JoJo's Got Wheels Now!

Dear Peep, 
The most wonderful thing happened yesterday, a visit from JoJo and Tommy to our house!  That's right!  JoJo recently acquired a car and it just so happened that we bought her a gas card for Christmas so she drove over to see us.  You were SO excited.  Playing it cool on the couch watching Curious George waiting for them to arrive until the text came that they were five minutes out.  You couldn't sit still, checking from the front door to the side window.  Finally her little black car pulled up and the excitement was jumping out of your little limbs faster than you could move them.  Your feet staccatoed to the side window and your right arm started flapping a vigorous wave as they stepped out of their car.  You ran to the door and started opening it at the same time they were.  They came in and we hung out by the Christmas tree so we could exchange presents.  

 JoJo brought you a little dump truck, some mini m&m's and a Darth Vader head that spits out candy when you press his tummy.  You loved them.  Tommy loved his Star Ward trouble game, little cd/radio player for his room and a book with 5 new stories he had never read but have been Mommy's long time favorites.  You were shootin' those Darth Vader candies out all over and eating them like a dog.  I didn't worry though.  JoJo knows you're a crazy little squirrel.  After presents you were ready to show them your room.  You had been planning this since I told you they were coming over.  I left the three of you on your own to spend some time together.  You read some books together huddled close on your bed.  

JoJo asked you about each of your stuffed animals and you told her their names.  After a while you came to get me sayin', "Mommy, you should come back there too."  I waited a couple of minutes then I did.  Soon, you and Tommy decided you needed to play outside so you put on your shoes and a hat.  You told Tommy with concern, "You better put your hat on it is cold outside."  Then you "whispered" to me to, "Close the strap on my hat so Tommy doesn't try to take it."  I laughed and Tommy heard you and said, "Why would I want your hat?!"   It was a sunny warm day considering we are in the final days of December.  

You had a lot of fun, almost having a hard time placing all of your excitement.  You rode Daddy's old tractor around the back deck, or I should say JoJo or Tommy pushed you and Tommy sped around all on his own.  You thumped sticks together and you whacked JoJo's butt with your plastic bat.  We were getting pretty hungry so I made some Coney dogs and baked beans, which we took downstairs to eat while we watched Monsters Inc.  You and Tommy cuddled with some blankets in the little pillow nest you made.  You gave him a couple of noogies.  

Then it was time for them to leave.  Tommy wanted to stick around but in Indiana about dusk those deer start poppin' out.  With an hours drive to go they had to leave before the movie was over.  Tommy made her stall a bit before they could leave and you pulled out the tent kit Grandma P bought you at a garage sale.  You set it up together and slid underneath to play with your lap top.  Tommy spelled out his name and then you did yours.  I packed up some left over chili so they wouldn't have to cook when they arrived home.  The stall allowed, we had to pull you guys out of the tent to move on outside to the car.  

You didn't want Tommy to go either.  We followed them out and in lieu of a hug and kiss you growled at JoJo while making animal faces and postures at her, she returned the favor...clear you weren't going to give up any cuddles or lovin' she stole a squeeze and headed off...

 she made it to the end of the driveway when you shouted after her rolled down window and outstretched hand, "I love you!" This made her happy.  

This made me happy too.  I know a lot of people won't understand, hell, I am not sure I totally understand why but I felt light.  Really elated to have her come for a visit.  I believe in part it is because I am excited about the positive things that have been happening for her...a car, seeing her local college sweats with an official ID to back up that she is enrolled in classes starting this semester, or just the love we feel for her.  It doesn't matter, it is what feels right for our family.  To see you happy and to see Tommy enjoy hanging out with you at your house felt very true.  Having JoJo in our lives doesn't make you any less "our" son, if we even needed to go in the direction of such a possessive word (as if), contact almost feels as if it makes us more your parents.  By giving you the gift of your entire story and heritage we all couldn't be committing more of an act of loving parenting.  After all, she often faces people saying, "I don't think I could do that," her choice to give us to you was the ultimate act of loving parenting.  (Or at least we try to live up to such an endowment)  How could we live in denial that you have a connection?  If all parties are willing and able how could we not welcome something that is good for you, us, them?  I suppose we could make it more complicated but somehow it just isn't.  As the years go on and JoJo is going to school or working, or you're in school as with most family get-togethers the in betweens could stretch out out longer than the frequency but it will never change the visits significance in our lives.  Always grateful to be your mom, and to have become your mom in the way that I did.  

Love, Mama

Christmas Excitement and My 400th Post!

Dear Peep-St. Nick,
After a rough week leading into the Christmas holiday Daddy began recovering from pneumonia and the hospital mishap and returned home late on the 20th.  It took a couple of days to feel sort of normal again at home.  While we recouped Grandpa Tim and Trish took you to Wonder Lab with the annual pass they bought you for Christmas.  We are so excited to use it!  We reworked Christmas a bit this year.  We went to Grandma Jean's on the 24th for our traditional brunch and Grandma P and Bahboo joined us along with Auntie Krispie and Currie.  We opened presents, had some pie and came home.  It was a nice low key Christmas and we will meet with Grandma P and Bahboo later in the week.  We received such cool and thoughtful gifts.  Grandma LaJean bought you a very cool garbage truck, which you just happened to play with ANY time we were around the toy aisle at a store.  Your aunties came in with some exciting new toys; popsicle makers, a play dough dessert and ice cream pumper, and a baking kit just for you with an apron and utensils.   We were very proud of how you showed gratitude.  We were happy that absent was a sense of greed on your part.  

