Alex' Birthday: an Series of Unfortunate Events

Poor Alex.

Today was his birthday.  He turned 13.  He is now a teenager.  Officially.  (OK, Obviously I am way too young to be the mother of a teenager!  Don't you agree?  It is some weird time warp thing.  Can't explain it.)

So becoming a teenager is kind of a big deal right?  (I remember my dad used to torture us.  When we turned 13, 14, 15, etc. he would always say, "So, you're finally a pre-teen!"  Drove us crazy.  Apparently he had a problem dealing with the fact that his little girls weren't so little anymore too. He still does, I think.)

Today was a big day -  but not for Alex.

Dennis' dad died this morning.  

Grandpa V. had been slowly dying for a long time, but he took his last breath this morning.  He was only 65.

We are all grieving.

Birthdays and death days should never be the same day.

Never mind that of all the birthdays, Alex is the most often neglected because it falls during the holiday season, so even in a good year, mom is a bit too busy to usually give him the kind of party I can give his brothers at other times of the year.

Never mind that our family life is kind up turned up on its end with Dylan sick.  

Then, Grandpa dies on top of all that.

Dennis was with his family until late.  I was away at Loma Linda for doctors' appointments much of the day, then at home I was rushing around trying to put out fires and get everybody to do what needed to be done.

Alex was neglected.

He even had to make his own birthday cake.

I tried, though.  I really did.  His only request was homemade pizza, and I made him his pizza, but it didn't get on the table until very late, almost 9, like an afterthought, and nobody was in much of a celebratory mood.

He opened his few presents.  (I haven't had much of an opportunity to go out shopping, as of late.)

He did get some very cool night vision goggles.  Wonder what he will do with those?  

And he also won the birthday drawing on the radio, which was very cool, but nobody heard his name on the radio or had a chance to go pick up his prize - a free birthday cake.

Good old Al, he never complained.  He was sad about grandpa too.  He said he understood.  But I was sad for him.  I believe birthdays should be a really big deal, especially monumental ones, like becoming a teenager.  I tried to make it as special as I was able, but it just wasn't in the cards for him today.

Today I had to be several people at once: On top of the bus driver, house cleaner, disciplinarian, etc. that I have to do everyday, I also had to be the doting nurse to a sick kid, the supportive wife to a grieving husband, and try to be the happy party planner  for the birthday boy.  I didn't handle it all very well.  Alex got the short straw today.

I'm so sorry, Dennis and family!  I love you all, and I pray for Mom and all of you!

Happy Birthday, Big Al!  

I'm throwing you a big party in my heart, OK?