Wise mouth

Madison had oral surgery Wednesday morning to remove her wisdom teeth plus an impacted tooth that was going to be a problem. She was pretty loopy at first, saying some really funny things. An impressionist painting hung in front of her on the wall, and she kept saying how much she hated it, and then she tried to take her bandaid off. Once I took it off, she wanted it on. She thought it was the 4th of july, and asked to drive on the way home. It's funny how people react to drugs. Madison should never, never take more than an Advil or Tylenol. When the drugs were really in her system, she tried to leave the house and alternated between rage and crying. I felt like we were in one of those dramas where the patient is checked into rehab. The kids kept peeking over the sofa at her until she yelled at them, and they would disappear. A fly kept landing on her and she flew into a rage as she tried to kill it or ask us to. We stopped the medicine, flushed it down the toilet, gave her advil, and called the professionals - my mom and dad. Thanks family for helping Madison by talking her "down", and letting her vent to someone who wasn't in her own home. I sure love you guys!

After Garrett and I had a long day of caring for the patient, we handed the baton over to Rhett last night when he returned home from his trip, and went to "Evan Almighty" - funny and sweet - I really liked what's his name in the lead. We've checked out lots of movies for the weekend, and watched "Multiplicity" last night - thought of the boys - don't you guys quote a lot from that movie? Anyway, today is a lot better, and I'm sure tomorrow will be even better than today.

I'm glad Madison had her teeth out now instead of several years from now, so we could keep her under lock and key!

Bedtime questions of an almost ten year old

Livi took 4th grade family life at the end of the school year, and tonight on the way home from the swim meet (when we're so tired we can barely say a coherant sentence) the questions started coming. I am realizing that "the talk" is not a perfectly planned moment, but rather a lot of questions that are answered here and there - definately when you least expect it. I wonder what things you all remember about family life, and your early musings......

"I have an egg? Where does it come from? How does it get to be a baby?"
"Does giving birth hurt? What if your baby is too big? What if you are small and your
husband is a huge guy... will you have a huge baby? How big is my baby going to be? Do I have
to have a baby? Why does it hurt? What if it can't get out?
"How does an egg get to be a baby?" I asked- "how much do you already know about this subject?" she said, "I know all about plant pollination, and that's about it." Okay... then we discussed fertilization for a ten year old mind, and she was going "Really? Really? Oh my gosh!"
When a man & a woman do that, how does IT get in there?"
"What if I like a guy, how do we know if we have anything in common? What if you marry someone and you have nothing in common? What if lots of people ask you to marry them, but you don't want to hurt their feelings and say no? What if you like two guys exactly the same, and you can't choose between them?" Then a little break....."who was Hoodini, and how did he escape from all those chains? If you take tonsils out, did you need them all the time, and what do tonsils actually do?"
The ending questions "When I die and go to heaven, what age will I be? What will I look like?"
Tonight she really didn't wait to hear all the answers, she just wanted to ask a lot of questions and watch her mom start to answer before she launched into another series of questions. Becca was in the car quietly listening while sucking her fingers, and I'm sure tucking all the information in for a later time, and Cecily was sawing logs. The only thing she seems to have learned from family life.. you're going to start a little bleeding soon... have your mom buy some pads!

Trust

This morning at 7 a.m. Madison and I went to the high school and traded in her 40 hours of driving log for a PDL - 90, a 90 day temporary license until she will appear in court to receive her actual license - this is a requirement in our state - scare the begeebies out of the teenagers and make it really hard to get their license. Her friend Patrick is still working on his! A tough, weather beaten female drivers ed teacher gave the license to me, and then I handed it over to Madison with little fanfare. I was thinking... is she ready for this? She gleefully offered to help me today, and she really did. She took Garrett to Seth (ie: Steven Speidelberg's) home because they are making a movie. She then drove to Little Ceasers to thoughtfully ask if anyone needed her to get some dinner for them (nobody wants pizza), and went to a Subway run, then took the girls to swimteam (with me). She won't be getting her own car for a few years, and the van isn't cool, but it's what we have, and the other car is a stick shift, which she hasn't learned on yet.
Sunday night we gave Madison the "dating and purity" fireside, which made John Bytheway sound dull! Rhett and I were in perfect sync- the spirit was strong. We have put up guidelines and rules that will hopefully allow her to have a great summer without getting "too serious" with her boyfriend. With all these guidelines in place, it is time to trust - not blindly, but to allow the teachings that we have taught for so long to hopefully start working in her life, and that she will make good choices.
Garrett is also going to Philmont - getting on a plane, flying out to meet some scouts, and going with a friend for a week. Garrett is responsible and is a "rock", so I'm sure he'll be fine, but again, it's kind of that letting go process. Both Madison and Garrett have decided to quit band this year. We tried to get them to keep it up - they have done so well, but nothing would persuade them. Again - to force or to let them choose? Madison made chamber singers, and Garrett is taking some technical electives.
One of Madison's best friend's is graduating tomorrow from high school. She is only seventeen, and is going to BYU summer semester. Her family have been our best friends here, and they are moving to Minnesota. We are hosting a party for all of them on Saturday, since their house is packed and they are almost out of here. I really do love this family, and will sorely miss them. I have to let go, but it is so hard - I'm still not used to this moving thing! I guess though this blog is meandering, it has a theme. I am still so glad to have the three "littles" that still need me all the time, where choices are fewer and mom's word still goes. And little Cecily who is still dependent on me for everything - believe it or not, it's good to have her when all this change is going on! I do feel like my prayers have been deeper, and I've been giving a lot more over to the Lord - asking him to watch over or care for, or guide me when I don't know what to do!
A big storm is coming... I can hear the thunder and lightning. It's time to shut down the computer before it becomes toast!

Nearing the end of school

Colonial Days was truly an exciting time for all the fourth graders! A group of Virginian colonists came to visit- real corsets and costume, and taught the kids to dance, weave, feast, craft, and drum like the colonists did! This group actually teaches this kind of dance twice a month in downtown Fredericksburg.

Livi's facial expression here was priceless!

Field day, band concerts, Colonial Day, picnics, lots of things to say "goodbye" to the school year and bring on the summer. I am preparing to give a lesson at girl's camp, and sewing a big smiley face costume for Activity day camp. This time of year always is busy for school aged kids and parents. It makes us ready to take some time off this summer & relax.