Free WiFi

. . . .is a beautiful thing.

The shopping center where I get my hair cut/colored has free wireless internet, and it is a sad testimony to the  state of my world when I spend time sitting with my laptop working on charts while my grey roots were marinating instead of reading People magazine and catching up on the foibles of the rich and feckless.

But I did get five or six notes completed, which may make for an earlier bedtime.

Today is one week since Micah's surgery.  He's doing great.  As the surgeon predicted, it is harder to try and keep him from being his usual Tasmanian devil self.

Thursday we drove down to Maryland to see Oma, arriving at dinner time.  After dinner the kids started playing a game with my mother, trying to see if they could get past her without being tagged.  It was more Thea's game, but once Thea starts, Micah is soon to follow.  As he was flying past Oma, she took a swat at him and cuffed him on his right BAHA, on the side where he had surgery two days prior.  Her fingertips just grazed the BAHA, but once she realized what she happened, my poor mother just about had a heart attack.

Then Micah decided to climb on the wooden chair at Oma's desk, and managed to slide down, bopping the back of his head.  Again, more of a shock to those watching - Micah recovered in about five seconds.  The weekend was off to a great start.

But with Micah's running at full tilt, Oma commented that everyone should have ear surgery if they come out feeling as energetic as he does.

Friday Micah and I went over to my brother and sister-in-law's house to meet the furniture delivery.  Micah and his cousin Willi are three months apart, so Willi's Thomas the Tank Engine collection is like catnip for Micah - especially since Willi has the battery-powered Thomas trains.  Then we dropped Oma off to have her nails done and went to Oma's Special Park, followed by a trip to Target.  (Oma wanted a baby doll to wrap in the doll quilt that she had gotten for Elise.)

Then my sainted mother took care of my children (who were also adequately bribed into good behavior thanks to the Target trip) for 90 minutes while I got to go to see my mother's massage therapist.   Which was beyond awesome.

And meanwhile back at Oma's house, everyone survived.  Oma wasn't ready to murder either child.  The children weren't at each other's throats or up each other's backsides.  Miracle upon miracle.

We went to see my cousin's new home and to have dinner with Christine and Elise (who is seven months younger than Micah).  The kids got to run around, play with a suntain-oil scented Play-Doh and check out the new house.  (Love the blue stars stencil in Elise's room!)  Another successful road trip made possible by GPS.

Since Micah suffered no ill effects from Oma cuffing him and bopping himself over the head, Saturday was my turn to see if I could mess with the baby's head.  We went to the Farmers' Market in Upper Marlboro to shop and have lunch, and then to Watkins Park for the train (for Micah) and the miniature golf (for Thea).

Except the train was in the shop and not running until after September 1.  Damn, damn and double damn.  Micah had to content himself with the carousel.  And so four days after ear surgery, there he is, riding a jaguar, going around and around and up and down.  Which I realized about half-way through the second ride, and then I looked over and saw Micah.  Sitting with his hands on his thighs, not even holding on to the brass pole, just taking in the sights.

Since we had no train at Watkins, Oma suggested a road trip to St. Mary's County to go to a farm with a wooden playground train, bunnies hopping around and goats.  Got to love goats. So more running around, climbing, jumping.  Five days out from surgery. (Written on September 1 and forgotten about until today.)