My little superhero might regret this someday. Tonight, though, it’s just too cute.
Ben found Zander’s new superhero underwear while I was at swim lessons with the older boys. He told Mike it was his “pire pighter” (fire fighter) pants. He wore them all night and I couldn’t help but smile every time I saw him.
We really wanted to see the Sturgis Falls parade this year. We’ve gone just about every year since Nick was born. But, Mother Nature once again had different plans. The weather channel said it was supposed to rain all morning. By 9 a.m. the sky was dark but not a drop had fallen. We decided to cross our fingers and hope for the best. The first drop fell before we reached the end of the street. We forged on, still holding out a sliver of hope. That sliver was washed down the drain during a torrential downpour about 10 minutes later. We were waiting it out in the car just a block or so from the parade route when the rain hit. Everyone was pretty upset when we decided against braving the elements. I figured with Zander’s cough and the amount of rain pouring from the sky it was probably in our best interest to just come on home.
That little summer cough turned out to be bronchitis. After another sleepless night I decided to take Zander in to the weekend clinic. My plan was to have them tell me it was a cough, that they couldn’t do anything about it and then beg for a prescription cough medicine (it’s helped some in the past). I was admittedly quite surprised when the doc said he had bronchitis … and an ear infection. So it’s an antibiotic, oral prednisone and breathing treatments for this little cutie. His pediatrician keeps talking about the possibility of asthma (a diagnosis he won’t make until Zander is able to effectively complete the breathing test ~ likely about 7). The more times I hear bronchitis the more I think the diagnosis is inevitable. Thankfully it doesn’t seem to bother him much except when he gets these coughs. He just gets them quite a bit.
Last night was a great night. We were outside with the neighbors until way past bedtime. The kids played together nicely. The weather was perfect. It was the kind of night that makes it clear we are right where we are supposed to be. This morning was the kind of morning you wish never happened. I ran to the grocery store. No big deal. I got home, was carrying Ben around and noticed some bright red spots on his shoulders. Peeled off his shirt and found this.
What the …? I had no clue what it was. It was like no other hive I had ever seen. He had been inside all day so a heat rash was quite unlikely. I sent my sister the picture and even she was a bit curious. She thought it was too big for a hive, but figured it was probably was. Her recommendation … give him some benadryl and wait it out. The benadryl knocked him out, but I kept watching him all through his nap. Thankfully, that big spot on his back went away. Unfortunately, he had a bunch of smaller ones on his belly.
Kelsie said keep the benadryl flowing and just keep an eye on him. Reluctantly, I did. The spots kept coming and going throughout the day (and the next day), but then they just disappeared. I still have no idea what caused them but I hope whatever it is he doesn’t come in contact with again.
Nick played his first game of coach-pitch baseball tonight. I couldn’t be more proud. He listened to his coaches. He kept his eyes on the ball (not on the kid next to him). And he hit the ball. Hard. His first hit was a good hit. His second hit touched the fence before dropping to the ground. His third hit hopped once before touching the fence. Not bad kid, not bad at all.
Just last week at practice he had really struggled with hitting. He swung and missed a lot before finally connecting with the ball. Mike took him out to practice once or twice. I don’t know if that helped, if he is just finally getting the feel for hitting or if it was dumb luck. Whatever it was it gave him the confidence he needed so badly. And silly me, at dinner, as a joke, I had promised him $5 if he hit the ball out of the park. He remembered. He’s got his eyes set on that for next week. There is a small part of me concerned that I may have to pay up. There is another part of me that hopes I do. I could get used to watching baseball all summer long. I’d prefer something indoors with air conditioning, but if I have to be outside this isn’t so bad.
Nick also learned a valuable baseball lesson tonight. After one of his hits he slid into second base. He said he had to, but I don’t really remember if the ball was about to beat him or not. Then, after the kids finished playing they all ran the bases and he kind of slid into home plate (he’s seen the coaches’ son do it and thought it looked fun). Well, sliding might be. The aftermath isn’t. I thought he’d seen enough of Jamie’s burns to know that. Evidently not. As he limped out of the shower he said “I learned a good lesson tonight, a very painful lesson.” You sure did kid.
Is it even possible that we have been doing the school’s summer reading program for three years now? That three years ago Nick was a super-shy almost-kindergartner. We were so thankful to learn about this wonderful opportunity sponsored by our new school’s PTA. And now, three year’s later, Zander is ready to head off to preschool, but there is nothing shy about this kid --- at least not around his favorite teacher librarian Miss Oppelt.
As a kid it would be hard not to love her. She has always remembered his name (and everyone else in the family’s). She has always treated him like one of the big boys. And she reads a mean Skippy Jon Jones and Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. Even I like to listen. So (almost) every Tuesday all summer long we load up the family for a night at the school library. We listen to books. This summer we do puzzles. We check out books. And we see all our friends (my favorite part of the night). Our (not-so-little) crew takes up a good chunk of the library when we all can make it.
Ben likes to hang out in the reading loft.
Nick doesn’t want to read so he does puzzles.
Zander spends a good portion of the time selecting his two books. It’s a very long and drawn out process every week.
And then every once in awhile I get a gem like this. Unfortunately I didn’t get the shot off quick enough before Ben saw me and had to ham it up for the camera. It’s still adorable though.
