The Class Grandma

OK. So Spencer's school is really big on parent volunteers. They like to have a Mom in the room all the time. So there is a sign up calendar outside of the room so we can sign up for the days we want. And in October, I asked them to put up the schedule up for January. See, I wanted to sign up as close as possible to his actual birthday. I wanted to bring a birthday snack. His school is extra picky about snacks. They are crazy worried about allergies and the building is a tree nut free zone. No cupcakes or candy are allowed. So for birthdays they suggest fresh fruit. And it has to be prepared in their kitchen to avoid cross contamination. I digress. The point is I was the class mommy for Spencer's class on January 4, and I got to celebrate with fruit. (Boy it takes me a long time to get to the point - maybe David is onto something -hee-hee!)

So the night before January 4 was of course January 3, Spencer's actual birthday. After we got home from his special supper at Red Robin (his request), I reminded him that the next morning, on his first day back from break, I was going to be the Class Mommy. And my sweet boy, who I know was simply thrilled that his old Momma was going to be at school with him asked me a question, "Mom?" I said, "Yes, buddy?" And he said, "Can May come to my school, too and be the Class Grandma?" I smiled and told him that I did not think that May could because she would be preparing to go home since she was leaving on Tuesday. He stuck out his bottom lip. I agreed to let him call May and ask her. It was his birthday, after all.

(Phone rings.)

May - Hello?!

Spencer - May?

May - Yes, Spencer.

Spencer - May, will you come to my school tomorrow and be the Class Grandma?

May - (with NO hesitation) Of course I will, Spencer.

(He smiled and handed me the phone.)

Me - We'll pick you up at 8:40. I'm sorry!

May told me later that she really wanted to sleep a little later to rest up and pack for her 9 hour drive the next day. But she also realized that he may never invite her to do that again. And when your precious newly 4 year old grandson calls you and asks you to be his Class Grandma, you don't say NO!

This was a hoot! Spencer was extra shy because the 2 of us were there, but he eventually warmed up. And I think May had a great time. And I am not sure, but she may be the first Class Grandma ever! And if not the first, for sure the BEST, right??

AND his teacher told us as we were leaving that she could not have done it without BOTH of us. There was some sponge painting that got out of control. They were painting a big box to make it into an igloo (in December, it was a stable. In January, it will be an igloo. Gotta change with the seasons) The bottoms of shoes were covered in paint, so we had to wipe every shoe. There were streaks of white paint in the hair of several. There were hands to be washed, the floor to be cleaned, we needed all the help we could get! We laughed because the kids would not have to tell their parents that they painted - they could tell just by looking at them!

Check out the "igloo" in the background. Note the white paint, well, everywhere.

The best part was ice skating indoors. It was way too cold to go outside, so we pretended to ice skate with our mittens and hats and paper plates on our feet! Too fun! And a great way to burn some energy and get some exercise.

Check out May - skating it up!

All in all, it was a great day. Well, everyday that I get to spend with my boy is a good day. And also having a classy, Class Grandma, well, that's just icing on the cake!

Note the healthy fruit birthday snack.

And, yep, he's 4!

BLOG PREVIEW

Dude, I am trying. I swear that I have just been "off." We always laugh at my Mimi because she had some surgery in March of 07, and ever since then, that is her excuse for everything. It started out as a valid and serious excuse, but now we all laugh at her and say, "Well, you did just have surgery, you know?" So I guess I am sort of taking a page from her book, mentioning it at every opportunity (hee-hee).

I feel GREAT. For real, I feel better than I have in a while. Lots of people had warnings about developing aversions to certain foods or drinks after this surgery, but so far, so good! David laughs at me because now that I feel so good, I realize how bad I felt!

So I am back in the swing of things for the most part. I have the kids back in their school routines. I can carry the laundry basket again, so we all have clean underwear. I have vacuumed (once, anyway). I have actually "cooked" some stuff instead of just "heated" it. For real, things are getting back to normal. I just have not been able to finish a blog post. I mean, I have like a zillion drafts, but I always like to let them digest before I post. Make sure I am ready for it to be presented. I guess that is the English Major in me. Everything can always be edited, improved. Anyway, I am going to get back to it, really, I am. So I thought as a way to motivate myself, I would post some of the titles of my drafts soon to be published. It will get my 3 loyal readers excited and maybe hold me accountable.

COMING SOON:
The Class Grandma
Budding Photographers
1 Family = 5 Computers
SNOW
A few more Christmas Stories
ROAD TRIP

And of course, I have many stories to share about nutsy things the kids have been saying to go along with many of these exciting posts to come. Please bear with me. I have missed blogging regularly, and I am so afraid that the few people who actually read this humble blog may have moved on to a more fertile plot in cyberspace.

