Wednesday, January 30, 2002
Today was a school day. After school, I waited my turn to talk to the director about how Drew is doing in school. We were just turning the corner up to our street when our friends who were coming over to play starting to pull up. Her husband is late, just like John, each Wednesday so they often come over to play Wednesdays. It was wow, a learning experience for me, as she has four small children, all under six. Such an amazing woman (couple, rather)! I am looking at the journal entry of 1/24 and remember Drew remarking on the same exact thing today, when driving down the street. He is REALLY bothered by the time and bother it takes to have to go visit the toilet. Lately he gets really annoyed with me when I remind him, especially if he was thinking of going himself. 'You didn't need to remind me, I was going to go soon'. He is definitely starting to think more independently.
It was a very dreary midwinter day. As dreary as they come! Foggy, cold, but not pretty. Nearly all the snow has melted now. Even the biggish snowbanks are nearly gone now. Sad. We took it easy and just took our time this am and then went to the store. I asked a woman what time it was, and she must have had the wrong time on her watch, for I soon found out it was much later! We rushed home in time to grab Drew a sandwich to eat in the car on the way to school (no time to fuss with boots, mittens, hat...that way). His teacher was surprised to find him arriving with a sandwich in hand!
I came home and prepared our growing mountain of ski equipment to go on the hjourney to Colorado next week. Colorado, not Chicago, that is. I arrived at school to pick him up and was greeted with questions about our trip to Chicago next week on a plane! Drew had told his teachers he is going on a plane trip to Chicago! Well, they both start with a C and end in an O, I can see how he got confused! :-)
Tonight we were watching the Discovery channel; such good stuff on that channel! How we love to relax in the evening to good TV. Often I use Drew's allotted TV time to take the opportunity to get stuff done, but lately he is adamant that he wants us to experience his shows with him. So we were watdching a good show on the serengeti big cats, and he recalled a book we read recently about big cats. He said sadly, 'I feel so badly for those tigers when they get to be two. They have to leave their families'. It is true. He went further, 'I sure am glad I am not a tiger that gets forced to leave the family. I don't ever want to leave you.' It was a very sweet moment.
Earlier in the day he was sitting on my lap while I read, and I noticed he has begun a recent habit of putting a finger or two in his mouth, not really sucking on it, just holding it there. I keep reminding him to take his fingers out, but it is getting so repetitive, he does not even realize what he is doing. So I had reminded him several times in the course of about a minute, when I exclaimed 'Drew Martinez, I think I am just going to have to tape your mouth shut'. Wow, was he ever shocked. Then when he got over the shock he thought that was hilarious! He even asked me where the tape was. Now I know he does not know how to operate tape very well; cutting it and all. (Even if he could find it in the place I keep it.) So I told him. I was busy doing something when I forgot about our conversation and a minute later I turned around and there he was proudly grinning ear to ear, with a perfect piece of tape across his mouth. He looked like the cat who swallowed the canary! So then I had to tell John about this moment between us and Drew removed the tape to talk to John on the phone.
That was the high point of my day - the tape incident.
-Mary
It was a very dreary midwinter day. As dreary as they come! Foggy, cold, but not pretty. Nearly all the snow has melted now. Even the biggish snowbanks are nearly gone now. Sad. We took it easy and just took our time this am and then went to the store. I asked a woman what time it was, and she must have had the wrong time on her watch, for I soon found out it was much later! We rushed home in time to grab Drew a sandwich to eat in the car on the way to school (no time to fuss with boots, mittens, hat...that way). His teacher was surprised to find him arriving with a sandwich in hand!
I came home and prepared our growing mountain of ski equipment to go on the hjourney to Colorado next week. Colorado, not Chicago, that is. I arrived at school to pick him up and was greeted with questions about our trip to Chicago next week on a plane! Drew had told his teachers he is going on a plane trip to Chicago! Well, they both start with a C and end in an O, I can see how he got confused! :-)
Tonight we were watching the Discovery channel; such good stuff on that channel! How we love to relax in the evening to good TV. Often I use Drew's allotted TV time to take the opportunity to get stuff done, but lately he is adamant that he wants us to experience his shows with him. So we were watdching a good show on the serengeti big cats, and he recalled a book we read recently about big cats. He said sadly, 'I feel so badly for those tigers when they get to be two. They have to leave their families'. It is true. He went further, 'I sure am glad I am not a tiger that gets forced to leave the family. I don't ever want to leave you.' It was a very sweet moment.
