Tuesday, November 23
Late Night
Well, I'm back ... for the moment. Thank you to those who inquired about my well-being after almost three weeks without any posts. I regret not posting -- not primarily because I might disappoint a reader or three, but because I lose what I don't write about. And all weeks are eventful, especially in the lives of children.They're maturing every day. Tomorrow will be the first anniversary of this GranDiary, which I began the day they became our legal wards and we became guardians -- or as Sakura explained it then, Guardian Angels. I wish. But they are thriving and that's so good to see.Nick and Matt are totally dependable in the potty arena. All three eat well, clean up after play, sleep in their own beds, follow a school routine well. Sakura's grades first quarter were all As (except for a B+ in handwriting). Matt is a happy-go-lucky little guy. Nick is less anxious, less angry, more affectionate. All three are generally thriving, happy little kidlets. I've decided not to continue this effort. I've tried to be respectful and discrete, but, as they get older, it's invasive, I think. I don't want to violate their trust. We tell them that some matters are for family only. I have to abide by that, too. I always wonder how families hang together after some particularly revealing memoirs I've read. Wednesday, November 24
Afternoon
An anniversary -- one year of guardianship. And the last entry in this GranDiary. I will leave all posted for a while -- until I learn from my site host how to easily convert these pages to word documents. Who knows -- maybe there's the basis of a little book in all this. There are certainly more and more of us grandparents raising our grands. Thank you for reading this past year. Especially thank you to those who have corresponded with me and offered affirmation and insight into this new effort of ours. It is an effort. But all love is. And that's what it is. Loving.Thursday, November 4
Morning
On the mend! Me, that is. Cold, plus allergy attack Halloween night (dry leaves - autumnal, but apparently not my best friend) made for a whopper of a sinus infection. Spent yesterday languishing on the couch, eyes and head hurting too much even to read. On the way to choir rehearsal Pat took me to Urgi-care and I started on an antibiotic. Already better. The extra day of sleep helped, I'm sure. I wasn't worth much at choir rehearsal, but Lucy, our accompanist, took over and it was a productive rehearsal.Trying something new this morning, with mixed results. I've been playing the Breakfast Harpy -- eat your cereal, drink your juice, did you get your vitamins?, come on now let's get dressed, brush your teeth, NOW please, coat, backpack, glasses ... on and on until they are out the door. It's wearing on all of us. I told Sakura that she knew where her clothes were, her breakfast, her stuff, and I wasn't going to bother her with a lot of instructions. Well, the boys were ready ten minutes before she was and I was biting my tongue until she was finally in the truck.Two problems with changing behavior -- it's CHANGE, which is always hard. And, it may be that my harping is a sign of my love and concern. Take that away and ... maybe Nana doesn't care? So bit by bit. Today I feel well enough to tackle some organizational needs in my study. I've decided to empty four to six file crates of old work and replace with kid files, art supplies, gift wrap. That sort of thing. There's too much I need regularly that is tucked away and hard to find and stuff I don't need at all taking up easily accessed space. Stuff Management. It's endless. Next is the attic ... but tomorrow is another day.Monday, November 1 -- All Saints Day
Afternoon
A day off after Halloween is such a great idea! We managed to do it all -- the pumpkin carving, the costuming, the Trick or Treat-ing. Nobody got hurt or threw up from too much sugar. Came home at 10:00 and crashed. This morning Nick asked, "Is today a home day?" Yes, I told him. "Yayyyyy" he cried and actually jumped for joy. We've been organizing their room, baking pizza shells, generally putting things to rights. They're playing Wii now and mostly getting along, albeit with considerable negotiation about controllers and chairs and such. It's truly November outside -- a grayish day -- but inside all is well. Saturday, October 30
Early Morning
