'Twas Homecoming

Quinn had a date (She is a friend of Rachel's.), Rachel invited another girlfriend, and they all braved the dance together.  Yes, I know her dress is short.  Sometimes it's hard to be the tall girl.

Hadn't Thought of It

"Mom, do you think "Johnny" will invite you to his funeral?"

and then later

"Dad, who will you invite to your funeral?"

made me start to wonder if I should start an invitation list

Cleft Palate Team

After many years of enduring what I considered to be sub-par cleft palate team evaluations, we finally were able to switch back to St. Louis Children's Hospital.  Quinn and I spent the day there today and he actually was evaluated by the various professionals.  Where we were obliged to go the past eight years (due to insurance restrictions), it seemed as though I would provide reports of medical tests/procedures/appointments and they would spend about ten minutes with Quinn, then dictate a team report summarizing the information that I had provided them.

Today, Quinn was evaluated by otolaryngology, audiology, speech-language pathology, orthodontics, plastic surgery, nursing, and child psychology. 

Toward the end of the day, Quinn started to get a bit punchy.  He mentioned to the child psychologist something about how his family tortures him and how we even have a torture chamber.  I reminded him that all the employees are mandatory reporters and that he probably doesn't want to spend the night with a foster family just because someone didn't understand his sarcasm.

He asked me how to spell "murmur," and I told him that he no longer has a heart murmur.  He said, "No!  Like murmurs that you hear.  You know?  Like how I hear murmuring all the time.  I should write that down on this questionnaire."  On the way home I asked about the "murmurs" and he said, "Kids are always murmuring things in class and I'm tired of hearing it.  'This teacher is dumb.  I hate homework.  I hope this class is over soon.'  Stuff like that." 

One of the questions was, "Do you think about sex too much?"  Quinn loudly asked in a surprised voice, "Is it bad to think about sex too much!?"  I told him it was only bad if it was interfering with his homework.

I'm certain the child psychologist is still writing up her findings on our interactions today.  But she did let us leave for home.  That's a good sign, right?

Kindergarten is Funny

A Kindergartener asked me if he could use the bathroom.  I nodded and he quickly walked to the in-class restroom, gently closed the door, then LET OUT A SHRIEK OF LIVING DEATH. 

I walked over to the bathroom door just in time for "Johnny" to exit.  I asked him if he made that noise in the bathroom.  He nonchalantly said, "No."  While he was washing his hands, his teacher said to him in the calmest, sweetest, most patient voice ever, "Now, Johnny, remember we've talked about this many times before - we can hear you when you are in the bathroom."

I couldn't hold it together and had to step out of the room.  I was laughing so hard that tears were in my eyes.

Fender Bender

Rachel was in the left turn lane when someone pulled out in front of her, attempting to cross all four lanes of traffic.  No injuries, just some muscle soreness.  Poor Little Red.  I feel badly asking that person's insurance to pay.  Maybe I'll just ask for a couple bungee cords.