really, what's in your ear?

Dennis was happily playing with Play-Doh and a rolling pin and cookie cutters. He proudly brought in a "starfish" he made out of red dough to show us. He went back to the library and we continued with the things we were doing. Then he came in crying loudly that something yucky was in his ear. Our first thought was that Play-Doh was in his ear. We took him into the bathroom, got out the flashlight, and checked, but we couldn't see anything. We tried to get him to tell us honestly what happened, but he seemed confused. He had told us that he accidentally put the dough in his ear. Then he told us a bug flew in his ear. He kept crying that it hurt REALLY bad. Of course this happened right at noon since the doctor's office closes then for lunch, but since walk-in hours start at one, I realize he could have picked a much worse time than he did. David took him to the doctor and discovered that somehow in the last week, he developed a raging bilateral ear infection. It sure came on quickly this time! So we are out of swimming class until next week and switching allergy medicine to see if we can clear up his troubles. Poor little guy--I wonder if this is the reason he's been a bit pitiful and clingy lately. The doctor thinks it's related to his allergy problems, and she gave him ear drops there in the office. She told David the infection was even painful to look at. I sure hope it clears up quickly and he can resume his busy schedule. He did tell me he thought he was "too busy" and didn't have enough time to play with his toys. Next week is the last week of swim class, so that should help. We had planned to sign him up for an immediate second session but now will wait until mid-summer. Soccer will keep him busy enough for the next few weeks!

He memorized his bible verse for tonight amazingly fast, and his Awana teachers continue to tell me how brilliant he is, how he recites the verse first every week! Usually they review the verse several times with the children and have them repeat it, and then they take them separately and have them recite it. I knew he knew the verse to say, so I was surprised when they told me he did two verses tonight. Next week is the last week of book work, and they were 4 verses short, so they decided to try and teach them 2 this week and 2 next week. They told me he learned his second one easily, and I asked him what it was when we got in the car and he recited it to me. I'm excited that he'll complete his book next week and then have one fun week to spend the points he's earned at the Awana 'store'. The last week will be an awards ceremony. I can't wait!

He was observing me painting my toenails tonight and remarked "If I was a girl, I'd paint my toenails red, too. I'd paint my whole foot red!". I asked if he was glad he wasn't a girl and he said "YES! I'm SO glad I'm a boy and I don't have to do that!". He did thank me for wearing his favorite color, though, and insisted I wear the red sandals as well (with my gray pants and blue shirt). I did it just for him. I have never had fashion sense anyway, so it didn't matter to me!