The one morning I can sleep in, if the children heed my threats about waking me, and I am up at 5:00. Sigh. Probably go back to bed though. We've been hit by the first bad cold of the season -- may it be the last. Nick and Sakura had mild colds; Matt, Pat and I have it worse, but we're in different stages so I can take care of Pat now. One of the harder things about living with little kids who go to germ factory schools.Yesterday was all about Halloween at school - classroom parties, etc. We could have gone Trick or Treating in downtown Washington and also hit the fish fry at school, but we were just too whipped. Instead, we stayed home, ate homemade vegetable soup and cornbread, and ... visited with Daddy! He came out with Uncle Nate to help some friends move heavy stuff and Daddy stayed for the evening. Very nice visit with both of them. We've added a new wrinkle to our home -- a Wii. Daddy had one and I asked if he would be willing to loan it to the kids for the winter. I went to one of our favorite recycle places -- Vincent's Angels, run by ladies from Immaculate Conception church here in Union, and asked if they ever had TVs. As it happens they don't take them, but someone had sneakily dropped one off that morning so she begged us to take it. We got it all set up in the toy room/library/middle room upstairs. We'll see how we like having it in the house. So far the kids have not been crazy addicted to any electronic device. I don't totally get how to do it, but I'm going to learn a bit. Heading back to bed. Photos below taken by Daddy yesterday. Monster Sakura, Nick on the trike, sick Matt (look at his chapped lips - poor guy), and to round things out, Maggie our best milker. Thursday, October 28
Mid-Morning
Not an auspicious start to the day. Matthew is sick with a juicy cold -- not sick enough to languish on the couch and let me read and write, but too sick to go to school and ... crabby? Yowzer! It's the first really autumnal morning so of course Sakura wanted to wear long pants and of course she has outgrown all but one pair and those in the wash. So we tried her navy tights. Outgrown them since August when we tried on school clothes. Talked her into leggings -- But Nana, they're not part of the uniform. Yes, the are, I saws Mya wearing them. (Not very good logic for later, by the way.) -- only to discover that there was a large hole in one pair and the other pair were ... you guessed it ... too small. Finally convinced her that it wasn't THAT cold. Then had to tell her I couldn't come to her field trip today because I had to stay home with Matt. Real tears this time. Abandonment issues aren't theoretical for her. Friend and savior Carol is coming at 11:00 to sit with Matt so I will stop in on the field trip at Hillermann's, then face telling her she can't go to the Scout meeting today because I just can't ask Carol to stay with Matt until after 5:00 and I don't want to make yet another trip into Washington with two boys, one sick and crabby and one well and crabby. What else? Oh, I'm sick, too -- a cold, sinus, headache, tired. You know the drill. Trying to find the right combination of meds that gives relief and allows me to stay awake enough to drive and calm enough to sleep tonight. And ... one of my editors wants revisions on a project I thought was finished and right now - ASAP. And the weekend is over-the-top Halloween, starting with school parties, Matt's in the AM (I must bring doughnuts even if he can't go) and Nick and Sakura's in the afternoon - at the same time, natch, so I'll be dividing my time there, too. I see the future and it isn't pretty! Sigh. See the photo of Nick above? I'll have what he's having.Early Afternoon
Life is better -- but, of course it is when one is sitting in Bread Company, eating black bean soup and a cheese sandwich. Missed the field trip entirely, but Matt was sleeping when I left him, so that's good. Hope Sakura isn't too upset about missing her first Brownie meeting. I HATE doing that to her, but it's all about geography. Living in a comfortable, peaceful house in the country means we must drive everywhere. Trade-offs. If I didn't think it was excellent for the kids, too, I'd fantasize more about a small house within walking and biking distance to everything, but ... I do think Sakura would be the one who would miss our home most of all. Friday, October 22
Morning
A good week. Finished my column this morning - yesss! It was harder going that usual - not sure why. Kids are excited about Halloween. Tonight is the Family Fun Night at the school and they wear their costumes so we had a trial run last night. See below, our "Good Queen" (she does imperious rather well, don't you think?), our "cool dude firefighter" and, "scary skeleton" -- he's going "Whooooooo!!!!!" to show us how very scary he is. Nothing much to report for the week. All well, sleeping in their own beds, pottying in the right place and regularly, eating well, doing fine in school. Life is good. Tuesday, October 19
Morning
Working from Bread Company today, but without a single idea in my head for my next column. I've struggled before, but this is ridiculous! My experience is that when I struggle so, there's message wanting to be expressed that I'm not hearing. Only thing to do is perk on it as I go about my day and pray that it comes. Meanwhile, here are a few photos of Busy Children -- washing their pumpkins, creating a train world, reading, watching a library DVD before bed. Notice the TV cabinet -- Pat created it. Where there once was a drawer is now a shelf for the DVD player. Most of the time the TV/DVD is hidden -- out of sight, out of mind. The kids very seldom ask to watch anything. Sunday, October 17
Evening
