Apr

April Fool’s Day

I returned to school on Monday morning after being sick the whole week last week. As I arrived everyone at the school came running up to me and hugged me. There were so many hugs I could hardly breath, but it was also awesome to see all my friends again and especially to such a stunning welcome.

In the afternoon Mom took me to Vicky for speech therapy. Mom sat outside the therapy room for a change, as she had some work to do. Vicky and I had an awesome time, and Mom could hear our giggles and chatting from where she was in reception. Afterward I told Mommy that we played monkey’s on the tree and we did sounds with ‘s’ on the beach.

Tuesday wasn’t a good day for me at school as I got three timeouts. I didn’t listen to teacher Sasha and refused to count out beads and thread them. After my third timeout I sombrely went to my desk, counted out 10 beads and threaded them! Yes, I know, I should’ve just done it the first time.

I had a really good day at school on Wednesday. Mom forgot that I had Be Sharp Beetles directly after class and collected me too soon. Just as well, as I really didn’t feel like music that day.

We had Spongebob Squarepants cake on Thursday to celebrate Ahmed’s birthday. It was divine, and I’m starting to wonder if I really have my mind set on a pirate party for my birthday. In the evening when Dad arrived home from work he was ashen and exhausted. He’d been part of the selection committee for the past few days at work to determine the placement of staff in the new structures. Needless to say, some staff wouldn’t be successful, and this really affected him emotionally and caused him lots of stress. I showered him with lots of hugs, and Mom and I left him to some quiet time. He was in bed and asleep before me!

On Friday morning I experienced a nice change – Dad took me to school. Mom had an important appointment during the morning so the plan was that Dad take me to school, and then later to see Lauren for OT. This gave me the chance to show Dad my class, introduce my friends to him, show him my classwork book and he and teacher Sasha had a nice chat. Just as Dad was leaving my school after dropping me off, he got a message that OT was cancelled. This meant I could stay at school the whole day. Mom mysteriously arrived to collect me with the same car that Dad used to drop me off in the morning. They must’ve swapped cars during the morning.

Back home we found Dad studiously at work. He then had to participate in a meeting that he simply dialled in to; without leaving the house. I suggested to Dad he should do all his work like this so that he could stay at home every day. Dad said he wished he could do that too!

By mid-afternoon we decided the weekend had begun and we headed off to OrangoTangos. I played up and storm while Mom and Dad chatted and occasionally came to play with me. The venue was packed full so there were lots of little people for me to play with. Dad took me on our customary bumper-car ride. Just before closing we left, and I fell asleep in the car, and stayed asleep into the night – not for the first time during the coming weekend.

My early to bed on Friday night resulted in my early to rise – midnight to be precise! Much to Mom’s dismay. Because Dad had had an incredibly stressful week at work, he’d taken a sleeping tablet, thereby sleeping through my midnight to 5am party with Mom. I felt sad that Dad didn’t join the party but I also understood he needed to sleep.

After going back to sleep at 5am in the morning I woke up again later in the day, this time with Dad. We left Mom to catch up her sleep. I love getting the folks to take shifts! Dad and I had a quiet morning together, and by midday he tried everything to get me to sleep, as we had a braai to go to in the afternoon. He swung me, he drove me about, but I merrily chatted throughout.

By late afternoon, when it was time to go to the braai, I fell asleep in the car, and didn’t wake again until Sunday morning. I even slept through Earth Hour 2012, which is a favourite event each year. We switch off all the lights and electricity around the house and chat and play by candlelight. Mom and Dad assured me that they followed protocol this year, but I have my doubts. So if anyone drove past our house between 8:30 and 9:30 on Saturday evening, please let me know if the lights were off!

Sunday morning there was much excitement around the house. We were meeting Paul and little Ryan at the Rand Society of Model Engineers – in simple language this meant trains! As we arrived we spotted a steamer going under the tunnel, with its engineer hooting as he did so. I was thrilled: real but little steam engines and trains.

And if you think I was excited, you should’ve seen Dad. He was worse than a child in a candy store. He darted from one train to another, chatting to the engineers and ogling over the trains. The engineers showed Dad and I where they put anthracite into the tiny furnaces of the trains, as well as water. Once the furnaces were boiling the water, the engineers tooted the hooters and off they rode. Dad and I took a few trips on the standard trains, and as a treat, our final ride around the track was behind a real old steamer – a 15 year old steamy that struggled a little on the up-hills but rattled down the slopes and tooted extra loud through the tunnel. It was really an awesome time, and we all promised we’d be back again.

Well, that’s it for this week, and Happy April Fool’s Day.

Love

Jarrod