Mason's Mother's Day Celebration

What a trouper Mason is. I haven't seen him in a week. I have talked to him on the phone, but I have not seen him in a week which is the longest I have ever gone. Leading up to the surgery, I was coaching him especially about how we were going to be separated, how he needed to be a good example to Nolan, how we were so very lucky to have the support that we have and that instead of feeling sorry for ourselves we need to be thankful for our situation. Well, apparently, he listens really well. Karissa picked me up yesterday. Nolan was in the car and would not give me the time of day. You see, to Nolan, ignoring me is he way of punishing me for leaving him with someone else. He is two and it is all about him. He wouldn't hold my hand as we walked to Mason's classroom, he wouldn't give me a hug - nothing. Knowing him, it didn't bother me too much and I looked on the bright side too. I didn't have to change his diaper and when we was covered in cupcake he started yelling, "Karissa!!! Karissa!!" I did reply to that one with, "You know dude, she isn't your slave!!" and I cleaned him up. We got there a little early and I got to chat a bit with the teachers and parents before the performance. Everyone was, of course, very generous with their praise of me. "You look great!" "I didn't think I would see you for weeks!" "What a trouper you are!" I responded with, "Karissa made this happen. I just showed up." And it is true. She called me, she made it easy, she drove around, back and forth, up and down so that I could go to this performance. Believe me showing up wasn't the hard part. One of the teachers said that every time they referred to the "Mommies" coming for the performance, they would hear Mason either front and center or from the back corner of the room clarify, "And Karissa!" Mason didn't know I was coming. We made it a surprise so that if something went wrong he wouldn't be disappointed. So, after chatting with everyone, one of the teachers came out and asked if I wanted to see Mason before, you know, to get the surprise out so that he could focus on his performance. I agreed and they brought him out. He saw me and blinked. It was like it didn't compute with him. Mommy isn't supposed to be here - Mommy told me so. I explained that the doctors thought it would be okay to come for the performance wasn't that nice of them. He said, "It sure is!" I tried not to cry, but that didn't work. I hadn't seen him in a week, smelled behind his ears, hugged him, kissed him. I got myself back together before he had to go back in to perform. The performance was great. They sang four songs. One included him signing "I love you." to me and he did it directly to me. We had a snack afterwards and he was glued to my side. I read him a book, held him, smelled behind his ears, and savored the moment. Nolan? Yeah, he was somewhere playing with the big kid toys - whatever. He had Karissa!!! After class, Mason asked me if he was going home and I clarified the schedule to him. I told him that he would be with Daddy all weekend, I would see him on Sunday, and then all of us would be staying with Grandma and Grandpa. While he was not thrilled with the info, he bucked up, exhaled, and told me that if was okay because he had to go meet Quinn (Karissa's eldest son) at the bus and he would see me later. They dropped me off at home (so that I could go back to the doctor's) and off they went. Nolan ended up giving me a kiss Goodbye that was more kind than, "See ya later loser!!!!" and when I said goodbye to Mason, he gave me a big kiss and hug. I told him to tell Grandpa that he sang beautifully today and he got shy. I said, "Mason, say it." So he said, "I am beautiful today." I smiled and said, "Yes, yes you are." I waved good bye and my visit was over. I would see them in a few days. As the adrenaline left my body, the pain in my back set in and my fatigue returned. Yes, my visit was over, but I was the one he pointed to when he signed, "I love you." It was me. I was there. Happy Friday, Ang