not sure if it's due to my insecurities as a parent, or if it's simply because I like pretty things . . . but there is an indescribable feeling I have when the green buds in my garden beds finally split and my world begins to show signs of color. My flowers are finally blooming!

As I said, it is an indescribable feeling but, of course, I have to try. The first feeling is a sense of accomplishment. No matter how many children I disappointed at work that day or how many times I didn't give Canon what he wanted that day or how many times I rolled my eyes at Barry for doing (or not doing) something I knew he would (or wouldn't) do beforehand, I have brought these petals to life. Though God created them, I nurtured them, and I could have easily killed them - and often have. But I didn't this time. This one made it.

The second feeling is a feeling of hope. If I can make a flower grow, what else am I capable of? Should I change my career path and become a professional gardener? The hot sun quickly rising above me assures me that I shouldn't. Should I spend more time making my yard even more beautiful than it is? The crying baby inside and my husband's tight hold on the funding assures me that I can't.

The third feeling is a sense of acceptance. After getting over myself and my arrogance at having simply watered a plant a couple of times a week, I have acceptance that, in this particular area of my life, this is the best that I can do. And I'm ok with that.

Because I do so love to see beautiful things, I joined Leslie and Tuan on a Garden Tour in Dothan. It was on this Garden Tour that my feeling of accomplishment turned to a feeling of humility. These gardens were perfectly amazing. They truly are indescribable so I've included some pictures to help guide you through our tour.

These first few pictures are of Ed's aunt's garden. It was, by far, the most beautiful of the gardens we toured. This first flower was very interesting to me. I'm not sure what it is called.

I have this fascination with Container Gardening. I think it's because I have absolutely no idea how to do it. I was very eager to take pictures of as many potted plants as I could.

A couple of the houses just had a little "extra" that I thought were worth remembering.

And these are just some things that I liked.

,

The Journal of Two Childless Parents

Day One: Leaving Canon
Nonna and Poppa have asked to keep Canon this week until we come back to Birmingham for an Engagement Shower for Sam and Alicia next weekend. As work has steadily becoming more and more hectic, we agreed that that might not be a bad idea. So this morning, after getting Canon ready for church, we loaded him into Nonna's car and watched them pull away. We left shortly after to head back home.

Day Two: Dinner and a Movie
This is actually a tradition that we started with Josh and Mary about three years ago. Because you have to eat dinner at 5:30 in order to make a 7:00 movie and because we just can't make ourselves eat until at least 7:00, we usually opt for the "Purse Dining" experience. It goes a little something like this.
6:50 Approach Krystals drive-through and place order.

6:53 Stuff bags of food in oversized purse to sneak into theater.

6:58 Buy movie tickets as quickly as possible before movie attendants notice savory delicious smell of burger and fries.
7:00 Find seat and enjoy food in the dark while the first previews roll.

This is a much easier process if the theater is fairly empty, as was ours on this particular night. You can barely see the head of the one other man in the theater.

Date nights are so much fun!!


Day Three: Joint Commission Arrives
Joint Commission is basically the Boss of the Boss in the healthcare world. This is a small group of people that come to a hospital every four years and check to make sure everything is running correctly. Barry had his first experience with Joint Commission as a Resident, but now as the Interim Senior VP, his reponsibilities have changed quite a bit. It's going to be a long week!

Day Four: Work-aholics
I have decided to mimic the work ethic of Barry this week and work a little later than usual. As a non-tenured teacher, I still have to be formally observed and evaluated by my principal. I know she's observed several others in my situation so it can't be too long until my turn arises. Might as well be as prepared as possible. Barry is still working hard to appease the visitors at his hospital. So far, so good.

Day Five: Observation
While teachers are normally observed during Reading or Math, the new system that has been put into place allows for observations at any time during the day. So, I was not too surprised when my principal came into my room at 1:30 this afternoon to conduct her evaluation. Thankfully, my late night yesterday worked out. Though my lesson wasn't in my plans, I was well prepared and conducted a very short but somewhat interesting lesson about Earth Day. On another positive note, Barry's hospital is still getting good marks. Joint Commission will be gone tomorrow. In keeping with our original plan of returning to some of our pre-Canon traditions, we ordered Kyoto take-out and met Josh and Mary at Kyle and Mandy's for dinner . . . ah, the good old days!


Day Six: Road Trip
After meeting Sam and Alicia in Montgomery, we finished the drive to Birmingham to stay with some old friends - Jamie, Bob, and Eleanor Dabal. Nonna had requested that they keep Canon an extra night so that Big Mom could spend some time with him. While we were very eager to see him, we agreed and decided to stay up late hanging out with our friends. Of course, late turned out to be somewhere close to 11:30, which sadly is very late for us!!!

