Filler post...

Dear Nicky,

Helped our friends with their computers today. Took a while. Came home did the garbage. Lots of garbage. Hung out with you guys. Then bedtime. You must've been very tired because you actually asked to go to bed.

Love,
Dad

Tough it out...

Dear Nicky,

You do seem better, despite some chest congestion. No fever, diminished cough. Yet tonight's been your roughest, most moaningest in a while. I think it's because you slept so late this afternoon. Maybe you just need holding, but we can't keep doing that all the time. You know that. I hate to do it, but sometimes I've got to let you cry it out.

Love,
Dad

Sleepin'...

Dear Nicky,

You're feeling better and you're sleeping peacefully. Junie might have your cold now, but she tends to shrug colds off a little easier than you do. Your energy level is good and your mood is bright and playful. Tonight we all three ate at the table like grownups. You didn't eat much, but you made some good effort and acted quite maturely. Tomorrow Mom's going away on business for a few days. You guys will be stuck with me, but I'll try not to torment you too much. (That was a joke.)

Love,
Dad

Sick, and tired...

Dear Nicky,

You're still a little sick. You've got a cough that I hope gets no worse. You seem quiet for now. I hope you feel better in the morning. I'm just really tired in so many ways lately. Sorry if I'm a jerk.

Love,
Dad

Rocky start, but better...

Dear Nicky,

You had a little cold and fever this morning, but by the afternoon, you seemed much better. It was a rainy day and we all took naps. Sleep's the best thing for everyone.My nose is congested also. So far tonight you've been sleeping quite peacefully. If you have no fever in the morning, we'll send you off to school, otherwise we'll keep you home. I hear you stirring right now, but it seems very minor. Usually when you're sick, you're quite vocal by this time. Hope you're really feeling better.

Love,
Dad

A little party...

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon we had some of your Stepping Stones friends over for a little party. It was a nice time, and everybody who was invited showed up. I set up the sandbox, the kiddie pool, a water toy, and a trampoline-type of toy. Also, there was a bin full of other types of toys available. I think it went well, but now you definitely have a cold, which means misery for us for the next few days.

Love,
Dad

Another hard-working Friday...

Dear Nicky,

Today I toiled in the heat and sun again, but this time I made much more of an effort to stay hydrated. I must've moved two or three hundred pounds of mulch and definitely 1,000 pounds of sand into the sandbox, which was overgrown with weeds and such. Mom took you to get your glasses adjusted, then later took June for her two year checkup. Granny came over and watched you guys while Mom and I met with some decorators. Later you guys got baths, and now you're fussing about going to sleep.

Love,
Dad

Last night's outage...

Dear Nicky,

Last night it rained and lightning'ed so hard the cable went out and I couldn't get online. Mom and I had gone out for dinner for our anniversary. It was nice. Today started with rain but cleared up around midday. I ran around a lot and got some sand for the sandbox and some fresh mulch for the play area. I'll put them out tomorrow. We have a lot to do tomorrow.

Love,
Dad

Dear Nicky,

Right now I'm too sleepy, so I'll get back to you later.

Love,
Dad

Back in the saddle...

Dear Nicky,

This morning you went back to school. You fought a lot while I tried to get you ready. You seemed to have had a nice day, came home wiped out, and crashed for a while. You didn't eat much for dinner, but you went down to sleep easily enough. Back to the routine we go.

Love,
Dad

Welcome home...!

Dear Nicky,

You guys arrived back from Vermont this afternoon no worse for the wear, although Mom tells me you likely bit your cheek or tongue at one point on the drive and that caused you exquisite pain. All in all you had a nice time, although Aunt Za can be a little smug and sanctimonious. You made a mess for dinner and then had a bath. We hung out for a while, then we put your exhausted butt to bed. I'll bet it's nice to be back in your own bed. I always feel that way.

Love,
Dad

Cooler today...

Dear Nicky,

Funny thing, I kept imagining I heard babies crying all night last night. I thought for sure I'd wake up late, but 6:30 and I was raring to go. I went and got some breakfast and saw the new Batman movie, very dark, very grim. Then I went to Lowes to get some stuff, then to this place in Madison to get some new kitchen faucet, but they had already closed. So I came back and ordered what I wanted from the Internet, no taxes and no shipping fees. So be it! I did some laundry and put a water filter on the line to the ice maker. It took me a while because I did everything I could to avoid cutting some copper tubing, but ultimately there was no other way, and I was finally successful. I spoke to Mom earlier this afternoon and she said you and June are having great fun with your cousin Noah in Vermont. You guys come back tomorrow. I can't wait to see you again!

