Janet Sumner Johnson
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London

A Trip to the ER

Apr

25, 2010 |

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“Stop running!”

[I swear that’s my mantra these days–in more ways than one, but I digress.] That’s what I yelled right before the BOOM! Then came the crying.

“London pushed me!” Brandt was on the floor wailing and pointing back toward the room. London was hiding.

I picked up the one and started scolding the other. Then I saw it.

Blood POURING down Brandt’s face. I swooned. A moment of shock. I forced myself to think past the blood dripping on the carpet. And I admit it, I panicked. The word ‘hyperventilate’ comes to mind.

I sent an accusing look at London (I know, I know, bad parenting, but in the moment . . . well, yeah), and rushed Brandt to the bathroom. I pressed a wad of toilet paper on the faucet of blood. “Hold this and don’t move!” I ordered.

I grabbed my phone book and called my good friend: “So, Brandt-split-his-head-open,-and-I-need-to-take-him-to-get-stitched.-Somewhere.-I-don’t-know-where-yet,-but-could-you . . . ” I think I said it all in one breath.

Can I just say, thank goodness for good friends! She helped me find the address for the hospital, and kept the other two so I could keep my sanity.

To sum up, Brandt got seven stitches . . . and I’m sure a scar to match his other one. He was a brave little boy who didn’t wiggle, and didn’t cry at all while the doctor worked. The doctor was in awe: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a child sit so still for stitches before.”

Yup, this is my child who I had to carry screaming out of the store because he COULDN’T get a flu shot.

And now, I have finally joined the rank and file of true parents, having dealt with my first trip to the emergency room.

P.S. Dana, I didn’t think about taking a ‘Before’ picture till it was too late. Rats.

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A Visit from Friends

Apr

22, 2010 |

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When I first moved to KC, I went for walks all the time because I didn’t know anyone, and didn’t have much else to do (I know! Imagine that! Boy, 1 kid sure seems easy now . . . but I digress). That is how I met my amazingly wonderful friend Dana and her little boy, Nate, who was just London’s age (they were 9-months old at the time). She had just moved to KC, too

Five years later, we both ended up moving. You can imagine the heartbreak . . . life-long friends, separated pre-maturely. Okay, a tad dramatic, but you get the idea. I was just as sad.

Fast-forward a year, and YAY! Dana and Nate came for a weekend visit. It was just like old times! Nate and London gave each other a HUGE hug at the airport and never stopped talking over each other.

Nate got right back into being annoyed by his surrogate little brother, and Brandt was right there, tagging after the big boys.

We took a trip downtown (via the metro)

 to see the famed Cherry Blossoms. And wouldn’t you know it, they’d bloomed and gone. (So these are the regular old blossoms from the trees on our street).

We took a quick look-see in the American History Museum, caught a snippet of the Cherry Blossom parade,

and meandered past the White House (Everyone was all agog because Bo–the first dog–was running around). Yeah, yeah, this isn’t the White House, but it was too crowded to take a picture.

We ate street vendor hot dogs. Can I just mention that my bun crunched? I’m quite certain, that it was NOT toasted. But if it were anything less, it wouldn’t be the full experience, would it?

When we got home, my darling husband watched the kids, and Dana and I escaped to the Lego store and B&N. And we HAD to make a visit to Dunkin’ Donuts. Neither of us has ever had them. Word of advice: 8:00 PM is the wrong time of day to get donuts. My donut crunched, too. Seriously, twice in a day? The cosmos must be trying to tell me something.

Anyway, it was a FABULOSO visit! We miss them terribly already (London hasn’t stopped asking when we’re going to visit them). There’s nothing like spending time with a good friend. Thank you for coming, Dana and Nate!

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A Beautiful Sunset with a Kick

Mar

06, 2010 |

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Yesterday was call (i.e. Rick worked all night). While London was at school, we had a full day. A playdate, gymnastics, and even a run to the toystore because Razors were on sale. (Brandt is now the proud new owner of his own scooter!)

What a great mom, huh? It’s not birthday or Christmas or any other holiday, but just because I know Brandt will enjoy it. So in gratitude, he should be happy boy with no complaints all day. Right? Yes, right.

After another playdate (when London got home), it was time to get down to work. London has piano practice and reading before dinner. Lucky Brandt gets to play.

London sits at the piano, but does Brandt not get the “lucky” part?

Me: Brandt, you need to let London practice.

Brandt: No! I’m going to play!

Me: Brandt, please get off the piano bench so your brother can pratice.

Brandt: No! Tinga! Pinga! Pinga! Bing! Bang! Bop! [that’s meant to represent his playing . . . hey! you try and make piano sounds with words, then come back and appreciate my genius.] 😉

London: I don’t need any help, Brandt!

Me: Brandt, please play somewhere else.

I physically remove Brandt from the piano bench and set him on the couch.

Brandt: That’s no fair! You made me mad, mom!!! And I won’t play anywhere else!@!!! [if only you could hear the intensity in his voice. There’s just no way to translate that into words]

And he promptly ran across the room and booted me in the leg.

Yeah. Seriously.

I picked him up, marched him to his room and deposited him in his bed. Then I plopped in front of the computer and stared at the screen. My ire was pulsing WAY too fast to try talking to anyone else.

I mean, 1) Where did he learn that!? Because I certainly have never kicked him.

2) How could he kick me? Me?! His own mother who suffered 9, count them, 9 months of a miserable pregnancy, 4 hours of labor, innumberable sleepless nights, not to mention the extra weight I still bear around my center.

And 3) I bought him a stinkin’ scooter today!!! Isn’t that like having a get-out-of-temper-tantrums free card? Well it should be.

So there I am, glowering at the computer screen, when London says, “Mom! Look at that beautiful sunset! Come watch it with me!”

Well how can you refuse that? You can’t. So we stood and watched the sun setting.


London: I just love watching the sky turn yellow and orange. And look at the line of cloud, mom. Isn’t that just SO cool?

Me: Very cool, London.

London [snuggling in close]: It doesn’t get any more better than watching the sun set with your mama, does it?

Me: No, kiddo. It doesn’t.

How do kids know how to say just the right thing sometimes? What a little cutie. And suddenly the event that left me fuming was connected to this other amazingly sweet moment. The kind you treasure as a mom. The kind that makes all those other not-so-nice moments worth it. The kind you never forget.

London: Can we do this again some time, mama?

I hope so, kiddo. I certainly hope so.

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