Valentine's Day

Valentine's day is always something special for Tracy and I.  Our first one, many years ago now, was an idyllic weekend at a Bed & Breakfast in Williamsburg VA.  We have been apart for many of the Valentine's days since then.  We may have hit 50% together this year.  We usually don't go out to dinner on the day, too much stress with that.  We usually get some nice steaks and some seafood of some sort and make dinner and hang out.

This year we had the boys with us.  We got some steaks and scallops.  Tracy made green beans and I grilled the meat and seafood.  Owyn ate fruit and mac & cheese for dinner.  Rhys had beans and a tortilla and hot sauce, (his all time favorite meal).  It was cold and dark while I was grilling.  I was outside in my shorts and slippers and a polar fleece and hat.  I had a beer, because you have to have a beer when you are grilling.  Rhys and Owyn and Finn all insisted on being out there with me, though Owyn came to his senses fairly early and went back inside.

While we were out there Rhys needed to pee.  He did not want to go inside.  I wish I'd had the camera.  He was standing there on the patio, bare ass shining in the moonlight as he tried to write his name in the snow. 

Tracy was able to enjoy her dinner in peace.  At my end of the table Owyn and Rhys were glued to me, eating their way through my food.  Owyn discovered that scallops ARE for little boys.  He also liked the steak and both boys ate piles of green beans.  What I got to eat was pretty tasty.

After dinner we put the boys to bed and then Tracy and I sat in front of the fireplace and drank some port and ate chocolate covered strawberries.  Then Tracy headed off to bed with her (probable) case of strep throat.

It was a good night.

Big Snow

We had a big snow last weekend.  We reportedly got 10 1/2 inches in town.  I suppose that possible but it was a lot more in our yard.  The cousins came over and the boys, girls and dogs were all thrown in the yard.

Hannah and Owyn (In his bumble Bee hat)

Finn is being very fierce.

Owyn is actually enjoying this, oddly.

Rhys just went down the slide and is already plotting his next exploit.

Finn is all worn out.  Poor puppy.

Sick

Rhys was sick yesterday.  I picked him up from school and he immediately told me, "Daddy, my stomach hurts".  He is often constipated so I asked him if he needed to poop.  He said he did but I was pretty sure that was not the problem.  He is usually very animated when I pick him up.  He is telling me about his day.  He has a little bit of a bounce in his step.  This walk, from the school to the car, was very quiet and very subdued.  He just trudged along beside me, eyes down.

We cancelled his therapy.  Thursdays are when I go down to the local game store and play games.  I normally take Owyn with me While Rhys goes to therapy.  When he is done with therapy Tracy grabs dinner and brings Rhys down to join me and takes Owyn away with her.  Rhys looks forward to Thursday night all week long (as do I).  Last night he told me, "Daddy, I'm not going tonight, I'm sick".  That's when we knew he really was not feeling well. 

He threw up and had diarrhea.  Tracy called me.  I wrapped up and came home.  We all sat on the couch together and snuggled. 

He was feeling much better this morning.

Bunny Teeth

Rhys has now lost both of his bunny teeth.  Both top, front teeth are gone.  He lost the first one a week or so ago.  The second one was very loose, but not quite ready.

We had a big snow storm this weekend.  The kids had cabin fever so we sent them out sledding with their cousins.  Rhys fell off the tube he was riding on and got run over.  He was pretty cheerful about it but decided that he was cold and wet and wanted to come home.  We had set up a ton of snacks for the day so he came back and built himself a plate of pepperoni and crackers and chips.  He was sitting on the floor next to me, took a bite of something, stuck his fingers in his mouth and handed me a tooth.  He was very excited, then he went back to his eating.

He has been happily smiling for anyone who wants to see it.

Rhys, the Dr and Mama

On Wednesday Rhys had his seven year well child appointment.  There are some big things to think about in that sentence.  Rhys is seven years old.  I remember bringing him home from the hospital like it was yesterday.  We've been through so much in the last seven years.  We've discovered that all is not well with our little guy but that we can all work through it together.

The well child appointment went really well, mostly.  Rhys has gained a lot of weight and is now 49 pounds.  He's filled out so that we do not have to see his spine and ribs anymore.  He is healthy and happy and everything looked good.  We have him on a good balance of meds right now, but we'll see how it plays out over the next couple of months.  We've been monkeying with those for three years, so it would be great to get him stable.

The kink in the program came when he was asked if he had had his flu shot yet.  "Yes, when I was a baby".  Now, I had told him and Mama that he was going to need to get it but she was in denial and he was adamant that he was not getting a shot.

In the end Mama and I held him down while he got his jab in the leg.  It turned out that both of us could stop the kicking and screaming long enough for her to get the needle in and out.  It also turned out that it did not hurt nearly as much as he thought it would.

Mama had promised Rhys a surprise if he was good.  We didn't count the shot fit as that was totally understandable.  Mama had been thinking Red Robin but I wanted a steak, so off to Saltgrass we went.  Rhys and I got there first and were waiting at the top of the stairs for Mama before we went in.  As Tracy walked up the wind caught her hair.  "Your Mama sure is beautiful isn't she Rhys".  "Yes she is".  "Mama, you sure are pretty!".

I'm your heart

Last night Mama was getting Owyn ready for bed.  Owyn said "Mama, I love you".  Mama said the same.  Owyn: "Mama, do you know why you love me?".  "Why Owyn?", Mama was curious now.  "Because I'm your heart!".  It's hard to argue with that one.  Mama didn't even try.  "Yes Owyn, you are my Heart.  I love you very much".