Love,
Dad

Brutal heat...

Dear Nicky,

Hope it's nice and cool in Vermont because it's brutally hot down here. Yesterday I prepped the driveway for sealing and it took a long time. This morning I sealed it. I started late because I had to use the blower to get all this dust and stuff off and I didn't want to wake the whole neighborhood. Well, it's hard work sealing a driveway for the first time. Add to that the hottest day of the year so far, with a heat advisory no less, and it was murder. And just when I'm a bout ten square feet from completion, I run out of sealant. Also, by this time I'm having major heat cramps and am just exhausted. I get in the car to go to Home Depot, but as I'm driving things start turning black, so I came home took a cold shower, hung out, felt no better, and went to the Urgent Care up the street, where they rehydrated me and gave some potassium and sent me on my way. I think went to Home Depot and got another bucket of sealer, came home, rested for a bit, then finished what I needed to do. Afterward I took another shower and had a sandwich. I feel okay now, just tired. I hope the driveway turns out okay. Are you having fun? Being good? Too be good; Mom needs to learn patience.

Love,
Dad

Road trip...

Dear Nicky,

So this morning, you and June and Mom and Granny hopped into the Honda and went up to Vermont to see Aunt Za and along the way you stopped at our friend Tammy's place. I had set up the portable DVD player in a swing for you guys and I hear it worked like magic. I'm glad you guys had a nice drive and I hope you have a lot of fun up there. I prepped the driveway for sealcoating, greeted the carpet cleaners, set up my new hard drive, did the trash and recycling, and set up a new showerhead in the kid bathroom, which I hope will make it easier to wash your hair.

Love,
Dad

Lost...!

Dear Nicky,

This morning was Wicked Wednesday, which means Mom gets up and leaves extra early, so I bustled about trying to get you ready all by my lonesome. After I sent you on your way, I was busy with Junie for most of the day. Later this afternoon, while she napped, I installed a DVD carrier for the minivan for the road trip you guys are taking tomorrow. When I looked at my watch, it was almost 2:30, and you're usually home by two. So I start calling people and finally get a hold of your driver. Turns out she's lost. She's agitated and talking so much I can't understand a thing she's saying. She finally got you home around three no worse for the wear. At least she stayed in contact, which is important to prevent me from flipping out. Then it was off to Doc Berg's office to check out your ear tubes. Everything's great in that regard, although they were really backed up at the office. It took us over an hour, on top of which we were delayed getting there because of some emergency road work on River Road, undoubtedly the same traffic mess that caused your driver to get lost.

Love,
Dad

Lotsa driving...

Dear Nicky,

Sorry I didn't have much news for you last night, nothing major going on. More of the same today. You're sleeping pretty good lately, which hopefully means the ear tubes are working well. You come home from Stones wiped out still. We finished the last of your ear drops this morning. I drove all over today looking for stuff I need for some things to work on this weekend. I finally found the gravel I was looking for. Yippee. I still can't find those screws with the break-off heads, though. Also, I couldn't find a copy of the New Yorker today either. I think some places are pulling it lest it offend people. It's supposed to have presidential candidate Barack Obama dressed as Osama bin Laden. Oh, those crazy intellectuals!

Love,
Dad

IOU for today...

Dear Nicky,

Not much to report today; will get back to ya tomorrow.

Love,
Dad

Muggy Sunday...

Dear Nicky,

It was really muggy out today. Mom took you to Sunday School. I did some stuff around the house and yard and sprayed for hornets. Mom took you out to Granny's where you had fun in the baby pool. You came home asleep and I put you straight to bed, but you woke up later, which was good because we could give you your Pepcid and ear drops and change your clothes. That is all.

Love,
Dad

Neighborhood party...

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon we went to a party at a neighbor's house and it was a lot of fun. There was lots of food and cake and cookies for dessert. There was a waterslide and swings and everybody was really nice. You and June had a blast, ate well, and made a mess. You stayed up till nine, then we came home cleaned you off, and put you to bed. Sleep well!

Love,
Dad

Eyes and hair...

