While you were out...

This was the last weekend before I heading back to work full time and our roller coaster summer became the "demon drop" of the fall! We had several wonderful invites to different bbq's and such, so thank you to all who invited us. We felt so popular.

We decided to split the weekend into errand running day, family together day, friend bbq day and get house in shape day. So we managed to get lots down on Friday, and Steve even slipped out with his brothers for wings and beers. Steve has not really had any alcohol since his accident, he had a few beers for the first time with our neighbors during the week, so going out on Friday night was a big step (no pun intended). I was a little nervous, because he is on crutches and does not have good balance right now, all I could imagine was that he would stagger home and land face first because it is hard enough to walk drunk, but to be drunk and not be able to walk even when sober?! I thought about waiting up for him and getting out the video camera, but that just seemed wrong some how. Needless to say, when he came home, he was not drunk, he was just happy to have some time outside of the house. And he did not fall or trip or even lose his balance. Next time, I will grease up his crutches, just to make it more interesting...

I am just kidding. Goodness, stop yelling at me.

We talked about the State Fair, but that seemed to much for Steve, he is trying to spend time with us, doing things that are oriented to the girls, but that he might find mildly interesting. When I discussed the Fair, he said "well, if you have called everyone you know and they can't go with you, I will go because I don't want you three to go by yourself." I heard "sure, honey that sounds fun, but the crowds might be hard on me." So, I called everyone I know (okay, I called two people) and they had already went, so it was off by ourselves or not. I know that Steve would have felt safer if we went as a family, because muggers and kidnappers would see me and two girls as easy prey, but two girls, a woman and a man in a wheelchair, that is like having our own security force, who will hurt us. He is in a wheelchair, he might run over your toes or something.

Needless to say, we went to Taylor Petting Farm and had a picnic lunch. Apparently, muggers and kidnappers don't go there. Because I want Steve to feel included, I left him in charge of supervising the girls while I went on a near 2 mile walk. Silly of me huh? The girls were on a playground scaring Steve to death, as they climbed the crazy ladders, jumped on the wobbling bridge and slide down the twisty tall slides. He was so scared that Erica was going to fall and hurt herself, that he placed climbing restrictions on her. He told a 2 year old where she could and could not climb, so that she would be safe. HE told HER about safety. Did I mentioned that he broke both legs in five places by driving a speed boat? When I returned, all was well, he was in the middle of the playground leaning on his crutches, talking to the girls, maybe ready to catch one of them... I am not sure how, but safety first!

Then we went to a friend's lake house, the girls love water, and boats so they had such a wonderful time. Again, I left him in charge of supervising (yes, two little girls playing in a lake with a man who can't walk or swim in charge) so that I could walk and the rumor is that he was lying on this stomach on the dock and pulling the girls on a tube back and forth. Now, I really wish that I had the video camera... And everyone was safe and a good time was had by everyone.

Then on Monday, our last day off, I got sick. I have these horrific allergies, they don't flare up often but when they do... look out. And the medicine I take, knocks me out for a few hours. When I got up, my face was swollen and I had an attack for several hours, but I did not want to take anything because I had things to do and I did not want to burden Steve. But then I caved, I had to do something, I was getting worse and worse... I took it and TIMBER...

As I drifted in and out of a fog, I thought about what happens when the person in charge can not be, what do the others do. I thought about what happens when the teacher is out of the classroom and the substitute comes in: spit balls, screaming, hair pulling, no work done and skippers. What happens when the boss is out of the office: extended lunch time, naps during hte day, computer games, gossipping, and no work getting done. When the ship's captain is asleep, they hit an iceberg and sink. I had to get better and fast. The children would starve, Steve would be in pain, people would be screaming, they need me, the ship is going down... I must wake up... I need to be out there with them...

Also, three hours later, I woke up, they were all alive and safe! (well except for the house, it was a bit messy.) and you can only imagine what I heard, "we were just going to clean up", and "I did not know that they made that mess, I could not see them becuase my legs are broken" and my favorite: "I told them not to do THAT."

So, I am better, thank you, and now I have to clean up the house.

What happened while you were out...

God Bless you and yours.

Kendra