FINALLY!

Yes, we are just a little excited!

One of the hardest parts of school closing so abruptly in March was the fact that the kids never got to say a proper goodbye to so many people.  For Tad, who is moving on to the high school, this was particularly sad.

But things were made a little bit better today, because he got to have lunch with Danny and Ms. C, who was Danny’s teacher in elementary school and Tad’s math teacher for the last three years!

Danny’s mom and I got to join in as well, and the boys loved seeing Ms. C outside of school, and being able to hug her was just the icing on their cake.

Thanks for meeting us for lunch, Ms. C!  The boys have missed you.

Thumper has added to his morning ritual.  Now, before we leave QFC, he has to check in on this life-sized Artoo-Detoo balloon in the floral department.

I have a feeling Artoo won’t be around long, so hopefully Thumper won’t be too sad when he gets sold.

And happy birthday, Ressis!  Hope to see you soon!

I am always up for volunteering my children to science.  This particular study is even more important than usual.

Thanks to Rerun’s participation in Apex Summer Camp, he and other campers have been recruited for a research study to look for COVID-19 antibodies in children in school or camp settings.  The hope is that this study will be able to provide information about what to expect if/when children gather together for school.

Today, he gave his first blood sample, but it wasn’t without some drama.

I had promised Rerun a cheeseburger from Dick’s for each blood draw.  When I picked him up from camp today, he tried upping the price to a cheeseburger plus a vanilla milkshake.

Me: “Milkshakes are for kids who don’t fuss and cry.”

Then, as we checked in with the receptionist at the lab, Rerun voiced one last objection.  “I hate being stabbed!” he blurted out.

Me: “IT’S A BLOOD DRAW, NOT A STABBING.”

I could see the receptionist silently laughing under her mask as we walked away.  I bet she had a story to tell at dinner that night.

When Rerun’s name was called, he stood with a heavy sigh and said, “FINE, I’ll let them stab me.”

The phlebotomist was a total pro and had that needle into Rerun’s vein as quick as a lightning strike.  Rerun has good veins and is a good bleeder.  He was fascinated with the entire process.  “That’s my blood, that’s my real blood!  He’s transferring my blood!”

Me: “DRAWING.”

Rerun: (smugly) “EXTRACTING.”

I gave up at that point, because they were done.

We went and got his cheeseburger and a milkshake.  We will get a callback next month to come in for a second draw.  Yet another stabbing for science.