Earlier in the day he was sitting on my lap while I read, and I noticed he has begun a recent habit of putting a finger or two in his mouth, not really sucking on it, just holding it there. I keep reminding him to take his fingers out, but it is getting so repetitive, he does not even realize what he is doing. So I had reminded him several times in the course of about a minute, when I exclaimed 'Drew Martinez, I think I am just going to have to tape your mouth shut'. Wow, was he ever shocked. Then when he got over the shock he thought that was hilarious! He even asked me where the tape was. Now I know he does not know how to operate tape very well; cutting it and all. (Even if he could find it in the place I keep it.) So I told him. I was busy doing something when I forgot about our conversation and a minute later I turned around and there he was proudly grinning ear to ear, with a perfect piece of tape across his mouth. He looked like the cat who swallowed the canary! So then I had to tell John about this moment between us and Drew removed the tape to talk to John on the phone.
That was the high point of my day - the tape incident.
-Mary
Thursday, January 24, 2002
We all met for lunch today at Chili's, and somehow the Drew decided it was time for a bit of his philosophy. He told us, "After you die, you don't have to go to the bathroom anymore." He said this as though it were an advantage to which to look forward, though it was clear he knew there was a downside to this approach.
-John
-John
Tuesday, January 22, 2002
For most of yesterday we had a steady snowfall going. Since it was hovering around freezing, much of it was melting as it came down, so there was little actual accumulation. After sunset, though, the temperature really dropped and the slush (including that on my car) froze quickly. We ended up with a small amount of accumulation and slick streets, but the sky cleared around 9.
I have been taking power walks with Rory to get in better shape for our ski trip, so we went out about the time the clouds were breaking up. It was a great time to do this. The air was plenty nippy and the neighborhood was especially still in that special quiet that comes after fresh snow. Rory went out of his head enjoying bounding through the snow and racing around! He really gets a kick from the novelty of it compared to what he is used to (maybe he'll get more jaded about it if we get more typical amounts of snow). As a bonus, we got to see more people than usual at that time of night, since they were out clearing the new snow off their drives (not enough to use a snow blower). On top of all that was a nice half moon to shine on the white snow all about; quite a pleasant setting for ordinary exercising.
Today, Mary and Drew got to sled down a nice little hill down the street, and have fun with the snow. This snow may not be around long, we are expecting 50s tomorrow.
-John
I have been taking power walks with Rory to get in better shape for our ski trip, so we went out about the time the clouds were breaking up. It was a great time to do this. The air was plenty nippy and the neighborhood was especially still in that special quiet that comes after fresh snow. Rory went out of his head enjoying bounding through the snow and racing around! He really gets a kick from the novelty of it compared to what he is used to (maybe he'll get more jaded about it if we get more typical amounts of snow). As a bonus, we got to see more people than usual at that time of night, since they were out clearing the new snow off their drives (not enough to use a snow blower). On top of all that was a nice half moon to shine on the white snow all about; quite a pleasant setting for ordinary exercising.
Today, Mary and Drew got to sled down a nice little hill down the street, and have fun with the snow. This snow may not be around long, we are expecting 50s tomorrow.
-John
Saturday, January 19, 2002
Let it snow!
It's not such a bad time to be sick, after all. We are getting a rare (this season) measureable snowfall tonight, with 3-5 inches expected. A chance to really fire up the snow thrower.
I guess we'll know when Drew is feeling better by when he starts agitating to go play in the snow!
-John
It's not such a bad time to be sick, after all. We are getting a rare (this season) measureable snowfall tonight, with 3-5 inches expected. A chance to really fire up the snow thrower.
I guess we'll know when Drew is feeling better by when he starts agitating to go play in the snow!
-John
It's been a pretty quiet day at the Martinez homestead today. All three seemed to become ill simultaneously (along with much of our neighborhood). I left work early yesterday and wrapped myself among warm things as much as possible as my fever got going (our sitter watched Drew for a bit while Mary rested, as well).
Mary felt better when the sitter left, and got Drew to bed. We all slept fitfully during the night, but Mary especially, as she evetually vomitted at 1AM. Fortunately, that was all of that, and her stomache settled down quite a bit. We have all maintained fevers 100-101, low energy and upset stomache (Drew denies most symptoms, but he is clearly dragging and has a fever).
