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First Week of School
By Margot | September 5, 2008
Before you read this post, I have a couple of places to send you today:Â First please click on the following link to see the wonderful Lacey Family and Magic Water on the Boston news:Â http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/17394176/index.html
Second, Erin Buenger is in the hospital facing five days of continuous chemo and it would be great if you can send her a funny story about Jr. High, per her request on her website: http://www.erinbuenger.blogspot.com/  It’s very easy. Erin is in room 933: http://www.texaschildrens.org/parents/patientgreeting/default.aspx  Thank you.
The boys on their first day of school.
Sam and Andy are loving school this week. Andy jumped right in with no problems. He was so ready to go, Jakey is in his class and was a little scared on the first day and Colleen leaned down to tell Andy that Jake was a little nervous and and Andy put his arm around him and put his hand up and said, “I got him.”  His teacher told me yesterday that she was so happy to have him in class and that he is so helpful.    Anyway, though we may still have some a delayed adjustment coming, so far Andy has breezed right into kindergarten as if he owned the place.
Sam is loving school too. He has Mrs. Abbuhl who he had in kindergarten and really likes her. He was nervous because he only knew a couple of kids in his class. This is the first year in two years that he hasn’t had Joe in his class, he was worried about it but he’s really liking school-so happy to go every day and has met some kids he really likes- the sporty guys of course. He sees Joe at lunch. He got an 80% on his first math test yesterday and tells me everyday the games he plays at recess (As does Andy). Mrs. Abbuhl told me that yesterday they were sitting in a group and she was asking everyone questions about reading. The second question was  “When do you like to read?” Sam’s answer was, “I like to read when my mom tells me to read.”  Nice. His first soccer game is on Saturday and he is very excited. He’s really fun to watch in soccer as he’s getting some serious moves.   After vision therapy yesterday, Sam and I went out to eat at Subway (his pick) and an older man came up and sat right next to us and said, “Can I ask you a question?” I was surprised and thinking, “Oh boy, here it comes” but said “Sure. “  He looked at Sam and said “How does your hearing aid work? I just went down to Mexico, they are cheaper down there, and ordered one and I’m wondering if it actually works.” Sam perked right up and said, “It works great. It really easy and I hear just as well as…. before.” He was so enthusiastic and so nice about it. I sometimes think he really likes to know that other people have to use hearing aids and that it’s not just him.  I told him how nice it was of him to make the man feel better and he said. “Sure. There’s nothing to be nervous about.”
Charlie had his two year check up. He’s right on track with everything except hight. He is off the track (or charts in this case) on hight. Dr. James said to please remember that he’s only two. He’s big kid and it is easy to treat as a three year old. I was thinking that she should be talking to my two older boys with that speech.
We have really hit the ground running this week, scheduling Sam’s blood check, his two soccer practices, Andy’s soccer practice, Charlie’s swimming lessons, and Sam’s vision therapy on top of school and all the new paperwork. I have stuffed all of the hurt and sadness way down into the nether regions of my brain.  My brain, however, is not outsmarted that easily and the thoughts waft up around midnight and/or during the day and hit like a body blow. I have such a hard time believing that Max, who was such a sparkle, a beautiful, enthusiastic, funny, sweet little boy is gone. I’m sad and mad for the Mikulaks who fought so hard and derserve their son, and I’m just sad in general. It’s redundant to state the obvious, cancer sucks and it isn’t fair.
We have not told Sam about Max. This is in no disrespect to Max and how amazing and wonderful he was or to the Mikulaks, who have been so kind and generous and who we would do anything for. We made this decision because Sam is an eight year-old little boy with the exact same disease who, for this week at least, is only worried about how his first soccer game is going to go and what game he is going to play at recess and his new class at school. We want him to live life To the Max and feel he deserves it. I know not everyone will agree with this decision but we hope you will respect it as what we feel is right for Sam and our whole family right now.
I’ll leave you with a smile. We have some new neighbors, very beautiful Brazilian girls. They are very very nice girls. They’ve been hanging out at the pool quite a bit in thong bikinis. It’s like a Ban de Solei commercial around here.  It’s funny to watch how many Dads have decided to barbeque lately ;-) (the community barbeque is looks right out over the pool). Neil came in from the pool last week with a big grin on his face and said, “Guess who’s in the hot tub with the Brazilian girls? Sam and Andy.” I went out to look and there are the two boys, Andy with his arms spread on the edge of the hot tub chatting up the girls.Â
Margot
Topics: Progress Reports | 4 Comments »
September 5th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Great post today, Margot. Thank you for the Boston link and thanks even more for the encouragement to Sam fans to send us a greeting. Some people are experiencing difficulty because the printer is tied up so much at the patient care center. We are getting three deliveries a day with stacks of messages.
I think you really captured a great deal of the stretch we make every day with our children. Go Sam and Andy! The pitch is a mighty fine place to be.
September 6th, 2008 at 4:59 am
Oh, that Andy…:D
Hey, maybe I can give a shot at writing a story for Erin. I was attending Jr. High just last year, so it’s pretty fresh in my mind.
Glad the boys are doing well at school.
Peace Out, Mimi
September 7th, 2008 at 7:09 am
I’m so sorry to hear about Max. You’re doing the right thing I think to let Sam enjoy school. If I were an 8 year old I’d be glad for every day not to hear about the ugliness in the world.
On a brighter note:
I smiled to read about the little stud muffins chatting up the Brazilian babes in the pool. That is so funny about their swimming suits.
You are my heroes!
Andy and Sam are so tall and cute.
September 10th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Of course, only you know what is best for Sam. Warmest wishes….