We're coming to the end of a glorious weekend after a pretty good week. To recap since I wrote last Monday ....Tuesday -- Uneventful. Pat worked in STL, Kids in school, I lost the day due to lack of sleep so did mindless, but necessary errands until the kids got out of school. Big news--Matt is falling asleep in his own bed. I do this monk-like thing with them after reading. We turn out the lights and say prayers and sing a few songs. Then no more noise is permitted -- not speaking, sighing, whispering, yawning. Nada. I sit on Matt's bed, stroking his arm, slower and slower, until I stop. Then I touch each one on the head and leave the room. Works. Pic at left - Nick playing with his trains. He's gotten very good at building elaborate track configurations. Wednesday -- Pat off work and I got a lot of writing done at home. Choir practice in evening. Kids fine, although Nick seems a bit slow or tired. Sakura's well appointment went well. She's now in the 25th percentile for height and 50th for weight - pretty darned good for the preemie she was.Thursday -- Kids crabby! Nick's teacher told me he was "not himself" -- whining, refusing to cooperate. I think Thursdays are harder for them because we're gone on Wednesday evenings. Our sitters are The Best! but it's not the same for them. Thursday evening Pat's niece and her husband came out to visit, bringing their new baby and his parents who are from Uruguay. We prepared a lovely dinner that included a lot of garden produce and we had a great visit with Sakura making over the baby. They are so competent and happy in their roles as parents that even Sakura commented on it. I explained that when people wait until they're more mature to have their babies it's easier to be good parents. She said solemnly, "Mommy and Daddy were too young." I agreed, assuring her of their love for her, but that sometimes parents' love isn't enough without the ability to do those day-to-day things -- baths, teeth, backpacks, healthy meals, clean sheets, uniforms, homework, etc., etc. The daily-ness of it! I'm really trying to walk a fine line -- between assuring the kids of their parents' love for them, but also trying to indicate that it is not behavior to imitate. A really fine line!Friday -- Supposed to be a full morning of writing for me, but instead I took Nick to his doc. He was just too cranky. No ear infection, chest is clean. I've developed a theory. When the physical checks out, it's time to consider other issues. I thought about those failure-to-thrive babies who have all they need to sustain life except cuddling. Nick has been the angriest about his parents leaving him and pushes us away. I've decided to just force affection on him. Doc agrees. So today we poured it on, cutting through his resistance until he relaxes in our hugs.Saturday -- We need a low-key day. I took Matthew to the grocery store and library before lunch and Pat took Sakura over to our friends' stables to ride. Pic at left of Sakura brushing her favorite, Chief. Just a long, lingering day -- baking cookies, a little laundry, supper of left-overs. Sakura and Nick helped bake cookies and Nick dropped a carton of eggs on the floor - broke every one. Amazing how messy nine broken eggs can be. He also dropped his dinner plate, spilling sweet potatoes all over the floor. Fortunately Alex the Dog loves sweet potatoes. Something different - I didn't feel any anger at all in response to Nick's messes. Not sure what has clicked. Maybe that "failure to thrive" insight. Today -- Mass, Golden Valley Pumpkin Patch -- an effort by a friend of ours that includes play areas for the kids, a face-painter, pumpkins to pick; noon dinner at our parish's sausage dinner. Home and rest and now a shorter day ahead of us. There are so many opportunities to go and do, but home days are about the best. Photo at left of our painted faces. Butterfly and an angel; and Nick "just scary face." (He did it himself.) After a supper of salad for me, homemade mac and cheese and fruit salad for the kids, and open-faced pork and gravy and salad for Pat, we got the kids in jammies, robes and slippers and gathered around a huge bonfire with also-huge marshmallows. Brought them in, bed by 8:15 and all asleep in their own beds soon after. Yayyy. Photo below -- The three in their Halloween shirts.Tuesday, October 5
Morning
A slower morning for me and the boys as they have their well appointments with their pediatrician. Not expecting any bad news. Nick has a couple of boosters due. Matt's in the clear, I think.Feeling a little sober today. Got the news that friend, songwriter, and prophet, David M. Bailey, passed to the next life. Brain tumor. If you need a shot of hope, listen to his music at www.davidmbailey.com or listen to him singing his signature song, One More Day. I'm going to miss you, David.Life is short. I've been very aware lately of how little time I have with these little ones. Even if I am gifted with many days, they are little for such a short time. Already Sakura is showing us the woman she will be. I don't want this to be just a time of occupying them. I