We have sequestered ourselves in our room all day, snoozing or watching videos. We are mostly OK if we stay reclined, so we hope this won't last long.
-John
Mary felt better when the sitter left, and got Drew to bed. We all slept fitfully during the night, but Mary especially, as she evetually vomitted at 1AM. Fortunately, that was all of that, and her stomache settled down quite a bit. We have all maintained fevers 100-101, low energy and upset stomache (Drew denies most symptoms, but he is clearly dragging and has a fever).
We have sequestered ourselves in our room all day, snoozing or watching videos. We are mostly OK if we stay reclined, so we hope this won't last long.
-John
Monday, January 14, 2002
Bad news at work today. One of our senior managers (my boss's boss) had died over the weekend. He was an outspoken engineer with lots of industry experience that he used well. John was one of the people I interviewed with, and was key in convincing me that this place stood a chance of doing the right things to help itself.
John had been battling some form of cancer (prostate?) successfully for the last year or so, and I did not get to see much of him, unfortunately. He had done well enough that he was making plans to come back to work this month after he finished chemo and underwent radiation treatments to finish off the cancer. However, his next-to-last scheduled chemo session caused a reaction (a known one) of mucous over-production in his lungs that made breathing difficult. That sent him to the hospital, then to a more capable hospital in Boston. He seemed to be doing OK then, but he did not respond to treatments meant to improve his breathing. His lungs both collapsed yesterday, and he never recovered. He died with his family at his side, and I hope he made his peace with God.
We were really caught unaware here (I just signed a card for him on Friday), and it was quite a shock when our director made the announcement this morning (he was clearly shaken - they had been friends for quite some time). Arrangements have been made, and I plan on attending the services later this week.
Events like this really force me to examine my priorities and remember the fragility of life and the importance of using the present well, since the future can be taken from us at any time. Saving for the future is good, but we need to live in the present as well.
I mourn the loss of a friend I didn't have yet, but expected to soon. I feel like I missed out on a really unique person.
-John
John had been battling some form of cancer (prostate?) successfully for the last year or so, and I did not get to see much of him, unfortunately. He had done well enough that he was making plans to come back to work this month after he finished chemo and underwent radiation treatments to finish off the cancer. However, his next-to-last scheduled chemo session caused a reaction (a known one) of mucous over-production in his lungs that made breathing difficult. That sent him to the hospital, then to a more capable hospital in Boston. He seemed to be doing OK then, but he did not respond to treatments meant to improve his breathing. His lungs both collapsed yesterday, and he never recovered. He died with his family at his side, and I hope he made his peace with God.
We were really caught unaware here (I just signed a card for him on Friday), and it was quite a shock when our director made the announcement this morning (he was clearly shaken - they had been friends for quite some time). Arrangements have been made, and I plan on attending the services later this week.
Events like this really force me to examine my priorities and remember the fragility of life and the importance of using the present well, since the future can be taken from us at any time. Saving for the future is good, but we need to live in the present as well.
I mourn the loss of a friend I didn't have yet, but expected to soon. I feel like I missed out on a really unique person.
-John
Sunday, January 13, 2002
Hello everybody! What is new in your neck of the woods? I do not even pretend to think you will be interested in the goings on in our everyday lives. This is largely for our own enjoyment of looking back on in later years, to remember our lives now, and for those of you far away. It seems so very efficient to make journal entries and reach so many of our loved ones that way.
We took Drew to Scooby Doo in the live theatre in Boston today (Dana, you would be so proud of us!) and Drew enjoyed it quite a bit. Shelby and Jackson, some buddies of ours went with us, despite Shelby's hubby being concerned about her travelling in such stormy weather. The theatre was quite old, I suspect, and VERY ormate, a very formal place so it was quite ironic that Scooby was playing there!
Quite a day as we went to a neighborhood brunch at a friend's up the street and then went to the theatre and came home to a game of hide and seek. We are finding Rory gives us away when we hide so we will have to be extra clever to overcome this handicap. The dusting of snow when we awoke was gorgeous and it kept snowing huge clumps of flakes. Just breathtaking! Everything had been coated with just enough to be quite beautiful. The forecast said 8-18 in today but alas we only got two or three. While we waited to be ready to go to the theatre after the brunch, Drew and Jackson ran around the yard throwing snowballs and threw some at the parents too. I told him he was in BIG TROUBLE but he just smiled! I was just kidding, anyway.
