Big and Little

My son, Sam, (that would be the toothless one on the right, smiling like only a ten year old boy can) has a Big Brother. That is Ryan, on the left, although since there are only two people in the picture you probably could have figured that out on your own. About a year ago I contacted the Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization in our area to find someone for Sam. BBBS matches kids (littles) with adults (bigs) in order to provide a positive role model, friendship, and companionship for children in non-traditional settings. Sam and I were then contacted for a meeting in which the rules and expectations for BBBS were reviewed. Sam was able to communicate his hobbies and interests with the counselor who would then look for a suitible match for Sam. Since Sam is an only child and we live in a college town I was hoping they would be able to match Sam with a male college student. Then we had to wait. And I think we ended up waiting for several months before we were notified that a "Big" had been found for Sam. Apparently, more women volunteer than men so it takes longer to match boys. The program also does extensive interviews and background checks on potential volunteers. BBBS also asks for a one year commitment to the program from the volunteers to provide stability for the children.

Ryan has been great for Sam. What started out as a quiet and shy introduction has grown into, simply, two brothers hangin' out. In the fall they played football and went to the park. This winter it is all about video games. And McDonald's. And just doing what brothers do.

Ryan and Sam try to get together at least once a week for a few hours. Ryan calls Sam. Sam calls Ryan. Plans are made. Plans get changed when Ryan has a test, which offers me an opportunity

to point out to Sam that Ryan has to study just like he does. Only Ryan's Mother isn't there telling him he has homework!

For Christmas, Ryan gave Sam the first of a series of books called "The 39 Clues". (I would underline that title like I was taught if I could figure out how!) Sam is now on the third book and has figured out that reading can be a good thing. Something he didn't believe was possible when I told him that!

Sadly, for us, Ryan will be graduating the first of May and leaving Maryville. I have already ask BBBS for a new "big" for Sam, but no one will ever replace Ryan. I'm confident that between e-mail and texting they will be brothers for life!

I would highly recommend BBBS for anyone who is interested in finding a mentor for their child. It has been such a good experience for Sam. I would also love for more people who want to make a positive difference in a child's life to consider giving their time to such a worthwhile program as Big Brothers and Big Sisters!

Sam's Hospital Gig

It started Wednesday night when I picked Sam up after work. He'd had a great time hanging out with his second cousin, Shelbie, and her friend Dan at the dorms on the campus at Northwest Missouri State University. He even thought he might be a little more interested in going to college someday. It had something to do with everybody being nice and the fact that Shelbie knew everyone.

On the way home he complained that his chest hurt. Well, of course it did. He had homework to do when we got there! Then came a complaint that his lungs hurt. Huh? Then the pain moved to his stomach. Yeah, sure, Sam. He's going for no homework AND a day off from school! My 10 year old drama queen kept it up the rest of the evening. And I did let him out of doing his homework. But he was carrying on just a little too much. And things just weren't quite adding up. No fever, no vomiting, no diarrhea. He couldn't sleep. We went from his bed to my bed to the couch and back again. By 2:00a.m. I called the emergency room. "Maybe it's bladder infection. Call the Doctor in the morning."

First thing the next morning I called the doctor's office. We wouldn't be able to see the doctor until 2:15 that afternoon. Sam continued to complain of pain in his lower abdomen and started walking stooped over. By afternoon he was running a temperature. He definitely did not want me pushing on his stomach.

We met with Dr. Watson and after examining him she decided a urine sample (his first and hopefully most time consuming), a blood workup, and an x-ray were in order. Low and behold, his white count was sky high. She suspected appendicitis, which didn't come as a big shock. Next we headed to meet with the surgeon who immediately put Sam in the hospital. Well, actually, we went straight to prep for surgery. Since Sam had eaten about 1:30, we had to wait 6 hours before they could anaesthetise him.

Unfortunately,at this moment in time, Sam remembered a history lesson. When I asked him if he knew what his appendix was he filled me in. "A body part we don't need, he said." And one of the men (He knew his name, but I've already forgotten it.) who traveled with Lewis and Clark on their expedition had died on the trip of appendicitis." And, therefore, Sam thought this could be his fate. I asked him how long ago Lewis and Clark had gone on their expedition. "Two hundred years ago" he replied. I assured him that there had been a lot of medical advances in the last two hundred years and that he would be just fine. Still, as my only child, my baby, who is at ten years old almost as tall as I am, was curled on my lap, face flushed from fever, with tears running down his cheeks, it was all I could do to keep it together.

