Appendicitis!

He started vomiting on the plane. Okay, thought Ken, it's okay, kids get motion sick. Then he started complaining of tummy pain.  Threw up two more times before they got from Chicago to Madison.  Uh oh, thought Ken, what if it's appendicitis?  It was. 

That was last night.  Now I am sitting on my sofa in Arlington grading finals, and Henry is in a children's hospital in Madison, recovering from surgery.  Esti is at home with Grandma Ann doing art projects.  So far, everyone seems to be doing fine.  The appendix hadn't ruptured, and they did a micro-incision through his belly button, so it may not even be visible.  Still, I hope Henry's doing some of this:

Our newest arrival

I should update this blog with all our fall family photos.  Will do that soon, now that the actual family has left for Wisconsin.  Meanwhile, let me welcome our newest arrival!  

Here's the link: http://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-first-islamic-reviver-9780199989621

From the Grade 2 Social and Emotional Learning curriculum

At school, teasing's banned, more or less.
A boy can come wearing a dress.
But try climbing a tree,
And it's called "Double D."
At least there's still ways to transgress!

Grade 2 schoolwork and my kid's response

He brought this home and said, and I quote: "First I solve the problem and then I have to draw a picture for how I WOULD solve the problem using the way we're supposed to. But actually I kind of cheat - I just subtract the number of tails from the number of heads, and that gives me the number of humans. Because the rule is, all the pets are either cats or dogs, so they have four legs, one head, and one tail.  I don't look at all the other stuff about the number of fingers and ears and stuff."

What I came up with was:

Henry said: "The solution is quick:
I subtract tails from heads, that's the trick.
Counting ears is a chore,
Drawing fingers, a bore --
I wish I got paid by the stick!"

Rainy day walk with Hazel and Lulu

September cuddles

And when they said the cabin was on the lake...

...they really meant on the lake.

Esti is standing right behind the house -- about 18 inches from the water.

I know - wow!

Unintentionally artsy photo of lake reflected in cabin back door.

Sigh.

Abi and Henry in Maine

Forgot my camera, it's true, but there's always the phone. This is us in a rented cabin in Maine, about an hour west of Portland, Aug 4-11. With us were my friend Mira (for part of the time) and her 11-year-old daughter Abi, who has known Henry since he was three months old. They spent a lot of time together.

Some days it was almost too chilly to swim...

...but they made do. 





(Henry did a lot of paddling, too - soon he even got comfortable taking the kayak out by himself.)

Maine pix after all: a hike

Henry's former ukulele teacher (and supercool role model) Dan drove out from Portland to visit us in Otisfield. We went for a hike - is it awful that I can't remember the name of this little mountain? Bald Mountain? Screeching Mountain? Something.

Anyway it had just the right ratio of ascent

(short and steep)

and handled with great aplomb by all members of our party

to spectacular picnic-worthy summit.

A bit windy, of course.

But no one seemed to mind.

Esti was a particularly good sport about the whole experience.

Makes me think we can really take her hiking, as long as we pick trails that don't involve any plain walking that would let her get bored and whine.

Shall we add that to the to-do list for next summer?

Oh and look!

(Can you tell Dan is a preschool teacher?)

Madison: University Terrace

On our last day in Madison - yesterday I guess, it's just that the days have been kind of long - it was still over 90 degrees, but we went for a walk along the beautiful lakeside biking/walking/running path by UW-Madison. A very energetic walk, as you can see.

Requiring much moral preparation beforehand.

Contemplation of the challenges ahead.

Rest stops along the way. (Trail mix not shown.)

And goofing around afterwards. (Beer not shown.)

A very successful morning, on the whole.

Wouldn't you say?