Weapon of choice - toothpaste

I was too tired, too frustrated, too upset to take pictures. And oddly enough, I realized after the mess was cleaned that my camera was in my pants pocket! I was just too caught up in the moment to even think clearly. And as mad as I was, my anger quickly dissipated and I was stifling laughter once I heard the explanation. Oh wait, maybe I should tell you what in the heck I am talking about, huh?

Here goes.
Last night, I was herding the babies toward bed. The whole process can be simply exhausting. They have developed this whole routine/ rigmarole to go to bed. Seriously, I did not go to create these little monsters with a list a mile long of "what to do before bed." It just sort of happened.


I have been a little slow to get back into the swing of things this week. After my sudden surgery and recuperation, this week being back on a normal schedule has been tough. So I was already past the point of being a patient, calm, rational mommy. They were sent to the bathroom to get their teeth brushed while I was getting their beds turned down, their books ready, their ice water fixed. After my strongly worded instructions (for the 11th time), they made it into the bathroom. I heard some rumblings, but I tried to ignore them. I mean, how much trouble can you get into while brushing your teeth, right? Right???


I passed them in the hall as they were headed out of the bathroom. At first, I was pleased. We were headed in the right direction. They are checking off the blocks that lead to bedtime. They were in their room. Yes!


Then I went into the bathroom. I was shocked. There was toothpaste on the counter, in the sink, on the cabinets, on the towels, on THE WALL. So I hollered, "JESSA LYNN! SPENCER JOHNSON! GET BACK IN HERE NOW!"


Spencer made it back first. That is when I noticed it. Besides being all over the bathroom, the lovely neon blue Sponge Bob toothpaste was on Spencer's hands, on his cheek, and IN HIS HAIR. I started whimpering, "oh my. oh my. Spencer, what a mess! What happened?! How did you get toothpaste everywhere?" And as I started washing the toothpaste off of my poor boy, he looked up at me and said, "Jessa did it." Well, I did not doubt for a second that she did it. I mean, it is just like her. She would totally do something ugly to him, AND he loves her so much that he would even be still for her to cover him in toothpaste. So as I am getting the thick, sticky paste out of my baby boy's hair, I called Jessa again.


She slowly meandered into the bathroom. And when she got there, I asked her, "Jessa? Did you do this to Spencer? Did you cover your brother with toothpaste?" And she looked at me and did not even attempt to deny it. She stared me straight in the eye and said, "Yes, I did." This part is actually a victory. Maybe a small one, but she sometimes tries to deny doing things, so at least she freely admitted to this transgression.

I was about finished the Spencer's de-pasting by this point. So I stopped and looked at her and asked a question that many mother's would ask if they were in my shoes. "Why, Jessa? Why did you do this to poor Spencer?"


Well, friends, with a straight face, she looked me right in the eye and said very seriously, almost matter-of-factly, "Well, mom, you know he is my arch enemy."


I covered my mouth so she did not see the smile that appeared. I stifled my laughter. I collected myself. She was so serious. This was a valid excuse. An explanation beyond reproach. OF COURSE she pasted him, he is in fact her arch enemy. I guess we should all thank the Lord that she did not do more. I mean, she would have been well within her rights, don't you think? When battling an arch enemy, I doubt many people would be able to limit their attack to just toothpaste.

And I said, "Well, even if he is your arch enemy, please refrain from covering him with toothpaste before bed, OK?"

She agreed.
Then with my close supervision, she proceeded to clean the counters, the sinks, the cabinets, the wall - until no evidence of her battle remained.

Then they finally went to bed.
Whew!

Arch enemy?
Really?
Oh the drama!

BEST family EVER

I am thinking that there is no way to ever properly explain how awesome my family is. I will try, but I doubt that I will be successful. Bear with me.

I always knew that my family was awesome. They have always been there for me - well, we have all always been there for each other. I love that. We can step up to the plate to help each other, to support each other. Like when Lucas was diagnosed. We all pretty much changed the whole focus of our lives. It was not an option, it was not a decision, it was the natural thing to do. No one even gave it a second thought. Lucas needed us. We were there. Whatever. Whenever. Donating blood and platelets, washing his and Momma's clothes, bringing food, visiting the hospital, you name it. We were there, ready, willing, able, desperate to HELP.

I must say I prefer being able to do the supporting than being the one who needs the support. I think everyone probably feels that way, though, right? I can remember many times when I was sick growing up that they were there to take care of me. When I was in Kindergarten and had the chicken pocks, Mimi came and laid on the pull out sofa with me while I was resting and watching TV. The woman actually laid there and held my hands so I could not scratch. When I had my wisdom teeth out, Momma kept pumping me full of pain meds and Daddy made countless trips to DQ to get me chocolate milkshakes. My family is just awesome like that. You don't have to ask, they are just there. And they want nothing more than to help. In good times and bad. Need I discuss the many moves that they have been right there to help? Heck, Daddy sandbagged my house in LA to prepare for a hurricane! Momma and Mimi and Poppy have come at a moment's notice to babysit the kiddos for me. Oh, and Momma let me, 2 kids, 2 dogs, a cat, and 2 fish LIVE with her! Very supportive people, my family.