want to engage them or, better, put them in situations where they are engaged. Expose them to beauty -- nature, generous human beings, holiness, the best of the world. At the same time I'm so aware of the pitfalls of this world. So many give in to ... stupidity. Stupid drugs, stupid sex, stupid waste. When the children are in recalcitrant mode and there is no reasoning with them, I think, "What is it going to be like when it's not over a hair band or an apple or a little car or a page of math homework?" God help us all.Talked yesterday with friend Judy about Genesis Farms where she made a retreat. I was especially intrigued with her reports of the Genesis Farms School. When I was young I dreamed of a different kind of school. I remember at 14 or 15 reading A.S. Neills Summerhill, the school he founded in England in 1921.There is much to love about the school our kids are in now -- small, intimate, lots of dedicated parents, some excellent teachers who are real visionaries. But it's not what it could be. There are too many who are coasting. For our school to be a great place of formation, there needs to be some new inspiration -- to rev up the coasters and leave behind a few who could then find a better situation for themselves. I'd like to commit to this school for the long haul, but I'm not sure. If it's not a place of inspiration, wouldn't it be better for the children to experience the broader world, even if it's not as safe? I've got two more years before I would act, but my own commitment will not be there unless I ... commit. Hmm. I'd like to engage a few parents on this topic, but avoid parking lot whining. Something more thoughtful and productive. We'll see. My organizing days are behind me, I think. There are those who have more of a claim on my passion: Pat and these children first. Home and Community. Sweet duty. Time to get ready to go. Onward. Afternoon
Doc appointments went well. I'm so grateful for the health of the boys. For the record, Nick is in the 10th percentile for height and 25th for weight. Matt is 50/50. Natch. No shots for Matt. Nick got four! All in the thigh muscles. He was brave about it and very proud when we got back to school. He told all about his "four shotses" and was in the process of dropping his pants to show off his bandaids, but we convinced him that there was plenty of drama in the telling. Sunday, October 3
Evening
It's been a full week and fuller weekend. Just to recap the last few days .... On Friday we continued our new pattern of swimming at the Y after school and then going out for pizza. Saturday we took the kids to Thierbachs to pick apples. They munched their way through the orchard while we picked a winter's worth of apples.Today we went to Mass at SFB, then to St. Louis where we met Daddy and Uncle Nate for brunch at the Bevo -- an upscale buffet for which we had Groupons. After that we took Daddy to the arch grounds to run around and then took a riverboat cruise on the Mississippi (more Groupons). All in all a very satisfying, busy weekend with plenty of outdoor time in some lovely fall weather. Now time to get them to bed and get prepared for the school week. Speaking of which, it's already mid-quarter. Sakura's grades are all A's. Well, except for handwriting. She got a B+ . Takes after ... me? (Sigh.)Sunday, September 26
Early Morning
Finally caught eight straight hours of sleep. I've been running on 4 to 6 and it wasn't cutting it. Kids were tired, too, this week. Five full days with no extra time off is tough. Glad I kept the little guys home Wednesday. That night was choir and the girls came to sit with them, which they loved. All in bed asleep and the house looked great when we got home. Thursday was routine. Friday was exhausting, but lovely. I went with the boys on their field trip to pick apples. That afternoon read to six classes of kids in the school library who were all unusually attentive. We sang about the moon as we had just had the full moon. That afternoon Pat and I took the kids to the Y to swim and there was NO protest when we said it was time to leave. We took them to Aldos for dinner -- pizza and salad -- and they were so well-behaved that other diners noticed. Yesterday was full of photo ops and I forgot my camera. First, picture me on a ladder beside Pat on his ladder, holding up ceiling panels on our porch while he screwed them in place. Oh My Triceps! Then we took the kids to Hillermanns -- world class nursery in Washington, where they were having a "fire sale" and had brought in a fire engine for the kids. Corny, but cute and the kids loved it. They got to sit in the driver's seat -- no camera! From there we took the kids to a local stables where their babysitter is helping with the horses. They all three rode horses and were thrilled, especially Sakura.That's when the day started downhill. Sakura was just a pill about leaving, crying, whining, asking for one more ride. Our friends had to go -- had a soccer game to play -- and she just couldn't be persuaded to be sweet about it. Or even civil. It was embarrassing and irritating. She and I have been talking a lot about "happy exits" -- leaving a fun place or activity without ruining it by protesting when it's time to go. I know it's pretty normal, but I find myself hesitating about doing something fun because I don't want to deal with the ill feelings at the end.Those transitions seem more difficult lately -- whether it's time for bath, dinner, cleaning up, bed, leaving an activity. I do the ten minute, five minute thing. But she still protests and unfortunately, leads the boys wherever she goes. Hope to get on top of this soon. Today -- Mass, delivering milk to friend Florence, and hanging at home. Lots of laundry to catch up on. Kids probably need a home day, too. Wednesday, September 22