Henry helped Aunt Krispie play Santa to deliver the gifts.

 

Eating all of the special treats his aunties brought to share.

Conducting Silent Night for his aunties.

Playing hide and seek with GG.

Reading the Run Away Squash with GG.

Ready to eat GG's homemade apple pie. Yum!

  On the 25th when it was time to open our presents together you were excited to see all the gifts but you were not at all interested in opening any.  We said, "Henny! Those are your presents in the middle!  Open them up!"  You said, "Nooo.  I got my presents already."  We had to beg you to open yours.  When you finally did you showed so much enthusiasm it was the most fun Christmas in a really long time.  

New Toy Story boxers got as much excitement as your very own red guitar, although you wanted to sleep with your guitar and your pluck (pick) and the undies you did not.  You loved Mr. Potato Head, all the cooking toys, and you gave us exams with your doctor's kit.  

I had taken your old unfinished table and made it to look like a half stove/ half hibachi and drilled knobs into the side.  You pulled off the blanket with the skills and posture of a distinguished bull fighter, swiftly and cleanly.  We heard a gasp and, "Uh, uh, uh, uh hibachi!"  All of the gifts were as big a hit as the last.  

  We have a hunch that you're not really buy the whole Santa Clause story just yet.  You watched tons of holiday movies and we went to visit Santa a the mall but you sat on his lap stiff as a board.  After you opened all your presents you said thank you Mommy, thank you Daddy, without solicitation I might add.  We played the old line to the t but you weren't biting.  That's okay.  Santa or no Santa your energy makes for a great Christmas, not to mention we are all incredibly grateful and happy to be together to try to get back to normal after Daddy's hospital visit. 

  After all the gifts were opened we were pleasantly surprised that you took to our tradition of watching A Christmas Story as many times as it could show in a day.  We played with toys, ate some chili, played diving board into the blue blanket, you chewed on Daddy like a zombie baby, took a nice long bubble bath, went for a drive to see Christmas lights, and you passed out on the kitchen floor on our return.  It was wonderful having a relaxing day with my two favorite guys.  

A shark emerged from the tub!

 Christmas the last few years has been all over the place in emotions....this year it was Daddy's unexpected illness, last year just before and just after Christmas Mommy's grandparents both died, the year before Mommy's free spirited aunt Judy died and the year before we got our first call from our friend and your birthmom J, a joyous occasion for certain.  I know everything will always turn out okay as long as team Thompson can stick it out together, nothing is going to stop us.   I can't wait until next Christmas!

Love, Mama

A Little Stressed Fella

Dear Henny, 

This has been a little bit of a difficult week for you.  Your Daddy has been a little out of commission.  What started out as a little bit of a cold has turned into severe pneumonia.  Daddy is never sick and for him to get sick with severe pneumonia is a very bad thing.   You and I can trudge through a nasty cold or whatever but Daddy just keeps on feeling awesome.  So when you saw Daddy just hanging out in the living room this week being pretty quiet and not playin' like you're accustomed you started showing signs of stress like not wanting to stay at school, staying close and loving on Mama, and lashing out with full on intense tantrums out of the blue.  Well, we had to take Daddy to the hospital on Wednesday at about 2 am.  Breathing became very difficult.  He seems to be getting the appropriate treatment and while you're hot tubbing with Bahboo and Grandma P he is trying to get some gunk coughed up so you can get home and on a normal routine and play time again.  I am not gonna sugar coat it though, Daddy is very sick.  Because of his spinal cord injury coughing is not an easy thing for him to do so the stuff sits and makes things worse.  Thought you don't know exactly what's going on you know something is up.  You've been refusing to go to sleep for example.  The night before we went to the hospital Daddy wanted to stay up so when I tried to get you to go to bed you refused. 

I tried all my tricks and you weren't going for them.  You kept grabbing this or that and telling me, "I need to take this to Daddy, he needs it, I need to tell him (xyz), Daddy needs to come to bed...This potato chip will help Daddy's lungs to breathe."  It wasn't until I picked you up and made Daddy tell you it was okay to go to sleep that you went directly in to flop down and to fall instantly asleep at 12:30 AM. We don't know how long this illness is gonna take to kick, but Daddy was in good health before and he will be ready to play around again soon.  
Love, Mama 

Reuniting at Great Auntie Linda Lou's and Uncle John's

Dear Peepso,
When Mama's Aunt Linda; a domestic goddess of decor, food and hospitality sent me an e-mail asking if we would be able to join them for a pre-Christmas dinner with my cousins David, Nora and Margaret and their partners and kids we had no other choice than to say yes!  You were able to meet Nora and her husband David's little boy Owen.  You were quick friends and skittered up and down the hall, messed with the Christmas lights, played with a train set and squealed late into the night.  We played a dirty Santa gift exchange.  Daddy ended up with a mustache comb, appropriate since he was in fact the only one with a beard.  I ended up with a designer Lush Bust cream to enhance the bust line.  I have yet to try it out.  We had a nice dinner and Auntie Linda had a couple of thoughtful treats just for you.  

When we returned home Sunday evening and you were readying for bed you said, "I am grateful for Auntie Linda tonight." I said, "Yeah, that's really nice." You said, "She gave me milk at the table and has that little boy Owen at her house."  

It is a wonderful thing to reconnect with family that you've not seen in a long while.  I am glad that you are a part of that too.
Love, Mama