Quick Visit

We just got back from a quick visit in Fort Smith. We'd hoped to leave Friday afternoon, but all of the storms there and here delayed us until Saturday morning. Thus, the trip was shorter than we would have liked.

Of course, it has been too long between trips. I wanted to check on Pop Pop since he's been having so much trouble with his knees and legs and check on Aunt Jackie since her Parkinson's didn't sound like it was improving. I found them both doing much better than I had expected and in good spirits, despite the fact that the storms Friday knocked down a tree and the power lines to Aunt Jackie's house. Luckily, Jackie's power was restored Sunday morning. Since Jackie and Bill are in their 80s, we were worried about them being without power in the heat.

On the way to Fort Smith, Caitlin started sneezing in the car. She now has a full snotty nose and congestion. At first, we thought it was allergies until we noticed she was putting everything in her mouth. She's also drooling a lot, so I think it must be one of her molars. She hasn't eaten well for the last week or so, which we attributed to reflux. Now, I'm starting to think it is the teething.

Caitlin was the poor baby who got a snotty nose every time she cut a tooth. I'd almost forgotten. I don't know how I could have! I guess we block out some of the intense unpleasant things about babies being babies.

We didn't take a ton of pictures while we were in Fort Smith since it was a short trip. I have a few I'll post later.

Conall started his summer program today. We'll see how he does. Stu said Conall was a little freaked out and was crying when he left. He seemed upset that none of his classmates from school were there. Poor guy -- he doesn't do well with change. We're hoping that being around other kids and having fun will override his obsessive change-hating personality. I'll know more after I pick him up today.

Summer is Overrated

I have decided that summer is entirely overrated. I've never been a huge fan of summer to begin with -- give me a crisp fall day anytime and I'd be happy. You know the kind where you have to at least wear a jacket if you go outside and all the leaves have turned brilliant colors and are falling from the trees? Heaven. Hot sticky weather, a 5 year old and his sidekick 2 year old sister bored out of their minds and competing for mommy's attention are not my idea of fun.

Conall was supposed to start the summer program I signed him up for on Wednesday. I wrote the date on the calendar the day we got the letter from them. We've been preparing him for at least the last week, if not month, for the beginning of his "summer school". We drove by the school Tuesday night and he checked out the playgrounds and started making plans for the next day.

Conall went to Conway to play with his friend Tristan on Tuesday and by Tuesday night he was worn out. He woke up with a night terror that night, the worst one he's ever had. It took us well over 30 minutes to wake him up. He kept telling me I was a "bad mommy" because I couldn't fix his sore throat, although at the time he wouldn't let me do anything.

Wednesday morning Conall was hard to wake up and really groggy from being up late with the night terror and his fun-filled play day with Tristan. Somehow we got him out of bed, fed, and dressed for school. The school is on the way to Stu's work and Caitlin was still asleep, so daddy took him.

Conall and Stu had been gone about 10 minutes when Stu called my cell phone. He asked me how sure I was that school started on Wednesday. The school was surprisingly deserted for the first day. While I rummaged through the house for the letter, they spotted someone parking and going in.

Turns out school did not start on Wednesday, but starts this coming Monday. I think Conall's night terror and "bad mommy" comments must have been a premonition of the next day. Bad mommy! How could I have done that? I'm still not sure. I'm certain I checked the Web site the week before last and last week. I called last week to see if we needed to bring any paperwork with us and I thought I verified the date. My poor little guy was so disappointed.

And, of course, I had nothing special planned for this week for Conall, thinking he would be in school. Luckily, Jana and her kids rescued me on Wednesday and invited us down to help get Conall's mind off mommy's mistake and to give him something to do.

Today was a different story. After being gone for 2 days and after being sick last week, I had to get some laundry and other things around the house done. I also tried to do "fun" things at home with Conall. I think we lasted until lunchtime before it started to feel like a long, insufferable summer day.

I think once allergies and spring hit, my brain goes somewhere else. Maybe it is daydreaming of fall and winter. Who knows? All I know is that summer is far overrated.

First Day of Summer Vacation

Today was Conall's first day of summer vacation. I think he's had an idea in his head that summer vacation is going to be a huge party. I've tried to dissuade him from this for the last month or so, but regardless, he woke up today ready to go!

Unfortunately for Conall, mommy and daddy have caught a virus. We both went to the doctor today so we could get something for this horrible, nagging cough that has been keeping us awake at night. We think now that Conall probably had this to begin with and that it caused his ear infection. He still has a cough some at night. Needless to say, Conall's first day of summer vacation wasn't the party he thought it would be!