I wait, and I worry...

Dear Nicky,

I returned home this evening after a long day and a long drive.  My mother is at last due to be fed solid food.  Hopefully, this will help her recovery, but I'm not sure that it will. I feel guilt, sorrow, pity, and anger.  You may never know fully what I'm talking about.  I'm not sure I'll ever be able to explain, even if I knew myself.  The only certainty is my love for my children.

Love,
Dad

YiaYia can swallow...

Dear Nicky,

Went to a swallow study for my mom this morning. She did well and will soon be eating solids again. Hopefully she will quickly regain her strength and be able to withstands the rigors of having her thyroid removed. I know you had a checkup with the docs this morning, but I haven't spoken to Mom today. Im sure she'll catch me up tomorrow.

Love,
Dad

New Hampshire again...

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon when you came home, Granny got you off the van and babysat you and Junie till Robin showed up to babysit you some more, then Mom came home. I am in New Hampshire visiting my mom because she has a test tomorrow that will determine if she can start eating solid foods again. Physically she looks pretty good, but her mental clarity is poor. Hopefully, this is only a temporary condition and will improve when and if we can remove her thyroid. I hope you had a fantastic day, and may you have another one tomorrow, when you go home to Grace's house.

I almost forgot to mention how painfully sweet you were last night. I don't remember the time, but you brought your little stepstool into the bedroom and climbed right on top of me and gave me kisses until I tucked you in next to me and snuggled with you all night. You're so darn cute!

Anyway, be a good boy; listen to Mommy and take care of your little sister. I'll be back soon.

Love,
Dad

Family fun day...

Dear Nicky,

Today was a fundraising event called Family Fun Day to benefit your school. Mom left early to prepare it, and you, me, and Junie left around noon to attend. There was plenty of food and music, all of which was was pretty good. And you guys had a nice time dancing and running around. There was a raffle, and we won a telescope! Amazing, considering we never win anything; case in point, June wanted to win a Star Wars toy. She put all her tickets in that container and even had the chance to draw the ticket and she still didn't win it, which made her cry. When we got home you had some bread and banana, then Mom gave you a bath and put you to bed.

Love,
Dad

Birthday party...

Dear Nicky,

Today we had your birthday party at Chimney Rock. We had a large turnout and everything went very smoothly. We had a magician/balloon artist show up, and while corny, he was still very nice. When we first got there you were a little logey, but you soon perked up, and by the time I put you to bed, you were out like a light.

Pajama day...

Dear Nicky,

Today at Stones someone thought it would be fun to do pajama day. I think it was kind of lame. Hope you kids had fun. Tomorrow is your birthday party.

Love,
Dad

Steak...

Dear Nicky,




This morning you slept late, then for dinner you had some nice steak. We watched a little Revenge of the sith, then Mom put you to bed.

Love,
Dad

Indiana Jones...

Dear Nicky,

We didn't play any Lego Star Wars today; your new favorite is Indiana Jones (Lego version, of course). You sure get exited and loud when you play the Wii.

Love,
Dad

Good IEP meeting...

Dear Nicky,

Mom and I went to Stones today to review your IEP. It was great. Everybody there seems to love you. No surprises.

Love,
Dad

Snow...

Dear Nicky,

Today was the first day of spring, and it snowed. We had a man come over and take a look at the lawn in order to set up a sprinkler system. It's only March and he's already booked into June. This evening we watched The Empire Strikes Back, and when it was done and the credits were rolling, you turned and said "I liked that!". Your enthusiasm and clarity were quite noteworthy and rather sophisticated. I felt a thrill when I heard it.

Love,
Dad

The swamp...

Dear Nicky,

This morning you and Mom went to church while June and I went to the docs for her cough. We waited a long time, then got the scrip filled at Target, met up with you guys and went to lunch at Chimney Rock. I ate a whole pizza. Afterward we went to the Great Swamp where we saw a bunch of snakes and you threw a pen in the water. We got mad at you for that. We came home and you ate a nice pasta and meatball dinner.

Love,
Dad

Granny's birthday...

Dear Nicky,

Today was Granny's birthday so we went out to dinner at an expensive but ordinary restaurant. So tired when we came home.

Love,
Dad

Good hearing and a haircut...

Dear Nicky,

This morning you pitched a fit when we turned of the Wii so you could go to school. Later Mom came and got you and took you to the ENT, where you're hearing isgreat and your fluids in yr ears is vastly improved. Then Mom took you to get a haircut, which looks good.

Love,
Dad

Happy St. Patty's...

Dear Nicky,

Today was St. Patrick's Day, which is almost as meaningless to me as it is to you. It was also picture day at Stones, so we dressed you up and neatened your hair and sent you off. I'll bet your photos are the best. When you came home I forgot to patch you, I know you must've really missed it. We had some dinner, then played Wii for the first time in a couple days, then Mom gave you a bath and put you to bed.

Love,
Dad

Late start...

