A Christmas to Remember- Part I

It's funny the way things work out. The night before we were set to leave on our eight-hour trek to Beulah, North Dakota, I shared with my husband how excited I was to visit my family and to see developments in my parents' home construction/remodel. I also recall watching Hunter eating breakfast that morning, marveling that he had not been sick in quite some time. I should have knocked (slammed my fist) on wood.

The morning of our trip, Hunter refused to eat and then put up a fight with almost everything we were attempting to do. Wouldn't get dressed. Wouldn't get off the couch. Wouldn't stop yelling. You get the picture. Now, I know my son. He has a lot of anxiety, which gets heightened when he is excited about something. I chalked his behavior up to anxiety and excitement. However, about an hour into our trip, Hunter's face became very pale and he started crying....and then throwing up. We pulled over on the side of the interstate (not safe, I know) and cleaned him up. We stopped at the next gas station to buy some essentials and determined that we would keep driving until he threw up again. Yes, we thought he might be throwing up from excitement. It's happened before. But about fifteen minutes later, he was sick again...and again...and again. Because we were so jam packed into the car, we had to start getting creative with what Hunter could throw up in. Barnes and Noble bag. Stocking cap #1. Stocking cap #2. Again, you probably get the picture. I really didn't think we'd ever make it home. After driving for 3 1/2 hours, we made it home. Hunter continued getting sick until 10 p.m. that evening. The poor little guy was so devastated about not seeing his Papa and Grandma and Cousin Hudson, but at one point, even he said, "I just want to be at my house."

We did make one more stop before heading home. We stopped at the Game Stop to purchase "Indiana Jones" for the DS. We wanted to cheer Hunter up a bit and wanted him to have something to do as he laid in bed "waiting" to be sick. It did the trick in terms of entertainment but as you know, he continued to be ill throughout the day and night.

So what were we confronted with besides having a sick child, you ask? Christmas dinner.... I hadn't anticipated cooking anything. And, the storm of the century was headed our way. After I bathed Hunter and put him to bed, I raced to Lunds, the only place I had even a slight chance of finding a prime rib. As I drove and as I shopped, I had to do a lot of self-talk. I'm not really great in crowds. To share some of my many flaws- I have no patience, I am quick-tempered, I am severely claustrophobic. I did keep everything in check as I shopped, though. I even chatted cheerfully with the lady in front of me as I stood in a line that weaved through the store. She told me that in her forty years of shopping at Lunds, she had never seen the store quite like it was that day. Must have been procrastination coupled with the brewing snowstorm.

When I arrived home, I sent Mitch out for the things I had forgotten to buy. He also made his way around the Twin Cities area looking for "Super Mario Brothers" for the Wii. When he got home, he said the same thing I had said two hours before: "I'm not going out there again!"

(to be continued)

A Note of Apology

I have to start this post by declaring that I think my firstborn son, Hunter, is absolutely the best. He has the best smile. He has the best laugh. He is genuine and loving and really wants to do the right thing.... and then sometimes stress gets the best of him and he lashes out. That happened at school today. I don't know the full story but was able to get bits of information from his teacher when I picked him up after school. What I do know is that Hunter did not handle his frustrations well. So, tonight I sat down with Hunter and helped him compose a note of apology to the teacher assistant. I did not know what else to do. What he said in the note: "Dear Ms. B, I'm sorry. Thank you for being my teacher." On the front of the note he drew a birthday cake. He was quite creative and worked very hard on the note. The funny thing was- during the process of writing the note, he forgot why he was writing it and decided to create a birthday card for himself! Too cute! I hope I approached this in the right way. I really want him to respect his teacher and learn how to manage his frustrations. I worry sometimes that I'm not the best model for how to deal with stress. I am most often stressed and sometimes react quickly, not thoughtfully. Let's hope tomorrow is a better day and that he learned a little something and that he grows a little bit stronger as a result of writing the note and giving it to the teacher.

Saturday's Song: Three Little Birds

This song is currently playing in the background at my house. Thought I'd share the lyrics to boost the spirits and perhaps force a song into your head!!!!!


"Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right.
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

Rise up this mornin',
Smiled with the risin' sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin', ("This is my message to you-ou-ou:")

Singin': "Don't worry 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."
Singin': "Don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

Rise up this mornin',
Smiled with the risin' sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin', "This is my message to you-ou-ou:"

Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, worry about a thing, oh!
Every little thing gonna be all right. Don't worry!"
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing" - I won't worry!
"'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."

Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right" - I won't worry!
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, oh no!
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!

Pick me up Pic: Happy Halloween! May the force be with you, and you, and you!

The Force is..... driving me crazy!

Hunter is obsessed... I repeat, obsessed with Star Wars. Reasons I know he is obessed:

1. When I look at his papers from kindergarten, especially coloring pages, I see his efforts to color the actual assigned picture compared to his sketches on the back. On the actual picture I see a scribble (or two). On the back I see detailed pictures of Darth Vader, Yoda, and many many light sabers.

2. When my mom calls, Hunter demands to speak to her. First on the agenda- "Grandma, you need to buy me a green light saber."

3. When I ask Hunter questions about kindergarten, I am informed that "Darth Vader is good" and "Obi Wan carries a green light saber."

4. During trips to Target, Hunter tries to sneak the Star Wars movies into our cart. So far, we have caught him every time!

5. During trips to Target, Hunter has to make a visit to the Star Wars aisle. What do we look at? Light sabers of course!

6. What is Hunter going to be for Halloween? Darth Vader

7. I read to Hunter ever night before bed. Recently, the only book I am allowed to read is "Darth Vader and the Dark Side"

8. Hunter once told me, "Mom, I want to go to the dark side." In my head I said, "Oh Hunter, you are often there!"

9. Hunter is allowed to watch some TV before bed. As I type this, Hunter is watching a movie. You guessed it: Star Wars!

10. I admit, at first, I was so excited that Hunter was expressing a strong interest in something. But I tell you what, words like "the force," "Jedi," "light saber" are starting to make me want to scream!!!!!!!!