A funny thing happened on the way to the (2nd) doctor's office

So,  I have a middle schooler - Caleb. Caleb is beautiful, tall and skinny with awesome, long eyelashes. He is loving, kind and scary smart. He is independent, stubborn, always right and doesn't like to apologize. Just. Like. Me. (Brian, don't go there.)

Did I mention he's in middle school?  6th grade. Mood swings. Disorganization. Forgetfulness. Hormones. It's a difficult time. For him. For us. One of the most memorable conversations we had this year started with this sentence: "Mommy. The hottest girl in school is in my class." Still calling me mommy. Noticing 'hot' girls. Labeling them 'hot'. What in the world?!? Who is this kid?

On Thursday, after picking him up from school, and then picking up Jacob and Luke from school, a previously chatty, smiley, in a good mood Caleb, went to irritable, angry, kicking his bookbag Caleb - within a 30 minute car ride. 

I was done.

Done with the mood swings. Done with the irritability. Done with the grumpiness. Done with the constant bickering with his brothers. Done. Done. Done. Done. Done!

I decided to ignore him the rest of the afternoon.

Don't judge.

It will come back to bite you on the butt. Maybe not now, but without a doubt, when you have a middle schooler. I'm just sayin'.

The afternoon proceeded smoothly. Caleb was ignoring me, too. Apparently, his mood swing was caused by something I said.

Then we had to go see our pediatrician to get a prescription refill. We both ignored each other all the way to the doctor's office. Perfect. Two peas in a pod. 

Then my stone cold facade began to break. First of all, we were late. I had written 4:30 on my calendar, but the appointment was actually at 4:10. I was frustrated and upset at myself because those appointments are hard to come by. Thankfully, our wonderful Dr. C was still there and willing to see us. Second, even though we were late and there for something totally unrelated, Dr. C noticed that Caleb's wrist was still sore after a baseball injury nearly a week before and took time to look at it and make recommendations on how to treat it.

Kind, merciful people kind of undo me. (Probably because kindness and mercy are not necesarily my first response.)

So there I was. Mad at Caleb. Late. Mad at myself. Feeling guilty because I hadn't done anything for Caleb's wrist. And about to weep from the kindness of our doctor. (Add 'moody' to things Caleb and I have in common.)

And there we were, on the way to the 2nd doctor of the day, an after-hours orthepedic doctor to have x-rays done on Caleb's wrist. Our conversation slowly warmed up as we discussed whether or not he would have to get a cast.

In the waiting room, filling out at least 45 sheets of medical history, I watched and listened as Caleb got a lesson from an older gentleman about time-shares. My heart was overwhelmed as I watched Caleb listen attentively, smile and even ask questions even though I knew he really wasn't interested. 

Sitting in the second examination room of the day, as Caleb and I discussed x-rays, school exams, even the reproductive health class he would be taking in the next few days, it dawned on me (again) what a sense of humor God has. What should have been a 30 minute trip to the doctor had turned into a whole afternoon of togetherness with the kid I was angry at, frustrated with, over and DONE with.

Thank you, Father, that no matter what, You are never done with me. Regardless of how I act or what I've done, you poke, prod, pull, push and woo me back to you. Your Word promises me that you will NEVER give up on me, and You keep reminding me through my sweet boys, kind doctors and even unexpected trips for x-rays. Please don't stop. "There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears." (Philippians 1:6 The Message) 



Joy! Laura



Caleb and Jordan on a good day!





Spiders!?! Why did it have to be spiders?!?

So the day was fairly uneventful except for Jordan's 4 year-old check-up (which included 4 shots); AND he didn't take a nap.

The first clue things were about to unravel, was on the way to Caleb's baseball game. Jacob forgot his shoes. (At least it was only 1 boy...a trip to the mall a few years ago became 2 trips to the mall when 3 of them forgot their shoes...also known as the day "freakin'" became my favorite word - as in "when have we EVER gone ANYWHERE without our FREAKIN' SHOES?". 

Anyway. Jacob got filthy walking around shoeless. Jordan got filthy pushing his cars through the dirt. They had to have baths; even though it was almost 10pm when we got home. Jordan started crying as soon as we walked in the door.

(Did I mention that Brian had to go to Beaufort right after the game?)

Sitting by the tub, assuring still-crying Jordan that the water wouldn't hurt his shot booboos, I felt something fall from my shoulder into the front of my shirt. "Something just fell down my shirt," I said loudly to the boys, beginning to panic (all gathered in my bathroom - I don't know why). "It was a spider," said Luke. To say I freaked out would be an understatement.

I jumped up, pulled my shirt over my head, ran into my room and threw it on the floor; screaming the whole time.

What kid in the tub? There was a spider. In. My. Freakin. Shirt.

I couldn't find it to kill it. I stomped on my shirt, jerked my fingers through my hair, took off my pants, and screamed some more. 

I finally gave up and went back in to the bathroom to comfort still-crying, still standing Jordan, all the while channeling Indiana Jones "Spiders. Why did it have to be spiders?" And twitching like a thousand spiders were crawling on me.

I got Jordan out of the tub, and as I wrapped him up, saw the spider on my bathrobe hanging on my wall...apparantly he got the ride of his life as I threw my shirt over my head.

Telling Jordan to wait in the bedroom for me, I set out to kill the spider, which I did (and yes, I enjoyed it). About the same time, Jordan started burping; and then, you guessed it, threw up ALL OVER my bedroom floor. I rushed him back to my bathroom and managed to lean him over the tub in time for him to throw up everything he had eaten in the past 4 years...okay, not that much but he had eaten a LOT that day.

I finally got him cleaned up and in bed, and as I headed into my room to start the detoxification process, Luke informs me that he has a test tomorrow and he needs someone to help him study.

12:30am. Studying over, devotions done, carpet cleaned, bathtub sanitized...I crawl in to my bed and set the alarm for 5am. A mere 4 1/2 hours of sleep.

Sigh.

Thank you, Lord. Thanks that we HAVE shoes to forget, baseball games to get dirty at, bathtubs to bathe in (and throw-up in), boys who WANT to study, and a bed to crawl in - even if it's only for 4 1/2 hours. You are good.

But I'm still not thankful for spiders.

Joy!
Laura

                  Jordan on a much happier day!