Hi everybody. Thanks for being patient with me. I have been pretty consumed with the news of this 8th grader’s suicide and I needed to process it by writing. I can so easily imagine being in her parents’ place. Anyway, it was an incredibly busy week and I didn’t even download or process photos until this morning! Our nephew, Myles, just left for the airport after staying with us for the past week. My father-in-law came down last weekend too, so we had a wonderful family visit. The kids had MUCH better weeks at school, not perfect, but that’s okay! I was just telling Dominic’s behavioral therapist at school that his life would be pretty boring if everything was perfect all the time.
Day 239 ~ First Visit to Clarity
Last Friday was Dominic’s first visit to the Clarity Child Guidance Center in San Antonio. I was very impressed with the facility and the staff. We got a new parent information packet that explained all about their different services. What I really like is that they have an inpatient hospital on site. There have been two times where I thought that we may have to get Anna that level of help and a couple of times for Dominic as well. Dominic and I met with his new counselor, Elva Barnett. She’s been doing this for over 20 years and had been working on the inpatient side until recently. I think she will be a good fit for him. By the time we got home, Grandpa Curt was there and Curtis and Myles were almost to San Antonio (Myles flew in from Ohio and met Curtis in Dallas on his way home from Denver).
Dominic was pretty absorbed in his favorite game… Clash Royale.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/4.5 | 1/320 | ISO 640
Day 240 ~ Flowers from Jenny
On Saturday, Curtis, Curt, Myles, and Dominic went to Austin for a table top war-game convention that Myles wanted to check out. Myles is 19 years old, graduated from high school this past spring, and is starting college in a few weeks. While they were gone, there was a knock at the door and this gorgeous arrangement of flowers arrived. They were from Jenny! The card read:
I know it’s been a tough week. Just wanted to let you know you are loved and appreciated. You are a truly wonderful mom. Love you so much! ~Angel
I almost cried… in fact, I did get tears in my eyes. When I have a week like last week, with so many calls from the schools and the kids struggling so much, I question my mothering abilities. I think it’s pretty natural to do so. Jenny knew I would be doing this and gave me that piece of validation that I didn’t even know I needed. I love her so much. Thank you, Angel. <3
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/2 | 1/320 | ISO 1000
Day 240 ~ Myles Seems Amused
The boys got back home just in time for dinner. Mom and I cooked while Curtis grilled and we set the table so that we could all eat together. The boys took a swim just before dinner (hence the shirt-less Dominic) and we settled in for nice conversation and laughter. Myles, who also has some serious issues with his eyesight like my husband, fit right in from the get-go and the kids loved him. He seemed amused by us and was so much fun to have around.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/2.8 | 1/200 | ISO 1600
Day 240 ~ Grandpa Grin
I love the Curtis’s father gets to visit once or twice a year. It was wonderful that he came down from Oklahoma this weekend to see us and Myles. We are entering a new stage in our lives, with our parents retiring, and we want to enjoy every minute we can with them. Doesn’t Curt have a nice smile?
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/2.8 | 1/200 | ISO 1000
Day 241 ~ Curt’s Legacy
Curt’s son and grandchildren by blood… we are only missing Shelley (daughter) and Lexi (granddaughter) from this picture! I hope that someday I have grandchildren and can be the matriarch in the photo, looking at everyone that exists because I existed. What a feeling!
Nikon D750 | 85mm | f/5 | 1/320 | ISO 400
Day 241 ~ The Boys
Curt, Curtis, Myles, and Dominic. The Thompson arm… Curt was the only Thompson son, Curtis was the only Thompson son, and Dominic is the only Thompson son. Pretty cool! It would be neat if Dominic grew up to also have a son.
