A couple of days ago I was feeling down about our neighbors moving. Isaac is at the age where he still struggles to understand that adults can feel sad. He alternated between a tentative laugh and concern as he tried to take cues from my cryptic expressions.
Aukai then explained why I was sad. Isaac furrowed his eyebrow and said "It's OK Mommy, I will always stay with you." He gave me a big hug and added, "Except some day you'll die." I almost died right then and there, of laughter.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Reuters
This picture just in from a local birthday party. The super-hero themed party brought in heroes from all over Whipple Park. (Who knew we were so well protected?) The secret identity of the striking young hero in the middle has yet to be identified, but he has been spotted several times since "flying" with his orange cape and yellow, fuzzy headband. Our sleuths are still working diligently, but no clues have been found; however, many believe the conspicuous "I" on his emblem lead us to the answer.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
The Ucky Mucky's
So, just as the beautiful weather hits Rochester, Aukai and I got hit with a case of what I affectionately call the "ucky muckys," AKA, the flu. When I say the flu, I am not talking about the "flu" your neighbor gets every year around January. No, I am talking full blown, strapped in bed 2 days and in and out 8+ more influenza. After skipping 3 days of school to take care of Aukai and the kids, I caught the bug on Saturday, and the rest is history, or at least, history in the making.
The important thing here, of course, is whose fault it is. Aukai is convinced it must be my fault, having brought home the ucky muckys on my white coat. I, however, know better. Based on the bug's incubation period, it CLEARLY could not possibly be my fault. Aukai, on the other hand, CHOSE not to get a flu shot this year.
Now you may say, 'but the flu shot didn't work this year.' That is just the problem. While the rest of us were resistant (but not immune), Aukai's refusal to get vaccinated left him vulnerable, allowing him to become truly ill and infect the rest of us with his high viral load. When will husbands learn? Women are always right!
That said, all this illness has had a silver lining. During those three days where Aukai was semi-comatose, I was able to spend some wonderful, guilt-free time with the kids. Making peanut butter sandwiches, cleaning, going to the park and flying kites . . . I honestly felt like I was playing house, and it was wonderful. In addition, it gave me an opportunity to feel like I was really doing something for Aukai. He does so much for me, and it is rare for me to feel that I have something significant to give back. So when all is said and done, maybe the ucky muckys aren't so ucky mucky after all.
The important thing here, of course, is whose fault it is. Aukai is convinced it must be my fault, having brought home the ucky muckys on my white coat. I, however, know better. Based on the bug's incubation period, it CLEARLY could not possibly be my fault. Aukai, on the other hand, CHOSE not to get a flu shot this year.
Now you may say, 'but the flu shot didn't work this year.' That is just the problem. While the rest of us were resistant (but not immune), Aukai's refusal to get vaccinated left him vulnerable, allowing him to become truly ill and infect the rest of us with his high viral load. When will husbands learn? Women are always right!
That said, all this illness has had a silver lining. During those three days where Aukai was semi-comatose, I was able to spend some wonderful, guilt-free time with the kids. Making peanut butter sandwiches, cleaning, going to the park and flying kites . . . I honestly felt like I was playing house, and it was wonderful. In addition, it gave me an opportunity to feel like I was really doing something for Aukai. He does so much for me, and it is rare for me to feel that I have something significant to give back. So when all is said and done, maybe the ucky muckys aren't so ucky mucky after all.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Is dying scary?
Isaac has been perseverating on the idea of death and resurrection lately. Tonight we had a special conversation that I wanted to record before I forgot the details. It was one of those times where humor and gravity share quarters and where a vivid window to your child's mind is momentarily opened.
H: I love you so much. Promise me you will still give me hugs and kisses when you get old.
*I pick up a book to read to Isaac*
I: OK, I will. Mom, I don't want to die when I get old.
*I put the book back down.*
H: OK . . . well, do you want to die when you are young?
I: No.
H: Ah, so you want to live forever?
I: Yah.
H: Are you scared of dying?
I: Yah.
H: What is scary about it?
I: Well, when people are sick and they don't make it to the hospital they die, or if they sometimes see a bad guy, and the bad guy shoots them, they die.
H: That is scary. But that doesn't happen very often. I think you will live to be very old before you die. But everyone dies eventually. Grandmas, mommies and daddies, even little kids get old and die. Eventually you will get old, and develop gray hairs and wrinkles, and then you'll die too. But that won't happen for a very long time. Besides, death doesn't have to be something you are scared of. Do you know what happens when you die?
I: What?
H: You go live with Heavenly Father.
I: And then you come back and be resurrected?
H: Well, not for a long time. Not until after the Jesus comes in the second coming. But all these phases are wonderful. Life is a wonderful, happy time, and heaven is a beautiful place where people are happy.
I: Mom, where does Jesus live?
H: In Heaven.
