Martinez Family Journal

We had some friends over this AM to play, Jenna and Melinda Barton, and at lunchtime they invited us to lunch out with them and other mutual friends of ours, Renee, Evan and Garrett Moloney (the kids all went to preschool together). So we all hopped in the cars and met at the Midfield Cafe at the airport, where the food is good and the children can watch all the tiny planes land and take off while eating. Super place to take kids! I mentioned to Drew that I never knew that Jenna and Evan were going to get married, as these five year olds profess to (and have been betrothed for about a whole year now). Apparently he never knew either and said 'Oh no! I wanted to marry Jenna.' So Melinda said to him 'Well, we thought you were going to marry Bethany.' and he said ' Oh, yeah, I am going to marry Bethany.' (Bethany is something of a 'best friend' of Drew's and they play all the time together and get along super.)

I was putting Drew to bed tonight and we had some pretty interesting discussions, as he got ready. His mind flitted from one topic to another quickly. One minute he was talking about Portuguese man-of-war and the next he was talking about our bodies after death. He asked me, 'Mommy, what happens to our bodies after we die' and I talked to him about how our spirits go up to be with God in Heaven. he said ' Oh, I know now. I bet God uses the dead people's skin to make new people.' Wow, his mind was really racing.

He was quite upset yesterday to take his last ride in my old car, even though I explained to him that the new car would have more room forhis friends and him and the baby, and that it would play movies and have trays for food...more conveniences. He kept saying 'Well, I won't forget this car. Will you?' it was obvious to me that all of us have trouble letting go of the things most constant in our worlds, even when some bigger 'better' things come along. Change is not always welcome. I can't blame him one bit. He is adjusting rapidly though, I am happy to see. The minivan we had ordered many months ago came in a few weeks earlier than scheduled so we picked it up tonight. He enjoyed the ride home with his Daddy, and seems to like it already. I think I might be geting used to the change also!

The past few nights (this is Mary journaling tonight) I have struggled to find the energy to make something sort of nutritious to eat so late at night when I have been getting hungry. They don't seem to talk about this symptom in the pregnancy books and magazines, the struggle between fatigue and hunger. Many mights I feel like I am so tired I may pass out, but am still so hungry that I need to eat before passing out completely. Tonight luckily there was some food available and ready (thank God for microwaves!) for making very quickly. I can't imagine how tired I would be if I were working a paying job as well as parenting.

We sold the explorer tonight, to the nicest young couple. Great to see it going to a good family. The girl got Drew a Scooby Doo doll and scooby lollipop, as she and her four year old son are avid Scooby fans as well. They had some discussion the other day about Scooby Doo. Never thought having a car transaction could be so civil, even pleasant. Heck, I would even like to get to know them socially. Very personable, nice people who seemed quite likable.

Alex, the new owner of the explorer, overheard John on the phone when the call came that our minivan has arrived in Manchester, and notified me that we were going to get our car tomorrow. Funny how that happened!

John took his Mom's advice yesterday and I couldn't be happier! He mentioned that I was missing my treasured sapphire and diamond pendant and was quite upset about it. I normally do not lose things of this value, not often at all, and so it bothered me all the more since I have become more forgetful this pregnancy, what with all the life distractions we have now. So she noted that it is bound to turn up sooner or later, in a purse or something. He got off the phone and immediately went in and found it in my purse, sure enough, in a section I practically never use. My hero!! I was asleep so he slipped it on my neck come morning. I will have to think of a way to repay him, but how?....

Recently Drew gave me the biggest scare of his life. He was spending some time in his room by himself, as he has begun to do more, just hanging out and playing. He came down a while later, and calmly said to me 'Mommy, is it okay to swallow a nail?' and boy, was I frightened to think of what he had done to himself. It was quite surprising, as he is not at all in the habit of putting small, sharp things in his mouth, let alone swallowing them. In fact, I hadn't known him to do this for many years. But after working on the teen psychiatric unit of a hospital in AZ for many years, I had known the teens to swallow all kinds of sharp, dangerous objects at times for attention. So I wasn't panicking entirely yet. I knew I had better get some info before phoning the ER, so I asked him to draw the size of the nail he swallowed. He sat down and carefully drew a 3/4 in slightly curved line. That morning there was a contractor upstairs working, installing a whole house fan on the second floor ceiling so I was not too surprised he had had access to a nail. I asked him where he had found the nail, thinking he had found it near Kenny, the contractor, and he replied 'on my finger'. Well, unfortunately I did not yet grasp what he was trying to tell me. I wanted to know where it was before he had it in his hands! I must have asked him why the line was curved, and he told me that was because it was curved - it was a fingernail he swallowed! Boy, talk about relief! After my nerves calmed down and I had called John and Jeanne, I was still curious to know why he decided to swallow it, and he explained that it was because he did not want to interrupt playtime!