First Day of Autumn
Mid-Morning
I'm home this morning with two puny boys. Nick has a cough and Matt a snotty nose (and an attitude to match!). They are both sleep-deprived. They all went to bed earlier than usual last night, but Sakura came down just before 4:00 AM complaining that she couldn't sleep, bad dream, monster-sounding creak on the stairs, etc. Put her back to bed and she came down again less than an hour later, then returned and woke her brothers for company. I figured the boys would just fade by noon so kept them home. We'll see how Sakura does. It would be so much easier if she would consent to having her own room so she could have a later bedtime, but she really seems to need the comfort of her brothers close by. It will change -- it always does.I'm having a bout of envy and wanderlust today. Just heard from a friend who is in Munich for several weeks and getting ready to visit her Dutch friends and then a week in Norway, followed by a 12-day cruise around the Arctic Circle. Also feeling ... guilty? put-upon? resentful? (Ouch!) because I had to cancel out of a job next July. It was leading the worship for the Ignatian Spirituality Conference and, while a good fit for me and well within my skillset and interests, I just didn't want the stress of juggling, not only in mid-July without childcare, but the prep work until then. I suppose I could look at it as a blessing that I can make a choice. And this is the life I choose. (Except maybe on a rainy school day without enough sleep and two cranky boys at home.)Good News: Daddy got a job! Full time at the Bread Company. He starts next Monday. Sunday, September 19
Afternoon
Sometimes our plans just work out. We decided to switch our usual weekend schedule and make yesterday our outing day. We picked up Mom Shortal and went to a playground near her house in St. Charles. It was just an awesome playground in Laurel Park. Mom had prepared a great picnic for us and we had a good time visiting with her and letting the kids get their fill of playground time. Came home to easy supper of homemade pizza (I bake individual-size shells and keep the ingredients on hand all the time) and fruit salad. Early to bed and ... awakened by one heck of a storm. The boys slept through it, but Sakura ended up in our bed and Pat on the couch. I think it went on for four hours with lots of thunder and lightning. Church this morning -- choir sounded good! Easy to sing flat when it rains, but not today. After we delivered milk to friend Florence, and dropped off Miss Carol at home, we came home to lunch, naps, computer time, baking shortbread cookies, and generally a peaceful time. Love Sundays like this. Sakura and I had a talk about a situation in her class. Nothing too serious, but twice when I've come to read to her class on Fridays a boy has asked me quite pointedly, "Why does Sakura live with you?" This last time he mused that her parents had probably just given her away to me. Hmmm.Sakura is not too bothered about it, but we agreed on a script if it should come up again. I think it will work. I'm just so proud of how she doesn't play the victim. No "poor me" for this kiddo. She's too busy having a good life. I made a difficult decision. I was asked to prepare and direct the worship for a four-day conference on Jesuit Spirituality, to be held at Saint Louis University in late July. It's a good fit for me and very tempting -- I know the environment, the folks, the language, and I'm sure it would be intellectually stimulating. But it would demand at least five days on site and a terrific amount of prep work at a time when the kids are not in school. I just want a non-stressful summer with the kids who will be fun ages -- eight and nearly six and four. We're just trying to come up with ways to spend less money rather than earn more. As I saw on a bumper sticker recently: Sometimes money costs too much.This week includes writing, school, choir. Friday I'll accompany the boys on their field trip to an apple orchard. And then read to six classes that afternoon. Whew!Pictures -- Sakura at the computer this afternoon. The boys' pic was taken yesterday. It was spontaneous on their part. Like the haircuts? Friday, September 17
Late Morning