I: Is Heaven a city?
H: No, Heaven is another world.
I: Is it far, far away?
H: Yes. But Grandma lives far, far away, and you can call her on the telephone. When you pray it is kind of like that. You can talk to Heavenly Father even though He is far, far away and He will listen because He loves you.
I: Who does Heavenly Father pray to?
H: I don't think He prays to anyone, but I bet He has lots of loved ones that He talks to.
*I pick the book back up.*
I: Mom, what happens if a mommy and daddy die, but the kids don't.
*I put the book back down again*
H: Are you worried about what will happen to you if Daddy and I die but you don't?
I: Ya.
H: I don't think that will happen. But you have lots of aunts and uncles and grandmas and grandpas that love you very much. And they would come and get you and you would live with them. They would take care of you just like Mommy and Daddy do now.
*I make a mental note to discuss this topic with Aukai and put together a will, just in case.*
I: But what if everyone dies?
H: You mean all the uncles and aunts?
I: Ya.
H: Well then, Jared and Amy will take care of you.
I: But WHY will they?
H: Because, they love you very much.
I: Do they have video games at their house?
H: Yes, they have more than we do.
I: Oh, I'm not allowed to play a lot of video games.
H: Well, I'm sure they would take good care of you.
I: But Mom, they have such a small house!
H: Well, they'll move to make room for you, because they love you.
I: But what if all the adults die.
H: Then the older children will take care of you, like Fiona and Chesney.
I: But they are children too!
H: Yes, but I am sure Fiona can take care of you. Trust me, she will make sure that you have enough to eat and drink and that you have clean clothes to wear and she will read you stories. (For those of you who don't know Fiona, she is currently 9 going on 30.) Besides, it would be pretty much impossible for all the adults and only the adults to die.
I: Oh, OK.
*We read our book and Isaac goes to bed.*
H: I love you so much. Promise me you will still give me hugs and kisses when you get old.
*I pick up a book to read to Isaac*
I: OK, I will. Mom, I don't want to die when I get old.
*I put the book back down.*
H: OK . . . well, do you want to die when you are young?
I: No.
H: Ah, so you want to live forever?
I: Yah.
H: Are you scared of dying?
I: Yah.
H: What is scary about it?
I: Well, when people are sick and they don't make it to the hospital they die, or if they sometimes see a bad guy, and the bad guy shoots them, they die.
H: That is scary. But that doesn't happen very often. I think you will live to be very old before you die. But everyone dies eventually. Grandmas, mommies and daddies, even little kids get old and die. Eventually you will get old, and develop gray hairs and wrinkles, and then you'll die too. But that won't happen for a very long time. Besides, death doesn't have to be something you are scared of. Do you know what happens when you die?
I: What?
H: You go live with Heavenly Father.
I: And then you come back and be resurrected?
H: Well, not for a long time. Not until after the Jesus comes in the second coming. But all these phases are wonderful. Life is a wonderful, happy time, and heaven is a beautiful place where people are happy.
I: Mom, where does Jesus live?
H: In Heaven.
I: Is Heaven a city?
H: No, Heaven is another world.
I: Is it far, far away?
H: Yes. But Grandma lives far, far away, and you can call her on the telephone. When you pray it is kind of like that. You can talk to Heavenly Father even though He is far, far away and He will listen because He loves you.
I: Who does Heavenly Father pray to?
H: I don't think He prays to anyone, but I bet He has lots of loved ones that He talks to.
*I pick the book back up.*
I: Mom, what happens if a mommy and daddy die, but the kids don't.
*I put the book back down again*
H: Are you worried about what will happen to you if Daddy and I die but you don't?
I: Ya.
H: I don't think that will happen. But you have lots of aunts and uncles and grandmas and grandpas that love you very much. And they would come and get you and you would live with them. They would take care of you just like Mommy and Daddy do now.
*I make a mental note to discuss this topic with Aukai and put together a will, just in case.*
I: But what if everyone dies?
H: You mean all the uncles and aunts?
I: Ya.
H: Well then, Jared and Amy will take care of you.
I: But WHY will they?
H: Because, they love you very much.
I: Do they have video games at their house?
H: Yes, they have more than we do.
I: Oh, I'm not allowed to play a lot of video games.
H: Well, I'm sure they would take good care of you.
I: But Mom, they have such a small house!
H: Well, they'll move to make room for you, because they love you.
I: But what if all the adults die.
H: Then the older children will take care of you, like Fiona and Chesney.
I: But they are children too!
H: Yes, but I am sure Fiona can take care of you. Trust me, she will make sure that you have enough to eat and drink and that you have clean clothes to wear and she will read you stories. (For those of you who don't know Fiona, she is currently 9 going on 30.) Besides, it would be pretty much impossible for all the adults and only the adults to die.
I: Oh, OK.
*We read our book and Isaac goes to bed.*
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