Ink and Paint

Sophie has an art show next week. These are the pieces she made in school but chose not to display. I'm eager to see what made the cut.

That Funny Feeling

We were almost done with bedtime tonight when Topher told me that his throat "felt funny." I looked at it and his uvula and tonsils looked red and swollen. Since Bryan had strep throat a few weeks ago, I knew there was a chance his funny throat was something more. I told him to put pants on over his pajamas and I took him into urgent care.

No one balked at my request for a strep test, which I appreciated. The test was negative, but the PA that we saw agreed that his throat didn't look right. The look of his throat, plus his runny nose, and the fact that he randomly threw up last week all led her to treat him as if the test had been positive. She put him on antibiotics.

He's looking forward to a day of resting and maybe watching TV tomorrow, but he is sad to miss school.

This has been a long season of sick.

Strike That, Reverse It

Topher has gotten into the habit of asking for pain medicine every night at bedtime. I usually say no and remind him that taking medicine when you don't need it can be harmful. He's continued trying to convince me that he needs medicine each night. This is what he told me at bedtime tonight:

"I need medicine, my legs really really hurt. I think I'm having shrinking pains."

To the Future

Last night Phoebe and I attended the high school preview night for the outgoing 8th graders. Can you tell that she's excited? She grinned as we walked through the hallways and learned about various clubs that the school offers. Cooper was our tour guide, and he was also invited to join some of the clubs.

It's In a Book

Today was Dress Like Your Favorite Book Character Day. I think Topher made a great Harry Potter.

A Little Blurry

"Quick, Mom! Which is the button to take a picture?!" - Topher, right before he took this picture.

You Can Dance If You Want To

Some of the kids felt well enough to attend a family dance at our old ward on Saturday evening. I mostly sat and chatted with people, but I did dig up enough energy to dance a few of the songs. Last year at this same activity I danced every dance. Being sick for a few weeks really saps your strength.

Topher was sad to miss it, but he started feeling under the weather that morning. Bryan stayed home with him. After resting most of Saturday and Sunday, Topher felt healthy enough to go to school on Monday.

Thawing Out

It warmed up to 50 degrees today! I still wore my jacket zipped all the way up with my hood on, but at least I was outside. When I got too cold, Cooper went outside in my place. Topher spent over an hour outside this afternoon. Even after that, he wasn't ready to come inside.

The Words That Remain

Phoebe was asked to create a blackout poem this week for school. The kids in her class were given a copy of a page from a book, then they created poems by crossing out most of the words on the page. This is Phoebe's, and I think it's lovely.. The page is from The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.

She's alone high in the sky

Between the dusk and her home.

She knows regrets that painted

the color of her Soul.

The More You Know

Sophie is feeling much better after a few days on antibiotics. She had an activity at the library yesterday, so I gathered my energy and took her, along with Phoebe and Topher. While Sophie planned fun activities for younger library patrons, Topher and Phoebe picked out books. When it was nearly time to go I hauled our three bags of reading materials to the desk to check out. Topher, who had already picked out his books, came around the corner from where he'd been sitting with Phoebe, loaded down with more books.

Me: Oh buddy, we already have a lot of books.

Topher: But I want these too.

Librarian: That's great!

Topher: I just really love reading. (pauses, then starts to head off for more books) And I want to be rich and knowledged.

Yes, I checked out the extra books.