Dear Nicky,

As usual ie waited till too late in the evening to write, but that's just how I am. Nothing major went on today anyway. I basically had June all to myself all day. Major highpoint: she rode a Spider-Man ride outside the supermarket in Gilette or Sterling. I've got it on video. You're barely eating anything these days and Mom and I starting to worry.

Love,
Dad

Cuddly boy...

Dear Nicky,

Lately you've been sneaking into our bed at night. I'll roll over and there you are, your soft, squishy little body next to me. I know we're probably developing a bad habit, but you're too irresistible when it comes to cuddling. You're like a living, human Teddy bear. I adore you. I love to cuddle your sister, but cuddling her is like cuddling a wildcat: you never what she's going to do.

Love,
Dad

DST...

Dear Nicky,

The other day we set the clocks forward, which means you got up even earlier and came home passed out. June was a handful all afternoon. I'm wiped out.

Love,
Das

Nice day...

Dear Nicky,

This morning you guys went to church and I stayed home. We switched all the clocks forward last night and it took me too long to get ready to go with you, so I did chores around the house, then took a shower. When you guys got back we went on yet another playdate, but first stopped topic up a little plant as a gift for our hosts. You guys had fun and the food was good too. June cried when we left. Then we went to Whole Foods, then came home where Mom made us a nice dinner. You guys went to bed relatively easy, and the day is done.

Love,
Dad

Swim, swim, swim...

Dear Nicky,

This morning we went to your swim lesson and you did great, clearly loving it and performing fearlessly. I brought you home where your sister was having a playdate. Mom said everybody was super well behaved. Mom then took you guys to a movie that nobody seemed to like. During this time I went to a bunch of stores and bought you some new sneakers. When I got home, you guys arrived soon after,then Mom took off for a massage and I fed you, bathed you, and put you to bed. I should say I tried to feed you, but you ate nothing. Maybe next time.

Love,
Dad

Good eyes, and a runmfor Daddy...

Dear Nicky,

Dr. Amy checked out your eyes this morning. Everything looks great. I did a long, hard run, feel pretty good.

Love,
Dad

Taxes...

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon after you came and peed nicely on the potty, I went into the city with Mom to get our taxes done and get a bit to eat. The weather was bad, espexially just coming home a little while ago. Laura babysat you guys and took care of you. She loves you guys and really cares.

Love,
Dad

I'm back...

Dear Nicky,

Here I am back from NH. YiaYia will soon be on the mend hopefully. She looks pretty good. I drove a long time today and I'm tired. I was so happy to see my kids when I got home. I missed you and June a ton. Mom says you guys were great the whole time.

Love,
Dad

Sleepy...

Dear Nicky,

We!re wiped from yesterday. Hope My wedding is beautiful..

Love,
Dad

Up late...

Dear Nicky,

I should really have gone to sleep hours ago, but I had a big meal. I'm really tired from spending the day with YiaYia and Papou. Both are equally draining to be with. At the end of the day I just want to relax and distract my mind. I miss you.

Love,
Dad

I'm on the road again...

Dear Nicky,

This morning I kissed and hugged you and left to drive up to New Hampshire to visit my mom, your Yia-Yia. She looks pretty good, but she's not all there upstairs. Hopefully she'll recover when we have her thyroid removed.

Mom tells me you and June had a nice time at Granny's, playing with a dog and eating a good dinner, then came back home for a bath.

Love,
Dad

LBI...

Dear Nicky,

Today you had another great swim lesson that you loved. The teacher is so great with you, and she adores you as much as you adore her. The thing I don't like is the location, with its crowded locker rooms that stink, to the moderately affluent yuppies with their pricey haircuts. The swimming pool area itself is my idea of sensory overload: it's hot and loud and windowless, blazingly bright with fluorescent lights. But I endure it for you. And after your swim lesson we drove down to LBI to look at a house for possible rental this summer at the end of August. It was nice but pricey as is everything down there, and in close proximity to a condemned building. Weird. It was a long drive for not such a productive afternoon. Oh well, it was all your mother's idea.

Love,
Dad

Mom reads...

Dear Nicky,

This morning Mom and I got a great review from June's pre-k teacher, which was great to hear. Then I dropped off my car for a lube, oil, and filter because I'm driving up to New Hampshire on Sunday to see my own mother. The girls and I went out to lunch, then Mom went to your school to read some Dr. Seuss books, for which she received a certificate.

Love,
Dad

Power outages...

Dear Nicky,

This evening the power went out for a while. Good thing you and Junie were already asleep.

Love,
Dad

New lightsabers...

Dear Nicky,

Earlier today I found those lightsabers that were lost for the longest time, the ones that came with a Wii game I bought at BJs. They actually light up. When you guys saw them you went crazy. You and June shelled while I played the Imperial Marxh on iTunes. Tomorrow I'm gonna videotape that.

Love,
Dad

No red spots...

Dear Nicky,

You came home withs afternoon with no red marks on your feet. You didn't Eat much dinner, then Mom gave you a bath, and I put you to bed.

Love,
Dad