Can't believe it's been over a week since I posted. Not a way to keep readers -- sorry about that -- but it is a way to live this life to the fullest. Thing is, I forget what that fullness is if I don't write about it. And something about the writing process makes the events of my life more ... real? How weird is that? Probably not so weird to other writers.Sorry no photos. I did try to take one this morning of Sakura proudly sporting her new ponytail -- it's finally long enough! This last week .... Took Nick to the doc because he seemed puny. After exam and some blood work, discovered all the elephants that could be in the room - anemia, leukemia (yikes!), lyme disease (more yikes) - have, in fact, never entered the room. He has a sinus infection that's tiring him. Two doses of antibiotics and he's chipper again. All three are loving school -- really loving it. This morning they awoke on their own at 6:20, got ready, including breakfast of oatmeal and bacon, and were in the car, Sakura with her morning fruit (grapes and apple slices), ten minutes before we needed to leave. Early bedtime helps immensely. Matt was asleep by 7:30 last night; the Bigs by 8:00. I waited until a dignified 9:30 before I joined them in dreamland. This aft will read to six different classes at the school library -- from noon until 3:00. Then we take the kids, along with their friend, Olivia, to the Y pool, followed by some playground time. Tomorrow we'll picnic at another playground after picking up Pat's mom. Sunday will become our stay-at-home day this weekend, after church, of course.All is well. Autumnal weather, busy kids, my writing quota met. Thanks for reading. Thursday, September 9
Early Afternoon
FINISHED!!! I just finished a Lenten book for 2011 - and a day early, too. Well, finished except for the revisions that are inevitable, but still ... DONE with Lent writing for another year. Tomorrow I'll reel into my Advent column for the Liguorian. BTW, good news from them -- they've renewed my contract for another year. Subscriptions are reasonable ($20 for ten issues per year), but if you subscribe, tell them you want to read The Word in Our World. I wrote it for a year before I realized the acronym was WOW. Honest.Okay, the kids -- they're great. All asleep early last night. Matt continues to be dry in the morning so we are officially a diaper-free-zone! Woohoo! Scheduled their well apointments for next month when they will get their flu shots. Just a bit concerned about Nick who seems a bit puny to me, although yesterday he played like his old self. Maybe he's just been under the weather.Sorry no pics. Will take a few now that I've finished Lent. Onward!Wednesday, September 8
Evening
I don't know if it's the weather, but these have been perfect days. The weather IS perfect - high 80s, low 60s, low humidity, lots of sunshine, enough beneficial rain. The kids are well and in school and loving it. Today they had early dismissal (faculty meeting every second Wednesday) and we took the three, along with two kid friends, to the YMCA pool and then the playground at the park. They played hard, ate a good supper, and crashed by 8:00. I wish every week had one half-day. It feels like a vacation in the middle of the week and only costs two hours of school time. My writing is going well, too. This Lent book will be finished tomorrow and then, along with my regular columns, I'd like to start a new project -- something for kids. Reading at the school has captured my imagination and I've been checking out loads of books at the library and using my kids as guinea pigs. I've always read to them, but I know more now about what might be age-appropriate. I think Matt and Nick are ahead of others their age in their ability and desire to sit and listen to books. I'm doing simple chapter books with Matt and Nick can handle books without pictures. He's going to be a good student I think. Must move along toward shower and bed. The morning starts early. Monday, September 6 - Labor Day
Afternoon
A gorgeous day somewhere between summer and autumn. I had to spend the morning writing so Pat took the kids to the jogging trail at East Central College (about 7 miles from us) and let them ride their bikes. Nick and Matt have just learned to pedal and Sakura is riding well enough to give up her training wheels - a move she's not ready to make yet. After a week of sniffly noses and congestion, both boys are fine and Sakura is still fine which means all go to school tomorrow and hopefully the rest of the week! Yes!Yesterday the boys were too iffy to take to church so it was just me and Sakura. After Mass we went to BreadCo and joined a few choir members for breakfast. Sakura was just so mature and pleasant to be with. We finished up with grocery shopping and then home to prepare for supper with Friends John and Carol. Pat made chili, I made potato soup and we ate around a bonfire, topping off the meal with homemade apple crisp AND homemade ice cream. (And marshmallows, of course.) Lovely clear evening and we let the kids play till past dark. Then they slept like rocks -- as did I.Saturday, September 4 - Happy 35, Son o' Mine!
