Halloween has arrived, we’ve trick or treated and been back home to eat the candy. The day was nice enough that we let Meghan go out and collect her candy. Michah still does not understand the day (great, now I can raid his candy). But Meghan and Mathew had a blast running around the block. Meghan and Mathew recycled their costumes from last year, a fairy princess and Thomas respectively. Meanwhile, Michah was a little lion!
Well after a delay of three weeks, Meghan’s toncils have finally been removed. Meghan, Sheryl and I went to the hospital (mommy’s work), first thing this morning. By the time Sheryl and I finished breakfast in the cafeteria, the toncils were out. Meghan was back home and in her own bed by 2:00 and trying to run around by 3:30. It is going to be a long 3 weeks trying to keep her quiet.
Since yesterday was such a nice day and we don’t think Meghan will be able to go trick or treating, we took the kids to Groebert’s farm last night. As you can see all three of them had a lot of fun.
Michah in the pumkin bin
Mathew, where else? but on the train!
Meghan, a top the train.
Can you believe it? I broke a molar a couple of days ago. It was something I’d expect to happen to one of the kids, but it happened to me. It was so dumb. I was enjoying an Atomic Fireball. I haven’t had one of those in ages. We used to goto the camp store at camp Tousey (oh this brings back memories) and spend our day’s allowance on candy. One of my favorites was the Atomic Fireballs.
We used to sit around the cabin and see who could keep the fireball in their mouth the longest before it got too hot. The loser had to go on some dare. Camp was fun if the bugs didn’t get to you. Most people sprayed lots of Off! on every inch of bare skin to keep the bugs away. We didn’t know how good we had it.
Anyway, here I was years later enjoying the fireball when I bit into it with my back teeth. Suddenly, I felt a crack and a piece of something which should not have been there. It was a part of my molar. So off to the dentist I went. He was able to provide a temporary repair but I will need a crown for the tooth. I guess I just not as young as I used to be.
Mathew and I just got back from a train and hobby show at the Rosemont convention center. It was a lot of fun for both of us. There were many different hobbies on display but Mathew was most interested in the trains. There were trains of all sizes to keep him interested.
As we were walking through the parking lot, I noticed this old DeSoto!
Just one of the many train layouts on display.
Mathew riding on one of the trains.
Learning how to control a digital train!
At the end of the day, I’m not sure who had more fun, Mathew or me. From the way he napped in the car from all of the excitement, I think it might have been him by a bit.
Ok, so we didn’t move very far. But Sheryl and I did move. The downstairs is finally done and we can move in. So yesterday, we had a couple of movers, move the furniture downstairs. Last night, we spent our first night in our new master bedroom suite. Each kid finally has their own bedroom. We were not fully out of our old room before, Meghan was moving her stuff in. Mathew did the same to Meghan. The one who was most confused was Baloo. I’m not sure he knows what to make of all the moving around.
Now, we just have to figure out how to arrange the furniture, move our clothes into the closet and settle in. It is going to be interesting getting used to the new living arrangements. Now we have two more phases of construction to go!
Meghan was supposed to have her toncils removed earlier today. It was all set. Working in the OR herself, Sheryl handpicked Meghan’s surgical team. The Surgeon and Anestheologist, the nurses and the techs were all set. Mom and Dad were all ready to go. Meghan was looking forward to mounds of ice cream.
Unfortunately, at midnight, Meghan awoke with a 101 degree fever. Sheryl was actually talking to somebody in the OR when Meghan walked in. In a blink the surgery was put on hold. They can’t remove the toncils when the patient is running a fever. We’re on hold for at least two weeks. So now it is two more weeks of worrying.
No, I’m not being premature. Sunset this evening starts the beginning of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. So to all of our friends and family celebrating the Jewish New Year, L’Shana Tova!
As I mentioned earlier in my previous post, my dad, brother, Rick and nephews, Benjamin and Nicholas arrived Saturday morning for a quick visit. They returned to Syracuse Sunday evening. A few minutes before they arrived, the power came back on. The moment they arrived, Meghan ran upto Uncle Rick and asked him if he could save her “swinging tree” That is our apple tree that had been uprooted in the storm days earlier. Unfortunately, Rick took one look at the tree and gave Meghan the bad news.
We had a nice visit. Saturday, we caught up and visited. On Sunday we took the whole clan to the Brookfield Zoo. What can I say? It was a nice family visit.
Rick and Dad napping after the long trip.
The clan as we entered the zoo. From left to right: Nicholas, Benjamin, Michah, Mathew, and Meghan.
The last several days have been absolutely crazy. Last Thursday around 3:15, right around the time Meghan was due home, I looked up and noticed it was pitch black out. I’ve never seen it that dark during the day before. The wind was howling and the rain was just coming down as if it was being poured out of a big bucket. I’ve never seen a storm this bad.
I ran upstairs, grabbed Michah, Baloo, a bottle of milk and threw them into our new bedroom closet. I thought it was the safest spot in the house. Then the terror began. Where was Meghan? Where was her bus. What was going on? I went from window to window and didn’t see a thing other than rain and more rain. I opened the garage door to see if the bus was coming no bus. The storm kept up. I had to shut the garage door to keep the water out. Then the power went out.
Eventually, the storm subsided. I looked out the front and there were trees down all over the place. I looked in back and saw one of our apple trees was uprooted. It was a mess everywhere. Still no Meghan. The phones were out. I called on my cel phone trying to get through to the school. Nothing. Finally a hour late, I saw a bus on the street behind us. I walked over and found Meghan. The bus was not able to get through due to all of the downed trees and power lines. But that was just the beginning of 3 days without power.
When Sheryl arrived home, she had Mathew who had been at daycare. I was not real worried about him as I knew they would move him to a sheltered location. We got everybody settled then started to clear the mess. I worked with some neighbors to cut the downed trees blocking the street. We also removed some of the dangerous widow makers so they would not fall on any of the kids.
Friday morning, I discovered our neighbors accross the street had power. So I bought 200 feet of cord to power our refrigerator and freezer. By Saturday morning the power was back. Fortunately, I did not have any events this weekend. Just a visit from my Dad, brother, Rick and my nephews, Benjamin and Nicholas. More about that later.
Wow, hard to believe that another school year has begun. Today marked the first day of 2nd grade for Meghan. It seems like just yesterday that we put her on the bus for the first time and now she seems like an old pro at it.
When the bus arrived, Meghan had a pleasant surprise! It was the bus driver from her kindergarden bus. Jackie really likes the kids and goes out of her way to help them. During rainy weather, she would even pick Meghan up in front of the house. The best thing about Jackie is that she does not assign seats on the bus. So Meghan can sit with her friends.
Well, it is a school night and I’ve got to get the kids off to bed.