Lemonaide never tasted so sweet

Today I'm thankful for...

Having a day to rest, if only for a few hours

Watching my kids (Carter and Thomas) interact with strangers

Going to medical appointment with Lulu (mine this time)

Long sunny summer days to enjoy the outdoors

Today was very busy for me. I began by clothing, and feeding the boys after Lulu had left early for St. Mary's, then we loaded up the truck for a trip to walmart. The older boys have been asking to do a lemonade stand to raise money for their mom. I haven't made enough time to help them with this project until today. Today I made this my number one priority. We started by sitting down to put together a list of supplies needed for the stand? (two chairs, table, lemonade, cookie mix, poster board, ice chest, ice, cups, baggies, golf balls, money box, and a menu for what we would be selling). Next we had to find the items that we already had, and the one's we would have to buy. I made the boys guess at the cost of the supplies, and estimate how much they would sell if they had a good day? I can't tell you how impressed I was at their (especially Carter) ability to figure this stuff out. They came up with seeding money they would need to buy the supplies, and it turned out to be $20, so I said that I would lend them the money. Then we were off to walmart to purchase the supplies. They had to pick out the supplies from the list, and when checking out their total came to $22, so I told them I would lend the extra money.

When we got home Carter and I spent a couple of hours putting the lemonade stand sign together. We also had to place the table and chairs in the truck, and add the other necessary supplies. I ask them what would be the very best place and time to set up the Wilkerson's lemonade stand. To my surprise they came up with the idea of using the crossroads at the corner of Wolf Run and Silverwolf (they really wanted to put it up on Zolezzi, but I told them that the cars go by too fast and they wouldn't stop). The decided on best time to do the stand would be 4:30 to 6:00 PM. Lulu returned home just as we finished our loading, set up for the lemonade stand.

I was going to visit Lourdes, and Lulu was going to stay with the boys until my mom arrived to give her a little break. We were to meet at 3 PM at the Urologist for my vasectomy procedure. I arrived to the hospital at 11:35, and the nurse had started Lourdes' feeding on the bottle. I was disappointed that I didn't get the chance to give her the whole bottle myself. Lourdes and the nurse had a good start to her feeding session, and I was eager to take over. Lourdes was as very awake and she was doing a good job at eating from the bottle. The nurse changed the formula to the type that produces less gas, since she had issues with tooting and burping. I think that it helped, because Lourdes ate the whole bottle and I only had to stop to burp her twice (normally she likes to be burped four to five times). The rest of the daddy and Lourdes time in the NICU consisted of me watching her dream about sugar plum fairies and unicorns.

The lemonade stand was a big hit! Carter, Thomas, and I set up at the corner around 5 PM, and the first 10 or so cars didn't stop to purchase the goodies. The boys were just a tad bit discouraged, but they were determined to sell at least to 5 cars. When we first arrived after I helped them set up I stayed to help them if someone stopped, but I began to wonder if my presence was hurting their business, so I went to sit in the truck thinking that would be less likely to scare off prospective clients? It worked, because soon after a car stopped and purchased 2 cookies and two lemonades. I think that I had as much fun as the boys with this entrepreneurial undertaking? Plus, I got to meet some of the our neighbors that I have seen frequently, but never have met. However, the best part of all was that the boys came home and counted up the earnings, then without missing a beat told their mom that they had earned 50 dollars and they wanted to give her the money to help with her sickness. As you can imagine I was dumbfounded by the gesture. Talk about being proud of your kids. The whole experience so strengthened by beliefs in good deeds can change the world, even in the face of incredible adversity!!! It even gets better, the boys want to do it again tomorrow night, so they can raise more money for their mommy. Wow, what else can I say? I'm the proudest father in the whole world.

On the lighten side, I wanted to share this funny story with you. After sharing my afternoon with the prettiest girl in the universe (besides Lulu), I when to see the urologist. However, in transit to the doctor's office, I noticed that I was suppose to shave for my appointment (I guess that I probably missed it the first time because I didn't want to loss all my manhood after I had already shaved off the hair on my head, and I was worried about doing the same to other parts of my body?) Anyway, I had only 30 minutes to make the appointment and 15 minutes it would take me to drive there, so I needed a plan? I didn't want to be a negligent patient; not following the doctors orders, so I had to find a way to clean up quickly. I stopped at the nearest 7-Eleven, where I could get a razor, and then just needed a private spot to "Get cleaned up". With my quick thinking (and because it was close to my doctor's office) I chose to get prepared for the urologist at a Lowe's hardware store public restroom. I was relieved to find the men's restroom mostly empty as I entered one of the three stalls for my grooming session. I was quick, 5 minutes, and I left thinking that I was pretty cleaver coming up with this one? I also wished that I could see the face of the poor employee assigned to clean that restroom next? (maybe they would think that someone had their shedding dog with them?) Well, I made the urology appointment on time, and the whole incident made the urologist, his assistant, and Lulu laugh! (thought I wasn't sure that they were laughing at me or with me?).

I plan on taking it easy for a few days. (it may take at least that long for me to recover from the shaving cuts that I inflicted upon myself in Lowe's)? I'm sure that Lulu was just relieved, for once, she was the supporting spouse, not the patient? I have to say that it was nice to have her there to hold my hand for this; instead of the other way around.