Day Seven: He's Back!!!
Nonna and Poppa brought Canon to Jamie and Bob's house around lunch time today. The last time we got him back from them, Canon wanted attention only from Barry. He didn't care about me or anybody else in the room - only his Da Da. This time, I decided I wasn't going to get my feelings hurt again. When they drove up, I walked outside a few paces ahead of Barry. Canon looked at me with a sleepy, grumpy expression then turned his head toward Barry and immediately began fidgeting in his carseat. That was my hint that this reunion would be much like the last one. I helped Poppa unload the car while Barry got Canon. I carried bags upstairs, listened while Nonna told me various things I needed to know from the previous week, and pretty much did everything I could think of that would keep me from trying to pick him up (which would inevitably lead to him fussing and my heart breaking). Finally, after a few minutes of loving on Barry, getting acquainted with Eleanor, and exploring the Dabal's foyer, he finally came to me and reached his hands up for me. The wait was so worth it! It's such an amazing feeling to be wanted. For the rest of the weekend, Canon gave Barry and I equal attention and my heart remained intact.

That night we had so much fun hanging out with friends we haven't seen in awhile. Sam and Alicia got some great gifts (which we later crammed into the back of the Tahoe along with all of Canon's gear from Nonna and Poppa's). Because Canon was a little nervous being in a new place - and I'm thinking he may have been a little worried that we would leave him again - he refused to go to bed and ended up spending some time with us at the party. He was a big hit, especially with Lydia whom he repeatedly ran to for a big hug. I love that he is beginning to recognize more and more people!

We had a wonderful week doing some of the things that we don't get to do that often (like going to the movies and working late with no guilt), but it is so much better having Canon home with us. Things are just more fun when he's here!
Even milkshakes are better . . .

Canon Goes Under the Knife

Though I haven't written much about it, Canon's chronic ear infections have been a big part of our lives for the last few months. Since Christmas, he's had at least three, and there were a few others before that. When he began running a fever a couple of weeks ago, we decided it was time to visit the ENT. As we suspected, the doctor recommended that Canon have tubes put in his ears. I was relieved. Besides the ear infections, he's had a runny nose since last July, and his balance just isn't getting any better. (Yes, I realize that this might not have anything to do with his ears, but a mother can hope, can't she? I'm certain DHR will be knocking on my door soon to question the dozens of bruises on his forehead).
They say that this kind of procedure is worse on the parents than the child, but I have to say that I wasn't worried about the actual surgery. I was worried, however, about two things: 1) Canon's behavior on the morning of the surgery, and 2) the possibility that we will have to go through it more than once (still worried about that one, actually).
We were told at our pre-op appointment that Canon would not be allowed to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before his surgery. I may not have mentioned this before, but Canon is the type that likes to be fed IMMEDIATELY after waking up. When he was still taking bottles, I used to have one ready for him when he woke up so that he could drink while I changed his diaper. Otherwise, he would pitch a royal fit and just ruin both of our mornings. Since the bottle has disappeared, I still fulfill his thirst and hunger needs IMMEDIATELY before progressing with any other part of our morning. As you can imagine, I was worried that this particular morning would go particularly badly.
Fortunately, the worst did not happen. I woke Canon up and raced him to the car before he had time to protest. By the time we reached the hospital, he seemed to have forgotten about breakfast altogether. His normal morning moodiness did kick in eventually, so the nurses took us back to our room a little early.
I wasn't expecting it, but they had a little baby hospital gown waiting for us. It was so cute, as you can see. I just love his big belly!

I normally don't let him play with my cell phone, but I felt sorry for the little guy this time. He also enjoyed playing with the bed / TV controls.

Before long, the nurses came in and gave him his "loopy" medicine. He didn't do anything ridiculously hilarious while under the influence, but it was pretty funny just to watch him. He would look at Barry, then shake his head a couple of times (kind of like a double-take) before looking at him again. His head would bob up and down, as if he couldn't quite hold it steady. Again, so cute!!! He was very affectionate, which I loved. My normally independent toddler actually wanted me to hold and hug him - priceless!

When they came to get him for surgery, I walked with him to "the doors." I'm so used to handing him off, saying "Bye, Bye" and getting away quickly before he gets upset that I really didn't take much time to reassure him before going under. It wasn't until I was half-way back to the room that I realized I could have been a little more sensitive with my departure. Note to Self: Work on Walking-Away techniques.

The doctor called back to the room after the surgery to tell me that everything had gone well but that it was pretty disgusting. When he cut the eardrum, lots of gunk flowed out. I'm not surprised - his pediatricians have been noticing lots of fluid back there lately.

It wasn't until the nurses brought him back to the room that I felt like a completely incompetent mother. Because he wasn't allowed to have anything to eat or drink before the surgery, I didn't pack a sippy cup for fear that he would find it in his bag and get upset. A horrified "No Sippy Cup?" from the nurses made me want to cry, so I did what any paniced mother would - I blamed it all on Barry (because they knew him!) who showed up heroically only moments later with apple juice, a cup, and a straw. Canon, who had never drank from a straw before, sucked down two cups of apple juice in no time. He also ate a bowl of Fruit Loops and a cereal bar before we were discharged.

The poor guy was exhausted, but after a one hour nap, he was back to his old self again. We spent the rest of the day playing and hanging out. I also held him as much as he would let me . . .