That is all for now. Time to go tuck in the Scooby fan. love, Mary
We took Drew to Scooby Doo in the live theatre in Boston today (Dana, you would be so proud of us!) and Drew enjoyed it quite a bit. Shelby and Jackson, some buddies of ours went with us, despite Shelby's hubby being concerned about her travelling in such stormy weather. The theatre was quite old, I suspect, and VERY ormate, a very formal place so it was quite ironic that Scooby was playing there!
Quite a day as we went to a neighborhood brunch at a friend's up the street and then went to the theatre and came home to a game of hide and seek. We are finding Rory gives us away when we hide so we will have to be extra clever to overcome this handicap. The dusting of snow when we awoke was gorgeous and it kept snowing huge clumps of flakes. Just breathtaking! Everything had been coated with just enough to be quite beautiful. The forecast said 8-18 in today but alas we only got two or three. While we waited to be ready to go to the theatre after the brunch, Drew and Jackson ran around the yard throwing snowballs and threw some at the parents too. I told him he was in BIG TROUBLE but he just smiled! I was just kidding, anyway.
That is all for now. Time to go tuck in the Scooby fan. love, Mary
Saturday, January 12, 2002
We are now another step further along in our assimilation into this area - we are the (reluctant) owners of a beefy new snow blower. This thing is quite a beast (Ariens 824, weighing ~250 lbs.). I fired it up for a little practice and found that it's quite loud and takes more concentration than I had expected. It also takes more physical effort than I thought; the wheels don't seem to have a differential, so turning it is quite hard (I need to ask about this, it really seems too hard to do). Anyway, we are hoping for a decent snowfall soon so we can really put it to work!
-John
-John
Early this week, the notebook computer I ordered at work came in, and I brought home for the first time last night. I had shown it to Drew, and needed to put it away, so I told him that it was going to sleep.
Mary thought she would have a little fun and suggested to Drew that the computer would like to have one of his stuffed animals with which to sleep. Well, Drew thought this was a fine idea, so he rushed upstairs to fetch one!
By the time he got back down, I had shut the 'puter and set in on a table. Drew had brought down his beanie baby whale and asked where the 'puter was. Once I pointed it out, he went over to it, and lifted it up so he could KISS it goodnight (his idea)! He then put it down and lay his whale gently on top of it.
This is just the sort of thing that makes life with Drew so interesting. In part, Drew was having a bit of fun, but he also has a very caring side that he still has very little trouble expressing.
-John
Mary thought she would have a little fun and suggested to Drew that the computer would like to have one of his stuffed animals with which to sleep. Well, Drew thought this was a fine idea, so he rushed upstairs to fetch one!
By the time he got back down, I had shut the 'puter and set in on a table. Drew had brought down his beanie baby whale and asked where the 'puter was. Once I pointed it out, he went over to it, and lifted it up so he could KISS it goodnight (his idea)! He then put it down and lay his whale gently on top of it.
This is just the sort of thing that makes life with Drew so interesting. In part, Drew was having a bit of fun, but he also has a very caring side that he still has very little trouble expressing.
-John
Monday, January 07, 2002
We seem to be having trouble publishing posts, so I am trying again with this one.
-John
-John
Tuesday, January 01, 2002
We had a great time last night in Boston, catching the early fireworks and the ice sculptures on the commons along with our step-relatives, Christopher and Julia and their kids. That was also our first experience in taking a commuter train in from Lowell, MA, a short drive from where we live.
Despite the cold air and gusty winds, we had a fun time and really enjoyed the fireworks. It's amazing how many different things there are to do just a short distance from here.
Today we have been chillin' at home, watching parades and bowl games and making cookies. Dana and John have been getting the Martinez web page back up and adding this web logging feature. Speaking of that, it's time to get back to editting...
-John
Despite the cold air and gusty winds, we had a fun time and really enjoyed the fireworks. It's amazing how many different things there are to do just a short distance from here.
Today we have been chillin' at home, watching parades and bowl games and making cookies. Dana and John have been getting the Martinez web page back up and adding this web logging feature. Speaking of that, it's time to get back to editting...
-John
