Horrible Sunday...Priceless Memory!

WARNING: Those of you with weak stomachs do NOT read further!

Ok, you were given fair warning!

Last Sunday, was supposed to be fairly quiet. I was going to babysit Dizzy for a few hours feed him lunch, and during that time run Amy's car, which was parked here, over to her apartment. I did not want her to have to drive home so late at night. She was due in from Minnesota the next night at 11:00 p.m. and needed to go to work early the next day. The plan was that Rissy would simply drop by Amy's and collect me on the way home from the meeting she and Brandon attended. Even the best laid plans....

It started off going from bad to worse with Dizzy's declaration of "My tummy hurts" just prior to lunch. I in my infinite wisdom of children told him he probably just needed to go potty and to try before he washed his hands for lunch in about 5 minutes. He did as he was asked but said he couldn't go. He ate a hearty lunch of sausage, eggs and toast. We prepared to leave for Amy's and after he said he still had a tummy ache, I thought to myself 'If I put him in her car he's going to throw up.' But did I heed my own advice? NO!!! I did however grab a bag for him just in case.

Scene two: We are in Amy's car doing 55 or so down I-5, and I hear him spit. I said "No honey that is not just for spit it is in case.." I was promptly interrupted by "HURL". Ah, I said, unable to physically support him I asked "There, does your tummy feel better?" He said "A little." Now for those of you who don't know Dizzy personally, this kid walked around on a fractured foot without complaint save the initial hurt. Enough said, NOTHING phases Diz.

Scene three: We arrive at Amy's, and I foolishly assume the worst is over. I now get to see the damage or success. Diz is covered from ankle to shoulder. NASTY! So I pull him out of the car, assess the damage, get him inside instructing him to strip inside Amy's apartment the instant he gets into the kitchen where it is easier to clean. Throw him in the tub to wash him up. Just at this time Charissa and Bean arrive with Donovan of course. I say "Come in and step carefully." She of course ponders "why"? I left Charissa to clean Diz and I went out to take care of Amy's newly decorated car.

Scene two revisited: Fortunately Amy had a seat cover for the dog in the back where Diz rode. Simple enough I thought, I will just pull this off toss it in my laundry and it will be good as new when Amy arrives home tomorrow. So I set off to removed the seat cover which seems anchored by lead. CANNOT figure how to get the darned thing off for the longest time. Finally after what seemed an eternity, I discovered Amy's back seat pops off two pegs in the floorboard. I removed the car seat cover and car seat holder complete with cup holders filled with nastiness. OF COURSE this is not the end! The seat cover has holes for the seat belt so I had to clean the seat. BUT That's not all folks the seat itself has holes for the seat belt, so I had to use cat litter, which fortunately Amy has an abundance of, to absorb the liquid. Meanwhile I am running back and forth checking on Diz, getting bags, cleaners cat litter.

Inside, Bean is starving as he and Rissy were going to stop by the grocery store on the way back from the meeting which ran through lunch but they didn't for whatever reason. So he is feeling sick from not eating and Donovan is busy eating Dizzy is STILL vomiting every 20 minutes or so. SO I stopped grabbed two muffins, some cheese and something in a can that you microwaved for 45 minutes and called it lunch. WHY two you ask? Charissa declared to Bean that they would go soon, and not to whinge as she hadn't even eaten breakfast. It's now 3:00 and she is supposed to be nourishing Donovan. So people fed Dizzy asleep on he bathroom floor covered only by a towel, I return the THE SCENE.

Scene two revisited for the ???th time. Now I have the car clean. I went to shake out the seat cover which my now has absorbed the liquid but left the chunks which I do NOT wish to take home for my washer. I proceeded to shake the cover off, before heading home to wash it, and the WIND catches it sending chunks of vomit into my face and hair. I wanted to shave my head bald and boil my head!!!! How gross!

Meanwhile the bug that is affecting Diz has affected him with diarrhea a new found joy:-) FINALLY we move toward Rissy's car.

Scene four: We all pile in to Rissy's car and begin to pull away. Jordan is wearing shoes socks which amazingly did not get hit, and what looked to be a fairly unimportant hoodie to Amy. After throwing up one more time, we assume we can make the 8 mile journey uneventfully. NOT SO. We hadn't even left the parking lot when Dix declares "I have to go poopie." NOOOOO! I command. I had Rissy stop, run him back in to Amy's apartment, and hope there is NOTHING left.

Scene five: After much adieu I convince Rissy to take Donovan and Bean home and leave Diz with me. With Donovan being so little if he got the bug, it is unlikely he would last, considering the rate at which this wiped Dizzy out. The just don't have the resources to withstand prolonged dehydration without I.V. help. So I kept Diz and the three left. With my line of work I happen to have chux pads (highly absorbent pads covering a large area like a bed) So I lay Dizzy on one and begin to read a peace a last... WRONG! He looked bug eyed and said "I just pooped" and did he ever. Now he has made it to the toilet every other time but fortunately he did have the chux under him. I hollered for Jeff to come with the Clorox Wipe and some paper towels and toss Diz in the tub once again. I told Jeff, "This poor kid is so sick, I can't keep him with him or his bowels, I am going to have to run up to Albertson's and buy some diapers and Pedialyte." To which Jeff responded with the BIGGEST BUGGED out eyes you have ever seen! I have never seen him so panic stricken! He said "Na, nah NO I will go up, you just make a list. I don't know what to do with him!" So out of all the days events I will forever remember the priceless look on Jeff's face when I suggested that he stay with Diz for 10 minutes while I ran to the store:-) THAT is my favorite thing of the whole day!

