Doctor Mitchell

After we got home from the Blessing of the Animals service at the local Episcopal church (where Tabasco was blessed by the priest), Dennis went through his dress-up repertoire for me. He put on his police jacket and donned a number of disguises on top of it. He told me he was a master of disguise, that he was a police spy.

He soon appeared in full doctor gear. He marched in and told me he was Nurse Dennis and he gave me a flu shot with his plastic syringe. Soon he was back with a real thermometer and a Coke Zero. He told me he had to test my blood and returned with the syringe. He told me to take a drink and then he took my temperature and listened to my heart with his toy stethoscope. He shook his head sadly and said "well, you have a bad blood problem: it's called Thy-mol-nermius. It's like a bad case of throwing up and your blood is going crazy!". He held up a plastic medicine dosing syringe and said "see--crazy!" while solemnly shaking his head. He went off to get me special medicine. He returned with the dropper full of water and dosed me. He checked me again a few minutes later and said it was getting worse. Soon he was tucking me in and running off to his lab to make me a "stronger medicine". He warned me "now this might be very, very, VERY loud--I've got to set my gun to 'drugs'." When he reappeared, he was wearing his toy gas mask and saying "this medicine turned out very stinky!". He ordered me to hold my nose while I drank the "medicine" from the empty plastic Toy Story cup he offered. I complied. But sadly for him, I apparently continued to worsen. He went to get some construction paper to make me a "chart" so that he could consult with David when he got home. He wrote "3 shots, 3 doses of Dennis's (his spelling) special medicine, and then he drew a line and wrote my name on the chart. He affixed it to my bedroom door with stickers and then met his Daddy at the door to tell him they had a patient to work on. I can't remember when I've delighted in his imagination more. I had the best time being his patient! He decided I was cured before he went to bed. I sang him the hymns of his choice (every verse at his insistence) and he fell asleep after playing with his action figures in bed. We could hear them "talking" to each other from our room. The best thing we heard? "Johnny, I TOLD you not to use my password on eBay anymore!! We didn't need that new control tower. 'But it wasn't me! I didn't order it. Control's brother ordered it.' 'Okay. Control's brother is going to be in big trouble!'." it was all David and I could do to not laugh hysterically at his play scenario. Love that kid!

fair fun

Dennis had a fabulous night at the County Fair on Tuesday night. He rode rides, played a game, ate cotton candy, chatted up girls, hung out with family--all those things he loves to do. He pretended to barf on all the rides where he was riding by himself (and giggled the whole time).

Tonight we had an assignment to decorate a paper pumpkin as a family. He brought home a pattern from school with instructions to decorate it any way we wanted to. Dennis decided he wanted to make it into a Mr. Potato Head pumpkin, so the three of us worked together on his masterpiece. He's very excited to turn it in tomorrow!

First school nurse call

Dennis has his first at-school injury. He was running and fell on the concrete. Though he went on to PE afterward and played happily, we picked him up as soon as we got the phone call. He says he was tired of everyone asking him what happened. I'm glad this happened AFTER picture day if it had to happen. Poor kid!

oh, is that what that was?

"Mommy, I'm not kicking you. My feet are KISSING you!". Oh. How lovely!

Dennis found America's Funniest Videos on Netflix and we enjoyed some snuggle time watching it together. He has a great day--he got to model the Full Armor of God at church this morning. It was for the Children's Church lesson, but he was so excited about it that he wore it to breakfast as well.

Here's a picture of him admiring a rocket yesterday!

Oh, just as I finished writing all that, he announced loudly from the bathroom (where he was supposed to be brushing his teeth), "Okay--I finished my experiment!". I didn't have to wonder for long. He brought in a medicine syringe to show me his experiment: a mixture of toothpaste and water inside the syringe. He said "it turned blue!". I acted impressed. He said "I thought you'd say eureka!". So I did. Love that kid! He says he wants his very own science lab now so he can do more experiments.

Taekwondo champ, super astronaut

Our day in Huntsville couldn't have been any more fun! Dennis and David participated in the Taekwondo United Nationals and have the medals to prove it. And Dennis really enjoyed his visit to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. He climbed in simulators and space capsules and walked among giant rockets. And he got to dine with Nana Gaynell and Poppa Jim at Big Bob Gibson's before making the trip back home. He smiled and laughed all day and made jokes all the way home even though we were sure he'd sleep! He and Gran had a gross-out and scariness contest in the backseat that kept us all giggling. What a stellar day!

