The Infirmary Is Getting Crowded

The sullen eyes were a clue, but her slumped-over position in the shopping cart was the giveaway: we had a sick child on our hands. So sick, in fact, that she missed the past two days of preschool. I’m hoping that the antibiotics will give her enough of her health back because she’s supposed to accompany me tomorrow on my business trip to Michigan.

Seattle Fatigue

I’m out in the Pacific Northwest for a professional conference, which means that I’m not at home taking care of my sick wife. You often hear that God doesn’t give us more than we can handle, which begs the questions: where does that leave those of us who are religiously ambiguous?

At this point, I feel as though I’m buckling under the weight of all the hats I’m having to wear, and my being away provides absolutely no relief for any of the members of my family. I’ve been here for just a day—in a part of the country and with colleagues I’m quite fond of, mind you—but I’m already ready to be home.

Trail-Her Park

This evening, Olivia and I took our dinner and its odorous emanations away from home and its still-sick resident. We took our food to a local park, where we dined on a park bench before partaking in a game of Follow the Leader. She made me chase her all over the place, including up a giant rock that sits on the perimeter of the play area.

Seeing Buckeye

I swung by the swing state of Ohio to visit my brother over the weekend. He’s tying the knot in three weeks; as his best man, I was obliged and delighted to throw some sort of a pre-wedding celebration in his honor.

The occasion gave us the excuse to act as youngsters again: we played a round of golf with some of his future in-laws, gorged ourselves on sushi and sundry Japanese food items at this buffet of dreams, jammed on guitar and drums on Rock Band, pedaled along a picturesque bike trail, and relaxed some at his place before going out for drinks and dessert. I had the absolute best time—I’m thankful that the breaks in our work schedules coincided so that we could spend this time together. I’m certainly looking forward to being back in October for the wedding, this time with Olivia and Beni—if her health allows—along for the fun and revelry.

Baby Pictures

From the unimaginably cute files: Olivia’s sketches of our family now include pictures of the baby, er, babies. No, we’re not having twins—she draws a girl and a boy to cover all bases.

No Restaurants for the Weary

One of the consequences of Beni being so sick again with hyperemisis gravidarum—a condition of extreme, persistent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy—is that Olivia and I have to eat most of our meals outside of the house as to not exacerbate Beni’s symptoms because she, like most sufferers of HG, is extremely sensitive to odors. The proverbial salt in the wounds is that we’re unable to dine together as a family until Beni’s condition improves. Consolation for this situation often comes in the form of a frozen treat, as it did tonight after Olivia and I had yet another dad-and-daughter dinner date.

Wetted Bliss

Olivia and A.J.’s friendship extends beyond the terrestrial—the two of them are taking private swim lessons at a family aquatic facility. The kids learn the basics from their instructor in the pool, while the parents observe the class on a closed-circuit television in an adjoining room.

Avery Bit As Funny

Beni asked our child what she’d learned in school today, which prompted Olivia to launch into the story of the original sin. Here’s a snippet of that conversation:

Daughter: And they were told not to eat the apple, but they ate it anyway.
Mother: Who was told not to eat the apple?
Daughter: Adam and Avery.
Mother: Adam and Avery?
Daughter: Yes, Adam and Avery.
Mother (chuckling): Then what happened?
Daughter: We didn’t find out yet.

A Baby Story

Positive News

Juneau Who I Am?

Olivia does her impression of a certain vice presidential candidate, whose home state our daughter is intimately familiar with because she once devoured a baked Alaska.

A Labor Day of Love

Olivia taped up her homemade welcome signs for G and Liz, both of whom were visiting us for the Labor Day weekend.