Morning
Awoke to Autumn weather -- 54 degrees, crisp, cool air, bright sunshine. Lovely. We have a choir wedding to sing today -- daughter of one of our sopranos. Friend John will sit with the boys and we'll take Sakura. She's very excited and already planning her outfit. What a girl. We're all supposed to go to the reception tonight, but the boys are sniffly and Nick still has his cough and hoarse throat, so I don't know. It's my oldest and last, Daniel Moises, who is 35. Our first two were adopted as infants and they are natural brothers. When I was in Guatemala to adopt the second baby, I met a nine-year-old named Moises (Moses). He called a few months later and, through an interpreter, asked if we would adopt him. His mother was sick and he was going to have to leave the home when he turned ten in September. So, we arranged to adopt him, too, just after his tenth birthday. He's been a lovely son -- now married to Maureen. They moved to Denver mid-summer and may stay there through the winter. We all miss them, but I'm glad he's getting to see other parts of the world before they settle down. I put on a sweatshirt this morning -- the only garment I kept of Mary's. It's deep green with an Irish design embossed on it and I hadn't washed it since it came from her closet. The children took turns hugging and smelling me and agreed that the sweatshirt still smells like Aunt Bessie. It's going to be hard for me to wash it.Yesterday I read to five classes of SFBGS kids. "Miss Mary" read to them every Friday afternoon and I decided to do the same in her honor. It was more fun than I expected. I have Matthew's Preschool kids and they were remarkably attentive. Then Nick's Junior Kindergarten class, a first-grade group, Sakura's second-grade class (she was so proud), and then a third grade group to whom I'm reading The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe. They were VERY attentive. It's a good school.To the first and second graders I read Dog in Heaven, about a dog who dies and sends his former master, a little boy, good dreams, including one that gives him "permission" to get a new puppy. I explained that I was reading that book because I missed "Miss Mary," but believed she was happy and still cared about me. Sweet.Time to get on with the day. I want to finish another week of Lenten meditations by the end of the holiday weekend. And still have some fun!
Wednesday, September 1
Late Evening
Today is our first anniversary. One year ago today the three Grands moved in with us. It's been quite a ride. I do wish I had begun this GranDiary on September 1 last year. I waited until late November when we were named the children's legal guardians. It seemed more prudent to wait and ... the first three months were dreadful! There is no way I could have found five extra minutes for anything but coping. The difference between then and now is astounding and we are very, very grateful. The first days of school have been fine -- at least for Sakura and Matthew. Nick got sick Monday and the doc diagnosed strep. We had him on antibiotics that afternoon, but he's still with fever so he'll miss another day tomorrow and we'll have to call the doc and see what she thinks. He's so disappointed. Sakura loves everything about school and is doing her homework in the car on the way home. She has a great attitude. Matt is doing surprisingly well with the long days, even today after they were awakened by a storm at 5:00 this morning. It's so much easier having them all in the same school on the same schedule -- or at least it will be when they are all three well -- please God!Sunday was the mother/daughter float trip with Sakura's classmates. Seven out of the ten girls in her class went. She said it was the best day of her life. Paige Byrne Shortal
GranDiary Fall 2010
My seasonal record of sharing life
with our three grandchildren.
