April

It's so hard to believe that April is over. It was a busy and memorable month for us. I've been taking lots of photos.

E had a good time with the surgeon "costume" I brought home from the hospital for him. Couldn't find his stethoscope in the mess of his costume drawer though:
The week of B's surgery was one of the most challenging of my life. We were thrilled that the dot which had been placed on him to indicate to the surgeon where his stoma should go, got to go unused:No ileostomy...yay!

My garden kept my spirits up during that week of three hours into Manhattan, six or seven holding B's hand, and three hours back home:
My mom took the boys to all of our activities during that week: Green School on Wednesday, Zoo classes on Thursday, and soccer on Saturday. Then after soccer on Saturday (the day after the surgery) she whisked them away to Maine to keep them entertained during my week of commuting. It was the second toughest week of my life. I took a photo of her for her new business cards:
B's brother E's hospital was right across the street from B's, so I could actually look out our window at it. They released E while B was still recovering from surgery. I looked out the window one day and saw that his fire station was at the hospital. I was surprised that they could all get down there from the Bronx for his release day, but then I saw this:Apparently some Easter Bunnies had to pay a visit to the children's floor of the hospital, and only the ladder truck that E drives would be good enough. Coincidence?

Very strange, I must say, to have a week that focuses on me rather than the kids, but nevertheless...

I had an amazing commute the night of B's surgery. I got to watch a woman being serenaded in the 68th Street subway station:
Then I stepped onto that train and saw a guy giving Free Bouncy Rides:I was taking photos of him when another passenger offered to take a picture of me enjoying a ride: I have to say the energy in that subway car was one you don't get to experience in Manhattan very often; at least two dozen people all smiling together...it was an incredible feeling which I hope I can continue to call back on for a long time. It put me in such a great mood that I actually thought to take photos of Grand Central. I've walked through that station hundreds of times in my life, but it's never more beautiful than at night:I also thought to look up:I can't believe I had never looked up before...for six years I worked in a building right above Grand Central and walked through it every day!

B really enjoyed utilizing the Patient Recreation Center at the hospital. It was nice that it was right on the floor he was on. We participated in a drum circle together, and afterwards hung out and made these: He actually stopped in by himself one day when the boys had arrived back home and I needed some time to be with them. He made some watercolor paintings, and was glad for the opportunity to commiserate with other patients.

It was nice to have had our Easter Egg Hunt with the boys' friends planned for the day after B came home. The kids all had a great time again this year: Easter gave B something to concentrate on rather than his recovery:E's, R's, B's, and mine. And Easter before and after the Easter Bunny, who is still alive and well in this household: I'm thankful that we haven't had school to ruin the fantasy for us.

After B came home, life got somewhat back to normal, although I have to admit I got a lot less done with him home since every day felt like a weekend. We were invited to some playgroup friends' home to build a geodesic dome. First we made them with gum drops and toothpicks, which has always been a favorite activity of ours:Then we made some with rolled up newspaper:One of the moms used to live in a geodesic dome home for part of her childhood and started talking about how some of the levels were pentagons instead of triangles. This led to a conversation about how much time would be saved if we did some of those instead...But then we got a good lesson in how triangles are more stable, especially when working with newspaper, which is not:We ended up having to put a 2x4 in the middle to hold it up.The older kids had lots of fun while the younger kids ended up in the sandbox. No one seemed overly frustrated by the necessity of the 2x4 but R did say he'd like to make one "right" by ourselves at home. We did have a very fun day with all our friends:And several kids finished it off with crowns:Other random April stuff: We spent some time getting back to the books. Both boys wanted to do some "school work" to earn TV time:The boys have had lots of fun playing at playgroup:where I no longer have fun since one of my "friends" let slip about B and now all these acquaintances keep asking me how he is. So much for my one place of normalcy.

R went to a birthday party and brought home some fake snot: I've been enjoying my cutting garden. It's got good stuff this time of year:


April may have started out as one of the most difficult times of my life, but I do always try to find joy in the small things.

Came across a great quote, which is my new mantra: "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...It's about learning to dance in the rain."