I remember some funny things Drew has said in recent days, months, seasons, and often I have written them down, to remember for future blogging. So I just recently came upon a sheet of paper listing some of these and here they are:

In the fall we were travelling the scenic (in the fall it seems all the routes around New England are scenic, what with fall leaves, rolling hills, lakes of glistening water...) route between our very new town of Nashua and Keene across southern NH. We were passing trough the small town of Peterborough when I mentioned to the boys that I saw a curious sign entitled 'Field Mouse Annex' but at first glance I thought it had read 'Fried Mouse Annex'. Boy, Drew was laughing hysterically at that one. He kept asking me to repeat it and repeat it....

Minutes later we enjoyed jpassing through the very small town of Dublin, NH and witnessed a picturesque lake. We had heard that this route takes you toward Keene, where this county is dubbed as Currier and Ives countryside, very quaint. Drew noted 'I never got to see a lake THAT beautiful before'. It seemed like John and I hadn't either.

We mentioned to Drew on that drive that his birthday was coming soon; he was going to turn 5 on December 2, and time was drawing near to plan a party. When I first told him that his birthday was soon, he got so excited he was not thinking clearly! "Is it today?!" he inquired. When I told him no, he asked 'Is it tomorrow?!'

Last week we were going through our usual morning routine, and he was a bit out of sorts and not really in a great mood. Usually he wakes in a super mood. But this morning was noticeably different different. Nothing major went wrong, he just did not care for being told what to do and being reminded to do what he had forgotten to do. He finally looked u at me, really mad and frustrated, and remarked 'Do you notice I am having a tough morning?'

One day we were having dinner and I was tired as I have often been this pregnancy. I am trying to reinforce with Drew, especially this summer, to do as much for himself as he is capable of (knowing this will be especially important when the baby comes). So more and more when he asks me to do somethign for him, I have told him he needs to do it himself. One day he asked for another spoon (his had dropped on the floor) and I told him he needed to get it himself. He looked at me and said 'Mommy, do you like helping me?' so calmly and innocently. So we talked about that.

One day I made ramen noodles for our dinner, and he had helped pick them out for dinner. I heard him say during dinner, 'I love robin' (meaning ramen)!

One day we were expecting John home from about 7 days away at a conference, and naturally we were thrilled we did not have to wait any longer. I asked Drew to get out of his clothes so I could bathe him. I said 'Surely Daddy does not want to see a dirty boy!' and he replied that yes, his Daddy does want to see a dirty boy. Come to think of it, this was the beginning of the arguing age. these days, it seems he argues EVERYTHING I say. It seems he is 5 going on 12!

One day Drew said to me right out of the blue, 'You have some snarling moves' and I inquired what he meant. He meant no harm, he was smiling and saying it pleasantly enough. It was actually kind of cute. But he had absolutely NO IDEA what it meant, just that it got a reaction from me!

Drew has now officially been initiated into life as a member of the Notre Dame family, having been to the freshman sendoff party last week. Now he has seen football games on TV but never met the gang. This was something else - and what a party for him to see the club members - it was held right on the beach. Some of the older members of the club, Ellen ('73) and Bob King of Salem have a second home on the beach just over the border in Salisbury Beach, MA. A very pleasant beach it was, and a super party as we met some really friendly people. Drew enjoyed playing on the sand while John went in to take part in the question and answer session and he and I and some of the kids played outside on the sand burying each other. I believe I found another babysitter, the daughter of the current club president. We plan to host a game watch Sept 6 for the Purdue game so hopefully lots of the people will show up again.

We are camping tonight in the sunroom tonight as the temps are plummeting into the 50s. John blew up the air mats and folded out the sleeping bags and Drew was thrilled to hear about the plans. He is even more excited to camp outdoors, but for now, middle of the week this will have to do.

He spent the day with Jenna, one of his buddies from preschool, and they had a fabulous time catching moths and putting them into their bug houses. Jenna was here for a few hours then her mom Melinda took them to the park. Melinda and I scrapboolk together and the kids go to gymnastics together Tuesday am's and will attend K this fall at the same time, same school, but have different teachers.

That is it for tonight. Hope all of you reading are doing well and having a blessed summer.

Oh, before I sign off, I remembered a moment I cannot forget -

Every night when tucking Drew in I ask him to pary with me and ask him what we want to thank God for tonight. Last night he said his first prayer himself 'God, thank you for the warm shower water that feels so good running down my back'. There you have it. I believe if you can appreciate the 'little' things in life, you can be really happy.
He has taken more to praying lately, especially when we hear fire engines or police sirens blaring. I told him how it means that someone is in trouble, when we hear that. Sometimes I pray outloud in the car when we hear that. So now when we hear sirens he implores me to pray for those needing urgent help.