Dear Nicky,

This morning Mom took you for an eye exam. Nothing new to report on that front. This afternoon I took you for a haircut. Came out well despite your antics. That's all.

Love,
Dad

Good energy...

Dear Nicky,

Today your communication notebook said you did a lot of running and were quite energetic during your therapies. I think you're definitely better off with fully functioning ear tubes. This evening you did not want to go to bed. You must've cried for half an hour, but I had to harden my heart and let you put yourself to sleep because it's a habit you must learn. You seem to be sleeping soundly right now.

Love,
Dad

Doing good...

Dear Nicky,

Aside from waking up a little bit ago for a hug, you seem okay as fart as sleeping goes tonight. Same for last night; you slept really well. Your mood was sunny and your appetite was okay all day. We three had a ton of laughs chasing each other around the house this afternoon. So you seem okay, which is great.

Love,
Dad

New ear tubes...

Dear Nicky,

You were so brave, outgoing, and cute today when we went to the hospital to get new ear tubes put in. You were waving and saying hi to everyone. They couldn't take they're off how adorable you were. You weren't afraid when they took you away to the OR. The surgery probably took less than 15 minutes. The doctor said everything went great. No surprises or complications, and a bunch of goo came out. You were calm and comfortable in Recovery when I came in. A cluster of nurses was surrounding your bed oohing and ahhing over you. Shortly after some water and crackers, you were deemed fit to be released and we bounced. You fell asleep in the car and took a nice long nap at home. You seemed comfortable all day and your spirits were great. So far tonight you're sleeping beautifully without a peep, sound as pound. I can only imagine what discomfort you must have had. You should feel a lot better with new tubes.

Love,
Dad

A number of laughs...

Dear Nicky,

Despite being tired from a poor night's sleep last night, you were in a good mood when you woke up from your afternoon nap. You ate okay and drank some milk, and we all had a lot of fun playing and rough housing till it was bathtime. You guys had a nice bath, then we read five bedtime books, and I put you down. You're fussing a lot at night lately, can't tell if it's discomfort or behavior, but tomorrow we're getting new tubes put in your ears. I hope that helps.

Love,
Dad

A rough day...

Dear Nicky,

Today was long and difficult. Everybody was tired and tempers were short. Neither you nor June took a nap. You guys were very fussy and tired and your behavior was poor. And I'm ashamed to admit it, but so was the behavior of your parents. Everybody is only human.

Love,
Dad

No haircut this day...

Dear Nicky,

Twice today Mom and I went to the barbershop to get you a haircut but it was too busy each time. Toward the end of the day we bagged the whole idea. Maybe next week. Mom took you guys out to Granny's yet again today. There was a big thunderstorm this afternoon. That is all.

Love,
Dad

July 4, 2008...

Dear Nicky,

Today was kind of muggy and dreary all day long. It rained off and on. After a bath and a nap, we went out to Granny's for a while, played in the pool and with Miles the dog who was here with Aunt Zaza and Cousin Noah. You had some fun playing with your cousin, then we had something to eat and came home.

Love,
Dad

Weggie's...

Dear Nicky,

So we sent you off this morning, then I watered the lawn, got some replacement water socks for June, went to a Barnes and Noble and got some books, then I went to Wegman's, one of the greatest supermarkets I have ever been to. Excellent selection, quality produce, organic and everyday stuff, and they sell booze, too. When I got home, Mom had just returned with June from Granny's pool and put her to sleep. When you came home at 2 you were out like a light and slept till about four. Mom made delicious spaghetti and meatballs for dinner tonight. You had some and seemed to enjoy it, even if you only ate bird-size helpings. After dinner, you and June had lots of fun running around and screaming your heads off.

Love,
Dad

Dinner out...

Dear Nicky,

Stones wipes you out, man! You come home passed out like a log. June may have a blocked tear duct. Mom and I went out to dinner tonight, leaving you kids with the babysitter, a very nice lady. Now we're tired. Goodnight!

Love,
Dad

Back to school...

Dear Nicky,

This morning the K&S Transportation drivers picked you up for your first day back at Stones. It was nice to see your old driver again. She's always on time and her van is clean and neat, as is your carseat. You must've had a lot of fun today with your old gang. There must've been some baby pool activity, too, because they had changed your outfit as the other was wet top and bottom. You were wiped out this afternoon and slept for over three hours. You needed to, but it messed up your bedtime a little. No big thing, though.

Love,
Dad