Post note: I got the virus Monday night as did Rissy and Bean and I can say from experience it was WICKED!

Gratitude

I decided to blog about the gratitude I feel for these good people around me.

Bean is going to Australia, as many of you know or at least those of you who read his blog, http://www.alloverallnew.blogspot.com/ if he hasn't told you personally. He is very excited!

The point to this is that while he did hold a Bake Sale to earn money, he was given a basket of baked goodies by another Village Home family which added to the items he was able to sell.

During the Bake Sale another family became aware of his efforts to raise money and work for this trip as much as he can. The next day Bean was presented with an opportunity to work a TaeKwonDo tournament allowing him to earn extra money by selling bottled water etc. He will purchase the goods from Costco, as they gave him a cash card to be used for bakery items but it came to late for that.

Then a friend called asking if Bean might work for her as she wanted to help him on his journey financially, but preferred to allow him to work for the money rather than just handing it over.

As we have agreed to invest in his future and this journey, I want to say I am personally so grateful to EVERYONE who has helped in one way or another. Every penny is appreciated and blessed.

Diz learn that letters make words...

...words make a sentence, and sentences result in stories.

Yesterday was not onlyDizzy's first play, but the realization of the above. Now, combine that with PURE exhaustion and you can perhaps begin to understand my story.

Picture this: We had Diz overnight and for all day Saturday as stated in my previous blog. Then it was too nice to be couped up inside packing, so I took Diz and Bean for a couple of hours to enjoy fresh air and exercise while Mom and Dad packed. Now, Diz took over a mile walk with Grandpa, played at the playground, went to the play, collected Bean, went to another park and ran around some more, stopped at the dreaded McDonalds, for more play then we went to the old house for what I thought would be a short stint and I would have Dizzy all worn out and ready for bed at 7:30.

9:30!!!, no nap, 4 years old, exhaustion overcome Diz. Finally to avoid a meltdown while awaiting his parents, I invited Dizzy to my lap for a cuddle. There was little left to do anyway that evening for me save carry boxes, and that would have been more difficult with a temper tantrum ensuing in the middle of it all. Diz ran and grabbed a book, and sat on my lap. He pointed word for word, some words many times, and I read where he pointed. Bean was punchy, Rissy was hot, and laughing so hard she was coughing, eyes watering...everyone was laughing so hard except Diz who was unamused and just sooooo focused, or asleep with his eyes open, that he failed to see any humor and was very serious. My voice was nearly monotone and I would read like a 1st grader, a slow first grader at that. Diz was soaking it all in, I had tears running down my eyes from watching Bean and Riss fall apart at the seams, rolling on the floor with laughter. Rissy said my voice and faithfulness as a Grandma dutifully reading a book i could not have been less interested in, reminded her of Ferris Buellers Day Off with the monotone teacher calling out Bueller.........Bueller........Bueller?

This is a favorite memory, one I hope not to forget any time soon!

Dizzy's 1st play

Yesterday, I had Dizzy for the day and I took him to his first play "The Three Little Pigs, The True Story". Bean was about this age when he attended his first play. I had a few concerns as we are season ticket holders we have preier seating, right in the middle right up front, right in the middle where one must trample on feet and interrupt should one wish to leave during the performance. Bean and Diz are two diametrically opposed brothers when it comes to personality and temperment. Bean, I could tell to sit quietly and wait until the performance was finished and he wouldn't question the request. Diz is far more outgoing, chatty, gregarious in general, and disinclined to sit still at the head of St. Peter while he awaits a decision as to whether or not he will get into the gates of heaven! Still, I pursued a good outcome, explaining what it was we were doing, his expected behavior etc.

Once we entered downtown Diz was gobstopped. He took in the sights, the smells, the lights, theater, a small and intimate venue. When we got to our seats, just a few minutes to spare, he sat quietly and spoke not a word. He barely moved in his seat, whihc for any of you who know Diz is a feat in and of itself!

Once the play was finished the actors stepped out to meet and greet and sign autographs, BUT dizzy needed to go potty. I assured him they would still be there when we returned, judging from the impossibly long lines. I was WRONG! Stan Foote the Artistic Directior, with whom I have had brief conversations, when Bean was in attendance, overheard me say to an obviously sullen and disappointed Diz, that I was sorry, I really thought he (the big bad wolf) would still be there after our trip to the bathroom. Stan told Diz that they went back inside for pictures. I said "He'll be okay, it was just his first play." Stan said "Come here buddy, I will get you back stage and you can see them really quickly. Stan did just that. Diz went back stage, chatted up the actors, and thanked Stan for introducing him. We prepared to leave and Diz exclaimed "BUT I didn't get to meet the wolf!" who was at the time busy with promos. He came over to meet Diz, shook his hand, whcih Dizzy reluctantly shook, he was after all still in constume. We prepared to leave quietly and quickly when Stan offered one more treat, a signed poster from the cast. Dizzy was over the moon! He opened it in the car and declared the baliff piggy on the poster to be "Mr. Foote".

I very much enjoyed watching Dizzy enjoy his first play!