Kids Journal - 03/05/04

March 5, 2004

My dearest children,

Well, this weekend was very busy. First, we are in the final stages of getting our kitchen redone. Over the past few months we had extended the kitchen, dry-walled, textured, had cabinets put in, tile replaced and today the counter tops have been put in. Thank God. We've been living about a month without a sink... washing dishes out in the garage has been a pain in the butt.

Also, this weekend, Aunt Dawn came down with Kelsey, Rachel and Sarah Jo. We had a nice dinner last night at Nonni and Poppy's condo. We ate burgers and it was the first time that all of the Koehler kids were there at once, including Caleb and Mikahla (I'm sure I didn't spell that right). It was a fun time. Last night we also went and watched Nonni perform in a bell choir at a local Methodist church. I videotaped it for her.

Tonight we're going to have Movie Night at our house. I'll pull down the movie screen and we'll show a movie on the big screen with all the kids... should be fun. While we're doing that, Poppy, Dawn and Dea will be out having dinner... a traditional father/daughter event. Nonni and I, with Delie, will be home with the kids watching a movie.

The weekend started out pretty eventful. Mommy was trying to finish some quizzes for her online statistics class, so around noon the rest of us went on bike ride. We stopped by the convenience store in downtown Safety Harbor and bought some snacks. We then drove bikes down to the Safety Harbor Marina. Gabe, you ended up falling on a barnacle and severly cutting your leg. It was really bad. So, we went to the bathroom and I held a paper towel hard against your leg so that it would stop the bleeding. I borrowed a lady's cellphone and called Mommy. She came down and took us all to the hospital. Trish got our bikes and Poppy went to our house, as Dawn was about to arrive.

You ended up getting 26 stitches Gabe. But, I was most impressed by just how tough you are... truly amazing. You were mad at yourself for falling, but you weren't crying about the pain or anything. I carried you into the emergency room and they put a bandage on there until the doctor could stitch you up. You were more worried about getting the shot to numb your leg than anything else. To lessen your anxiety, I leaned over you, covering your view of the doctor and the nurse, while Mommy stood over your as well. Right as the doctor was about to administer the shots, you said politely "Excuse me, excuse me, Doctor?" "Yes" he replied. In the midst of everything going on you asked "Doctor, how many years have you worked here?" Everyone burst into laughter. The Doctor replied "ten years... longer than you've been alive." You thought about it for a moment and said, satisfied "Okay."

After the shots went in, they stitched you up and we got home around 6:00 p.m. Because you were cut with a barnacle, they were worried about infection, so they gave us a prescription. I had to go to four pharmacies to finally find it. I bought that and the supplies needed to re-bandage and care for you leg. Then, around 7:00 p.m. I got you, Kelsey and Rachel ice cream I had promised them (DC, you were out at Jessica Robicheau's confirmation ceremony at her church). I then bathed you, Mommy and I re-bandaged your leg, then we got you to bed. I joked that "it was the longest bike ride I've ever taken."

Thankfully, you'll only be out of baseball for two weeks. And, it won't keep you from your family trip to Disney world tomorrow. Poppy needs to get a wheelchair anyway, so you'll either get your own or you'll sit on Poppy's lap. Either way, you'll be able to go, but not have to walk around a lot. The only downside is that you will have to skip out on the swimming pool, which is a shame because Mommy picked out the hotel specifically because it had the coolest pool.

In other news, for the first time in their combined history, Mommy actually fit into one of Dawn's pants. It was amazing. Two things will probably come out of it... the first, Dea will continue to work on her health with new inspiration... the second, Dawn will immediately go home and drop 5 sizes because she won't be able to handle that Dea, the historically "chubby" one of the family, is the same size as herself. :)

DC, you were very distraught during Gabe's adventure. You could tell when I yelled to you at the Marina "DC, we're leaving RIGHT NOW!" that something was very wrong. You were so distraught. On the drive to the hospital, you were crying in the front seat and finally burst out "Can we at least pray or something so I can feel better!" It was very sweet. We were all praying to ourselves, but we prayed together.

Overall, things have been going well. We finished THE BOX. I'm seriously considering making a company called Lighthouse Cinemaworks to make Catholic based television and microcinema feature products. I feel it may be the culmination of my creative calling. We'll see.

I'm also nearing the end of two novenas... one is a novena I started for my God children (Matthew, Jonathan, Chaz, Aislinn and Sarah O.). The other is a 54 day novena for the spiritual health of our country. There are so many secular forces trying to change the foundation of this country and it is very bothersome. Fortunately Mel Gibson's THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST has reinvigorated the Christian community and we are now standing up for our beliefs. After all, 87% of all Americans are Christian... the country should reflect that belief.

Well, that's it for now. I'm at work and have to get back at it. But, I long for the time to spend with you two. If I had my way, I'd be home with you guys all the time. I love you so very very much!

With love,

Your father

Allegiances

My son, Gabe, really wants to play baseball for the Florida Gators. He's got five years to make that dream a reality, but, for whatever reason, his collegiate allegiance has always been to the Gators. Probably has something to do with the fact that I graduated from there and, in his lifetime, they've won three national championships.

In any event, last night we were talking about checking out colleges for our daughter, Dorothea, and that one of those stops would be to Florida State University. My son hopped into the conversation "I'm not going."

"Yes you are" I replied.

"I'm never going to FSU!" he retorted back at me.

"If a school offers to pay for your education by playing baseball, you'll go anywhere" I challenged.

He looked at me, a knowing half-smirk on his face. He finally succumbed, "Well, if I go, I'll be a SemiGator."

That was the best he could offer. 1/2 Seminole, 1/2 Gator = SemiGator.

I guess that's better than being a GaNole.