Livin' in Fast-Forward ...

This is what Jackson looked like Friday night after being stung by a wasp between the eyes - by Saturday am both eyes were swollen shut and his lips were fat enough to make him slop through his words. We took him to ER--he was not in trouble, could breathe and didn't feel his tongue swelling--but the swelling just kept getting worse by the minute and I couldn't stand (neither could he) it anymore. Sitting in ER I was brushing his hair back from his face and surveyed his little body - he has a skid mark up his elbow, scratches from Sage across his chest, 4 open blisters on the palms of his hands (he looks like Jesus) from too much monkey baring, a blood blister on his toe and a deep bruise on his shin. The doctor smiled at him (after we established that "he" was a "him" and not a "her") and said, "he just goes at it fast, doesn't he?" Yep. A little over 48 hours later he is looking better, but still swollen and now bruised where the influx of fluid was under his eyes and eyelids.

It was an interesting lesson in humility. Everywhere we went people stared at him. He tends to sluff his bangs down in his face under normal circumstances--they're cooler that way--but after a few public interactions (hopsital, pharmacy) he was finding ways to hide.

Friday night when he walked into Bryan and Cathy's house he scared both Hope, 2 years old and Mallory, 4, so badly they both cried -- Mallory cried herself to sleep. The following day he was planning on going to "Cousins Camp" at my step-brother and sister-in-law's where they gather with cousins (none they know well) and have scavenger hunts, play in the creek and go down q big water slide. He choose not to so he wouldn't scare the little kids. He stayed in the car while Grandma Ginna dropped off the other boys and visited for a few minutes. He broke my heart refusing to get out.

He checks the mirror every few hours -- last night proclaiming "I'm getting back to normal. I'm not so hideous anymore." I told him he wasn't hideous and he said ... "Momma, I was hideous. I scared little girls." and walked out. We are still keeping him doped up on benadryl and he's taking his steroids and watching out for cellulitis. I can't wait until I say "Do you remember when Jacks got stung between the eyes by that wasp? That was awful."

Soccer Daze

We spent this weekend at a soccer tournament for Jackson--he played a total of six games and they went 5 - 1, losing only in the Championship Game. He had a blast and the weather was beautiful (even if a bit hot). We've spent this summer in athletic pursuit--from baseball and track to soccer and football; the boys have learned a lot and made new friends, as we have.

We are coming down the stretch of summer, the last two weeks before school returns, I go back to LCC--although I did teach a bit this summer--and hopefully starting a few more writing projects. I still have a few of the goals we set yet to accomplish--today we'll be going through socks and all the papers still stashed from last year to decide what we want to keep and what to toss.

I'm dragging my feet but I suppose I'm getting ready. Think positive ... football games, tailgates, change of pace ... all that and we're headed to Florida for Thanksgiving so I can't complain too much!

Summertime Blues

Anyone who knows me knows I love summertime, the beach, flip flops, palm trees and coconuts. So why the summertime blues? Because they're almost over. The air is chilly outside, the nights are getting cooler and school is only a few weeks away.

All three of my boys are going to school this fall - my baby is going to kindergarten and Cooper will be in 5th grade and Jackson moves to upper elementary - three big changes for the year. I do love the fall and I love football and tailgating and quite honestly this fall I will have a lot of writing and work to do. Which, I admit was by design--I've been planning and plotting my four hours a day that my boys are gone since last year, afraid that I'd be lost and lonely without a plan.

We're spending these last days cramming in swimming and beaches and camping and late nights while the dark crouches closer to the day and the fire flies are starting to wane. Time is fast. Too fast.

"There are some things you just can't love enough." ~ Cooper, age 10

The last five days were spent immersed in my boys. I took them up north last Wednesday and we were joined by EA on Friday late afternoon. Wednesday was spent at Hartwick pines; learning of logging and days gone by while we walked among the trees. We went swimming at Lake Michigan, climbed dunes and hiked ski hills. We went rafting in the Sturgeon River (a few days before Kid Rock was to show up says local legend) and we walked around Harbor Springs oooohing and ahhhing over the big yachts in port. We ate ice cream (sorbet for Jackson who happily reported to every ice cream shop "I'm lactose intolerant; do you have anything without dairy?") a lot and even ate homemade donuts from our favorite donut shop in town. We watched the sun set over the big water and cheered with strangers as another day was brought to its end. We slept in and I worked and we planned each day as it unfolded. We spent hours on the beach and played and laughed in the "huge" waves. We watched two artists paint the horizon from atop a dune.

We visited the book shop of one of the boy's favorite authors - Johnathan Rand, author of "Michigan Chillers", "American Chillers" and "Freddie Fernortner the Fearless First Grader"- only to find out he would be there a few days later signing autographs and talking with kids. We came back. They got books signed for them personally and one a piece for their class to donate this year. They loved seeing him in person and for me it was an inspiration to see a man who has reached national acclaim for his writing - and made a career out of it. He was gracious and kind with the boys - all the kids in the store and there were a lot!

Saturday night was a surprise as Cooper offered to stay home from going out to dinner to watch his brothers so EA and I could go out to eat. We took him up on it, went up the road (back to the harbor to ooohh and aaahhh at more boats and soak up the sunshine and summertime atmosphere of the marina). We walked around town, held hands and talked. EA was relaxed - good to see and something we haven't seen much of lately. I talked to my mom on the phone and she said "You sound very calm." and I was. I was peaceful and happy and if I could have stayed there forever I would have.

Back at home, I am inundated with laundry and have a stack of bills to pay and both soccer and football camp to prepare for tomorrow. I have a small job "interview" tomorrow for another "how to" content site and 25 cards to write to meet my deadline. I have an article to re-write that I don't think needs re-writing but some editor somewhere disagrees. We needed groceries and soap. The car needed vacuuming and vacation needed to be put away. I found myself getting stressed - those small inpatients sneaking back in with the boys.

So here I am, downloading photos and writing it all down so I can remember what it felt like to just be with them. To really be with my boys together with no interruptions and no intrusions. To enjoy their company and to laugh at their jokes. To take the time to understand the argument rather than telling them to abruptly "figure it out." To listen to them as they discovered new places and remembered old favorites. While we sat the first night at a secluded beach, watching the sun begin its descent into its temporary watery grave the clouds gave way to a little big of sun. Not a lot, just enough to remind you he was there - you know, a little bit of Jas Shine. Cooper looked at me with sand in his hands, his teeth chattering just a bit from the cool night air hitting his skin damp from the lake and said "There are some things you just can't love enough." I told him "I know." and am certain that someday he will understand what he said truly means.