That Sweet Boy

I know, I know. I am WAY behind on my blogging. We are having some computer difficulties so the only pic that I have is pretty poor quality from my phone but you can't beat that cheesy Mayes grin. He has learned to smile for the camera. Yes, that wonderful, fake, cheesy grin. I am sure that this will become his go to move for pictures from now on. I do also have a little story to share. Here goes:

I know that every Mother thinks that her child is special. I am no exception. My son is feisty, particular, maddeningly mischeivous and utterly charming. He had a tough entrance into this world and has proven himself to be fighter since that day. But above all, my son is exceptionally loving and kind. Here is a little (or long depending on your perspective) story just to prove it.

Just the other day Dustin said, "he has really stayed well this winter". A trap door should have opened at that moment and the ground should have swallowed him and those words. After 5 rough nights, 5 long days and 2 doctor's visits the doctor determined today that Mayes has pneumonia. He was so good during the visit that you could see in the kind doctor's eyes that he wanted to tell us that it was just a little cold and he would probably shake it by tomorrow. The doctor told us that he wanted to jump start the battle with 2 shots of antibiotics immediately. So in walk 2 nurses with 2 needles and ironically, 2 Tazmanian Devil band-aids (they must have remembered Mayes from previous shots).

Side note: on the day that he had to have stitches removed it took a papoose (which is basically a backboard with GINORMOUS velcro strips across the head and body to restrain a small child), myself, a nurse and the doctor to hold this child down so that stitches could be removed. He was 14 months old. Taz band-aids seemed rather appropriate.

Anywho, these nurses were no amateurs. In what seemed to be one swift movement they held down his skinny little legs, jabbed in those 2 shots of renewed health and slapped on those Taz band-aids. At this point OF COURSE my child is sobbing. He grew wise to the cause and effect of lying down on a doctor's table during the great stitch incident of 07. So he knew what was coming and was still powerless to stop it.

I quickly swept him up from the table, entertained him with a little cheer (yes, a cheer) and passed him off to his Granna who had remained out of sight during the offending actions of the shooters and the restrainer. As he began to reel in his emotions he looked to the nurses and said through pitiful sobs, "Tank Ooo" (Thank you for those who don't speak Mayesanese). They were just both so touched. One commented that even in so much pain he remembered his manners. As we left the office our wonderful pediatrician wished us well and Mayes called out to him, "Tank Ooo Dottor" (Thank you doctor).

My hope for him is that in his life he remain strong enough to face the inevitable challenges that life will present to him, that he will let faith guide him and that above all he will be kind, even to those who it may not seem were good to him. (because maybe the pain they inflicted was for his own good). I don't know if that is so much a lesson that we are teaching him or that he is teaching us....