It seemed like a lifetime before he was taken into surgery. But the nurses were wonderful to him. He got to choose his own surgical hat so he'd have one like the surgical staff. He chose one with Scooby Doo on it. The hats are hand sewn for the children by one of the nurses. When he got teary eyed again, the nurses showed up with a stuffed Curious George to comfort him. George was quickly donned with a surgical cap as well. George was provided by the Abrielle Neff Foundation. Abrielle was a pre-schooler who tragically lost her life in an auto accident a few years ago. The stuffed animal was a great comfort to Sam, as was the hat. Both provided diversions that he needed. I was touched by the generosity and thoughtfulness of the nurse that provided the hats and the Foundation. Ironically, when we walked into the hospital we walked past the local newpaper machine and Grandma and her sewing friends' picture was on the front page of the paper. They are sewing pillows to be given to children who have cancer at Camp Quality this summer. I guess what goes around does come around.

Sam made it through surgery without any complications. Everything about it was routine. He and George both had band aids to show as they were wheeled into Sam's room.

St. Francis Hospital has undergone many changes since Sam was born there a decade ago. A local man, Jimmy Jones, had generously left a donation to the hospital at his death. Jimmy was a famous horse trainer for Calumet Farms and had two horses who won the Triple Crown. The hospital has used the money to rennovate and add an addition. The rennovations were very, very, nice and Calumet Farms memoribilia filled a case. Huge pictures of the horses lined the walls. It is quite a tribute to a local celebrity.

Amazingly, Sam was released to go home the next morning. Grandma, who was with us through the ordeal, came home with us until both Sam and I recovered.

Thanks to Grandma, Dr. Watson, Dr. Charles, and all the nurses and staff at St. Francis, Sam and I are going to be just fine!

Seth and Brianna

Several weeks ago my nephew, Seth, moved in with us. And I must say I'm thrilled to have him. His girlfriend, Brianna, was moving to town to attend NWMSU and I knew Seth needed to be close by. I told him he was welcome to stay with us and we cleared out a room for him.

Seth got a job as a temp where I work and, luckily, got the same shift. So now we trudge back and forth to work together. We go to breaks together and complain about work together.

It has been really interesting to get to know him as a person, not just a nephew. It tickles me to no end that they hang out here and seem to be enjoying being with us. (Brianna has an apartment here so it isn't like they have nowhere else to go!) They both seem at ease here. And, for that, I'm thankful!

They go back home to Clarinda regularly. Brianna still has a job there every other weekend. And Seth loves to hunt. So we all have plenty of time apart as well as together.

They are both wonderful young adults. And Sam and I are very happy to be more involved in their lives. I can only hope I'm able to impart at least one little bit of wisdom that the perspective of age provides that will stick in their young minds and help them as they start their journey in adulthood. If I can do that, I will consider myself a successful Aunt! And if that was all I was put here on earth to do, I will be content!

Hodge Podge

On Saturday, October 18th, Sonja Henggeler and Kristi Wolbert hosted their bi-annual Hodge Podge. I'd never been before and it was an awesome event! These women are very talented designers and I was very impressed with Hodge Podge!

At the antique festival on the square a few weeks ago, I ran into a woman I'd grown up with in our hometown of Clearmont. As we were talking about what treasures we'd seen, Susan mentioned Hodge Podge was coming up. She said she thought I'd like it and offered to forward the e-mail with the information to me. Oh yeah, this looked like it would be right up my alley!

My sister and I, along with her step-daughter arrived to a packed parking lot and people (okay,women!) everywhere. The building was so crowded we could barely get through. (It also made taking pictures difficult.) I quickly latched onto the bowling pins for $3.00 apiece and kept moving. Then I spied the zinc armillary and envisioned it in my yard. Lucky me, my generous sister decided it would be my birthday present!!!

Sonja and Kristi did a wonderful job with arranging the items they had to sell. Every display was eye candy! Everything was being quickly snatched up, the checkout lines backed up, and guests stood outside the door sipping coffee and enjoying the gorgeous blue October day. Since this is a small town, I think everyone found that they were surrounded by friends, co-workers, and family! It's always more fun when you have someone to share "Look at this!" with, not to mention "Where could I put this?". And as women, it's always nice to have someone with you helping to convince you that, not only do you NEED it, you DESERVE it!

I didn't get to go back later, but something tells me they were pretty much cleaned out very quickly!

The next Hodge Podge will be held on May 2, 2009. If interested in being added to their e-mail list, go to henhouse5@unitedsky.net!

From Hodge Podge, we rushed back home to the kids and the Northwest Missouri State University homecoming parade. I left Sam with my sister, Shelli, to watch the parade and headed for Clarinda, Iowa for the annual craft show. I helped my fellow cookbook queens sell the Clearmont Sesquicentennial Cookbooks at the show. The cookbook was a fundraiser for the Clearmont Community Club. I was pleasantly surprised at the number of cookbooks we sold. We ended the day back at Mom's for supper and a visit from my neices and my great-neice. It was a busy day, but a good one!