The 4th grade plague struck the first week in March when typically in my mind the sickness season should be winding down as the buds and flowers are starting to appear on the trees.
It was a very exciting weekend, as the 4th grade boys were all set to play in the final basketball tournament after their undefeated season came to an end.
One of the boys on the team-a key player- admitted he was sick at the final games but wanted to be there for the team.
Sure enough, the next day James woke up feeling terrible, but we had one last final game that evening so we thought if he could make it though with some powerful medicine, it would be better for the team.
Well we pushed James through the final game. He nearly collapsed at the end, holding his throat and laying across the chairs at the celebratory pizza party afterwards.
But the boys finished out their season, undefeated and 1st place in the city tournament. It was a spectacular moment for sure.
But we paid for it, because that following week, kid after kid went down like a domino train. Levi and James were home for most of the week. I was trying so hard to keep Caleb well because he had been selected to represent his class in a state speech competition that Friday, and he was practicing and working so hard; I didn't want him to miss it.
Despite my best efforts-and him pushing himself and willing himself not to get sick, he came home Thursday night from school and collapsed into bed, sick.
I was devastated that he had to miss his state speech competition. He was too. It was a terrible disappointment. But when you are sick, you are sick.
He and I stayed home that day and watched a documentary about Rubik cubing. (And he ended up solving his own cube by the end of his illness)
I ended up getting sick (not as sick) and John got sick, on his business travels.
The part that was unnerving about this whole thing was that the Patriotic Program was the following Friday and more than half the kids were out of school because they were sick. The music teacher's kids were sick and she was worried she'd be next!
By the time Friday night rolled around the following week, the kids were back-albeit weak-but the show went on without a hitch. My parents flew into town for the week to see the show. John bought front row tickets at the auction this past fall, so we had VIP views.
It was a wonderful show, as always. Caleb had a solo this year, and despite his raspy voice, he went boldly to the mic and did a wonderful job. Levi and James played the xylophones.
Getting them ready before the performance was quite stressful. Because they were sick the week before, their speeches weren't as polished as they should be, and I didn't do a dress rehearsal with their costumes; so I was anxiously pinning too loose pants and jackets together with safety pins on the way to the school.
By the end of the night, the boys were tired; but, ice cream seemed to revive them afterwards.
I woke up the next morning feeling bitter sweet. This was our last Patriotic performance and it was the closing of a chapter in their elementary school years.
However, my heart was full to sit there in the school next to my parents and watch my boys and their class perform such a fantastic, meaningful show.
Levi: George Shannon; Youngest member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
James: James Cook: Founder of Hawaii
Caleb: William Clark; First expedition to discover the West
My parents also got to see their ABOB (Battle of the Books) competition that Caleb and James were a part of. It originally was schedule to happen the week before but because so many kids were sick, they changed the date, which actually worked out better for us. My parents loved watching the boys, and they ended up taking 2nd place.
This season right now is so so sweet.
I look at our beautiful cherry blossom tree right outside our family room window that blooms beautifully this time of year. I savor each day because I know its flowers will soon fall to the ground. The same is true of these years and seasons.
A few other exciting things that happened this past month:
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James spent countless hours watching videos on line on how to make dioramas. He had to do a book report project and he opted to do a complex scene from his book. Without my help, he created realistic rocks and designed a wonderful model.
Evelyn went on two different retreats in the month of February. One of them was in central Oregon at Washington Family Ranch. The weather was beautiful, and she had fun with some really great friends.
She also had a ball at the "daddy-daughter" dance at school. It was a "night in Paris" and a night to remember.
Levi sprained his ankle on a trampoline park during a birthday party and was on crutches for a few days, missing a basketball game. The crutches became the object of envy for all the kids. We left our Christmas tree up for an absurdly long time this year, largely due to the fact that John was unable to take it down because of his surgery recovery. I made good use of it however; it became a "Valentines Tree", a tradition that I think will stick (if I have my way :)
We had our annual heart shaped pizza dinner. And I helped out at the boy's classroom party.
And finally, I got to get away the last weekend in February on a little girls trip to the beach. It was lovely to sip on rose and lounge on the my friend's beautiful beach house deck that overlooked the ocean. It was a much needed break.
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April 1 will mark 10 years living in this home. 10 years. A decade. We've been through so many seasons here, from babies to pre-teens; in the same amount of time our kids will leave for collage.
I thank the Lord each day for my life. And even in the difficult days, there is much to be grateful for.
