Matthew's Seventh Year

January 18, 2008

Dear Matthew,

          Another year has passed, and you are now an elementary school student. I cannot believe how the time has passed. When the year began, we went to your grandparents' on New Year's. We celebrated Christmas and your sixth birthday. Aunt Donna made your homemade cake. It was a foundation cake with white icing. Uncle Dave was there. Even though he went out with some friends the night before, he decided to come and pay a visit. Uncle Paul, Trevor, and Sarah also came. Aunt Linda was doing something else.

          You were in Kindergarten, and Mrs. Karen Sessler was your teacher. When the school year began, you were in a new school and were also in a new group of children. I wondered how you would fair with the adjustment. To my relief, you took it all in stride. Now, you have many friends and are bringing home homework. Homework in kindergarten is definitely a new concept. Things sure have changed since I went to school.

          One of your friends was Vinnie Gonzalez. It turned out that you and Daddy delivered phone books to his family when Dad did the routes. On Valentine's Day, you gave a Valentine to your best girl, Sophia. I saw her in the school's hall. You have good taste. She is cute. During the winter months, you also went to home builder's shows with Daddy and the Shrine Circus. You have a lifetime pass to the circus.

          I had to have another surgery on January 15, 2007. I have some female problems and had a D & C. Everything came out fine. It took a few days to recuperate. I totally dislike winter. Summer is my favorite season.

          Staying on the medical topic, this was the year that the primary care physicians for you and Dad changed. His doctor was leaving the area, so he had to find a new one. This opened up an opportunity to get you out of the pediatrician's care that you were under since birth. Daddy found a female family care doctor, so you both went for initial visits. During one of the first visits, Daddy found out that he was not as healthy as he always thought. He has high blood pressure and thyroid problems. He has hypothyroidism. I like this doctor better than Dr. Dawais. She is more approachable and is willing to answer questions and concerns. Her name is Dr. Christine Elscholtz.

          We went back to your grandparents for Easter and to celebrate mine, Aunt Donna's and Uncle Paul's birthdays in April. You went on Easter egg hunts at Bay City park and at church beforehand. You fared better than last year with your loot. My birthday was not one that I was looking forward to. It was the one year anniversary since my friend, Bill, passed away. You are so young that when you finally read these letters, you may not remember him.

          The school year was quickly coming to a close for you. You were back practicing baseball. You now were in Coach Pitch. Daddy signed up as the coach for your team. He also had to put time in at the concession stand. To add more work for himself, he volunteered to be on the board for the Township. Wow! That is a great deal. After the little league season concluded, it was time for you, Dad, and Shadow to get ready for the annual camp out. You also tried something new this year. You experienced day camp at the YMCA. After its completion, you voiced your dislike of it. I thought it would be something new, and you tried. Oh well, there are other things to try

          The camping trip lasted two weeks. You called me on the cell phone a day before you were to return and asked if it was OK to stay longer. I laughed and told you that it was up to your father. He had the money, not me. After your return, the annual go round with phone book deliveries began. That lasted for about a month. You found money and were given things by people who were on the route. I like that you do this. It teaches you how people make money and how hard that task is at times. The summer rounded out with Vacation Bible school and going to a Detroit Tiger game. The Tigers won the game, but unfortunately, they did not get into the World Series. We went to the lake house for Grandma's birthday. That trip was not good at all. You misbehaved and, consequently, we did not go on the boat the entire trip. Your grandfather is getting cranky in his old age. I would say something stronger, but I do not want to affect your tender ears.

          In September, you graduated to the first grade. Your teacher was Mrs. Margaret Grzesiak. Vinnie was not in your class. New children were again in your class. Sophia had to repeat kindergarten. You made friends with a boy named Juanantonio Rodriegues. As the year progressed, I found out that Juan was also a repeat attendee. This would be his second go round with being a first grader. The two of you soon became fast friends. When you were in kindergarten, you would receive an "Oops" note if you misbehaved. You did receive four of those throughout the year. Now they are "Blue" notes.

          You seem to be a good student. Spelling seems to be your strong point. It was also mine. This year, instead of having "popcorn" words, you bring home a newsletter at the end of the week with anywhere between eight and twelve spelling words to study for the next week, with a test to follow on Friday.

          On Halloween, you went to my friend Laurie's to trick-or-treat in her neighborhood. You made out like a bandit, yet again. You were a fox. You made the mask and had the rest of the costume. Thanksgiving was quiet. We ate dinner and watched movies. We watched "Jungle Book" and "Karate Kid". The year was quickly ending. At Christmastime, you were in a school program. You practiced for months and sang your heart out. The bad thing that happened was that Grandma had a stroke on December 20, 2007. That was a Thursday. Thankfully, she recovered for the most part. The one thing I almost forgot to include was that you lost four of your baby teeth. You are growing up before my eyes. You made about $80.00 from the tooth fairy for the loss. It is too bad you do not want to brush your teeth without complaining.


Happy Birthday
Love,
Mom