We went up to the mountains this weekend to help Mike's grandparents. They've sold one of the stores and we moved all the crap out of the upstairs and helped get a bunch done this weekend. We found a number of old treasures of Mike's and I got a cedar chest to refinish, a bureau to paint and a lot of these beautiful hand-knit and crocheted baby blankets.

I found a number of pictures of Mike. God, he was such a darned cute kid. I'll scan you the picture I have and put it in here shortly.

Mike's grandmother favored the baby like mad again. It kind of sucked for Bear, but Mike and I did a lot of hugging and he seemed to be okay. They insisted on the 5 generation picture thing and when his grandmother tried to do the blood relations only picture, Mike included Russell in it to her dismay. Mike's mom looked at him and then me and then smiled. It should be noted that Mike's mom did a lot of holding the baby, but she also talked a bit to Russell and they read a story together Saturday night, which Russell loved!

At the picture thing at great grandmom's nursing home, I realized at one point how absolutely freaked out Russell was because he got in a chair and started chanting,"Dada, dada, dada!" At which point, I told him to knock it off and come here. He thought he was busted and I hugged him and told him I loved him.

You couldn't have wiped the grin off that boy's face. Mike's great grandmother kept referring to Genevieve as a boy, even though she was wearing a bright fuschia turtleneck, pink socks and a dress, but she's 93 (I think) and she's entitled in my opinion.

At one point during the picture-taking extravaganza, another patient came out and was interrupting with some bizarre commentary, but when she started to go to wheel Great Grandmom away, I went in and got a couple of nurses to save us. We were talking about how that would be a heck of a conversation...if Great Grandma and that woman got together.

Strange lady:
"I just want you to know that I didn't have anything to do with that commotion last night."
Great Grandma:
"Commotion? Oh, I'm sure it's fine dear."
Strange lady:
"I just want you to know that it wasn't me."
Great Grandma:
"It wasn't you, what?"
Strange lady:
"In those pictures."
Great Grandma:
"Of course, I can see that. Whose baby is that?"
(turns picture over and sees names written on it)"Oh, those are my great great grandchildren."

Repeat that same exact conversation word for word about 15 times and you've got two Alzeimer's patients talking.

I do have Russell set up for an assessment. I met with his current teacher, as well as his last year's teacher and we're formulating a game plan. Russell's current teacher says he isn't able to finish his classwork on time, which would explain why he's been so whiny and frustrated. His teacher commented on his math skills off the top of his head and called them extraordinary. He can add and subtract anything and knows most of his multiplication tables...he just doesn't have the patience or ability to write down his answers too well.

I just hope he gets the help he needs.