So they have always been awesome. My recent hospitalization was no different. I know I am getting obnoxious referring to my surgery, but there are things that I must record. So bear with me, K?

Once I made up my mind that I needed to go to the hospital, my family sprang into action. David was my escort to the ER. Bay and Abby crawled out of their warm bed to come hang with the children. Daddy canceled his flight to GA to be there for Christmas Eve and Momma left 2 days early to head this way. I did not worry for a minute about the kids because I knew that between David and Bay and then May, they were totally covered. It made it easier for me to focus on getting better. When I made it home from the hospital on Christmas Eve, everyone was ready to help in any way that they could. Daddy got food for everyone. David got my prescription filled. Momma helped the kids bake cookies for Santa. I was devastated that we did not get to do that, and Momma knew how important it was to me and the kiddos.

Then Momma and Daddy bathed the children and took them over to their house for a few hours. But not before Momma and Daddy helped me fold and put away all the laundry that David had washed for us. It takes a village, right? David and I were able to get all ready for the big Christmas Day, oh and I even got to take a shower and REST. May and Bay delivered them home in time to go to bed so Santa could come. They even fed my pets and cleaned out Stewart's litter box!

Christmas Day, my Momma was awesome. She cooked for all of us. She cleaned up. She was all over it. The kids went and spent that night back at Bay's house. David was able to get all the gift trash picked up and even vacuumed! I could rest knowing the kids were happy and the house was relatively clean. It was so wonderful because the kids did not suffer. I mean, having your mom laid up at Christmas could make things not go so well. But the fam banded together to make sure that the kids had just as good a Christmas as they would have otherwise. That meant more to me than I can ever accurately describe in words.

They even got to build their annual Gingerbread House with Bay - they have done this every year since Jessa was born!

The day after Christmas more reinforcements arrived. Mimi and Poppy and our dear friends Roy and Peggy drove up. They were planning to come anyway and hesitated when I was hospitalized. I told them to please still come, and I am so glad that they did. There were plenty of people to entertain the children and yell at me when I tried to do too much. There was so much to eat, too - Momma cooked tons of food ahead of time and Mimi brought lots of food, too. And we were all just so happy to be together. We watched the snow and watched some football. We even ventured out some, too. Despite the fact that I was moving slow and a little sore, I think this was one of the best Christmases EVER.

And once David had to go back to work, the fam was still here to help. Mimi and Poppy came and spent a whole day here with me washing like 7 loads of laundry and helping me put away Christmas Decor. You know, the strict Southerners that we are, it was imperative that the decorations were all down and put away before New Year's. After our crazy Christmas, I could not risk an entire year of bad luck, right??

Momma even cooked all day to make sure we had our greens and black eye peas on New Year's Day. The commissary did not know what Hog Jowl was, so we had a Ham Hock (that is the part that I cannot bring myself to eat anyway, so I was not at all bothered!). And David cooked pork tenderloin on the grill - even though it was snowing and like 10 degrees!

We spent entire days all spread out on chairs and couches and the floor by Daddy's fireplace, covered up in our Snuggies or blankets. We laughed, we talked, we told stories, we ate, we argued over football games, we laughed, we ate! Such fun. So even though I would not recommend having surgery on December 23, it really did turn out OK. We slowed down and just enjoyed being together. OK, well, maybe Momma did not get to slow down that much. We tease her and call her the work horse. But she really was! She kept us all fat and happy - she fed us homemade chili, homemade vegetable soup, homemade Brunswick Stew, Red Velvet Cake, Cookies, Chex Mix, Breakfast Casserole, Sausage Balls! My mouth is watering just thinking about all of it.

I know I am rambling, but I really just feel so blessed to have such a supportive family. And even though the plans were changed and Momma and Daddy were not able to be in GA with Lucas and the rest of the family on Christmas Eve, no one minded a bit. They were even all calling me on the phone at the hospital! Even my awesome Uncle and family in Hawaii called me to check on me. I love it that we all just take care of each other. We truly care about each other. And we love each other in good times and bad. So, I may be a little biased, but I am pretty sure that I have like the BEST family EVER!

Happy Birthday, Spencer!

Spencer Johnson Key is FOUR YEARS OLD!

When I look at my sweet boy, I cannot believe that he is already 4. He has the sweetest heart and the best disposition. He is rarely in a bad mood (unless Jessa is not being nice to him).

