Homecoming Day
By Wyatt Earp | December 6, 2008
The missus and Julia, moments after she was born.
Well, Julia came home yesterday to a captive audience of three brothers and two grandparents. I picked her and the missus up from the hospital and drove home – very slowly – at noon. When we got her settled in my car, I wanted to put on Rush Limbaugh to get her started on the conservative track, but cooler heads prevailed and we listened to the local “All Christmas Songs, All The Time” channel.
Julia’s first exposure to music was “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney. I would have preferred The Waitresses’ “Christmas Wrapping,” but what are you gonna do?
Anyway, we got home safe and sound, and settled Julia in to Casa de Earp. The boys were ecstatic to see her, which was good because we were worried some jealousy would abound. In fact, it already had the makings of a perfect day . . .
Earlier in the morning, I attended Parent-Teacher conferences at Kyle’s school. It was the first time I met his teacher, and since the wife was still in the hospital, I stepped up. You know your kid is well-behaved when the teacher says, “I’m sorry you had to come down here today. I have nothing but good things to say about Kyle.” His report card was terrific – “Outstandings” and “Very Goods” in every category, but I wanted to make sure he wasn’t a behavior problem. According to his teacher, he isn’t. Personally, I don’t care if he raises a little Hell at home, as long as he is all business at school. That’s Rule #1.
Kevin took to Julia pretty well, too. Although he towers over her – he is also crawling now – and wants to grab her and pull her to him, he is not showing any signs of jealousy, either. We are making a point to spend as much time with all four kids as possible. It’s easy when they’re so cool.
So, yesterday had the makings of a perfect day . . . almost.
Erik had been fighting the sniffles for the past two days. I kept him home from school yesterday because I didn’t want any of his classmates getting sick. he fought me tooth and nail on it, but I wouldn’t budge. I didn’t want to be “that” parent – the one who sends their kid to school with Bubonic Plague.
Any hoo, an hour or so after Julia came home, Erik sprouted a fever of 102. Then the runny nose. Then he ran upstairs to the bathroom . . . and vomited on the floor. Missed it by that much. It was terrible because I knew he was suffering and there wasn’t anything we could do for him. I took Erik and cleaned him off while the missus cleaned the bathroom floor – her decision, before I get the hate mail. I turned to her afterward and said, “Welcome back.”
Erik slept for the rest of the night and will be a game time decision for a birthday party he and Kyle are scheduled to attend this afternoon.
So, how was your day?
Topics: The Boys, The Girl | 11 Comments »
December 6th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Yup there’s an evil stomach bug going around. Peach has been home for a couple of days with it as well. Barfing left and right. She goes NOWHERE without a bowl.
December 6th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Hopefully that is a short lived stomach bug and Erik will be well very soon. I must say that Kevin is a DOLL!! I want to pick him up and hug him.
December 6th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I am sorry to hear Erik is under the weather. I hope he is feeling better today and will be able to attend the party. You have a beautiful family, thank you for sharing the pictures.
December 6th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Cute kids, I see they take after their mom. How many times did you get up the first night to check on the newest addition?
Hope Erik is feeling better soon, poor guy.
December 6th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Jeez, I forget to check on you for a week and all hell breaks loose!
Congratulations to you and Mrs. Earp.
Fifteen 16 years from now when she starts to date (I’m sure you’ll be able to keep the lads away until then), Julia’s suitors will have to run the gauntlet of her older brothers—and her policeman pop. Oy!
December 6th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Hope the boys had a good time, today.
Hope Julia and mom are getting a little rest.
December 6th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
I’m glad you had the smooth homecoming. LOL@ the Rush Limbaugh thing! Again, your daughter is adorable, not like some babies that come home from the hospital looking like turtles with tufts of hair glued on their heads.
December 6th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Congratulations once more. I hope Erik is feeling better soon. I understand sick children. It was a good idea to get Julia introduced to Rush. I am converting my girls to “Ditto Heads.”
December 6th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Soooo sweet! Looks like you were right with the early arrival. I missed her birthday post. Did she arrive the same day my sweet twin nieces arrived?
I got to go in the NICU and hold them for the first time last night. They are tiny, but perfect. We hope they get to come home before Christmas.
Aren’t we the luckiest ever?
December 6th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Congrats on getting Julia home, and sad to hear Erik’s sick…but Kevin?
You marked that boy, Wyatt.
No claiming he’s the milkman’s kid when he acts up. He looks just like you.
December 7th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Captain – Erik literally painted the bathroom floor with it. It was the worst I have ever seen him.
Ky person – Bring a back brace. He’s 23 pounds!
Momster – Thanks! They’re good kids.
E.L. – What little I have slept has been interrupted by minute by minute checks to see that she’s okay. Did that with every one.
Joated – Nah, she can date . . . when she’s 45.
RT – Yes on both counts.
DL474 – She has a lot of red, but it’s mostly strawberry blonde now. Looks great.
Rick – Kyle and Erik are very familiar with Glenn Beck (as background noise).
Deanna – Next day. 12:49am on December 3rd. Congratulations to you, too!
AD – The missus says he has my nose. When she looks up at him – when he stands over her – she swears he looks exactly like me!