Muppet Therapy
Friday, January 14, 2011 Head colds have come and gone the past week. Chris traveled to Connecticut and made it home on his scheduled flight, despite the east coast winter storms. I found a lump in my breast, had a mammogram and an ultrasound and all is well. I'm thankful for nuggets of fat.
Before Chris left town [because everything falls apart after his departure], he called me as he was driving the boys home from school.
"Middle Boy doesn't feel well. You'll have questions, so just talk to him."
Chris handed Middle Boy the phone. In between congested deep sniffs and a lisp I can't recreate, I could tell he was trying to hide that he was crying. He was difficult to understand, but I heard that his ear hurt... and something about his tongue on a pole.
"What? Did you stick your tongue to a pole?" Temperatures were well below freezing that day.
"Uh-huh," he cried.
It was like ordering Chinese food over the telephone, but eventually I got that another boy was successful removing his tongue from a frozen pole at recess so Middle Boy tried the same trick. I asked if someone dared him to do it or if someone yanked his head off the pole, suspicious that he might have been bullied into the situation. Nope. He made both the entry and exit decisions on his own.
Middle Boy described how his tongue skin was still on the pole, and how he couldn't eat his lunch because... there was mustard on his sandwich, and oh his ear... it hurt so badly. It had been a terrible day. Would I please call the doctor? Of course.
He went to the doctor that evening, had an ear infection and a bum tongue. Antibiotics for one, ibuprofen and tepid, bland liquids for the other.
I listened to Middle Boy vent from the backseat of his father's car on the way home from school that day, and responded with mom-speak. Aw. I'm sorry, honey. Shoot. It's okay. You can rest all weekend. I understand.
He was finished. He had purged his troubles for the time being, but still felt lousy.
One of Middle Boy's Christmas presents was a Muppet Whatnot. He was able to create his own Muppet online, and the completed gift had arrived a few hours earlier.
"I know it's been a rough day, but I have some news that might cheer you up. There's a package with your name on it waiting for you."
He sniffed a few times, "Wha?"
"It's your Muppet."
"YETH!"
Reader Comments (19)
I am so sorry you've had yet another Adventure in Medicine. You've had more than your share in the last six months. I'm glad all was well.
And the Muppet, and your boy and his story--times to remember...
Your son is so cute; as is his muppet.
I am SO THANKFUL the lump was nothing. Man, I saw the first part of this post and my heart literally leaped.
Hope you have a great, relaxing, uneventful weekend. (I hope I do too!) Big hugs!
Are we related? The POTUS [Andy S.] has left the building. :)
Yikes on YOUR mammo! Thank goodness for your health, sister. I shared your comment with Duke and he grinned. I never blog about the boys without their permission. He mitheth you, too. XO
I almost removed the sentence about my *false alarm*... maybe I should have. I didn't intend to hook anyone with drama. You've had a rough time lately with your little ones. Your ambulance-ride-with-a-child story has a happy ending [thankfully]. Now you're finished with that life experience. "Whew," is what I say. You, Matt and those model-like children have a wonderful weekend. XO
Chris used to call me his "Belgian Betty" when we started dating. I'll have to share your comment with him. Thank you, V. It's been the strangest few months, and I swear I'm not a hypochondriac. Thank you for your kind comment. I shared it with Duke and he smiled. He gets it. Like I told my friend, Pam, I don't post things about the boys without their permission... except maybe the 5YO. XO
Haven't you ever shown your kids A Christmas Story. I don't think I ever considered sticking my tongue to a pole in ANY season before seeing that movie - but even I took that one as a cautionary tale.
Hope he's feeling better!
Don't tell Duke...but I think his muppet looks creepy. I think it's the goatee and the trench coat.
He feels much better now, Anna. Thanks!
Thanks, Connie. I'm so relieved. And Duke's Muppet looks like a flasher. He carries the Muppet [who he's named Bob] everywhere and has Bob stare at people. Creeps me out occasionally, but it that Muppet is SO loved.
I like happy endings, too. :)
Yes. The kids have seen the movie. I don't know what he was thinking. He's feeling much better and is considering how to design his next Muppet. I'm campaigning for a girl Muppet!
A few years' back, I decided to see what it felt like and deliberately put my tongue on a frozen pole. (I'm crazy, I know!) It's something you only do once...
Thank you for your kind comment. I did take that shot of the mallard too, by the way...
And I am glad your boob is cancer-free . . .
Whew!
I was just reading some of my older posts, and the comments received. Thank you for such wonderful support in my early blogging days. A lot has changed for me in the past 18 months, but I am doing great!
Love the Muppet Whatnots. Had not hear of them before your post. Had to go design a few for myself! :)
Hoping you are wonderful. Love the new photos (and the glowing cheeks!) You are so lovely.
Joanne