I always thought that the perfect family was a little baby girl followed a few years later by a little baby boy. Since that is the family that Lucas and I were raised in, to me, it just made sense. I feel so incredibly blessed to get to watch my babies grow up much the way I did with my sweet brother.

Of my 2 children, Spencer is the more gentle, nurturing one. We call him the dog whisperer because he is so focused on the dogs all the time. He leans down to kiss them and lays his head next to them. They are always patient with him, and he them. And he is just as sweet with Stewart. We were running late one morning for school, and we rushed out the door. He saw Stew in the window as we drove away. He cried all the way to school because he did not hug Stewart before he left. Our tender-hearted child.

He cannot stand to be in trouble. If he thinks he did something wrong, he punishes himself way more than we ever could. He falls apart and is so disappointed in himself, so afraid he upset someone. Once, he accidentally knocked off a jar of baby food at the commissary. As I was finding someone to let them know so it could be cleaned, I looked and he was curled up at my feet, beside himself. So eager to please and so heartbroken if he fears he has let you down.

On New Year's Eve, May, the kids, and I were headed to see The Princess and the Frog while Bay, David, Poppy, and Mimi stayed behind to watch the football games. We were all at the door, coats on, ready to go. But Spencer ran back into the living room to give each person a big hug to tell them bye. He is always anxious to show his love, and he is so affectionate. He loves everyone and everything with his whole heart.

He worships his sister - to a fault. When I am fussing at her for being ugly to him or not including him, he rushes to her defense. Even though he was truly hurt or upset by what she said or did, he always tells me "It's OK, Mom." He cannot stand for her to be in trouble either. He even lets her do his thinking. As a result, he is terribly indecisive when he has to choose something on his own! I think having him in a totally different school is so good for him - he can spread his wings a little without his hero around.

He is my sweet, precious little man.
I cannot imagine my life without him.

He is such a blessing.

His big heart.

His warm smile.

His cooperative spirit.

Happy Birthday, my Spencer.

We are so proud of you!

Hospital Stay - in pictures

Everyone knows that I do not go anywhere without my camera, right? I mean, you just never know when you may want to document something. And the fact that I have an external hard drive just to save my pictures is proof positive that I am not one to let a moment pass undocumented.

My recent trip to the hospital is no different. I even had to stash my camera in the oh so stylish slipper sock things that they make you wear so you will not slip down wearing your own, more comfortable, yet sans grippy things socks. Your own socks may be more comfy, but they are a law suit waiting to happen. Am I right? I had to stash it because they are mad crazy about you having valuable things there. I had to have the contents of my purse documented so that we could know if someone snatched something while I was high or out of it. So the camera had to be incognito. But I could not live without it. I was alone at the hospital most of the time, as it should have been since the fam was taking care of the kiddos and following all my instructions. Yep, I sent home pages of instructions for all the things that needed to be done before Christmas. And even some notes on what to do if I was still stuck in the hospital on the big day. Seriously, once all the tests were back, the ER PA came in and said, "We are admitting you for at least a few days. . ." And before she could finish, I looked at her with panic on my face and said, "I need a pad and pen." She was so cool that she quit talking, left the room, and came back with a pad and pen for me. I swear, that made me OK with my impending hospitalization and surgery.

Notes:

So now, allow me to share with you a photo journey through my pre-Christmas hospitalization.

ER pics:
A worried, frustrated husband

(who still cannot believe that the crazy person he is married to is actually taking pictures of an ER visit)

My hospital bling - not the sort of bracelet a girl wants for Christmas. . .

The politically correct, multi-cultural hand washing chart

The pain meter - I was a 10 because I was crying

OK, maybe by the time I was taking pictures, the meds had kicked in and I was no longer a 10. . .

A map that may come in handy for some patients, thankfully not me

Inpatient Pics:

My IV pump, my friend, my Dr. Feelgood

My cool leg things to keep me from getting blood clots - sort of like a constant massage

Note the Santa socks - my spirit is bigger than my gallbladder

What a clear liquid diet looks like - boo

Broth, juice, hot tea, Jell-O (well, Spencer ate my jello. . .)

My door with the "Don't give this lady anything to eat or drink." - BIG BOO

Some of my awesome visitors

Me - the night before surgery

Note Santa earrings - it is Christmas everywhere - even the hospital

The kids gifts to keep me company

Flowers from USTRANSCOM

Working on Spencer's birthday invites - the nurses mailed them for me

My goal for Wednesday

Me with my IV pole/date (so maybe drugs, camera, and time alone do not mix)

Yep, after surgery, the earrings are BACK!

The best breakfast I ever ate - after about 60 hours of either no food or just clear liquids - Mmmm!

My goal for Thursday

Luckily, I achieved it. I may have been in a post-surgical, drug induced haze, but I was at home on Christmas morning, by golly!

The End.