ER Otra Vez

After church Edgar took my van and Joey, Fabian, Gito, Miriam, Vanessa and Mayra to play flag football with our youth group in the Turkey Bowl which took place at a park several miles up the road.

I stayed home with the remaining 16 kids and moped about since my brother, Jim, had left that morning. Post holiday letdown.

I'd rather have sacks of leaves than diamonds and gold. Sonny is great about stopping and gathering up people's raked and bagged leaves which he then spreads all over my gardens. His girlfriend is out of town and Sonny had been raking and bagging up her mom's leaves for me. Sonny made two moms really happy with this endeavor.

However his truck broke down and Chuck, as usual, came to the rescue.

We now have 3 non-functional 1980s trucks and 3 other 1980s broke down cars in the front. At least nothing is up on cinder blocks.

Around 3:30 Edgar called to tell me that apparently Mayra had broken her thumb, it was flopping strangely to the side. Knowing I'm medically challenged and car-less he suggested I get a grip, get my pocketbook and he'd be there to pick me up in three minutes. I, at least, had the presence of mind to tell him to bring Miriam to stay with the kids while I was in the ER.

Indeed it was broken right on the growth plate. Yuck. Pastor Geoff had told me he'd get my kids home after the tournament so I, alone, held Mayra's hand while she yelped as they maneuvered it back into alignment before setting it. This witty doctor, knowing I'd just been there five days earlier with Joey, quipped that my family alone had so singlehandedly guaranteed his job security.

Fabian was 30 minutes late back to the Ranch but full of himself since I gave such a great report of his behavior at home for six days. I wasted my breath but nonetheless spent the ride re-explaining for the ten thousandth time that I didn't actually "give" him a good report but that he had "earned" it and when he figures out the empowerment principle, he'll be a huge success. In five months so far I am mightily impressed with how far he has come and I never hesitate to tell him so.

Had a great talking and listening time to Edgar on the trip home. He'd probably not even be embarrassed that I'm telling that he fell asleep last night on the sofa with his head on my shoulder by 10 p.m. He's a mama's boy and fairly proud of it. I woke him up and sent him to bed while telling Marcela good-night on the telephone.

Next thing I knew it was 6 a.m. and time to get some very ornery children to school.