Click HERE to begin or see other GranDiary pages for previous entries.
Thanks for stopping by.
Monday Monday, September 20
Morning
"I got pee in my eye!!!" That's how my morning started. I guess when you're a boy and short and only three and have a night's worth of pressure built up, that can happen. Sakura and I just exchanged one of those looks that said, "Aren't you glad we're girls?" Matthew also came out on the porch where Sakura and I were eating breakfast and stepped in the only spot of chicken poop for miles -- in his bare feet, natch. All off to school and work now and I'm home alone (Freedom!) with writing and some errands ahead. Have a peaceful day. 
Monday, October 11 - Columbus Day
Early Afternoon
It's been a fine week. A brief re-cap:Wednesday -- School. A sore Nicky (shots), walking like I did after my first half-marathon. Such a fine day that we invited Sakura's friend, Olivia Z, to join us after school at the Union playground and then we made tacos for dinner. See photo where Liv is helping Sakura try out a pair of roller skates. Can you spell emergency room?Thursday -- I read to SFBGS students all afternoon and then brought the kids home with a four-day-weekend before us. Yayyy!!! Sakura agreed to do her math homework right away and save studying for Monday. Friday -- School was in session, but we took the day to go to St. Louis and meet with Grandpa Bob, Daddy and Nate for lunch and then to a prayer service at Saint Louis University Medical School in honor of those who donated their bodies to the school. It was lovely and I thought long about Mary and our friendship. We drove home in time for an easy supper and packing for the next day. Photo of boys in their Thomas jammies. They're making train noises.Saturday -- Sakura, Nick and I drove to Des Moines to pick up friend Carol who was staying with her sister. The Bigs are awesome travelers. Pa and Matt stayed home and finished painting the porch. Sunday -- Drove back with Carol while Pat and Matt when to Great Grandmas for lunch. Got home in time for "breakfast supper" and the reunion was sweet among the kids. Wish I could have gotten a good picture of them hugging. Today -- A home day as school is off session in honor of our patron, St. Francis Borgia. Pat took Matt to deliver milk to Aunt Florence. Nick is a bit under the weather with what looks like the beginnings of a cold and hoarse throat. Sakura did her homework -- willingly and with diligence -- throughout the morning and then after lunch she and I made pizza shells for tonight's supper. She and the boys created a message board for me and Papa -- sitting in a tree, k-i-ss-i-n-g. Awesome. I love home days. As I write, Sakura is hanging out upstairs playing on her DS, Matt is with Pa in the garden, and Nick is creating the best train track ever. See close-ups of the kids -- Such bright eyes! And below, our newly-painted front porchTomorrow -- We start the school week, albeit a short one. Sakura has her well appointment on Wednesday afternoon. (No shots!) And we have choir Wednesday evening. Thursday Pat's niece, Liz, and her husband, Nico, are coming to dinner along with their new baby and his parents visiting from Uruguay for the month of October. Friday maybe we can hit a playground with Liv again and then we might get one more gorgeous autumn weekend. Life is good. Fragile, but good.
Wednesday, October 27
Early Morning
I think I've finally slept off a cold or sinus infection. Awoke at 4:00 feeling rested after four days of achy, sniffily, weary malaise. Maybe the 36-hour wind cleared the air. Two nights ago it started up and blew through the night, complete with tornado warnings. The wind woke Sakura at midnight and she couldn't get back to sleep so we stayed up together watching the storm come online and together, while Pat slept -- or tried to -- moved the boys to the living room, complete with quilts and stuffed bunnies. She finally fell asleep on the floor with them about 4:00 and still the little trooper made it through yesterday's school day, dark-eyed, but smiling. Bless her heart. All went to bed last night very ready for a full night's sleep ... including Nana!Today I will accompany the boys on a field trip to a local farm, then choir practice tonight, Sakura's field trip to Hillermann's nursery tomorrow, and school Halloween parties on Friday. Nick's teacher sent the photo at left. I don't know what he's listening to, but he is clearly blissed out.