Four out of five

Dennis was happy to report another day of good behavior.  He's been on green every day this week, and we are very proud of him.  If he can do it again tomorrow, he gets a reward. 

Tonight he came to me to tell me that he was learning sign language and he had something to tell me.  He pointed to his open mouth, mimed holding a cup and drinking, and said "guess what I need!".  I got the message.

I'm extremely proud of him for learning and reciting 6 Bible verses last night.  He has an amazing brain and I enjoy watching it work (though I prefer when he uses his power for good and not evil).

Hints of autumn

Dennis had a great day at school today, so great that he fell asleep in the car on the way home.  It was picture day, and I can't wait to see how they turn out.  I don't think he's quite reached the point where he can leave his nap behind.  His Grandma picked him up from school last Friday and he told her "a nap isn't on my schedule today."  He was right--Friday was Uncle Denny's birthday and he went to celebrate with the family.  I have been in bed most of the time since Wednesday, having caught whatever plagues my son and husband were suffering from. 

I'd love for us to be outdoors enjoying this change in the weather, but we have to all get well first!

Green & Blue Man

I hear Dennis did fabulously well at his taekwondo testing tonight.  I missed it because I caught the crud that has affected the rest of my family and have spent the day in bed.  I also hear that he was well-behaved at school today (he's been on "green" for 2 days in a row).  His teacher told another teacher (who happens to be our pastor's wife) that he is extremely smart!  I'm glad to know that she's seen more than just his mischievous side.

I'm excited to see his new blue belt next week!

just like luggage

The highlight of my day?  Watching Dennis go for a short spin on the luggage carousel tonight at the airport when we went to pick up Gran and Pop.  We could see that he was totally planning to get on the thing, and we kept pulling him back.  He got away from us, plopped his rear down, and rode around a bend before hopping off with a big grin on his face!

snore world

Dennis felt good enough today to go to church, which is a good thing since he really didn't have the option to not go.  Tonight he's coughing a gross wet cough, and we're wondering about kindergarten tomorrow.  I suppose we will make that call in the morning.  He only has the cough at night and has no fever thus far.  David is also slowly on the mend.  I started to feel bad myself, but a nap helped tremendously!

It was a beautiful, breezy, cool day, and I sure wished we felt well enough to be out in it!

seal attack

Dennis fell asleep in the car on the way home from school.  He's always worn out by Friday, but when he hadn't gotten up two hours later, I went in to check on him and found him burning up with fever.  He started to cry when I woke him up, and the crying triggered a barking cough that sent us off to the emergency room.  He was utterly pitiful through the chest x-ray and exam, hated the blood pressure cuff, and suffered sadly through his first ever breathing treatment.  After a dose of steroid, he felt much better and commenced to adjusting and readjusting his hospital bed.  We are home now, and I'm pretty sure he might actually stay awake all night.  We apparently caught his croup early, and I'm hoping for rapid healing!

sacked

Despite Dennis' vehement protests, we left the beach yesterday. He learned to dive into and under the waves as they were crashing over him. He swam all around (in 12 inches or less of water depth) with his goggles on, looking for shells. And he absolutely did not sleep on the drive home. He did attempt to negotiate a move to Panama City Beach, saying "we could live here--I could bring all my toys. I guess that would take a million backpacks, though, to move all my toys!".

He returned to kindergarten today, not very graciously, after I denied his request for "a day to be lazy" (which I would have loved). I taught my first day of preschool for the year. Oh the crying! It's tough for a 2 year old to leave Mommy!

Tonight Dennis was planning to curl up and watch a movie on his Kindle. He plopped down in the den on the ottomans to wait for one of us to make popcorn, but he very quickly fell asleep right there. Poor, exhausted little guy!

Adventure at the beach

Today Dennis had an incredible time exploring Wonder Works and then immersing himself in the beach experience.  Oh, the sand!  I've never seen anyone so eager to roll around in sand!  I especially loved the way he just threw himself in the ocean, rolling around in the waves, jumping and giggling.  He said "I am never leaving here!".  So it was a trial to get him to go to dinner, but he loved it once we got to the restaurant.  He has said a hundred times today that he wants to move here.