Kyler turned two this week. I know it's cliched to say, I can't believe where the time went, blah, blah, blah. But let's face it, it's true. Two years ago, I was 9 months pregnant, chasing JP across the school field. He was struggling with all day school and in the mornings would take off across the field behind the black top. What a picture that must have been...my running, holding my belly, Charlie behind me, JP tearing away.
I remember clearly the day we went to the hospital. It was a beautiful September day, and we had been at JP's soccer game in the morning, and then to lunch at Al's grill. All I wanted to eat was french fries and chicken noodle soup. (The soup was loaded with fat, homemade noodles.) I think my body must have been gearing up for something by stocking me up on carbs.
After lunch I had one of those experiences when you are told by your ob gyn to go down to the hospital, just to check stuff out... but you manage convince yourself that whatever is going on a false alarm, and you'll be back home again in no time. I think you do it so you're not disappointed when you are sent home! I wasn't sent home. We had the baby. While my Mum flew over the ocean that night to stay with us, Kyler Matthew was born.
Now, when September rolls around, and the leaves start to turn here and there, I feel like Mum should be here. She stayed for almost 6 weeks in the Midwest, spending a couple of weeks with my brother. But it was the first time that she got to see one of my baby's on the very day they were born. when my Dad arrived a couple of weeks later, it was also, the soonest he had seen one our children. Those 6 weeks were priceless. There is something magical when you bring a newborn home. Despite the physical exhaustion, the fuzzy head from lack of sleep, and a sore body, time feels like it stands still. Having the big boys hold their new baby brother on the sofa will forever be imprinted in my memories. And having my Mum insist that I take a bath every night, with bubbles that she had brought from Boots in England, again, will be imprinted in my mind. So, the two years flew past, and Kyler is still a happy, happy little boy. (Some things never change!) All that's missing is Mum and Dad.

RIP David Beckham (the fish, not the player...)

The boys fish died today. After a frantic evening last night of trying to revive the half-starved fish, David Beckham gave up the fight this afternoon. I did point put that we may learn a lesson from putting the fish in their bedroom and then forgetting to feed him for a week? JP was close to hysterical last night...so I can't imagine our afternoon when he gets back from school and the fish is belly-up. I know it's important for them to see the cycle of life. So, I think I have to leave the fish in the tank (gross...the tank is next to my coffee pot that is going on momentarily so I have any hope of finishing a reading assignment for class) and have them help me bury him. The urge to swiftly fish him out and flush down the you-know-what is terribly tempting. But, I think they will be more upset if he is completely gone when they get home. After our dog Addison died last Spring, they did have questions about where she went. The doggy-heaven topic was visited and I did say that yes, I think she is somewhere watching us...but fish? Maybe a little box buried in the garden will suffice. I honestly don't know if I can stretch doggy heaven to include beta fish. Maybe, since fish aren't quite so personable and don't attach themselves to you or your kids (hence forgetting to feed him for a week) those kind of soul-searching (literally) questions won't come up.
They have Religious Ed this evening. I know that JP will try to get out of it by stating that he absolutely cannot go post fish-funeral. Kyle told me to tell him that thinking about God and talking about it in class may actually help. I thought that was a grand idea. JP doesn't like RE anyway, so it's always tricky to get him enthusiastic about going. Maybe presenting it as therapeutic will work? We'll see. Otherwise, here I come PetCo, because I am sure the next fish is right around the corner....