Nikon D750 | 85mm | f/5 | 1/320 | ISO 400
Day 241 ~ Hidden Away in the Hill Country
We were coming back from dinner when I spotted a tiny dark blue cloud hidden under the arm of a large white cloud. I had never seen anything like this before so I stopped to snap a photo. I love that a bird flew by right at that moment.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/7.1 | 1/320 | ISO 50
Day 242 ~ Already
So Monday dawns and Anna is complaining that her pee-pee hurts and she had mentioned it the day before too. Great, a bladder infection. I sent her to school and got her a doctor’s appointment for right after school. Already a visit to the doctor. The quick test was clean but they sent the sample out for culture. Wouldn’t you know that I got a call on Wednesday that it came back positive? So she’s on antibiotics now. Anna admitted that she doesn’t like to use the bathroom at school so she had been holding all day. Big no-no. We told her teacher to encourage her to go and to drink lots of water.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/2.5 | 1/250 | ISO 1000
Day 242 ~ Visiting Luna
After her doctor’s appointment, we swung by the New Braunfels Optical Shoppe to get some new glasses made. The replacement pair of frames weren’t in yet, but since Anna had broken the second set last week, she was wearing an old prescription and it was making her dizzy. So we bit the bullet and bought a new backup pair. Anna loves visiting Linda and April because they have a kitty that lives at the shop… his name is Mr. Luna. He is very friendly and sweet, especially with Anna.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/2.5 | 1/250 | ISO 1000
Day 242 ~ Rainbow Over River Chase
Monday night we are sitting around after dinner when all of a sudden Anna says, “Mom, it’s raining!” The sun was still out shining brightly, so I grabbed my camera to find the rainbow. There it was, sitting in my front yard. What a gorgeous phenomenon!
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/4.5 | 1/250 | ISO 50
Day 242 ~ Rain Through the Window
Seeing full-on rain while the sun shines is a very pretty sight. The light hits each drop and creates a delicate shimmer. I took this image through my dining room window.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/4.5 | 1/250 | ISO 50
Day 243 ~ New Glasses
Anna’s new backup pair of glasses are so cute! They are a pale purple color and I think they make her face look larger. She took very good care of them and didn’t throw them (or break them!) all week. Her replacement pair (the same blue ones she’s been wearing for the past year) came in yesterday.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/2.2 | 1/250 | ISO 1000
Day 244 ~ Purple Petals and Textured Tips
Wednesday we went back to San Antonio for Dominic’s first solo counseling appointment. While we were there, Mrs. Ramos sent me the email about the 8th grade girl’s suicide and her concern for Dominic. We got to chat about it with the counselor at the end of the session which was good for both of us. When I got home, I needed some macro therapy… it’s always good for my soul. In the arrangement Jenny sent me last weekend, the delphiniums were especially beautiful. These tiny buds have so much texture. Glorious!
Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/4.2 | 1/320 | ISO 1600
Day 245 ~ One Year Ago Today
Thursday (yesterday now) marked one year since my total thyroidectomy to remove a precancerous follicular neoplasm with Hurthle cell changes. My scar is almost not noticeable and I’m feeling like my old self. I’m down to my pre-surgery weight (and maybe down a bit more!), my hair has stopped falling out, and I have normal energy again. I still have phases when I can tell my TSH levels are off but for the most part, I have completely recovered.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/2.8 | 1/160 | ISO 320
Day 245 ~ First Visit to the Alamo
Since this was the last full day of Myles’s visit, Curtis took him to the River Walk in San Antonio for lunch, then I met them at the Alamo for the afternoon. It was my first visit to the Alamo too! So much history there, it was much more interesting than I expected.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/5.6 | 1/500 | ISO 50
Day 245 ~ Wrapping Up a Great Visit
Curtis was the most attentive uncle ever. He cooked lunch for Myles several days this week and took off work to hang out with him every day this week. I was so happy that Myles came to stay with us and hope he comes back again sometime when the kids are out of school and we don’t have to work so much. We had a great time!
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/4 | 1/160 | ISO 50
Thanks for looking and reading. It’s been so busy and social that I’m looking forward to some quiet family time this weekend. Whew.
